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The Four-Four Defense Blue Jay Style
The Four-Four Defense Blue Jay Style
The Four-Four Defense Blue Jay Style
Bluejay Style
T he Minnesota West football program
is honored to contribute to the 2000
AFCA Summer Manual. On behalf of our
Creating Scoring Opportunities
Our second objective is to create scor-
ing opportunities by turnovers, scoring,
players and coaching staff, I would like to field position and three-and-outs. This
thank the AFCA for allowing Minnesota objective occurs because of the pressure
West to share a little bit about our put on by our defense, which causes the
defense. opposition to force mistakes or an inability
After taking over as head coach, I to get into an offensive rhythm. We have
wanted to develop a style of defense that installed the three and outs into our defen-
would employ an attacking style. The four- sive statistics as a type of turnover, so we
four has been a very effective and easily can track how often we create, as a
learned defense to implement into our defense, chances for our offense to score.
program. We have been very successful Attacking Defense: We use an attack-
with the four-four setting a number of ing style to create confusion within our
school records and being a nationally opponents offense. In order to put pressure
ranked defense two out of the last four on the offense, our defensive package will
years. All successful programs must be contain three components:
able to adapt and change to the adjust- 1. Area Control Defense: Each zone in
ments made by the opposing offenses. the box is responsible for an area that they
Scott Barber, my defensive coordinator, are to control of during each play. In order
has done an outstanding job adjusting and to enhance our area control, we use a wide
creating new ways to challenge opposing variety of line and linebacker stunts.
offenses. Before we start to break down 2. Read Reaction at Second Level:
our four-four stack defense, I would first The area control allows for our linebackers
like to share our defensive philosophy. to react and attack the line of scrimmage
There are three important points in our immediately. The secondary will add sup-
philosophy. port by rerouting receivers and providing
run support.
Jeff Linder Defend the End Zone 3. Relentless Pursuit: Each and every
The primary objective of our defense is member of the defensive unit will pursue to
Head Coach to prevent the opposing team from scoring the football every play until the whistle
points. To fulfill this objective, our defen- blows. Each player is expected to give 100
Minnesota West Community sive package will consist of the following: percent at all times in pursuit of the ball.
and Technical College Sound Fundamentals: Regardless of Stop the Ball: This is an area we
what type of defensive call that is made, strongly emphasize. Run oriented teams
Worthington, Minn. basic fundamentals must ultimately be will not be allowed to control the tempo of
conquered by each player. Sound princi- the game. It is important for our defense to
ples can include: run-force, cutback take teams that like to run the ball out of
reads, reverse/boot reads, pursuit, and their intended game plans and force them
communication. into mistakes.
Consistency: Our defense must be
able to show multiple stunts, fronts, and Play with Intensity
coverage to be able to adjust to any type Great defenses play with intensity.
of offense that we may see. This will allow Intensity starts with each individual player
us to keep a single defense, rather than and stems out over the whole defense. We
changing schemes from week to week. use the Bluejay Creed to guide our players,
Team Concept: When players enter and it consists of five components:
our program, it is imperative that individ- • Execute to the fullest.
ual players understand that they are part • Never underestimate.
of a bigger picture. The ultimate success • Be aggressive.
of the defensive unit falls upon each play- • No excuses.
er doing their job assigned to them. • Leave the field with no doubt.
Therefore, discipline in the execution of With our defensive philosophy being an
that responsibility is essential. Te a m attacking pressure defense, we put a lot of
goals hold preference to that of the indi- pressure on our secondary and rely on
vidual desires, and it is the responsibility their ability to play man coverage. Our sec-
of each player to be prepared both men- ondary players need to be very physical
tally and physically in order to perform at and fast players that have the ability to
the highest level possible. change types of coverages in split