Chapter 5: , “Pass Defense.” Our automatic “Thunder,” which is very good

versus this particular situation, will also be explained later.

A SPLIT-T DEFENSE

There are a number of good defenses versus a T team with a straight-up T backfield. I will go over several of the defenses we have used more frequently than others. Figure 29 illustrates our 59 call or the Oklahoma 5-4 defense versus the T formation. The individual and team duties and responsibilities are as follows:

_Ends_—The defensive ends play a 9 technique, and on this particular defense both ends’ assignments and techniques will be identical. They will not penetrate beyond the line of scrimmage unless the flow is away. When the flow goes away, the off-side defensive end becomes the trail man.

_Tackles_—The defensive tackles play a 5 technique, which I discussed in detail earlier in the chapter. They will never cross the line except on a straight drop back pass, and then both tackles will rush the passer. Otherwise the tackles whip their respective opponents (tackles) and pursue the football.

_Middle Guard_—The middle guard plays a 0 technique, always alert for the screen pass or the draw play. On the snap of the ball, the middle guard should whip the offensive center and then go to the ball.

_Linebackers_—The inside linebackers will line up on the outside eye of their respective offensive guards, and “read” through them into the offensive backfield. If the offensive guards or tackles fire out, the linebackers whip them and go to the football. If the flow goes away, the off-side linebacker will check the counter play, and then pursue the football. On a drop back pass each linebacker will cover his short one-quarter pass zone or area.

The defensive secondary will play its regular 4-spoke defense, and revolve on the plays after the offense shows what they are going to do (or from a predetermined call, which will be explained shortly). The 4-spoke secondary will be discussed and illustrated in Chapter 5, “Pass Defense.”

Figure 30 illustrates our 27 call or a wide tackle 6 defensive alignment versus the T formation.

We use a 6-2 alignment frequently because we can stunt easily or we can play it straight versus a long yardage situation, and we can jump from it into another defensive alignment without too much difficulty. The linebackers control their particular units, as I explained earlier. The individual and team duties and responsibilities are as follows:

_Guards_—The guards will play a tough 2 technique, then pursue the football. On a drop back pass they are responsible for the screen pass in the middle, the draw play, and rushing the passer.

_Tackles_—The tackles will play a tough 7 technique. They are responsible for the off-tackle play to their respective side. If the play goes away, the tackle is the trail man. On back-up passes, the tackles rush the passer from the outside.

_Ends_—The defensive ends play an 8 technique, and they are the contain men if the flow comes their way. If the ball goes away, the off-end drops back and pursues through the area where the safety lined up originally. On back-up passes they will cover the short one-quarter pass areas or zones.

_Linebackers_—The linebackers line up on the inside eye of the offensive tackles, and play their regular positions. If the play comes toward them, the linebacker whips the blocker with a flipper and plays the ball carrier. When flow is away, he checks the counter play and then pursues the football. On pass plays they will cover their short one-quarter pass zones.

_Secondary_—The defensive secondary will play their regular 3-deep coverage, which will be explained in the next chapter. On wide-running plays the halfback must come up to the outside and turn the play back inside. The safety man comes up to the inside, playing inside-out, and the off- or far halfback revolves and becomes the last safety man.

Figures 31-34 illustrate several of our defensive stunts from a 6-2 alignment which we have employed with success in the past.

In Figure 31 the linemen pinch, sealing-off the inside, and the linebackers cover outside.

In Figure 32 the guards loop to the outside over the offensive tackles, and the linebackers fill inside the offensive guard splits.

Figure 33 illustrates a simple X-pattern between the defensive ends and tackles.

Figure 34 illustrates the tackles pinching, and the linebackers replacing them at the line of scrimmage over the offensive ends.

OUR DEFENSE VERSUS AN UNBALANCED LINE

We do not adjust a great deal to an unbalanced line, and our adjustments are relatively simple. We merely move our defensive line over one whole man, and then revolve the secondary toward the weak side, as illustrated in Figure 35.

When we do this, we carry out our same assignments, which I have explained already. The only difference is that our middle guard lines up on the offensive strong side guard, instead of on the center. If we are playing a 3-deep defense, we would adjust with our linemen. Then we consider the strong guard as the middle of the offensive line (the center), and we play our regular defense.

ADJUSTMENTS VERSUS BACKS AND ENDS FLANKED

When we have a defense called and the opposition comes out and lines up with a back or an end out, we can play it one of two ways. If it is a floater out or an end split, we will adjust slightly with our secondary, and we will drop the defensive end off the line a little. The remainder of the defensive linemen will play the defense that has been called. If a flanker is put out to one side or the other, we will revolve our 4-spoke secondary toward him and leave the linemen in their regular positions, or we will shift our line toward the flanker one whole man. These adjustments will be explained and illustrated more fully in Chapter 5, “Pass Defense.”

In making our game plans, which will be discussed in Chapter 10, “Planning For a Game,” we will always have a definite call that our signal caller will use in the situations discussed above relating to our adjustments versus backs and/or ends flanked out. As an example, we may tell our signal caller to shift our defense _away_ from ends out and floaters, but shift _toward_ flankers and an unbalanced line. These calls will depend upon the information we secure from scouting our opponents.

OUR DEFENSES VERSUS THE SINGLE WING OFFENSE

Defensing the single wing offense has always created problems for us because we feel we must meet strength with strength, and then we get hurt to the weak side. Figures 36-37 illustrate two defenses which we believe are sound, and we have used them successfully against the single wing offense. Of course, personnel makes the defense as we all know, and a linebacker like Jack Pardee whom I had at Texas A & M made all of our defenses sound.

Figure 36 is a defense which I feel is especially good versus the single wing offense. The duties of the defenders are as follows:

_Strong Side End_—The end lines up one to three yards outside of the wingback, “reading” him and the offensive end. If the flow comes toward him, the strong side end comes across hard about three yards into the offensive backfield, and he turns everything in, as he is the contain man. When he makes contact with the outside blocker, the defensive end’s shoulders must be parallel to the line of scrimmage. If the flow goes away from him, he drops back and pursues the ball carrier. On a straight drop back pass, he will cover the short one-quarter area.

_Strong Side Tackle_—He lines up on the outside eye of the offensive end, and on the snap of the ball he charges through the head of his man. He is to penetrate the offense about one yard. If the flow goes away, he trails the play. On a straight drop back pass he rushes from the outside.

_Strong Side Guard_—He lines up on the outside eye of the offensive guard and on the snap of the ball he tries to penetrate through the head of the guard, trying to seal-off the middle. If the flow goes away, he will pursue the ball. On a straight drop back pass he rushes from the inside.

_Weak Side Guard_—He has the same alignment and assignment as his strong side guard, only he is on the other side of the defensive line.

_Weak Side Linebacker_—He plays in front of the offensive weak side end and keeps him from getting out quickly on a pass play. If the flow comes toward him, the weak side linebacker whips the end and then “plays football.” If the flow is away, he will pursue the ball. On a straight drop back pass he will cover the short flat one-quarter pass zone or area.

_Weak Side End_—He lines up about two yards outside of the offensive weak side end. If the flow comes toward him, he will come across the line playing his 8 technique, which I have explained before. He cannot permit the play to get outside of his position. When he makes contact with the blocker, his shoulders must be parallel with the line of scrimmage. He will trail the play if the flow goes away from him. He rushes the passer on a drop back pass action.

_Middle Linebacker_—He lines up in front of the center. He varies his position as at times he will be close, and other times off the offensive center’s position. He keys the blocking back, who is the offensive quarterback, and the middle linebacker goes to the football. He drops back and covers the short one-quarter area on drop back passes.

_Strong Side Linebacker_—He lines up approximately behind the strong side tackle, and he reads the wingback, end and quarterback. When the flow comes toward him, he comes up and plays it tough. When the flow goes away from him he pursues the football. He covers a short one-quarter area versus the straight drop back pass.

_3-Deep Secondary_—They play their regular 3-deep coverage, which will be discussed in detail in the next chapter.

Figure 37 illustrates another of our 6-2 defensive alignments versus the single wing offense. The individual assignments are the same as those just described, except that the guards play slowly.

We employ a number of defensive stunts when we play against a single wing team. We have been quite successful in the past with the stunts illustrated in Figures 38-41. There are other stunts which may be used, of course, but we have found the four stunts illustrated (Figures 38-41) satisfactory and adequate.

CONCLUSION

There are many defenses that are good versus various offensive formations. The important point is to have a defense you and your players believe in, and which is sound in all respects. Each player must take pride in himself and his defensive ability. He must personally feel he is not going to permit the opposition to score. He must accept it as a personal challenge to himself. He must eliminate the long run and/or the long pass for the “easy” touchdown, pursue relentlessly and tackle viciously in order to be sound both individually and as a team while on defense.

Other phases of defensive football, such as defending against the on-side kick and the field goal attempt, will be discussed in detail in Chapter 6, “Our Kicking Game.” The drills which we use for our defensive ends, interior linemen, linebackers, the secondary, and for the team will be illustrated in Chapter 11. Pass defense will be discussed in its entirety in Chapter 5.