Terms for Def. Fronts and What They Mean

My understanding on the term "eagle" has always been any DT in a 3-Technique is an "eagle" tackle. Therefore if the 3 was to the TE, say in a Miami 4-3, that is known as "tight eagle". If the 3 is to the split side, like a 5-2 with a 3 and 5 to the split end side, that is known as "split eagle". To me, it is the same thing as using "over" or "under" to describe a front. I believe I've also seen Coach Mountjoy use "wide" (b-gap defended by a LB) and "tight" (b-gap defended by a DL) to describe the same thing. For some reason I want to say Fritz Shurmer popularized the term "eagle" to describe the 3-tech, but I'm not sure.

It is amazing how language is so different across the country i cannot imagine a universal language simply because coaches evolve from coaches or programs in which they played.

Eagle means 2 3-tech's and a NT. It just means reduce to B gap.


What type of nomenclature do you guys use for stunting and blitzing. We have created pnemonic terms for this. a WIC blitz is the Weak LB in C gap.... just an example.

We break down fronts this way

Odd looks

Straight 50- head up nose, 4's or 5's with 9 techs linebackers in 20 techs
Weak Eagle 50- 3 tech on the weak side with a 5 or 7 weak depending on two te on pro I look
Strong Eagle 50-3 tech on strong side with a 7 or 6 more than likely
Double Eagle-nose and three techs with 7's
3-3 Stack- a 5-3 stack with the olb's backed off 3x3 or so
5-3 Stack-5 man front with 3 linebackers stacked over the dl


Even Looks

Split (4-4)
True split=two 3 techs and two mlbs in a gaps
31- 3 to strong side and 1 to weak with various de alingment, linebackers in the holes
13-1 and 7 to strong side 3 and 5 or 9 depending on the surface weak
Even split-head up 2's and sixes

4-3
miami-wide 9's with a 3 strong and 1 weak
tite-7 techs with 3 strong and 1 weak with olb wide almost a 90 tech
even 4-3,- head up 2's , 6 techs linebackers in holes


there are more, but those are the basic ones we will see

there are some other ones we label for the spread stuff

4-2, 4-1, 3-2, various names for certain teams we play that run some odd stuff
The easiest thing to do is just sit down with your staff and learn what they call what so you are not confused

Over and under don't do it for me. I haven't really ever been around anyone that use them though.
We see a ton of different looks, so we categorize them and name them what they are


after reading this

and other's responses we probably need to come up with a FAQ list and a TERMS or GLOSSARY page
I know this would have helped me out immensely when I started coaching.