Finally....Defense!! Some defensive ideas and Al Golden "Utilizing Safeties to Stop the Run"

After 21 posts, I finally get to do one on defense and its a great way to start with some notes from Al Golden's Nike AC Clinic on "Utilizing the Safeties to Stop the Run".  



First to start off with some a quick defensive thoughts:

1 Mistake on Offense= 2nd Down
2 Mistakes on Offense= 3rd Down
3 Mistakes on Offense= Punt
1 Mistake on Defense= 6pts!!!

This is the stress of a defensive coordinator. 


AL GOLDEN

The following are the "Snake" Blitzes

Snake=Strong Safety Blitz
Sloop=Flat Defender

Other notes:

• Seam always plays #2 inside out
• Corners must always be ready to crack replace
• If your $ is getting cracked on the way in they check "Cobra" and have the corner run the blitz, play cloud force, and roll $ down to hard corner. 

Against 10,12, and 22 personnel he is going to use "2 sloop" a form of cover 2 as the coverage behind the pressure. 

Against 21 personnel he uses "Cover 9"  basically a Fire Zone concept coverage

There is also the option of bringing the Free Safety from the weakside. Behind it, he plays a combo coverage with "Cover 2" to the pressure side and a man concept to the strong side of the formation. A free safety blitz is called Flash. So this play is Over Flash Combo in the style of Front/Blitz/Coverage.  

Note for the Free:  The Free in pressure always follows the stick player and plays off his butt. 

I love this last pressure, especially against a team that likes to run weak out of this formation. I'm not always crazy about end/"elmo" force, but here it seems as if it would work fine. 

David Shaw- Stanford- Nike AC Clinic

David Shaw- Stanford

4 Questions for Programs?
1) What are our base concepts?

• For them it is pulling guards, TE and FB power running.
• He believes these concepts should be limited so that technique can be emphasized
• "Muscles are dumb"

2) How many formations, shifts, motions? 

• Maximize this area in order to disguise the overall simplicity of the offense

3) What base defenses will we face? 

• For them, this meant a lot of QB boot passing to take advantage of the defenses they faced

4) How do they use their safeties?

• Are they used primarily as run defenders or pass defenders?
• Does their technique and scheme allow you to open up your passing game?

Examples of Answers:

Lead O Play

Watch the play of the safeties....are they deep? or are they creeping down on the run play as it gets pounded inside. Once they begin creeping it sets this up.....

Play action Passing

Watch the play of the Backside Defensive End, is he crashing down on the LEAD O play? If so, it opens up....

Boot Pass

If the safeties are sitting back and the BSDE is not crashing, then keep running the power run game.  

"LIVE FOR THE 4-5 yard GAIN.....THESE ARE BODY BLOWS TO THE DEFENSE." 

Creating Conflicts for the Defense
Unbalanced Offense

Unbalanced Rule=2 foot splits

Power:

Weak G Power

Counter

-ONLY AFTER THE GROUND GAME HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED DOES STANFORD WORK IN PLAY ACTION.

PA off COUNTER

STANFORD RULE:

THE TE AND FB ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO STEP OUT OF BOUNDS. LOWER THE SHOULDER AND PLAY POWER FOOTBALL!

IDEAS FOR PRACTICE

Every padded practice begins with Oklahoma Drill

-Football is a game about blocking and tackling and this has both.

Limit each segment of practice to only 10-12 plays. (5 reps for 1's, 4 reps for 2's, back to 1's)

Fullbacks are lesser athletic LBs

MAKE THE DEFENSE PAY FOR WHAT THEY DO GIVE YOU. 

Lastly, maybe my favorite clinic quote of all time:

When speaking about the cutback lane on inside zone, "We teach our backs that sometimes, a giant cutback lane will open on the backside A gap, if they see it they should take it, but they shouldnt be looking for it all of the time. It is like a $20 dollar bill.  If you are walking down the block, and you see a $20 you should take it, but if you spend your whole life walking around looking at the ground as you go hoping to see a $20 bill, youll most likely get his by a fucking bus!!!"

That's classic, and very true. 

Coach Brohm QB Fundys Clinic Notes- Nike Louisville

Coach Jeff Brohm- Offensive Coordinator- Western Kentucky 

QB Fundamentals

Most Important Qualities in a QB
• Decision Making Ability
• Accuracy Throwing
• Leadership
• Toughness

4 Questions to ask your QB
1) Are you the first one on the field?
2) Are you the last one off the field?
3) Do you know everyone’s assignment?
4) Are you willing to face criticism?


Drills for QBs
1) Center-QB Exchange- Coach calls out play, QB center go through cadence and first step
2) Warm up progression
• Bull Pen- Comfort Toss (overexaggerate follow through)
• Feet apart hip throw
• Face Right and throw
• Face Left and throw
• Right knee/Both knees/Left Knee
• High Release (simulate a dump or screen)
• Fade and Throw (fading away)
• Step through early
• One foot stagger, throw with hips
• Long toss
• Hard Toss