FB.

30

NUMBERS’
DEFENSIVE
SYSTEM

Edited On July 21, 2010

30-2 Introduction to Numbers’ Defense

We can stop any offensive scheme and

“Inflict P.A.I.N.” to gain an advantage that
will help our team win.
NUMBERS’ DEFENSIVE SYSTEM

0. Introduction to Defense 4. Defensive Pressure Package

A. Stunt Package
A. Defensive Philosophy: B. Blitz Package
“Inflict P.A.I.N.”
B. Defensive Goals
5. Defensive Practice Schedule
C. Responsibilities of a
Defensive Coach
A. Defensive Installation
Schedule
1. Defensive Organization
B. Defensive Weekly Practice
Schedule
A. Description of Defensive
Positions C. Defensive Group Situations
B. Defensive Huddle and D. Defensive Team Situations
Responsibilities
C. Calling the Defense 6. Defensive Game Plan

2. Defensive Front A. Defensive Call Sheet

B. Weekend Planning Schedule
A. Defensive Front Alignment C. Defensive Scouting Report
B. LB Technique and Variations D. Defensive Evaluation Plan
C. Defensive Front Variations
D. Slide Front Combinations 7. Defensive Line Position
Manual
3. Secondary Coverage
A. Coaching the Defensive Line
A. Defensive Secondary B. Fundamentals of Defensive
Scheme Line
B. Cover Zero C. Evaluation of Defensive Line
C. Cover One D. Handout for Defensive
D. Cover Two Linemen
E. Cover Three E. Defensive Line Drill
F. Cover Four Progression
G. Cover Five
H. Cover Six 8. Linebacker Position Manual
I. Cover Seven
J. Cover Eight 9. Defensive Back Position
K. Cover Eight Manual

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Introduction to Number’s Defense 30-3

WE WILL “INFLICT P.A.I.N.” ON OUR OPPONENT

If They Don’t Score, We Can’t Lose

Defense is the cornerstone of success in football. An excellent offense wins

games; an excellent defense wins championships.

The Numbers’ Defensive System is an organized plan for all aspects of

defense. The system focuses on training of the individual and team in the
areas of physical, fundamental, technical, and attitude development. With
the development of these skills, abilities, and traits, the defense must
have a sound and flexible plan to attack the offense.

Pressure Offense into Mental Mistakes (High Percentage of Error)

1. Increase Offensive Percentage of Error

A. Each team gets the ball about 12 times. If we can recover 2 fumbles
and intercept 2 passes, their chances of scoring almost 33%.
B. Each time they lose the ball without a punt, we picked up
approximately 35 yards. (4x = 140 yards). No offensive plays that will
average 35-yards.

1. We’re guaranteed 5 offensive plays, and the 1st is our punt return.
2. We should average from 8-to-10 yards per return and bring one
back all the way occasionally. Better than most offensive plays,
3. Fielding every punt we can safely, saves the yardage we would lose
on a bad bounce toward our goal.

2. Use Multiple Defensive Schemes to Confuse.

By presenting a multiple defense, the defense will confuse the offense and
yet still have only a few basic techniques to learn.

A. We will present the offense with many different fronts and coverages.
Make them spend a lot of time preparing for our defense. A good
offense will pick a defense apart, if it sits in a single defense all
evening.
B. This allows us to adjust to different situations such as down-and-
distance, hash mark tendencies, offensive personnel strengths, and
offensive plays.
C. We force our opponents to deal with a pre-snap and a post-snap read.

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30-4 Introduction to Numbers’ Defense

1. Show one look before the ball is snapped, then something entirely
different after the snap.
2. Stem and shift while the QB is calling signals.

Never afford an opponent the luxury of “lining up, winding up, and kicking
butt.” Keep opponents on their heels. Keep them guessing about what
we’re going to do.

Stem and Disguise Philosophies

The other part of our defense, which I alluded to earlier, that we feel
makes us very multiple is our ability to stem and disguise our front as well
as the secondary. We take the approach of letting our kids have fun with
this part of the game by allowing them a lot of freedom, with a few
parameters that they must follow.

A. On the snap of the ball, be in position to take care of your gap

assignment and/or pass responsibility.
B. Work in unison with the player in front of or next to you. We call this,
“working on a string.” Every player is attached to an imaginary string,
which is either attached to a person in front, back, or beside you. This
allows players to have freedom of movement, but gives looks that we
will actually be in.
C. Show alignments in which the offense must always account for you,
always be a threat to blitz. Within these parameters we really allow our
players a lot of freedom, which makes them feel that they have a
vested interest in what we are doing schematically on defense.

We feel that with the ability to keep alignments and assignments very
basic and consistent, we can give the offense many different looks and
cause a lot of indecision in the quarterback’s mind. We also take the same
approach that many defensive coaches take when they have to defend
the option from a team that is not necessarily an option team.

We want offenses to have to spend their practice time trying to adapt to

all the different things we are going to show them, which is going to force
them to shrink their game plan down to the very basics of what they do.
By doing this, it allows us to practice all of our fronts and
coverages, knowing we are going to get a limited number of looks
from our opponents.

Attack Offensive Keys and Tendencies

1. Recognize Offensive Keys and Tendencies

This is the beginning of good defensive play. This is developed through

dedicated practice and mental preparation for each week’s game.

2. Stop the Run and Control the Pass.

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Introduction to Number’s Defense 30-5

Force our opponent into a throwing situation. If a team can run, they can
throw it when they want to. It becomes a guessing game.

A. Coordinated Pattern Defense to Stop the Run.

We are going to wind up in a form of gap defense. Defense vs. the run
is based on building a solid wall of defenders along the LOS. Each of
the front 7 has gap responsibility. Some members of the defense are
one gap defenders and some are two gap defenders.

1. Inside-Outside Control

Each man must defend his gap (protect his house) until the ball is
no longer a threat in that area and then escapes to help on the
tackle in other areas (pursuit). If a run play is directed in a
defender’s gap, make the tackle or force the ball into another gap.
This can be accomplished by allowing a defender to gain an
advantage on a side of a blocker by alignment of charge—creating
a gap situation.

2. Pursuit

We must get a maximum number of people moving to the ball on

the shortest possible course.

3. Read on the Run

Defense has to read and react after the ball is snapped. The
defensive responsibility will change according to what the offense
does; see the offensive play and counter what they are doing.

B. Overloaded Pass Defense to Control the Pass. Eliminate Key

Receivers!

1. Pass rushers must stay in their lanes and get to the passer by the
direct route. If he is allowed to run away from the rush, it will hurt
us.
2. LBs must hold up and generally create havoc in order to disrupt
the timing and/or patterns of the receivers
3. DBs must learn their responsibilities and the techniques that
must be used to enable them to cover their responsibilities.
4. Control Field Position—Develop a sense of urgency to stop them
now!

C. Defending the Cutback, Reverse, and Bootleg

In order to play sound football from the backside, we must be very

much aware of pursuit responsibilities. Three of the most important

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30-6 Introduction to Numbers’ Defense

factors in this phase of football is the cutback, reverse, and backside

leverage responsibility (bootleg). These responsibilities fall on the
backside DE and invert or OLB.

The defender who is assigned to the cutback will have “Cutback”

responsibility and the defender who has reverse and bootleg will have
“Trail” responsibility. These responsibilities will be defined as follows:

Trail Technique

It is automatically built into the defense and is determined by the type

of defensive scheme called. The defender that has the responsibility
for backside reverse or bootleg will incorporate his “trail” technique.

Once a trail defender reads pass he is responsible for outside contain

of the QB.

1. When a trail defender reads ball away, he will pursue as deep as

the ball, keeping the ball carrier or QB on his inside shoulder.
2. Again, when the ball is run away keep ball on defenders inside
shoulder and gaining depth by chasing as deep as the ball.

A trail defender continues to chase ball away until he reads the

opposite ‘B’ gap.

1. It is usually decided that if the Trail defender reaches opposite

“B” gap the ball will truly be committed to running in that direction.
2. Once the Trail defender reaches opposite “B” gap he will now
take his proper pursuit angle on the ball carrier or QB. Looking to
make the tackle down field.
3. As Trail technique is worked at practice have RB change
direction on occasion to see if Trail defender is there waiting for
change of direction of ball.

Cutback Technique

Whenever a backside end or invert pursues the ball on or behind the

LOS he has “Cutback” responsibility. Cutback technique by a
defender, puts him looking for any potential cutback by the RB or QB
scramble.

A cutback defender is responsible for any type of cutback zone plays,

when ball is run away.

1. When cutback defender reads ball away he will then begin to

collapse down the LOS looking to see if ball cutbacks.

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Introduction to Number’s Defense 30-7

2. Once the cutback defender reaches opposite “B” gap he will take
his proper pursuit angle to the ball carrier.
3. One a daily basis you should work this technique because, it is
extremely important for the cutback defender to understand his
responsibility.

Trail and cutback technique is a backside gap or area control, which

does not go into effect until the ball is run away from you or you read
pass. The outer most rush defender is usually the trail defender. Thus,
look at the defensive scheme being used and always talk Trail and
Cutback with your defenders.

Each practice session will have some type of Trail and Cutback drill.

Intense Desire to Get To the Football (PH Factor)

We are playing good defense, when there are 9 or 10 defenders within 5

yards of the ball when the whistle blows.

1. PH Factor Determines Defensive Success [Pursuit and Hitting]

Defense is about effort—team effort and regardless of the scheme, the

two things that every player can do if they are giving 100% effort is:
Pursuit and Hitting (Tackle and Cause Turnovers).

3. Total Team Effort “Eleven as One”

Football is a team game. The quality of the team is more than just the
sum of 11 players. All 11 playing the call with good discipline make the
sum greater than the total of 11 individual talents. Creating overlap,
which is the secret to consistently successful performance, means that
everyone does his job so thoroughly that there is always more than one
man making a play.

A. Breakdowns can be traced to the failure of a man to carry out

his job.
B. Play each play completely until the whistle is blown.

No Mental Mistakes

Defenders must master the skills necessary for the successful execution of
the base defense.

1. Ice Mental Mistakes

To be a good defense, you must place special emphasis on the following

things. The only way to improve on them is to continually work on them.

Key

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30-8 Introduction to Numbers’ Defense

Before you do anything else on defense, you must read your key.

A. Concentrate on your key in practice every day. This is mental.

B. Learn assignments so you are not confused and can be aggressive.
Technique

This is the next thing that will happen to you after you read your key.

A. Take people on tough. Control the line of scrimmage.

B. Be aggressive and don’t just control your opponent, but whip him.
C. Concentrate every day in team work and your technique will improve.

Quickness

After keys and technique, then quickness becomes of utmost importance.

A. It is possible to give up some size and strength for quickness and play.
You can never give up quickness for size and strength, through.
B. Your quickness will give you great team pursuit and gang-tackling.
C. To improve quickness, you must concentrate in practice on the many
drills we use to improve foot speed.

2. Reduce Teaching to Reduce Error

When the offense makes a big play—gains big yardage, it is usually for
one of the following reasons:

A. Superior physical talent (not very often).

B. Superior designed play (not very often).
C. Poor defensive strategy or adjustments (not very often).
D. Lack of defensive effort (not very often).
E. Error in fundamentals, techniques, alignment, or adjustments (very
often).

Teach a few basic fundamentals from different alignments. We believe in

multiplicity providing defenders have few techniques to learn.

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Introduction to Number’s Defense 30-9

DEFENSIVE GOALS

1. Win the Game

Primary purpose of the defense shall be to prevent the opponent from

scoring as many points as we score that is to WIN.

2. Limit Opponents to 17 Points or Less

We believe if the team isn’t in the end zone, they have not accomplished
a thing. The only true big play for the offense is a TD, nothing else
matters.

3. Create a Offensive Percentage of Error of Greater Than 15%

Percentage of Error Formula

Fumbles + Interceptions + Penalties + Dropped Passes + Sacks

Total Plays

4. No Pass Longer Than 20 Yards.

5. No Run Longer Than 10 Yards
6. Goal Line Stance

Games are won on the goal line, so it goes without saying that goal line
defense is one of the most important phases of the game. Few things
change a game’s momentum more than a great goal line stance.

7. 10 Yard Average Per Punt Return

8. Block A Kick.

If we can block a kick, we change the momentum of the game, gain

yardage in the situation, and maybe score.

9. Score or Set Up a Score on Defense

A Championship Team will always have some defensive scores.

10. Develop “Habits of a Winner”

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Winners Develop the Habit of Doing Things that Losers Don't Like to Do

11. Production Plays Overr Potential!

The Individual Production Percentage shows who should play and not play.

Remember, Our Football Team Will Be As Good But No Better Than

Our Ability To Play Defense

RESPONSIBILITY OF A DEFENSIVE COACH

The coach’s responsibility of technical development is three-fold:

1. See that his players play great technique and that they also have a
working knowledge of the defensive system.
2. Must be prepared for the tactical situations. A detailed study of
opponents and a thorough understanding of the system will help this
preparation.
3. Motivate his position players to play with great desire.

Defensive Fundamentals

1. Technique of Controlling and Shedding Blockers

This involves the proper use of shoulders, forearms, and hands to defeat
and disengage from a blocker to make the defensive play.

2. Body Control

This involves the ability to break down, to maintain a proper hitting

position, to maintain a proper hitting position and to get up off the ground
if blocked.

3. Fundamental of Movement

Three types of movement to be concerned about: agility, quickness, and

speed. Agility and quickness can be improved drastically. Speed is a little
harder to improve. This system is based on the 2 things that can be
improved.

4. Tackling

This includes not only the technique of tackling but also instilling in
players the concepts of pursuit and gang tackling. Players must be
committed to doing the things necessary to make the play. The coaching
emphasis must be on:

A. Explosion—Controlling the LOS (Line Of Scrimmage)

B. Reading—Quick reaction to your keys

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Introduction to Number’s Defense 30-11

C. Gap Control—Keeping the proper arm free

D. Movement—Get to the football, somehow!
E. Pursuit—Be relentless and help a teammate
F. Gang Tackling—Intimidate the opponent.

Concentration, or focus, is imperative because every play is a BIG PLAY.

Being focused will avoid the mental mistakes in alignment, assignment, or
technique. Concentration will also help to eliminate penalties and provide
the consistency of performance that is necessary for success.

Defense is a team proposition, which is based upon togetherness. It is made

up of equal parts of pride and dedication. The personal challenges of this
system must be met with intensity. It requires both mental and physical
toughness.

1. Players must know that their toughness will be assumed until proven
otherwise.

They must know that one can play with pain, but at the same time, must
know the difference between pain and injury.

2. Gang tackling and pursuit must be must be constant throughout the

game.
3. Players must be able to bounce back from adversity.

They must recognize the different kinds of toughness.

4. The success of system is not dependent upon and prototype body or

personality.

It includes the strong and silent type, the holler guy, and all types in
between.

5. The system must be played with intensity and enthusiasm.

If the system is played as previously described, it will become successful.

It will become popular. But most of all, it will become fun. As coaches, we
can never let it be anything else!

Numbers’ Defensive System