Coaching

Defensive
Football Successfully:
Vol. 1—Philosophy
and Fronts

Denny M. Burdine
©2010 Coaches Choice. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
permission of Coaches Choice. Throughout this book, the masculine shall be deemed to include the
feminine and vice versa.

ISBN: 978-1-60679-098-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2010922622
Cover design: Brenden Murphy
Book layout: Roger W. Rybkowski
Front cover photo: Sporting News/ZUMA Press

Coaches Choice
P.O. Box 1828
Monterey, CA 93942
www.coacheschoice.com
 Dedication

To my wife, Judy; thanks for being the perfect football coach’s wife. To my mother for giving me the
thirst for knowledge and my dad for teaching me that a man’s work ethic makes all the difference.
Thanks to Don Hubbard, my high school football coach, for introducing me to the great game of
football.
 Acknowledgments

Only a retired coach could have the passion to write such an in depth book about defensive football.
When I decided to spend the time to write down my knowledge of defensive football in book format, I
tried to account for every detail. The seven volumes of Coaching Defensive Football Successfully, are
the result of thousands of hours of creating images, animation, and written information.

As I began to write, I quickly realized that what I know is a result of the hard work of others. I have
spent my entire coaching career feeding off of the knowledge of other coaches. I applied what I saw
others doing and modified it to suit my own situation. There are some great innovators in the game of
football and their creations never remain a secret. Of course, from trial and error, I also developed
my own defensive philosophy; however, I have invented nothing as it applies to defensive football.
During my coaching career everyone that I came in contact with left an impression. As a coach moves
through his coaching career it becomes very difficult to remember from whom his coaching
knowledge was gained. I have taken no shortcuts in my efforts to honor those coaches who have had a
profound influence on me.

As for me, I can quickly account for my knowledge of defensive football. It comes from three
coaches.

My journey in football began with my high school coach, Don Hubbard. From him I learned in
practice what the phrase, “Run it again!” meant. He was a die-hard for simplicity and fundamentals.
We would run the same play over and over again until he was satisfied that it could be successful in a
game situation. According to him, there was no need in have multiple plays if you could not run the
basic plays correctly. He also showed me how important winning state championships was to the
school and community, and most importantly, how it had an everlasting impact on the players. Much
of my confidence in life was because of his influence on me and a belief that failure is not an option.

From John Thompson, former defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas, I learned just
about everything that I know about defensive football. Much of the defensive scheme found in this
book came from Coach Thompson’s ideas. The stack scheme with two-deep coverage was the
foundation of my football knowledge. Coach Thompson’s numbered blitz scheme, along with
prowling and movement, taught me that modern day defensive football can be very unconventional,
but very successful. I firmly believe that Coach Thompson is one of the best defensive minds that ever
coached the game.
 Special thanks to Richard Martin, who was my pipeline for defensive football information. He
passed away at an early age, but he lived a full life for a football coach. Coach Martin had a great deal
of passion for defense. He would be so intense about discussing new defensive ideas that you too
would become enthusiastic.
 Preface

Coaching Defensive Football Successfully consists of seven volumes that will help all coaches
become better defensive coaches. It is for the young coach who is searching for a defensive package.
It is also for the experienced coach who may be looking for new defensive ideas.

The following seven volumes are found in Coaching Defensive Football Successfully:

• Vol. 1—Philosophy and Fronts

• Vol. 2—Down Linemen

• Vol. 3—Linebackers

• Vol. 4—Secondary and Coverages

• Vol. 5—Blitz Package

• Vol. 6—Defending Offensive Schemes

• Vol. 7—Blocking and Returning Punts

The diagrammed plays found in most all books written about football use X’s and O’s to represent
players. Coaching Defensive Football Successfully replaces the traditional X’s and O’s with drawn
images of players to give the reader a more realistic view of diagrammed plays. Each book also
includes a companion CD-ROM. The CD-ROM presents an animated PowerPoint® version of the
play diagrams found in each book. By simply clicking a mouse, the reader can use a slide show
presentation to see the diagrammed plays come to life as players move to defensive positioning. By
using this sequence, the reader will acquire an in-depth understanding of each book.

A football coach must have a desire to acquire as much football knowledge as possible.
Throughout his coaching career, he will always search for football information. He will buy books
and videos and visit high school and college coaches, but the truth is, though, that no matter what he is
searching for, he will get only bits and pieces of information. The worst feeling in the world is to see
new defensive ideas, but have no way of learning the fine points. Coaching Defensive Football
Successfully was written to give complete, detailed information from a coach’s viewpoint.
 Sometimes coaches work so hard using the same ideas that they become stale, much like a man
with a dull saw. He is working hard, but is making very little progress. There comes a time when
football coaches need to stop and sharpen their saws. A sharpened saw makes the job easier and more
efficient. This defensive package will help to sharpen your defensive tools and make you a better
football coach.

Each year, high school coaches see offenses that range from the Dead-T to the Spread, so coaches
must have a package that is able to adapt to everything. Coaching Defensive Football Successfully
provides a defensive package that allows you to make adjustments for all offensive schemes. It
incorporates the Miami package, the 4-3 front, and all its adjustments. The Oklahoma package is the
under 5-2 and all its adjustments. The Arizona package is made up of the 3-2, 3-3, 5-1, and the two-
man fronts and all the adjustments from each. Secondary coverages are man-to-man, zone, and
combination man and zone. Stemming, prowling, and movement are used extensively. Line stunts
range from the simple one-man stunts to the complex four-man stunts. Finally, the blitz system
involves using numbered blitzes and zone blitzes that are limited only by your imagination.

The defensive package described in this series is a proven defensive package. This package has
won championships and produced major college players and NFL players.

If you are a new coach looking for defensive information, you will find it in this series. If you are
a coach who already has a defensive scheme, you will gain information to build on what you already
know.
 Introduction

Congratulations for having chosen one of the most honorable professions known to man. The title
“Coach” should be worn proudly, on and off the field. Your career choice of coaching also brings
with it the title of teacher. To be given the ability and opportunity to teach others is a very honorable
calling. As a football coach, you do much more than just coach and teach. You lead, you inspire, and
you help to mold the lives of all those with whom you come in contact. The role of coach gives you
the opportunity to teach character, discipline, leadership, and work ethics to your players. Knowing
the impact you have on the lives of others is very sobering. Even on the bad days, be proud to tell
people that you are a coach and a teacher. However, if you plan to continue to influence the lives of
others, you must be able to win in the coaching profession. Unemployed coaches have very little
impact on the lives of others. Being successful is a top priority.

Football is the greatest game that God ever allowed man to play. It is almost as if God said, “Let
there be football so that all the young boys who play it can grow to become men, and all the men who
coach it can always be boys.”

Football coaches can be divided into three categories. The first type of coach is the
“fundamentalist.” He is very conservative in his thinking. He does not wear Tommy Hilfiger® shirts
or Calvin Klein® pants. He does not brag about how much football he knows; he simply believes that
in order to win, you must be fundamentally sound. He believes that blocking and tackling win football
games. After all, Vince Lombardi said it, so it must be true. The fundamentalist works hard each day
teaching basics. His team blocks and tackles and blocks and tackles. He has no interest in the spread
offense or the zone blitz defense; he keeps everything simple.

When he walks off the field after each game, he cannot understand how he lost the game; after all,
he worked fundamentals each day. A coach that is solely a fundamentalist is a dinosaur, and he is
destined for extinction.

The second type of coach is the “theorist.” He is very liberal in his thinking and wears the Tommy
Hilfiger shirts and the Calvin Klein pants. He has a swagger in his walk, and he cannot end a
conversation without letting one know how smart he is about the game of football. He spends all his
time scheming how he can beat his opponents by outsmarting them. He believes that he wins the game
on the chalkboard. His offensive scheme is very complex with formations, plays, and horizontal and
vertical stretches. His defensive scheme is very complex with multiple fronts and coverages. He
spends more time in practice working on alignments than he does working on fundamentals. Because
he coaches a passive brand of football, his teams have a tendency to be soft when it comes to blocking
and tackling.

When he walks off the field after each game, he cannot understand how he lost the game; after all,
he is smarter than his opponents. This type of coach is not a dinosaur, but he also is destined for
failure.

The third type of coach is the coach who understands that you win with fundamentals and modern-
day offensive and defensive schemes. He is called the “theo-fundamentalist.” He teaches fundamentals,
but he also looks to gain the advantage by match-ups and alignments. His team works fundamentals
each day from a scheme that gives them the best advantage to block and tackle. He understands that
offensively a team must be multiple and stretch the defense both horizontally and vertically. He
believes that a team must also be very multiple on defense and must use movement, blitzes, and
multiple coverages to confuse and attack the offense. This type of coach has a great chance to be
successful.

Each coach must develop a sound football philosophy. A defensive coach should have the
philosophy that you play defense first, have a sound kicking game, and employ an offense that is
exciting and moves the ball. The great coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said, “Offense sells tickets, and
defense wins championships.” Nothing of greater truth has ever been said about the game of football.
Defense comes first!

A good defensive package is one that allows the defenders to play in their natural state. The natural
state for a defensive player is running to the ball and making tackles. All defensive schemes must
allow the players to play in this manner. A coach must develop a defensive package that best allows
this type of defense to occur. The natural state for a defender is to read and react while on the run,
which means being aggressive when coming off the ball, attacking blockers, and pursuing the
ballcarrier. To use this type of play against modern offenses, you must be multiple in your fronts and
coverages. You must stunt, blitz, prowl, stem, and move both the fronts and coverages, thereby
confusing the offense through disguises and illusions.

Most coaches will tell you that offense is assignment football, and defensive is reaction football.
This saying may be true to a certain extent, but a defense must be a dictating type of defense, not just a
reacting defense. Strike first and strike hard! Place pressure on the offense and let them react to what
you are doing on defense. Be simple enough to keep your players from being confused but complex
enough to attack and confuse all offensive schemes.

When you think of defensive personnel, you must have a certain type of player in mind. You must
look for players with great heart and aggressive personalities, who swarm to the ball. You do not
want the “milk drinkers and cookie eaters” on your side of the ball. Instead, find the tough guys who
will run to the ball and arrive in a very bad mood!

Football at any level from high school to the professional ranks is simply a good old-fashioned
dogfight. Because it is a dogfight, you must bite the other dog harder and more often than he bites
you. Show good sportsmanship but be aggressive. As the Mexicans proclaimed at the Battle of the
Alamo, “De Quello,” which basically means, “Have no mercy and take no prisoners.”

Placing your personnel in the proper positions is very important. Coaches must spend many hours
in personnel meetings in order to get the best combination. The following ideas should be used when
placing personnel into the proper positions:

• Corners are a must! Corners must be able to play man-to-man on an island. They must have good
speed and jumping ability. The old cowboys out West used to say, “No hoof, no horse”; well in
defensive football you can say, “No corners, no defense.” When your corners can play on an
island, your defensive scheme can become more complex and very dangerous to the offense. You
must find your corners first.

• Safeties must be able to cover like corners and tackle like linebackers. They must be able to play
in the box and also cover on an island. Safeties are your next priority after you have found the
corners.

• Linebackers are the heart of the defense. They must be able to attack blockers, run to the ball, and
tackle in the open field. They must be found.
 Building the Basics

Defense begins with the basics. How you call alignments, gaps of assignment, huddle procedures, and
personnel is the foundation of your package.

Gaps of assignment are used to assign areas of responsibility. Gaps of assignment tell the
defenders the area that they are responsible for once the ball is snapped. After the defender secures his
gap of responsibility, he is then free to pursue the ball using the best possible angle of pursuit. Also,
the “clear and cloudy rule” comes into play. If the defender ’s gap of responsibility is cloudy, meaning
that blockers or defenders have clogged up the gap, he may pursue through the next clear gap in the
angle of pursuit. Gaps are landmarked by using letters as shown in Figures 1-1 and 1-2.

Figure 1-1. Gaps of responsibility

Figure 1-2. Areas of responsibility

Alignment techniques are number locations labeled on offensive linemen that tell the defensive
personnel where to align. The alignment techniques for alignments on the line of scrimmage are as
shown in Figures 1-3 and 1-4. For all alignments off the line of scrimmage, a zero is added. For
example, a linebacker aligned on the inside eye of the tight end and five yards off the ball would be
called a 70 technique.

Figure 1-3. Numbering techniques

Figure 1-4. Alignment techniques

The following personnel are used in this defensive package as shown in Figure 1-5:

• Blood is the strongside end, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Tackle is the strongside tackle, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Nose is the weakside tackle, and he aligns away from the declared side.

• End is the weakside end, and he aligns away from the declared side.

• Sam is the strong outside linebacker, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Mike is the middle linebacker, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Will is the weakside linebacker, and he aligns away from the declared side.

• Field corner aligns to the wide side of the field.

• Boundary corner aligns to the boundary.

• Strong safety is the strongside safety, and he aligns to the declared side.
 • Rover is the weakside safety, and he aligns away from the declared side.

Figure 1-5. Defensive personnel

Defensive success begins with a good, tight, and well-organized huddle. The nose sets the huddle
three yards off the ball. Mike, Sam, and Will are the only defenders not facing the offense. The huddle
is under the control of Mike, and the defenders listen for his instructions as they read his lips for the
defensive calls. Will is responsible for giving the down and distance. Sam gives any movement calls.
The strong safety calls the pass coverage. (See Figure 1-6.)

Mike calls the front and stunts two times (e.g., “Stack-OH Wham 32. Stack-OH Wham 32”). The
strong safety then calls the coverage one time and yells “Ready Swarm!” (e.g., “Cover 2-Ready
Swarm!”). Everyone claps his hands and yells “Swarm!” They then move into their pre-shift
alignment as shown in Figure 1-7.

Figure 1-6. Defensive huddle

Figure 1-7. Pre-shift alignment

Mike declares the front either to the right, by calling “Rip! Rip!” or to the left by calling “Liz! Liz!”
The strong safety declares the secondary by calling “Strong right!” or “Strong left!” Mike and the
strong safety use the following rules to declare the defense:

• If there is only one tight end, they declare to the tight end side.

• If there are two tight ends, they declare to the tight end-flanker side.

• If there is no tight end, they declare to the multiple receiver side.

• If the offense is balanced, they declare to the field or to that week’s scouting report.

• If field is called, they declare to the wide side of the field.

• If bench is called, they declare to the short side of the field.

• If flip is called, they declare away from the tight end.

• Glory, victory, and punt returns are automatic Liz declarations.

 Calling Defensive Fronts

When calling defensive fronts, the first name called is always the strongside alignment. The second
name called is always the weakside alignment.

• Strongside fronts include the following:

✓ Stack
✓ Wide
✓ Down
✓ Under
✓ Ace

• Weakside fronts include the following:

✓ OH
✓ Ace
✓ G
✓ Deuce
✓ Trey
✓ Texas
✓ I

• Balanced fronts have no strong or weak calls. The front is the same on both sides. Balanced fronts
are shown in Chapter 5. All of the following are balanced fronts:
✓ Cochise
 ✓ Crazy Horse
✓ Apache
✓ Broken Arrow
✓ Custer
✓ Navajo
✓ Mohawk

• Goal line fronts are called by telling the tackle and nose where to align; there is no strong or weak
declaration. Goal line fronts are shown in Chapter 6. The following are goal line fronts:
✓ Glory-OH
✓ Glory-OH-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace-OH
✓ Glory-Deuce
✓ Glory-OH-Deuce
✓ Glory-Deuce-OH
✓ Glory-Sic’em

Strongside Fronts

Stack (Figures 2-1 and 2-2)

Stack is a Miami 4-3 alignment and the base defensive alignment from where all other strongside
defenses will evolve. The alignment of the 7 technique allows the defense to reroute the C gap, thus
eliminating the off-tackle play. The alignment of the 3 technique makes the offense consider double-
teaming and combo-blocking the B gap. Sam and Mike are able to read back keys and quickly attack
the offense on upfield angles.
Figure 2-1. Stack

Figure 2-2. Stack position and alignment

Wide (Figures 2-3 and 2-4)

Wide is a Miami 4-3 alignment. Wide is the same as stack, except Blood and Sam exchange
alignments and responsibilities. Because Blood has moved outside to a 9 technique, he now has a
better outside angle to rush the pass and to contain all runs to the strongside. Sam now moves inside
to a 70 technique, which enables him to have a better angle on all inside and cutback running plays.
This alignment also allows Sam to cover receivers with inside leverage.
Figure 2-3. Wide

Figure 2-4. Wide position and alignment

Down (Figures 2-5 and 2-6)

Down is a Miami 4-3 alignment. Down is the same as stack except Blood moves to a 5 technique, and
Sam moves to a 9 technique. Down creates three anchor spots on the line of scrimmage to better
defend running plays. From a 5 technique Blood can attack inside running plays quicker. Sam can
now play all running plays from the line of scrimmage and cover inside receivers with outside
leverage.

Figure 2-5. Down

Figure 2-6. Down position and alignment

Under (Figures 2-7 and 2-8)

Under is an Oklahoma 5-2 alignment. Under is the base 5-2 look that has been used for years and was
made famous by the University of Oklahoma. Under creates three anchor spots on the strongside line
of scrimmage. It also places pressure on the offense to use double-teams and combos in order to
block the tackle that is aligned in an OH technique. From his 30 technique Mike can now use his back
key and also read the offensive guard as an under key.

Figure 2-7. Under

Figure 2-8. Under position and alignment

Ace (Figures 2-9 and 2-10)

Ace is an Oklahoma 5-2 alignment. Ace is the same as under except the tackle moves from an OH to a
1 technique. This movement allows the tackle to cover the guard and protect the Mike. It also allows
the tackle to play the A gap with outside leverage.
Figure 2-9. Ace

Figure 2-10. Ace position and alignment

Weakside Fronts

OH (Figures 2-11 and 2-12)

OH is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. OH refers to the shaded
alignment of the nose. OH is a good alignment versus a two-man offensive surface on the weakside
(guard and tackle with no tight end). OH places pressure on the offense to use double-teams and
combos in order to block the nose.
Figure 2-11. OH

Figure 2-12. OH position and alignment

ACE (Figures 2-13 and 2-14)

Ace is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. Ace refers to the nose aligning
in a 1 technique or ace alignment. This alignment allows the nose to cover the offensive guard and
protect the linebackers. He can also play the A gap with outside leverage.

Figure 2-13. Ace

Figure 2-14. Ace position and alignment

G (Figures 2-15 and 2-16)

G is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. G refers to the nose aligning in a
1 technique on the offensive guard and the end aligning in a 7 technique. This alignment is a good
basic adjustment when the defense encounters two tight ends and OH has been called to the weakside.
By using G, the end moves to a 7 technique in order to balance the defense on the weakside. In
general, G gives the end a better angle for outside leverage and pass rush.

Figure 2-15. G

Figure 2-16. G position and alignment

Deuce (Figures 2-17 and 2-18)

Deuce is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. Deuce refers to the nose
aligning in a 2 technique or deuce alignment. Deuce is used to confuse offensive blocking because of
the possibility of stunts either inside or outside by the nose.

Figure 2-17. Deuce

Figure 2-18. Deuce position and alignment

Trey (Figures 2-19 and 2-20)

Trey is a weakside alignment that can be run with any Oklahoma 5-2 strongside front. Trey refers to
the nose aligning in a 3 technique or trey alignment. The strength of trey is that it allows Will to run
freely because the offensive linemen are all covered on the weakside.
Figure 2-19. Trey

Figure 2-20. Trey position and alignment

Texas (Figures 2-21 and 2-22)

Texas is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. Texas is the same as deuce
except the end moves to a 7 technique. From Texas the nose can use his deuce alignment to stunt
inside or outside. The end now has a better angle for outside leverage and pass rush.

Figure 2-21. Texas

Figure 2-22. Texas position and alignment

I (Figures 2-23 and 2-24)

I is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. I refers to the nose aligning in an
inside tilt from an OH technique. The strength of I includes the attack angle of the nose and his ability
to reroute himself by reading the offside guard.

Figure 2-23. I

Figure 2-24. I position and alignment

 Miami Pacakage

The Miami package consists of all the 4-3 fronts that are used in this defensive scheme. The 4-3 has
been a very popular defense for many years. It is very versatile and adjusts well to modern-day
offensive schemes. It has four down linemen and three linebackers. This front allows for a four-man
pass rush. The linebackers are able to run on upfield angles by reading backs and under blocking
schemes. The 7 technique reroutes the C gap. The secondary and linebackers can employ a variety of
pass coverages. Best of all, it is a very good blitz defense. The Miami package uses regular
personnel.

The following fronts are used in the Miami Package:

• Stack
✓ Stack-OH
✓ Stack-Ace
✓ Stack-G
✓ Stack-Deuce
✓ Stack-Texas
✓ Stack-I

• Wide
✓ Wide-OH
✓ Wide-Ace
✓ Wide-G
✓ Wide-Deuce
✓ Wide-Texas
 ✓ Wide-I

• Down
✓ Down-OH
✓ Down-Ace
✓ Down-G
✓ Down-Deuce
✓ Down-Texas
✓ Down-I

Stack

Stack-OH (Figures 3-1 and 3-2)

Figures 3-1. Stack-OH

Figures 3-2. Stack-OH alignment, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-Ace (Figures 3-3 and 3-4)

Figures 3-3. Stack-Ace

Figures 3-4. Stack-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-G (Figures 3-5 and 3-6)

Figure 3-5. Stack-G

Figure 3-6. Stack-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-Deuce (Figures 3-7 and 3-8)

Figure 3-7. Stack-Deuce

Figure 3-8. Stack-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-Texas (Figures 3-9 and 3-10)

Figure 3-9. Stack-Texas

Figure 3-10. Stack-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-I (Figures 3-11 and 3-12)

Figure 3-11. Stack-I

Figure 3-12. Stack-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide

Wide-OH (Figures 3-13 and 3-14)

Figure 3-13. Wide-OH

Figure 3-14. Wide-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-Ace (Figures 3-15 and 3-16)

Figure 3-15. Wide-Ace

Figure 3-16. Wide-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-G (Figures 3-17 and 3-18)

Figure 3-17. Wide-G

Figure 3-18. Wide-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-Deuce (Figures 3-19 and 3-20)

Figure 3-19. Wide-Deuce

Figure 3-20. Wide-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-Texas (Figures 3-21and 3-22)

Figure 3-21. Wide-Texas

Figure 3-22. Wide-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-I (Figures 3-23 and 3-24

Figure 3-23. Wide-I

Figure 3-24. Wide-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down

Down-OH (Figures 3-25 and 3-26)

Figure 3-25. Down-OH

Figure 3-26. Down-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-Ace (Figures 3-27 and 3-28)

Figure 3-27. Down-Ace

Figure 3-28. Down-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-G (Figures 3-29 and 3-30)

Figure 3-29. Down-G

Figure 3-30. Down-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-Deuce (Figures 3-31 and 3-32)

Figure 3-31. Down-Deuce

Figure 3-32. Down-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-Texas (Figures 3-33 and 3-34)

Figure 3-33. Down-Texas

Figure 3-34. Down-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-I (Figures 3-35 and 3-36)

Figure 3-35. Down-I

Figure 3-36. Down-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

 Oklahoma Package

The Oklahoma package consists of all of the 5-2 fronts that are used in this defensive scheme. The 5-2
has been a very popular defense for many years. It is very versatile and adjusts well to modern-day
offensive schemes. It has four down linemen with one linebacker on the line of scrimmage, and it has
two inside linebackers. This package is good for spinning safeties into the box. When safeties are in
the box, the two inside linebackers are free to run on flow away. From this front you can develop
some very good zone blitzes.

The following fronts are use in the Oklahoma package:

• Under
✓ Under-OH
✓ Under -Ace
✓ Under-G
✓ Under-Deuce
✓ Under-Texas
✓ Under-Trey

• Ace
✓ Ace- OH
✓ Ace-Ace
✓ Ace-G
✓ Ace-Deuce
✓ Ace-Trey
 ✓ Ace-I

Under

Under-OH (Figures 4-1 and 4-2)

Figure 4-1.Under-OH

Figure 4-2. Under-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Ace (Figures 4-3 and 4-4)

Figure 4-3. Under-Ace

Figure 4-4. Under-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-G (Figures 4-5 and 4-6)

Figure 4-5. Under-G

Figure 4-6. Under-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Deuce (Figures 4-7 and 4-8)

Figure 4-7. Under-Deuce

Figure 4-8. Under-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Texas (Figures 4-9 and 4-10)

Figure 4-9. Under-Texas

Figure 4-10. Under-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Trey (Figures 4-11 and 4-12)

Figure 4-11. Under-Trey

Figure 4-12. Under-Trey alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace

Ace-OH (Figures 4-13 and 4-14)

Figure 4-13. Ace-OH

Figure 4-14. Ace-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-Ace (Figures 4-15 and 4-16)

Figure 4-15. Ace-Ace

Figure 4-16. Ace-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-G (Figures 4-17 and 4-18)

Figure 4-17. Ace-G

Figure 4-18. Ace-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-Deuce (Figures 4-19 and 4-20)

Figure 4-19. Ace-Duece

Figure 4-20. Ace-Duece alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-Trey (Figures 4-21 and 4-22)

Figure 4-21. Ace-Trey

Figure 4-22. Ace-Trey alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-I (Figures 4-23 and 4-24)

Figure 4-23. Ace-I

Figure 4-24. Ace-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

 Arizona Package

The Arizona package consists of all of the nickel and dime fronts that are used in this defensive
scheme. This package requires different personnel (Indian personnel) from what is used in the Miami
and Oklahoma packages. It has three down linemen (the tackle comes out), and an extra defensive
back (Geronimo) comes in. This package is used against all one-back offenses. It is very good for
number and zone blitzes and for maximum pass coverage, as well as pass rush.

The following fronts are use in the Arizona package:

• Cochise

• Crazy Horse

• Apache

• Broken Arrow

• Custer

• Navajo

• Mohawk

Arizona Package

Cochise (Figures 5-1 and 5-2)

Figure 5-1. Cochise

Figure 5-2. Cochise alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Crazy Horse (Figures 5-3 and 5-4)

Figure 5-3. Crazy Horse

Figure 5-4. Crazy Horse alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Apache (Figures 5-5 and 5-6)

Figure 5-5. Apache

Figure 5-6. Apache alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Broken Arrow (Figures 5-7 and 5-8)

Figure 5-7. Broken Arrow

Figure 5-8. Broken Arrow alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Custer (Figures 5-9 and 5-10)

Figure 5-9. Custer

Figure 5-10. Custer alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Navajo (Figures 5-11 and 5-12)

Figure 5-11. Navajo

Figure 5-12. Navajo alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Mohawk (Figures 5-13 and 5-14)

Figure 5-13. Mohawk

Figure 5-14. Mohawk alignments, keys, and responsibilities

 Missouri Package

The Missouri package consists of all the goal line fronts that are used in this defensive scheme. All
goal line defenses are the types of defenses that pressure and penetrate at the line of scrimmage.

The following fronts are used in the Missouri package:

• Glory
✓ Glory-OH
✓ Glory-OH-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace-OH
✓ Glory-Deuce
✓ Glory-OH-Deuce
✓ Glory-Deuce-OH
✓ Glory-Sic’em

Glory defenses require alignment rules for any player who is playing man-to-man or running an
arrow stunt. The following rules will be employed:

• Strong safety aligns to the two-receiver side and uses the following rules:
✓ If #2 is split, he plays him man-to-man.
✓ If #2 is tight (not counting a wing), he runs an arrow stunt (an outside contain blitz).
 • Sam and Geronimo use the following rules:
✓ If there is a tight end, they play him man-to-man.
✓ If there is no tight end, they run an arrow stunt.
✓ If there are trips or quads to their side, they play #3 man-to-man.

• Corners use the following rules:

✓ If #1 is split, they play him man-to-man (a wing is considered to be a split receiver.)
✓ If there is no wideout on their side, they run an arrow stunt.

• Mike and Will use the following rules:

✓ If there is only one back in the backfield, Mike becomes a 00 linebacker.
✓ Will must now run an arrow stunt to the side where there is no one to run the arrow stunt. He
must
determine whether the need is on the strongside or the weakside.

Glory-OH (Figures 6-1 and 6-2)

Figure 6-1. Glory-OH

Figure 6-2. Glory-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-OH-Ace (Figures 6-3 and 6-4)

Figure 6-3. Glory-OH-Ace

Figure 6-4. Glory-OH-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Ace (Figures 6-5 and 6-6)

Figure 6-5. Glory-Ace

Figure 6-6. Glory-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Ace-OH (Figures 6-7 and 6-8)

Figure 6-7. Glory-Ace-OH

Figure 6-8. Glory-Ace -OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Deuce (Figures 6-9 and 6-10)

Figure 6-9. Glory-Duece

Figure 6-10. Glory-Duece alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-OH-Deuce (Figures 6-11 and 6-12)

Figure 6-11. Glory-OH-Duece

Figure 6-12. Glory-OH-Duece alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Deuce-OH (Figures 6-13 and 6-14)

Figure 6-13. Glory-Duece-OH

Figure 6-14. Glory-Duece-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Sic’em (Figures 6-15 and 6-16)

Figure 6-15. Glory-Sic’em

Figure 6-16. Glory-Sic’em alignments, keys, and responsibilities
 Scripting Defenses

To be multiple in your scheme, you must be able to signal several calls into the defense at one time.
The only way to do this is by number- and color-scripting your calls. One system that you can use is
simply to number the defensive fronts, stunts, and coverages so that you can signal in the numbers
that correlate to the numbers on the wristbands that the players are wearing. To ensure that your
opponents are not able to steal your defenses through seeing your calls, you must devise a signal
system that changes from week to week or from series to series.

After you develop your game plan on the weekend, script the defensive fronts, stunts, blitzes, and
coverages that you want to use that week, using the following system:

• Type a master sheet that contains all the defenses that you want to use against that week’s opponent.
✓ To number the master script card, you must know the method that you will use to signal in
the calls.
Basically, use a numbering sequence.
✓ Number your defensive fronts into groups that you can find quickly on your script. Typically
coaches
use numbers 0-5 and 10-15, and so on, but you may need even more numbers.
✓ Number your stunts and blitzes for each front into number groups that you can find quickly.
For
example, Cochise and all its blitzes could be numbered 20-25. Stack-OH may be numbered
30-35.
✓ On the master sheet, list the coverage that you want with each defense. The coverages are
also
numbered.
 • Laminate the master sheet to protect it.
• Type the fronts and stunts onto a card that will fit into the wristband for your players. Type the
coverages onto another card that will also fit into the wristband for your players. Both wristband
cards must also be laminated.
✓ To number wristbands, use number sequences for the fronts and stunts that match the number
sequences for the master sheet. Players who are involved in pass coverage responsibility
must wear two
wristbands, one for the fronts and the other for their coverage.
• Have the wristbands ready for practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This way, your
players and coaches can see the game plan and get accustomed to using it before game time.

A master sheet is used by the coaches to call defenses during a game as shown in Figure 7-1. You
can number 0 through 55, but remember that some numbers cannot be signaled. For example, the
number 6 cannot be signaled using the fingers. The coverages are listed so you can add different
coverages to the front and stunts called. On the back of this sheet, list special situations and tendencies
and match them to the numbers you would call under those situations.

A wristband script is used by all defensive players during a game as shown in Figure 7-2. Each
player would have the following wristband on for game time calls. The players will look at their
wristbands and find the number signaled in front the sideline. The numbers can be called in the huddle
or without a huddle if the offense is in a hurry-up scheme.

A wristband pass coverage script is used by linebackers and secondary backs during a game as
shown in Figure 7-3. The defensive line would not need this script.

One system that can be used to call defenses involves having two coaches standing beside the
defensive coordinator on the sideline. The coordinator looks at his master sheet and tells the coaches
what numbers he wants to call. One coach would signal in the number for the fronts and stunts. The
other coach would signal in the pass coverage. An example would be if you wanted to run Stack-OH
Bat-Eon Cover 2, you would tell one coach to signal in number 25 and the other coach to signal in
number 3. This system enables the person calling defenses to concentrate totally on the master sheet
and tendencies and not worry about having to signal the defenses personally.
 Figure 7-1. Defensive master sheet for coaches
 Figure 7-3. Wristband pass coverage
Figure 7-2. Wristband fronts and stunts
script for players
script for players

You must have schemes to stop your opponents from stealing your system. The following things
can be used for your protection:
• Change your game script numbering each week.

• Double-number your defenses. Sometimes Stack-OH may be number 5 and number 10.

• Use a color code for your script and numbers.

• Use sideline signals to confuse the opponent.

• Have the coaches on the sideline swap during the game. The pass signaler now calls the fronts,
and the front signaler calls the pass coverage.
• Change your scripts during the game. Give each player a new script where defenses are the same,
but the numbering is different. You should enter each game with two sets of scripts.
• The coaches can signal in numbers by using their fingers. The number 21 is given by showing
two fingers on the right hand and one finger on the left hand (defenders read from left the right.)
You may want coaches to tape their fingers with white tape so their fingers are seen more clearly
by the defenders.
• Numbers can also be substituted by using signals. For example, the ears are number 2 and the nose
is number 1. One hand on each ear and then one hand on the nose would be number 21 (two ears
 and one nose). The top of the head could be 0. So, basically, you are giving signals as a baseball
coach would give signals. You just need to develop your own system.

Another way to script wristbands is to list the assignment for the wristband wearer. If you have a
player or several players who are having trouble with processing too much information, you may
want to consider describing the individual player ’s assignment. The following would be an example
of scripting by using assignments: you want to run #22 from the chart found in Figure 7-2 and your
Sam linebacker is having trouble remembering his assignments. You would script his wristband to
read “#22. Stack-OH Fina blitz the 6 hole,” instead of “#22. Stack-OH Fina Smash 68.” When you
script this way the player can quickly see his assignment. The disadvantage of using this scheme,
however, is that the player or players do not get accustomed to using the full terminology of the
defensive scheme.
 About the Author

Denny M. Burdine has 30 years of football coaching experience at the high school level. Before
retiring, he spent the last 17 years of his coaching career at Arkansas High School in Texarkana,
Arkansas, where he served as a defensive coordinator, head football coach, athletic director, and
history teacher.

His love for defensive football helped to establish him as one of the best defensive coaches in the
state of Arkansas, with his defensive teams being ranked as one of the best in the state year in and year
out. Some of his players have gone on to play at the Division I level, as well as in the NFL. During his
career, he coached three NFL football players: Rod Smith of the Denver Broncos, Eric Warfield of
the Kansas City Chiefs, and Mike Cherry of the New York Giants.

Burdine is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University. A strong believer in teaching character,

leadership, and work ethics to players and students, he is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s
Teachers.

Burdine and his wife, Judy, have two children, Jennifer and Lori, and four grandchildren.