Kellis Cougar Football

Defensive Playbook 2009

DRAFT
 Outline
• Player Expectations
• Cornerstones of Kellis Defense
• Defensive Philosophy
• Defensive Practice Policies
• Gaps and Technique Numbering System
• Receiver Numbering System
• Formation Strength
• Positions and Huddle
• Pursuit/Focal Point
• Fronts
◦ Texas (4-3)
◦ Florida (4-4)
◦ Georgia (6-2)
• Coverages
◦ White (Cover 9 Man, 1 or 0 free)
◦ Red (Cover 2)
◦ Blue (Cover 3)
 Player Expectations

Be a Team Player – Follow all team policies and guidelines, this includes school guidelines.
Understand that your importance to this team does not only include what you do on Friday nights,
but what you do the rest of the week too.

Be Coachable – Understand that all of your coaches are working hard to make you the best player
possible and this team the best team possible. Accept correction and get better from it.

Work Hard – Don't look back on your high school football career and wonder “what if?”

Be Responsible – There are no good excuses for being late to practice or meetings.

Have Pride – Never be last to anything on the field.

Show Respect – Never talk when a coach is talking and never talk back to a coach.

Be Mentally Tough – Do not let what is going on in the outside world (school, family, girlfriend, work,
etc.) have a negative impact on your performance on the field.

Display Honor - “If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - John
Wooden

Cornerstones of Kellis Defense

1. Play UNITED. (Eleven brothers as ONE.)

2. Play for EACH OTHER. (There is NO room for individuals on this defense.)
3. STOP THE RUN!
4. Force the enemy to throw and then punish the QB for that decision.
5. Know and do YOUR job. (Eleven men doing THEIR job creates an unstoppable force.)
6. Do everything in your power for the team to win. Be relentless in your EFFORT and PURSUIT.
7. Have FUN! (Football is a GAME, enjoy it!)

Defensive Philosophy

Kellis Defense will be an unstoppable, attacking defensive unit based on the following:
• Proper stance, alignment, and reads
• Quick and violent shedding of blocks
• Relentless pursuit to the ball by all 11 men on the field
• Fundamentally sound tackling
• Intense desire to punish the ball carrier

We also will make use of multiple fronts, coverage disguises, and heavy pressure on the quarterback.
 Defensive Practice Policies

The following policies are necessary in order to have a good defensive practice and acquire winning
habits. They will be followed everyday on the practice field because you DO play like you practice.

• Be ON TIME to all practices and meetings. (If the meeting starts at 2:45 and you arrive at 2:45,
you are late. Arrive at least five minutes early to be safe.)
• Being in the training room is not an acceptable excuse to miss meetings or practice unless you
have been cleared AHEAD OF TIME by Coach Golden or Coach Hogg.
• Mentally prepare yourself for practice everyday. This is the first step in having a successful
practice.
• Give 100% effort in every practice situation. This is where we get better.
• When groups or players are switching in and out, jog ALL THE WAY to the sideline or to the
place your position coach wants you. NEVER WALK ON THE FIELD!
• When you are not in a drill or a rep, you should be paying attention. Know the defense called
and watch your position as it is played.
• Nothing is half speed mentally. If we are not tackling, pursue at full speed to the ball and break
down in a good football stance.
• Do not get on another player when he makes a mistake. Encourage and make positive
comments.
• Do not sit on your helmet.
• If you are injured or sick, only the trainer or one of the coaches will determine if you will sit
out of practice or go home. You will not make this decision for yourself.
• Yell “PASS!” when there is a pass read.
• Yell “BALL!” when a pass is thrown or if there is a fumble.
• Yell “RUN!” when there is a run read.
• Yell “OSKIE!” when there is an interception.
• Most importantly, get better each practice. It is impossible for you to maintain. You either get
better or worse everyday. Work everyday to improve yourself and together we will be an
unstoppable DEFENSIVE UNIT.
 Gaps and Technique Numbering System

Offensive Line Positions

Center – snaps ball to quarterback
Guards – outside C
Tackles – outside G
Tight End – outside T

Gaps
A gap – between C and G
B gap – between G and T
C gap – between T and TE or outside T if no TE
D gap – outside TE

Technique Numbering System

0 – head up on C
1 – head on outside shoulder of C
2i – head on inside shoulder of G
2 – head up on G
3 – head on outside shoulder of G
4i – head on inside shoulder of T
4 – head up on T
5 – head on outside shoulder of T
7 – head on inside shoulder of TE
6 – head up on TE
9 – head on outside shade of TE
8 – loose outside of TE
 Receiver Numbering System

A receiver is defined as any player who is eligible to catch a pass (wide receivers, slot receivers, tight
ends, wings, and running backs).

Receivers are numbered starting from the widest player and counting in towards the center.

Formation Strength

The run strength of a formation will be called based on the following criteria:
1. TIGHT END
2. If no TE, then MOST RECEIVERS
3. If even receivers, then FIELD
4. If in middle of field, then DEFENSIVE LEFT
 Defensive Positions

Defensive Line
Anchor – strong-side end
Tank – strong-side tackle
Nose – weak-side tackle
Cougar – weak-side end (¢)

Linebackers
Sam – strong side
Mike – middle (colonel of whole defense)
Will – weak side

Secondary
Left Corner
Strong Safety ($) (colonel of secondary)
K-Safety – free safety
Right Corner

Huddle
M
$
A T W N ¢
L S K R

Will – about three yards from ball, yells “HUDDLE!” to set huddle
Tank – left of Will
Anchor – left of Tank
Nose – right of Will
Cougar – right of Nose
Sam – behind and between Tank and Will
K-Safety – behind and between Will and Nose
L-Corner – behind and between Anchor and Tank
R-Corner – behind and between Nose and Cougar
Strong Safety – away from, but facing our sideline; general of huddle; give down and distance
Mike – in front of huddle facing our sideline; get signal, make call, and break huddle

• All players need to know the signals.

• The huddle is not the place for criticism and arguments. BE POSITIVE.
• Once the huddle is broken, the MIKE linebacker and the STRONG safety must continue to
check the sideline for additional calls or adjustments.
• Once the offense comes out, the SAM linebacker will make the strength call.
Pursuit/Focal Point
 Fronts
“4” is always 4i
“Inside” call always talks to the 2 technique(s)
 Texas (Base 4-3)

CHECK: Against two TE formations, check to OKLAHOMA or GEORGIA

• Texas (Base; 31) (Strong/Weak/Bear)

• Texas 41 (Strong/Weak)
• Texas 32 (Strong/Weak/Bear)
• Texas Stack (22) (Weak/Bear)
• Texas Push (22 Inside) Weak/Bear
• Texas 13 Weak/Bear

Techniques/Alignments
A–6
S – CHARLIE (C gap, 4.5 yards deep)
T – 3 or first number in call
M – ALPHA strong (A gap, 4.5 yards deep)
N – 1 or second number in call
W – BRAVO (B gap, 4.5 yards deep)
¢–5

Gap Responsibilities
A – Strong D gap (unless “SLIDE” then strong C)
S – Strong C gap (unless “SLIDE” then strong D)
T – Strong A or B gap (whichever gap lined up in; if head up, take inside gap)
M – Strong A or B gap (whichever gap T is not lined up in; if T head up, take outside gap)
N – Weak A or B gap (whichever gap lined up in; if head up, take inside gap)
W – Weak A or B gap (whichever gap N is not lined up in; if N head up, take outside gap)
¢ – Weak C gap

NOTE: M – When “WHIP” called, then two-gap player: Strong A gap AND Weak B gap
 Texas (continued)

Adjustments
Slide – When there is a slot receiver (or receivers) (#2 and #3) on the strong side, we will SLIDE the
LBs
S – Split the difference between near receiver and the last man on LOS, 3.5 yards deep,
responsible for strong D gap
M – Move to a 20 alignment (two technique, 4.5 yards deep)
W – Move to a 20 alignment
A – Responsible for strong C gap

SLIDE can also be called in the huddle (e.g. Texas 13 Weak Slide White)

Whip – When there is a slot receiver (or receivers) (#2 and #3) on the weak side, we will WHIP the LBs
W – Split the difference between #2 and EMOL or #2 and #3, 3.5 yards deep
M – Move to a 00 alignment (zero technique, 4.5 yards deep)
S – Move to a 40 alignment (four technique, 4.5 yards deep)

WHIP can also be called in the huddle (e.g. Texas 32 Strong Whip Red)

If both calls are made on the same play, WHIP OVERRIDES SLIDE

Strong
A–9

Weak
A – 7 (Strong C gap)
S – DELTA (Strong D gap)

A WEAK call is an automatic SLIDE

Bear
A–9
S–5

A BEAR call is an automatic SLIDE

 Oklahoma (Run Defense 4-4)

• Oklahoma (Base; 31) (Strong/Weak/Bear)

• Oklahoma 41 (Strong/Weak)
• Oklahoma 32 (Strong/Weak/Bear)
• Oklahoma Stack (22) (Weak/Bear)
• Oklahoma Push (22 Inside) Weak/Bear
• Oklahoma 13 Weak/Bear
• Oklahoma 12 Weak/Bear

Techniques
$ – DELTA (D gap, 4.5 yards deep)
A–6
S – BRAVO
T – 3 or first number in call
M – ALPHA weak
N – 1 or second number in call
W – DELTA
¢–5

Gap Responsibilities
A – Strong D gap
S – Strong C and Strong A gaps
T – Strong B gap (whichever gap lined up in; if head up, take inside gap)
N – Weak A gap
M – Strong A and Weak B gap
¢ – Weak C gap
W – Weak D gap

Adjustments
• When there is a slot receiver (or receivers) (#2 and #3) on the STRONG side, the $ will split the
difference between #2 and EMOL or between #2 and #3, 3.5 yards deep
• When there is a slot receiver (or receivers) (#2 and #3) on the WEAK side, the W will split the
difference between #2 and EMOL or between #2 and #3, 3.5 yards deep

Heavy
W-9
 Georgia (Goal Line 6-2)

CHECK: Against zero TE formations, check to TEXAS or OKLAHOMA

• Georgia (Base; 31)

• Georgia 21 Inside
• Georgia 20

Techniques
S–9
A–5
T – 3 or first number in call
$ – Stack (behind DT, 4.5 yards deep)
N – 1 or second number in call
M – Stack weak
¢–3
W–5

Gap Responsibilities
S – Strong D gap
A – Strong C gap
T – Strong B gap
$ – Strong A gap
N – Weak A gap
M – Strong A gap
¢ – Weak B
W – Weak C
 Coverages
Regardless of coverage, we line up the same way before the cadence. During the cadence, we move
to where we need to be.

Secondary Pre-Cadence Alignments

Corners – Four yards deep, one yard inside man
Safeties:
Texas:
◦ One-Receiver Side – 10 yards deep, two yards outside last man on LOS (10x2)
◦ Two-Receiver Side – 10 yards deep, stacked behind linebacker
◦ Three-Receiver Side
▪ K – 8 yards deep, split #3 and EMOL
▪ $ - 8 yards deep, split #2 and #3
K:
Oklahoma – 12 yards deep, split #1 receivers
Georgia – Eight yards deep, split #1 receivers
 White Bump/Clinton (Man)

Coverage Responsibilities
Corners - #1
$ and W - #2 ($: “SODA” before snap)
S and M - #3 [M: When free, drop to DEEP HOLE (15 yards deep, middle of field)]
EXCEPTION: Mike has BO Strong (#4) against TRIPLE
K – FREE or ADJUSTER

Pre-Snap Alignments
Corners:
Bump – On LOS, “kick-the-crotch” inside alignment
Clinton – Eight yards deep, one yard inside man
$ – Texas: “SODA” six yards deep, one yard inside man
K – (When FREE) 12 yards deep, EAGLE distance away from middle of field
Others:
Covering slot receiver – Move to one yard inside man
Covering TE – Move to one yard outside man
Covering BO or FREE – No change
 Texas Red Bump/Clinton

Coverage Responsibilities
Corners – Read #2
• If #2 goes to the FLAT, play the FLAT and be ready for the wheel route
• If #2 goes vertical or in, check #1
◦ If #1 goes to the FLAT, play the FLAT
◦ If #1 goes vertical, drop to DEEP ¼ over #1
Safeties – Read #2
• If #2 goes to the FLAT, drop to DEEP ½ on BAND, check #1
◦ If #1 runs a shallow route, look backside for something coming to you
◦ If #1 goes vertical, play outside edge of BAND ready to break on #1, be ready for
something coming to you
• If #2 goes vertical drop to deep ½ on BAND
S and W – HOOK drop
M – HOLE drop (if you get to the hole and the QB still has the ball, keep dropping to the DEEP HOLE)
Against three receivers, if #3 runs to the split, run with him (CARRY 3)

EXCEPTION: Backside of three receivers, man on #1

Against three-receiver sides (TRIX and TRIPLE) adjust all drop landmarks two yards towards the
three-receiver side

Pre-Snap Alignments
Corners:
BUMP – On LOS, “kick-the-crotch” inside alignment
CLINTON – Eight yards deep, one yard inside man
Safeties – Get on band
Others – No change
 Oklahoma Blue (Clinton)

Coverage Responsibilities
Corners – Deep outside 1/3
K – Middle inside 1/3 (MIT)
$ and W – Curl
S and M – Seam

Pre-Snap Alignments
Corners: – Eight yards deep, one yard outside man
K – 12 yards deep, EAGLE distance away from middle of field
Others – No change

Against three-receiver sides (TRIX and TRIPLE)

Adjust all drop landmarks two yards towards the three-receiver side

BOX Coverage
Backside of three receivers, man on #1
Front-side corner – DEEP ¼
K – DEEP ½ to three-receiver side
Front-Side OLB ($ or W) – CURL (same as normal)
S or Corner Over – SEAM
M – If #3 runs to the split, run with him (CARRY 3)