youth defense primer

8/3/2019 Youth Defense Primer

1/102

Click to edit Master subtitle style

5/4/12

Building a YouthDefense

Aby allowing less points

By ClarkWilkins


2/102

5/4/12

There are many popular youthdefenses out there to choosefrom and pretty much all of

them work.

A lot of those popular youthdefenses are designed to makeup for a lack of talent. Thisbegs the question of whatconstitutes talenton defense?


3/102

5/4/12

And the answer is always thesame:

1) SPEED

1) TACKLING


4/102

5/4/12

Can you imagine trying toput together a defensefrom a group of kids withno SPEED and no

TACKLING ability?

What are the chances ofyour winning?


5/102

5/4/12

So the first thing we want

is a bunch of kids that canrun FAST and TACKLE. If

we have that, we can runANY defense we want andhave a good foundation.

Theres nothing like greatplayers to make us look

like greatcoaches.


6/102

5/4/12

And theres nothing likebad players to make uslook like bad coaches.


7/102

5/4/12

The quality of your players,good or bad, will reflect onyou.

You may be a good coach

but, if your players dontreflect that, no one willever know it.


8/102

5/4/12

If you dont have good players

then you must be able to creategood players.

That means coaching them up(Thats why youre calledcoach.).

I have two rules of thought oncoaching a player up. They are:


9/102

5/4/12

1) It is easier to make a poor player

50% better than it is to make agreat player 10% better.

Therefore, your time is better

spent with your poorer athletesthan your best.

1) I find the one thing a poor playercan do well and then have him doit all the time. That way, helllook good all the time.


10/102

5/4/12

Never position a player whereyou know he can fail. Because,when he fails, he looks bad and

you look bad.

And when you look bad, youre

losing.

Funny how that works.


11/102

5/4/12

So lets start by looking at theplayers we are dealt.

We have already identified what

constitutes a good defensive player.The decisive characteristics:

SPEED and TACKLING


12/102

5/4/12

SPEED decides the amount ofArea you can

defend.The more speed you have, the more areayou can defend. Conversely, the less speedyou have, the less area you, as a player,

can defend.

The next slide shows a GAM defense. Thedefenders in red have more area they must

defend and so the more speed they have tohave. Conversely, the defenders in blackhave less area to defend and so the lessspeed they have to have.


13/102

5/4/12

Defenders in green have average

speed.

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

Notice those in black have very little area to


14/102

5/4/12

The lesson to be learned here is thatvery slow defenders are apt to beassigned to defending a single gap(area).

Notice how the speed requirementschange when the defense changes to

a 5-2.

The Down Linemen are now two

gap defenders:


15/102

5/4/12

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

Notice, there are no slow (black)

players:

A two gap defender must defend twice the

area of a single gap defender. So he cant be


16/102

5/4/12

Therefore, down linemenwho play head up (eventechs) and defend bothgaps on each side ofthemselves need more

speed than defenders wholine up in gaps (oddtechs).


17/102

5/4/12

Notice, a 6-1 requires less speed than

a 5-2:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

The previous 5-2 required six players in red(fast), whereas a 6-1 uses only five. The

difference is it uses one less linebacker.


18/102

5/4/12

The more fast players youhave, the more linebackersyou can play (5-2).

The fewer fast players you

have, the fewer linebackersyou can play (6-1).


19/102

5/4/12

So fast players go to the linebacker,

corner, and safety positions, averageplayers line up in even techs andtwo gap, and slow players play onegap (often in odd techs).

Using this general rule, if you canidentify the speed of your players,

you can design a defense to fit thatspeed.

Lets say we have two SLOW


20/102

5/4/12

They can fill both the A

gaps:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z


21/102

5/4/12

They can fill the B

gaps:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

Gapped defenders often bear

crawl.


22/102

5/4/12

Or you can line them up as 2

techs and slant them to theirassigned A or B gap.

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

Here, the defense slants

strong.


23/102

5/4/12

The direction you slant your

front depends upon youropponents tendencies.

80% of all youth coaches powerRIGHTand counterLEFT.

Against this type of coach, slant

to his right until the ball isplaced on a hash mark. Thenslant towards the wide side of

the field.


24/102

5/4/12

The remaining 20% of all youthcoaches tend to run the ball towardstheir own sideline in order to be ableto see whats happening.

Against this coach, slant towards hissideline until he reaches his own

hash mark and then slant the otherway.


25/102

5/4/12

If you have three slow players,you can gap all three of them:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

Here, one of the defenders is playedlike a shaded Nose Guard.


26/102

5/4/12

Different gaps but sametheory:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

All three defenders are

gapped.


27/102

5/4/12

Here is a slanting three man TNT

front:X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

It uses the same slantingdirection rules as the otherslanting fronts. Slanting fronts

use even techs but are still one


28/102

5/4/12

Here we have FOUR SLOW

defenders:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

All playing

gaps.


29/102

5/4/12

Again, four SLOW SLANTING defenders

but working now from stacks:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

Stacks are also gap defenses that line up

in even techs.


30/102

5/4/12

Here is Jack Gregorys slanting 6-3

front:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

Again, it uses four SLOW

defenders.


31/102

5/4/12

As soon as we try and play morethan four SLOWplayers in adefense, we begin to run intoproblems.

WHY?


32/102

5/4/12

We use SLOWplayers to defend

the A and B gaps. These aresmall areas to defend and havelinebacker help right behindthem.

Since there are a maximum offour A and B gaps, we can

only use a maximum of fourSLOWplayers to fill them.

Any extra SLOWplayers above


33/102

5/4/12

Thus, if we added a fifth SLOW

defender, he would have to go here:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB

Z

This is fine versus a single

TE (Y).


34/102

5/4/12

But it creates a problem when theres

two TEs:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB Z

The left C gap isundefended.


35/102

5/4/12

Teams with five slow defenders often

found they actually had to go to six:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB Z


36/102

5/4/12

Here is a six man, SLOWdefender

defense:

X LT LG C RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB Z

Its known as a 3-3


37/102

5/4/12

Its weakness is that, with a six manrush, it leaves only five defendersleft to cover six eligible receivers.

If the coverage is man, there is

always an uncovered receiver,usually the QB.

Further, there is no one defendingruns to the D gaps, which requiresyet two more run defenders. Theneed for more run defenders and theinabilit to cover in man forces the


38/102

5/4/12

Here is the Zone coverage the six SLOW

man defense forces:

X LT LG C RG RT

B

Y

B

QB

FB

TB

FS

Z

Its known as Tampa Bay


39/102

5/4/12

Here is a mix of linemen speeds,

two slow (black) and one average(green):

X LT LG RG RT Y

QB

FB

TBZ

Notice how green is a two gapdefender in an even tech alignment

while black fills gaps.


40/102

5/4/12

A Gap defender shoots his gap.

A Two Gap defender stands up hisblocker, reads the runner, and then

sheds the blocker to fill the playside gap.

Obviously, a two gap defender isthe better player. He is usuallytrained at both pursuit angle drillsand Okie drills, which means

more coaching.


41/102

5/4/12

Thus, in selecting your defense,

you always begin by counting upyour SLOW defenders. You thenpick a front that fits that number.

Your number ofSLOWdefendersdictates your front. The sloweryour team is the more A andB gap players you must play.

This not only reduces the amountof area they have to defend butbrings them closer to the ball.


42/102

5/4/12

Likewise, the faster your team, the more

linebackers you can play. The obviousexample being a 4-3:

XLT LG

CRG RT

Y

QB

FB

TB

Z


43/102

5/4/12

Fast teams give you more coverage

options. The more defensive backs(DBs) you have, the more likely youcan play Man coverage.

Teams with more DBs can also shifttheir coverage to the strong side.

The best example of this is

Monster coverage.

Monster coverage is used fromCover 2.


44/102

5/4/12

Here is a 3-3 Stack:

X LT LG

B

RG RT Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

Notice, there are five offensive playersto the right of center but only fourdefenders to the right of center. The

offense outnumbers the defense to this


45/102

5/4/12

In Monster Coverage, the twosafeties wait over the offensivetackles and look for the side theoffense is overloaded to:

X LT LG

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

SS


46/102

5/4/12

The FS then moves over to themiddle of the field while the SSmoves up as an extraLinebacker to the overloaded

side.

This adds one more defender to

the overloaded side to rid theoffense of its numericaladvantage.


47/102

5/4/12

X LT LG

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

SS

The defense now has five to theright of center, the same as the

offense.


48/102

5/4/12

X LT LG

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

SS

Notice, the defense has four defendersto the offenses left to the offensesthree. The offense is outnumbered to

this side.


49/102

5/4/12

This allows the Monster front toslant strong:

This not only maintains a defensivenumerical advantage to each side of theformation but allows the defense to use

SLOWslanting gap defenders at the TNT

X

T

LT

N

LG

T

C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

SS


50/102

5/4/12

Notice, how I found the ONE THINGa SLOWdefender does well (Hit agap) and then had him do it all thetime.

Here are some stunts for SLOW

players.


51/102

5/4/12

CENTER SMASH

X L T L G RG RT Y

QB

FB

TBZ

It will usually cause one fumble in agame and forces the guards to help

the center. Thus, two defenders


52/102

5/4/12

Grab the QBsHeels:

X LT LG RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB Z

Dive through and reach out. Ifnothing else you have two bodies onthe ground in the path of wedge and

pulling linemen.


53/102

5/4/12

LOOP

X LT LG RG RT Y

QB

FB

TBZ

Who knows? Maybe somebody

might get lucky.


54/102

5/4/12

DIVIDE

X LT LG RG RT Y

QB

FB

TB Z

If the offense sees two A gapdefenders, theyll almost never calla play to A, leaving this stunt wide

open.


55/102

5/4/12

Here is a four SLOWplayer Zone

Defense:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

Its Tampa Bay


56/102

5/4/12

Because the SLOWplayers areconstantly slanting, the two insideLinebackers must blitz any unfilled gaps:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


57/102

5/4/12

Allowing short Slant passes to bethrown behind them:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


58/102

5/4/12

The defense guesses when the slant pass

is coming, stops blitzing, and hopes tointercept:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


59/102

5/4/12

The outside Linebackers have a similar

problem. They are responsible fordefending sweep:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


60/102

5/4/12

Which allows passes to be thrown behind

them too:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


61/102

5/4/12

So they too must guess on pass, stop

playing sweep, drop back, andintercept:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


62/102

5/4/12

Until the Interception happens, theCover 3 must limit the passing gainson blitz:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT

B

Y

B

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


63/102

5/4/12

There are other coverages but this is the

most common when the front is a SLOWsix man slant:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT Y

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z


64/102

5/4/12

Where the front is a six man gap, thecoverage is usually Man:

X LT LG C

B

RG

B

RT Y

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

But a 6 man rush cant cover


65/102

5/4/12

Here is a seven slow playerdefense:

X LT LG C RG RT

B

Y

QB

C

FB

C

TB

FS

Z

It is also a zone because the corners cannot coverboth a TE (Y) and Flanker/WB both (Z). However,

usually the C gap defenders discourage the TEs


66/102

5/4/12

These are the usual youthdefenses when you have todeal with SLOWplayers.


67/102

5/4/12

Although weve discussed many

ways on how to use SLOWplayerseffectively, your coverageopportunities increase when you

have team SPEED.

Because, if you have SPEED, youdon t need any of this.

So lets talk about coaching TEAMSPEED.


68/102

5/4/12

Player SPEED is a Function of ThreeThings:

1) Quickness

2) Form3) Conditioning

You can coach all three.


69/102

5/4/12

QUICKNESS:

Quickness simply refers to reactiontime. To coach faster reflexes,simply have a player come forwardout of a three point stance to catch aball dropped in front of him (See

Tennis Ball Drill on my website.).


70/102

5/4/12

FORM:

Form refers to proper runningmechanics such as pumping arms,

forward lean, and proper stride.

At the end of this slide

presentation Ill show one of myDVDs for training form.


71/102

5/4/12

On it, I worked with an averagemiddle of the pack player alongwith about ten other players (age7) for about 45 minutes. I then

matched him in a race with thesecond fastest player in theentire league and the fastest

player on his team.

That race is on the film.


72/102

5/4/12

CONDITIONING:

Faster SPEED can be achieved bystrengthening the muscle groups

used in running. I refer to these asmy Speed Drills and they are aregular part of my DC46 defense.


73/102

5/4/12

There are two types of conditioningexercise workouts:

1) Aerobic2) Anaerobic


74/102

5/4/12

Aerobic:

Aerobic exercises involve lightweights and high repetition.

Examples include womens danceclasses. Aerobics usually developEndurance. Soccer players need

a lot of endurance as do anydistance runners.


75/102

5/4/12

Anaerobic:

This is a high weight, low repetitionexercise such as mens weight lifting.

It usually develops Power. Footballplayers need morepowerthanendurance. Most players only run 10

yards on any given play and mightrun 40 yards once in a game.


76/102

5/4/12

Your conditioning program forSpeed should include short periodsof high exertion followed by aminimum of 20 seconds rest. The

activity should tax the playersstrength. Probably the simplestexample is to carry another player

on your back for 10 yards. Ill givemy Speed Drills if time allows butanyone can create their own usingAnaerobic leg exercises as their

i .


77/102

5/4/12

My Anaerobic program lasts 20

minutes and is done at the end ofpractice and not at the beginning. Ittakes about 8 weeks for everyone to

get faster but a player determined toget faster can do it in 2 weeks.

My form training is reserved for those

who need it and will produce muchfaster results. I can usually speed upat least one player by a full second in

his 30 yard run time in the first night.


78/102

5/4/12

Creating faster players isthe easiest way to createa better defense.


79/102

5/4/12

TACKLIN

G


80/102

5/4/12

There are basically three types ofTackling taught:

1) Lift and Carry

1) Chest Plate

1) Screws to the Ball


81/102

5/4/12

Lift and Carryis 1960s high school

football.

You arm wrapped around the runnersupper thighs, locked you hands

together, lifted the runner off theground, and then dumped him on hisside.

It had two advantages. The runnersfeet lost contact with the groundcausing him to lose the ability to go


82/102

5/4/12

The drawback to Lift and Carry was

that it required a big, strong player toreally put a runner down hard with it.

You had to be strong enough to pick

the runner up.

Defensive backs had trouble withthis. It was a defensive back (an NFLcorner) who invented Chest Platetackling.


83/102

5/4/12

When a runner got loose down thesideline, this corner, instead of hittinghim low, would hit him high around theshoulder pads from the side and drivethe runner out of bounds.

This gave defensive coaches the idea totry the same tackle from head on.

Instead of getting low, the tackler wentchest to chest with the runner, usuallyusing his hands to jack the ballcarriers armpits. This could create a


84/102

5/4/12

The advantage to this tackle was that thedefenders helmet was never part of thetackle. This removed the possibility of aneck injury.

However, defenders using chest platetackling were now at risk of their helmets

hitting the offensive players helmet.Many defenders deliberately contactedthe runners/receivers helmet toseparate him from the ball.


85/102

5/4/12

In our state, in October of 2,000 U

of W safety, Curtis Williams , wasparalyzed and later died fromhelmet to helmet contact on a

tackle.

In September, 2004, Seattle-Tacoma running back DeShawn

Smith, age 15, died of a helmet tohelmet contact.


86/102

5/4/12

Thus, Chest Plate Tackling was notas safe as previously believed.Further, it wasnt intended formeeting a runner head on but fromthe side. This left smaller defenders

unable to use the technique.

If you watch You Tube clips of Chest

Plate Tackling, you will see therunner and the defender are alwaysmatched up size wise in the drill.Failure to do this can result in a


87/102

5/4/12

Most coaches who teach ChestPlate tackling must teach adifferent technique to their smaller

Defensive Backs (DBs) whenconfronted by a runner head on.


88/102

5/4/12

Screws to the ball has the tackleraim the top screws of his facemask to

the football held by the runner. Hekeeps his head up and eyes on theball all the way to contact. Like,

chest plate tackling, this removesthe tacklers helmet from the contactwhile using it to create a fumble. Itcan be used from both head on orfrom the side. It can be used by bothbig players and small.

However, if im ro erl coached, the


89/102

5/4/12

I cannot comment on which is safest .Personally, I coach Screws to the ball

because I believe it can be safely taught,it creates fumbles, and one tackletechnique fits all. But I check out every

players tackling technique personally tomake sure hes safe to go out on the fieldand play.

Once you select a tackling technique, youmust drill it from different angles andunder safe conditions. Always use

ro ressive tacklin techni ues. Be in


90/102

5/4/12

The player should have a clear

understanding that his helmet will notprotect his brain from concussion norprotect his neck from breaking. It is nota weapon and should not make contactwith the defenders helmet or torso.

From the Fit Position work backwards

to the starting position. Keep thetackling distance down on all yourdrills.


91/102

5/4/12

CREATING AGGESSIVETACKLING

A coach can coach FEAR into histacklers or he can coach AGGRESSIONinto his tacklers.

If you want your defenders to learn tofear tackling, all you have to do ismake it HURT. If it hurts, theyll learn

to fear it.

To eliminate pain, reduce your

tackling distances and match up your


92/102

5/4/12

Big tackles big and small tackles

small. If you have two wimps, theyplay patty cake with each other.Avoid physical mismatches. A

physical mismatch creates fear whichcreates hesitation which creates amiss. Every player should experienceSUCCESS at your tackling drill. In

drills, do not make your slow tacklersdefend an area bigger than they cancover (or would do in a game.). Slow

players defend gaps and not the field.


93/102

5/4/12

TACKLINGDRILLS

Tackling Dummy: A tackler musttackle a tackling dummy withouthitting it with his helmet. I make eachplayer prove they can do this before

allowed to tackle another la er.


94/102

5/4/12

Head toHead

Two players lie on their backs, helmet to

helmet. One has a football (red). Oncommand they both get up and ballcarrier tries to get past the defender.

The defenders helmet is not to contact


95/102

5/4/12

CROSS THE

BOW

From two lines 5 yards apart,

defenders practice tackling a ballcarrier from the side. Emphasis is ingetting the tacklers helmet across

the stomach of the ball carrier (red).


96/102

5/4/12

Defender gives runner a one yardhead start and then meets him inthe lanes between the tacklingdummies.

Pursuit

Tackling

The Okie


97/102

5/4/12

The OkieDrill

Coach

Coach

Blocker

This drill teaches the two gap

defender to shed his blocker andmake the tackle. There are twocoaches, one for the blocker and

one for the defender


98/102

5/4/12

Meet me in theAlley

Two lines ofFourplayers two yards

apart face in opposite directions. Oncommand, they run to opposite endsof the tunnel, meet, and the playerin black tackles the ball carrier in

red


99/102

5/4/12

The purpose behind Meet me in the

Alley is that, with the lines facingopposite directions, neither playerknows who he is up against. Also, as

both players turn into the tunnel, thereis a point where each has zero forwardspeed. They will then meet in adistance of about three yards, too shorta distance for injury but its happeningtoo fast for the defender to THINKabout who he has. This promotes a

REFLEX tackling res onse


100/102

5/4/12

I use Meet me in the Alley tointroduce players to the realities ofphysical mismatches, but withoutthem having the opportunity to

THINK and HESITATE. The 3 yard

distance does not introduce the PAINwhich introduces FEAR. This is theonly time I allow physical mismatches

to occur. I do it under controlledconditions, only let them do it a fewtimes, and no more than once aweek. I will still screen for a severe

ZONE


101/102

5/4/12

ZONETACKLING

X YQB

Two TEs run 5-7 yard hooks. Two zonedefenders will tackle them from behind as theball hits their hands, timing up the hit to theball. If the receiver is tall and the ball thrownhigh, the zone defender will hit him at the


102/102

COVERAGES

I have already introduced the PoorMans Zone (slow defenders). I willbe introducing more coverages in

my next presentation after this. Butfor now, its time to field questionsand answers.

Thanks for watching.

youth defense primer

Documents