Post by caz on Jan 2, 2007 20:15:25 GMT
Coaches,
I have had a huge number of requests for copies of my 353 defense playbook. Over the holidays, I was able to put the playbook into a format that can now be sent to others. I am willing to send the playbook to anyone who would like to see it. I would simply ask that anyone who would like it emailed to them do the following:
1. Please send me an email, caz AT christopherzook.com with your name, age and team you coach, location and web site address, if applicable.
2. Please do not share the defense with anyone else without checking with me first.
3. Please let me know if you are planning to run the defense so that I may assist in any way I can.
For those who are not familiar with the history of my defense, it is a simplified version of the defense made famous by West Virginia. The defense is most heavily influenced by West Virginia and then incorporates some of the adjustments made by Tulsa/Air Force/Georgia Military/Memphis/South Carolina/Alabama/Rice and several storied high school programs. What I have attempted to do is simplify what can be a very complex defense into a scheme that is very easy to install at any age. The number one goal was to create a defense that would allow the players to know their assignments quickly which enables them to play fast and aggressive.
I have run both the Gap 8 and the 46 and to me the 353 fits my coaching personality and provides the attributes that I prefer in a defense.
For those of you who do not know, our league drafts 100% new every year. Therefore we never know for sure who will be on our team, except our son. We also start very late, after school begins and therefore only typically have 12 practices before the first game. This season I coached Varsity, which is 11 and 12. We play at a self contained association in Houston that had approximately 1500 players this year, at all age levels. The league is very competitive and is weight restricted. A player must be less than 110 pounds to carry the ball and less than 185 pounds to play at all. We do one weigh in at the beginning of the season, and as long as you make weight on that date, you are good for the season. At the varsity level we had 10 teams this year.
We were 8 – 2 and lost in the Semi-finals, in overtime. Our two losses were to the same team, who eventually won the championship game easily. That team also did not play all of their players anywhere close to the minimum required plays in the semi final game. They were disciplined by the league for the violation, but the board voted to not have them forfeit the game, but the coach will not be allowed to coach next season. One other detail, that team was also one of two that did not have to go thru the draft like the other 8 so they were able to take all of the players they wanted from a particular geographic area. Yes, all of that is a very long story and no, I really don’t want to get into it.
Defensively we totally dominated. In our 10 games, we had 4 shut outs, including free substitution late in the games after the score was out of hand. We had 7 games where the opponent did not score until mid/late in the third quarter and we had 6 games where the opponent did not have a FIRST DOWN in the first half. Of the 95 points we gave up, 46 were scored by the one team that beat us twice. The other 8 teams scored a COMBINED 49 points and only one team scored at all in the first half.
The boys learned the core of the defense in one week and because every boy can only have two possible things to do, they really got proficient at reading their keys and responding aggressively every play. It is a gap sound, gap control defense that is primarily a zone coverage scheme that utilizes blitzing extensively to confuse the opposition. The boys loved it and the opposing coaches hated it.
On defense, because the rules are so easy and it is a gap sound defense, we did not have to teach anything “new” to the boys for the next game. Naturally we prepared them for what they might see, but that was just so they could get some reps against the “favorite” plays and formations of the upcoming opponent. From there it was all about aggression and doing their job.
In order to provide a snap shot of the philosophy of the defense, I have provided an outline.
Philosophy of the 353
I. Why the 353
a. Simple to teach
b. Gap sound
c. Places the players into a position to succeed
d. Prepares the players for the next level
II. Best 11 on the field
a. Don’t have to find 4 excellent big lineman
b. Can turn average players into valuable weapons
c. Allows the coach to focus on speed as opposed to size
III. Ability to change the looks quickly with minimal teaching
a. Each position must learn only 2 techniques
b. Allows players to play fast with little hesitation
c. Players become very comfortable with their alignment and stance
d. The keys are easy to read and react to quickly
IV. Bring pressure from everywhere
a. Confuse the offense
b. Take advantage of offensive tendencies
c. Can keep our best player virtually unblocked
V. Very adaptable to formations and different offensive schemes
a. Simple formation adjustments
i. 1 back or 2 backs
ii. balanced or unbalanced
b. Simple pass coverage responsibilities
i. Can play Zone or Man
I think anyone who is interested in defense will enjoy seeing the playbook. Please email me as detailed above and let me know if you would like to receive a copy of it.
May 2007 be a prosperous year from you and your family.
CAZ
I have had a huge number of requests for copies of my 353 defense playbook. Over the holidays, I was able to put the playbook into a format that can now be sent to others. I am willing to send the playbook to anyone who would like to see it. I would simply ask that anyone who would like it emailed to them do the following:
1. Please send me an email, caz AT christopherzook.com with your name, age and team you coach, location and web site address, if applicable.
2. Please do not share the defense with anyone else without checking with me first.
3. Please let me know if you are planning to run the defense so that I may assist in any way I can.
For those who are not familiar with the history of my defense, it is a simplified version of the defense made famous by West Virginia. The defense is most heavily influenced by West Virginia and then incorporates some of the adjustments made by Tulsa/Air Force/Georgia Military/Memphis/South Carolina/Alabama/Rice and several storied high school programs. What I have attempted to do is simplify what can be a very complex defense into a scheme that is very easy to install at any age. The number one goal was to create a defense that would allow the players to know their assignments quickly which enables them to play fast and aggressive.
I have run both the Gap 8 and the 46 and to me the 353 fits my coaching personality and provides the attributes that I prefer in a defense.
For those of you who do not know, our league drafts 100% new every year. Therefore we never know for sure who will be on our team, except our son. We also start very late, after school begins and therefore only typically have 12 practices before the first game. This season I coached Varsity, which is 11 and 12. We play at a self contained association in Houston that had approximately 1500 players this year, at all age levels. The league is very competitive and is weight restricted. A player must be less than 110 pounds to carry the ball and less than 185 pounds to play at all. We do one weigh in at the beginning of the season, and as long as you make weight on that date, you are good for the season. At the varsity level we had 10 teams this year.
We were 8 – 2 and lost in the Semi-finals, in overtime. Our two losses were to the same team, who eventually won the championship game easily. That team also did not play all of their players anywhere close to the minimum required plays in the semi final game. They were disciplined by the league for the violation, but the board voted to not have them forfeit the game, but the coach will not be allowed to coach next season. One other detail, that team was also one of two that did not have to go thru the draft like the other 8 so they were able to take all of the players they wanted from a particular geographic area. Yes, all of that is a very long story and no, I really don’t want to get into it.
Defensively we totally dominated. In our 10 games, we had 4 shut outs, including free substitution late in the games after the score was out of hand. We had 7 games where the opponent did not score until mid/late in the third quarter and we had 6 games where the opponent did not have a FIRST DOWN in the first half. Of the 95 points we gave up, 46 were scored by the one team that beat us twice. The other 8 teams scored a COMBINED 49 points and only one team scored at all in the first half.
The boys learned the core of the defense in one week and because every boy can only have two possible things to do, they really got proficient at reading their keys and responding aggressively every play. It is a gap sound, gap control defense that is primarily a zone coverage scheme that utilizes blitzing extensively to confuse the opposition. The boys loved it and the opposing coaches hated it.
On defense, because the rules are so easy and it is a gap sound defense, we did not have to teach anything “new” to the boys for the next game. Naturally we prepared them for what they might see, but that was just so they could get some reps against the “favorite” plays and formations of the upcoming opponent. From there it was all about aggression and doing their job.
In order to provide a snap shot of the philosophy of the defense, I have provided an outline.
Philosophy of the 353
I. Why the 353
a. Simple to teach
b. Gap sound
c. Places the players into a position to succeed
d. Prepares the players for the next level
II. Best 11 on the field
a. Don’t have to find 4 excellent big lineman
b. Can turn average players into valuable weapons
c. Allows the coach to focus on speed as opposed to size
III. Ability to change the looks quickly with minimal teaching
a. Each position must learn only 2 techniques
b. Allows players to play fast with little hesitation
c. Players become very comfortable with their alignment and stance
d. The keys are easy to read and react to quickly
IV. Bring pressure from everywhere
a. Confuse the offense
b. Take advantage of offensive tendencies
c. Can keep our best player virtually unblocked
V. Very adaptable to formations and different offensive schemes
a. Simple formation adjustments
i. 1 back or 2 backs
ii. balanced or unbalanced
b. Simple pass coverage responsibilities
i. Can play Zone or Man
I think anyone who is interested in defense will enjoy seeing the playbook. Please email me as detailed above and let me know if you would like to receive a copy of it.
May 2007 be a prosperous year from you and your family.
CAZ
