2005

Scoring Defense Total Defense Rushing Defense

10th 17pts
12th 304yds 7th 93 yds

2006
9th 14pts

2007 2008
7th 17pts 8th 14pts

15th 284yds 11th 308yds 8th 280yds 7th 87yds 7th 93yds 8th 93yds

Sacks

8th 41sks

6th 40sks

2nd 46sks

24th 33sks

DEVELOPING D-LINE DRILLS

As you prepare your D-Line drills you must keep a certain mentality in mind while conducting the drill. D-Lineman have one of the most important assignments in football, and it is predicated on their ability to rush the passer or get to the ball carrier. The main ingredients for a good defensive lineman, is the need for quickness and determination. Areas of consideration when conducting your drills:

1) SPEED: A D-Lineman must have excellent foot speed. He must always keep his feet alive and moving. 2) ACCELERATION: Initial quickness must always be emphasized. The desire to accelerate on movement of the football is the principal athletic trait a D-Lineman needs. Areas of concentration will be to accelerate, react quickly, and develop good physical coordination. If a blocker is quick enough to get his hands inside the framework of the DLinemans numbers and get his elbows locked on him, forget it. The defender will not get to the passer.

3) COORDINATION: A D-Lineman must be able to coordinate the action of his hands, feet, and body as he rushes the passer. When rushing the passer or playing the run, a D-Lineman must keep his feet moving. Remember this point with your drills.

4) COMPETITIVENESS: An attitude is one of the most important football qualities a D-Lineman should have. A D-Lineman gets more sacks when he just keeps coming and he never gives up. A D-Lineman needs to have a mean streak, meaning they want to get after people, even on the practice field. Make your drills tough and demanding.

5) TOUGHNESS: A D-Lineman must not be denied. How will he react when playing against a bigger and stronger opponent?

6) INSIDE POWER: Your D-Line must be able to control the line of scrimmage.

D-LINEMAN CHARACTERISTICS
QUICKNESS: The D-Lineman must demonstrate quickness in his ability to move in all directions. He should demonstrate an aboveaverage reactive ability for his size. FLUIDITY: The D-Lineman must demonstrate fluid movement as he reacts and changes direction on the field. FLEXIBILITY: A D-Lineman must demonstrate extraordinary flexibility for his size. Flexibility is a requirement for maintaining the proper leverage as he defeats the blockers. POWER: The D-Lineman must be able to strike a blow with power. He should have a knack for delivering an explosive blow to the opponent. He cannot be a leaner. He must be able to quickly shed the blocker.

 RECOGNITION SKILLS: The D-Lineman should be able to make the proper adjustments and adapt to changing situations. He has to be able to recognize offensive blocking patterns quickly and respond with an immediate physical reaction. CONSISTENCY: The D-Lineman must demonstrate reliability and consistency under pressure. He should respond to his reads properly at all times. He should demonstrate a football IQ in he is able to relate to down and distance tendencies, field position tendencies, clock factors, formation tendencies, etc

The exceptional D-Lineman is involved in the leadership process of the unit. He not only rises to the occasion, he leads through his body and mind. Some of the things the involved D-Lineman does for his team include:
Checking the yard markers and reminding teammates of the offensive tendencies Helping his teammates be alert for the opponents special plays. Anticipating checks and other such defensive audibles. Understanding the relationship of the secondary perimeter support call to the front scheme. Appreciating the impact of the field position. Understanding the relevance of the weather on the style of play.

THE FIVE ESSENTIALS

1. STANCE: You should not overemphasize the stance parameters of the D-Lineman. What is important is the stance allows the D-Lineman to take a somewhat neutral position. He should be able to move in either direction with an explosive power-step.

2. ATTACK: We do not teach the big first step coaching point many coaches edify in their desire to gain penetration. We feel the big first step puts the D-Lineman at a disadvantage against every type of block, save one. The only blocking scheme a big first step technique is effective against is the high-hat read (pass protection). Against all other blocks, the big first step outs the D-Lineman on the edge or in a position of imbalance against a blocker using short power strides. In order for a player to contact the blocker in a fundamentally sound body position, it is extremely important the player utilize short, powerful steps while maintaining a good base.

3. NEUTRALIZE: The effective D-Lineman must neutralize the blockers impact and stabilize the line of scrimmage. Neutralizing a blocker or a combination blocking scheme involves several reactions. Getting an up field push on a pass protector, spilling a trap blocker, disrupting a combo block, etc. In order to consistently neutralize a blocker or blocking scheme, the productive D-Lineman must be able to move quickly and efficiently in eight different directions.

4. ESCAPE: This is where the kinship of D-Line play and wrestling is the strongest. A primary characteristic of an effective defensive player is his ability to quickly and violently shed a blocker. Against the run, escaping predominantly entails lateral movement ability. Against the pass, the defender may have to throw the blocker aside with a club move in order to clear the pass rushing lane. Good technique and leverage is simply not enough. The escape factor is a critical component to DLine play and it should be practiced on a daily basis with specific drills which hone the players technique in escaping from contact with the blocker.

5. PURSUIT: An effective escape puts the D-Lineman into position to effectively pursue the ball carrier. No one can outhustle our defense. In addition to outhustling our opponent, our players (through the use of the proper escape technique) will pursue the ball carrier according to the proper angle and leverage. Hustle and angle are the two components of effective individual pursuit.

PHILOSOPHY OF PURSUIT & TACKLING

Pursuit is the burning desire to get to the football. Pursuit can be evaluated by freezing a video frame and counting the number of players around the football on any given play.

You can be a turnover producing defense with great pursuit by your D-Lineman. Force people to go the distance to score. You can build a reputation of punishing gang tackling from the front and backside by demanding team pursuit.

WHAT IT TAKES TO PURSUE

1. Pursuit is first a mental process 2. Visualize pursuing and making great plays. 3. Physical conditioning is necessary so you can have great pursuit on every play. 4. Speed- react fast and quickly. You can improve your speed and quickness.

HOW TO PURSUE
1. Play technique and gap responsibility first 2. Concentrate on lateral movement when the ball comes your way. 3. Take correct course (pursuit angle) to the ball so you are in good position for the cutback. 4. You have to want to be the first to the ball. 5. Whoever is responsible for contain, must turn the ball carrier inside to pursuit. Everyone else works inside out to the ball.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT THE BALL

1. Come to balance (come under control). 2. Good bent knee striking position. 3. Step to and through the ball carrier (take one extra step). 4. Club and wrap-up, driving your numbers through their numbers.

WHAT PURSUIT DOES

1. Eliminates the long touchdown. 2. Discourages opponents. a. During the course of a game b. Strikes fear and intimidates future opponents. 3. Promotes consistent team performance. 4. Creates turnovers all over the field.

TACKLING
DEFINITION: A tackle is a desired collision between the defensive man and the ball carrier. THE DEFENSIVE MAN MUST WIN!

OBJECTIVE: To stop the ball carrier in his tracks for little or no gain and to gang tackle. Tackling is 50% determination and 50% technique. It takes both aggressiveness and good technique to be a great tackler.

TECHNIQUE/FUNDAMENTALS
1. Meet the ball carrier in a good hitting position. 2. Eyes should be focused on the ball carriers numbers. 3. Dont give the ball carrier a two way cut. 4. Keep butt low, keep head up, first contact should be made with the chest or numbers. As the chest or numbers make contact, roll the hips.

5. Do not leave your feet, wide base, short choppy steps, drive through ball carrier and take him backwards. 6. On contact work arms from low to high, wrap viciously and pull the ball carrier towards you, squeeze and grab cloth. 7. If you are caught in a poor hitting position, somehow make the tackle. Grab arms, legs, or anything you can get a hold of, except the face mask.

OPEN FIELD TACKLE

1. Gather yourself and come under control 3-4 yards from the ball carrier, feet choppingmove toward ball carrier. 2. Keep eyes on the belt buckle and get into a good hitting position. Make the tackle. 3. Give the ball carrier only one way to go, then take it away. 4. Leave your feet only as a last resort. 5. Use the sideline whenever possible. 6. Force the ball carrier back into pursuit when possible.