Defending Commonly Seen Pass Plays in the 4-2-5 Defense

By: Coach Jimmy Sims Head Football Coach at Los Angeles Valley College Football simsja@lavc.edu

The Frank Glazer Clinic

Special Thanks Frank Glazer Clinic Biography and Coaching Experience
Education 18 years High School & College Coaching
leaned about myself as a coach in high school
slow down, teach, communicate, be humble You must be humiliated, before you can be humble

Introduction
I am not here to convince you play our defensive coverages, but more importantly to share information that we believe works for our athletes. Hopefully, our information can assist you as a coach and / or your players. I believe that coaches must understand the players the personnel you have, then use your philosophy to fit the mold of our players. "It's not always the X's and the O's,it's the Billy's and the Joe's... It's a true statement!

Introduction
Ive been associated with some great coaches. I have had the chance to coach with them on the sidelines I've had the opportunity to pick their brains at clinics or during the recruiting process.

Defensive Staff at Los Angeles Valley College

Preparing for each opponent each week. Our secondary philosophy is to teach our base defense that our athletes can master in a two year period. Do the little things, first
establish a solid foundation in our base coverages and our blitz schemes

builds confidence in the players by keeping it simple the secondary can grab a large number of repetitions with each practice
repetitions create confidence for the athletes allows them to perform at a high level in games without hesitations.

discipline plays a key role in the secondary

without it, the season will be very long.

L.A. Valley College Secondary Philosophy

Our Philosophy
Teach secondary fundamentals; alignment and assignment Must be able to make a tackle Stop the run Control the passing game The use of deception in disguising the coverage Personnel and evaluation of players Recruit speed, quickness, football intelligence, mental and physical toughness Prevent the big play and easy touchdown

Our Secondary Philosophy

Read and React Forget about the last play (deep touchdowns) Protect Your Territory - each player is asked to be responsible for their territory
The tendency to help your teammate protect his areas
Do your primary job first; then help & pursuit once the your initial territory has been secured.

The Keys To Teaching Quarters Coverage

The coach must be able to teach the principles of alignment and assignment to his players Find players that will execute properly Players must believe in the defense Basic overall understanding of offensive formations; 21P, 20P, 12P, 11P 10P, GL

The Keys To Teaching Quarters Coverage

Know the Weaknesses - coaches must know the weaknesses of of the defense Repetitions of Fundamentals fundamental techniques will differ from one coverage to another
do you have a secondary coach that understands technique & can teach technique to the players?

Advantages of Quarters Coverage

Nine man front Compliments the play action pass Assist the defense with four vertical receivers The transition from the base defense to zone blitzing is simple Good Run Support: Primary Force and Alley Fill

Advantages of Quarters Coverage

Juco s often have players reporting late
We need a defense that is easy to learn in a short period of time.

The DEFENSE CONTINUES

Coaches can use many different schemes that all look the same to the opposing quarterback:

Disguises: C4 to C2, C4 to C3 (traditional S/S or Cloud), C4 to Man

Alignment
FC = Field Corner The alignment of the Field Corner is 7 yards back by 1 yard inside the #1 receiver. He is the CB to the wide side of the field. When in the middle of the field the coach can designated the left or right side based on the opponent. He is usually a better zone player and run support that the boundary corner back. BC = Boundary Corner 7 yards back by 1 yard inside the #1 receiver. He is the CB that is aligned to the boundary side of the field. He is the defender on your team that can play man to man coverage to the single receiver side; 10 personnel trips (1 RB / 0 TE); 11 personnel strong trips (1 RB / 1TE). This allows the defense to zone the wide side of the field and man the back side when needed.

BASE ALIGNMENT vs (21P)

Diagram: #1

A $ 2x1 FC 7X1 F

T M

N W

BC R 7X1

10X2

10X2

Alignment
F/S = Free Safety 10 yards deep by 2 yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage. If a a slot receiver is present and ball on the hash, safeties will align no more than 4 yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage. He can adjust to his quarter of the field, but never outside his responsible quarter (fast receiver in 10P trips) If ball is in the middle of the field, alignment is a 10x2 R = Rover 10 yards deep by 2 yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage. If a a slot receiver is present and ball on the hash, safeties will align no more than 4 yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage. He can adjust to his quarter of the field, but never outside his responsible quarter (fast receiver in 10P trips) If ball is in the middle of the field, alignment is a 10x2

BASE ALIGNMENT vs (21P)

Diagram: #1

A $ 2x1 FC 7X1 F

T M

N W

BC R 7X1

10X2

10X2

Alignment vs (10P) Trips

Diagram #2
Field

Boundary

$
FC F 10x4

M
Lion Call

w
BC R 10x4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

Alignment vs (11P)
Diagram #3

A $

T M

w
BC

FC F
R

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

UNDER C. 4 vs (12P)
Diagram #4 R.H.

A $

T
M

N
W

FC
F

BC R

$ widen on strong trips motion for base combo or CHECK 3 by roll coverage

ADJUSTMENT TO (11P) TRIPS

Diagram #5
, , ; we prefer to not to flip CB. How good are your CBs on run support?

CORNER OVER?
E N T A $ FC

BC

Man / Zone Adjustment vs (10P) Trips

Must have a BC that can play man
Field

Diagram #6

Boundary

#3

BC M Lion Call

$
FC F 10x4

Man

R 10x4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

C. Assignment Run Support Keys and Reads

Safeties - Dont Go Until You Know Safeties - Flat-Footed Read; Wait technique Safeties Read and Key end man on the LOS Safeties - If its run; primary force on back field speed flow to the perimeter Safeties If its run; stack flow Safeties if its run; tight flow Safeties - cutback on all back field flow away

Run Support Keys and Reads

Cornerbacks key and reads QB triangle Cornerbacks have secondary run support on back field speed flow Cornerbacks have angle of pursuit on backfield flow away once ball is pass the LOS On WR crack on safety, CB must be primary force; CB must see contact on safety (very hard to teach)

Run Support in Quarters Cornerbacks

Diagram #7a
Back field run flows: speed, stack, tight

A $ 2x1 FC F

T M

E W BC R

Run Support in Quarters Safeties

Diagram #7b
Back field run flows: speed, stack tight

$ 2x1

T M

E W BC

FC F - 10x2 R 10x2

PASS DEFENSE
Practice Techniques and they will become second nature Fundamentals; we always concentrate on EDDs ( every day drills) I. Stance II. Backpedal III. Break on the ball IV. Zone Turns with hips, leg drive, and acceleration V. Man to Man hip movements and hand placement (opponents hands or hips and high thighs VI. Intercepting Balls VII. Tackling VIII. Alignment IX. Assignment

Assignment Pass Keys and Reads

Technique for CBs - shuffle, shuffle , bail CBs: Routes 10 yards or more is your man off man from seven yards Three step read key from quarterback If three steps is no longer a threat; work hard into a speed backpedal with eyes on #1 receiver 18 yards or more the CB will take his man on an intermediate route or to a deep route

Assignment Pass Keys and Reads

Technique for Safeties
Dont go until you know Flat footed read; wait technique If no vertical threat by the #2 receiver, get inside and underneath the #1 receiver
4 important keys by the #2 receiver
a.) block; primary run support to cutback b.) vertical release; 10 yards or more man to man c.) inside release; look to double #1 receiver inside out d.) outside release; look to double #1 receiver inside out

C.4 PASS RESPONSIBILITY

Diagram #8 LBS HAVE UNDERNEATH ZONES. DBS HAVE THEIR QUARTERS

Vulnerable Areas; Low & outside

Vulnerable Areas; Low & outside

M $ FC F

W BC R

1/4 1/4 1/4 THIS GIVES US FOUR DEEP VS. FOUR VERTICALS

1/4

C. 4 PASS RESPONSIBILITY
Diagram #9 DBs: Routes at 10 yds or more = man to man $/$ and WLB must jam to re-route #2.

$
FC

W
BC

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

C. 4 PASS RESPONSIBILITY
Diagram #10 Safeties and LBS Pattern Read #2.

M $ FC F

W BC R

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

C. 4 PASS RESPONSIBILITY
Diagram #11

M $ FC

W BC

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

C. 4 PASS RESPONSIBILITY
Diagram #12

$ FC F

W BC R

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

C. 4 PASS RESPONSIBILITY
Diagram #13

$ FC 1/4 F 1/4

W BC 1/4 R 1/4

C. 4 PASS COVERAGE VS. 90 SERIES (1,2,3, STEP DROP)

DBs read QB three step drop; technique is very important

Diagram #14

$ FC F

W BC R

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

PASSING SCHEMES THAT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR QUARTERS COVERAGE

Diagram #15a

Counter Pass

M $ FC

late
BC

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

Counter Pass Adjustment: Double Robber Not good against multiple formations offenses unless you are able to check coverages
Diagram #15b

Counter Pass vs Double Robber

$ FC

M RB

W RB BC

PASSING SCHEMES THAT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR QUARTERS COVERAGE

Diagram #16

Iso Pass;

$ late on re-route of #2 rec; tough for F/S

M late

FC F
R

BC

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

PASSING SCHEMES THAT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR QUARTERS COVERAGE

Diagram #17

Naked Pass: very effective play

$ M

w
BC

FC F
R

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

Naked Pass Adjustment: , (slot), Man

Diagram #18

Naked Pass: very effective play

Field

$ M

w
BC
R

FC F

1/4

1/4

PASSING SCHEMES THAT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR QUARTERS COVERAGE

Diagram #19

Half Back Pass; FC must see WR contact on safety; have patience

w
BC
R

FC F

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

PASSING SCHEMES THAT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR QUARTERS COVERAGE

Diagram #20
Play Action Pass: very effective M no re-route; vertical pressure on R

w
BC
R

FC F

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

Success is when preparation meet opportunity

Prepare your players so that they understand the coaches thinking process vs the opponent Organize practice plans that create game like situations throughout the week. This will assist your players to be successful with any coverage you decide is best.