DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY

INDIANA DEFENSIVE LINE

PHILOSOPHY

Keys to our Front Four Dominance

“Put the Ball Down” attitude
Explosive quickness
Obtain penetration
Fight pressure
Shed blocks
Relentless pursuit
Make tackles

ATTACK!!
 INDIANA DEFENSIVE LINE
POSITION SKILLS

Ability to move on ball movement.

Ability to strike and extend with down hand.
Ability to take proper attack steps.
Ability to execute a blood move.
Ability to execute a proper tackle.
Ability to attack half of a blocker on pass rush.
Ability to use cut, hook, swim, rip, spin and bull rush techniques.
Understanding of defensive front, movement and blitz assignments.
Ability to recognize and attack blocking schemes with proper technique.
Ability to stay on feet and get back on feet quickly.
Ability to make a play when an opportunity presents itself.
 INDIANA DEFENSIVE LINE
POSITION SKILLS

Ability to change direction quickly.

Ability to play with leverage.
Attitude to never give up or take the easy way out on a play.
Conditioning to be able to play a long series at 100%.
Attitude and conditioning to run to the football on every play.
Ability to beat a blocker on a pass rush in 3 seconds or less.
Ability to take coaching and improve deficient skills.
Willingness to study the game of football by paying attention when
you are not in a drill or game and watching film on your own.
 FRONT FOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
GENERAL

Crowd football – we want to pressure OL with our alignment.

Get off on ball movement.
Attack your gap and penetrate to the heels of the OL.
First contact is with the hands.
Achieve separation with your head out of the mix.
Keep your feet moving.
Locate and sprint to the ball.
Tackle the ball carrier.
 MOVEMENT AND PUNCH
Get off on ball movement.
Shoot your down hand.
Contact point is “V” of neck of your key. Hands under pads for
leverage.
One hand should be on chest of key, the other needs to be on the edge of
your key on the side towards your gap.
You must obtain separation.
You must be in position to make a tackle if the ball presents itself.
Locate and sprint to the ball.
 Defensive Front Alignments

Technique Identification for Front Alignment

9 6i 5 4i 3 2i 1 1 2i 3 4i 5 6i 9

6 4 2 0 2 4 6
 Defensive Front Alignments
Gap Identification

D C B A A B C D

NOTE: As the offensive players move, the gaps move. The gaps
are defined as the area between the facemask of the inside lineman
out to the facemask of the next adjacent outside lineman.
Defensive Front Alignments

EXAMPLE: Start at the line of scrimmage.

D C B A A B C D

D C B A A B C D
 Defensive Line Drills
 Make sure all drills fit into overall defensive
scheme and philosophy
 Find ways to maximize reps for each
individual player (reps, reps, reps)
 Pick the most important skills you are trying to
teach and practice them every day
 Only do the peripheral drills when you have
extra time
 What is Important
to Our D-Line
• Stance and Start
• Strike, Extension and Escape
• Tackling
• Block Reaction
• Movement (Angle-Slant)
• Pass Rush
• Peripherals (Chop blocks, Screen drill, etc…)
For additional information

E-mail Brian George at

brigeorg@indiana.edu