40 Nomenclature...

I have coached at schools where each defender is given a name, and I have coached at schools where the defenders are simply tackle, end, OLB, etc. We tried to call stunts based on the name of the LB/OLB going, but found that to do what we wanted to do, we would need a zillion names and a zilliion signals. Since we run all stunts to both sides of the formation, we simply call the front, stunt, side of stunt and the coverage. Here are some ideas based on what we do:

Number frontal alignments
We are a multiple 8-man front; we number all our frontal alignments (40, 60, 48, etc.). We have rules which cover how to align if we give a split call (48). Frontal calls are 2-digit calls with base alignments (40, 80, 60) end with 0. Combo alignments: Two different digits (48, 45, 84, 64, 68) have alignment rules (to which side do we want which look). Special fronts have a name (numbers not used for special fronts (Spread, Bear).

Stunts
Concise names-use as few words as possible. One word to identify stunter and gap attacked. The first letter of the stunt is the letter of the gap we are attacking (Ace, Bomb, CLub, Daggar, etc). Line stunts have simple names (pinch, slant, twist).

Special stunts or double stunts
Give special stunts a special name. Teach players that the name of this special stunt tells them any combination of the following: front, stunt, direction of stunt, coverage OR that the special name is a
combination stunt
EXAMPLE: FUDGE – LB and DE on same side
COUGAR – OLB and LB on same side
CUB – Strong OLB and weak LB
CAGE – DT, DE, OLB on same side
INDIAN – multiple stunt line, LB, OLB, FS

We also send in the side of the stunt (strong/weak, Te/SE, wide side/boundary. left/right), as well as the coverage.