Numbering Linebacker alignments??

The following is in Bear Bryant's book:

"After coaching for a number of years," Coach Bryant wrote, "and always trying to find something that would make football easier to understand for the average player, I came upon a system of defensive numbering that has proven very valuable to me since then. In the past I have used many defenses. I always employed the technique of giving each defense a name. Most of the time the name had little in common with the defense, and this confused, rather than helped, the players. After discussing the possibility of the numbering system with my own and other college and high school coaches, while at Texas A & M in 1956 I finally came across a feasible plan for numbering defensive alignments. I must give credit to O. A. "Bum" Phillips, a Texas high school coach (the same Bum Phillips who would later coach the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints- HW), for helping work out the solution as he experimented with the numbering system with his high school football team.

"In the numbering of our defense now, we give each offensive man a number, as well as the gaps between offensive linemen."

Whether it was invented by Coach Bryant or Coach Phillips, and whatever its failings, it is the by far the best and most widely-accepted method devised for communicating to another football man, in as few words as possible, precisely what you mean. It's useful on both sides of the ball, enabling a defensive coach to align his personnel, or an offensive coach to describe how opposing defenses are lining up.

In the particular case you describe, a defensive end in a "6" technique is head-up on our TE; in a "9" technique he is on the TE's outside shoulder, or perhaps out in the gap between the TE and our wingback).


As Coach Bryant wrote, "Our present method is the simplest one I know for getting players into various defenses quickly with a minimum ampunt of talking. We feel it eliminates much confusion. We have found that players take a great deal of pride in learning only a few techniques, which they are able to execute well. We know it makes our jobs easier as coaches, and we can do a better job of coaching the boys."

For example, Coach Bryant wrote, whenever a coach talked to a tackle, he would be able to talk in terms of a particular technique (4, or 5, say), and the player would understand him immediately. When the coaches were discussing plays, or in a staff meeting, they could identify a particular technique immediately, and everyone would understand each other. Coach Bryant also discovered that the method was useful in making out his practice schedule, because he had only to specify, "End coach work on 7 technique," and his wishes would be immediately understood.

Using the system, tackles and ends could be taught individual techniques which, when used in combination with each other, would enable them to be deployed in a variety of defensive fronts. This was done by calling a two-digit number: the first digit described the tackles' alignment (and technique), and the second digit aligned the ends. The linebackers would make the calls, and align themselves accordingly.

The system was invented during the time when limited substitution meant that players went both ways, and coaches could not routinely shuttle players in and out with instructions. It enabled Coach Bryant's linebackers to call defenses on each side independent of one another ("3-7, 1-7", for example), in effect giving him a multiple system. "To eliminate any confusion," he wrote, "merely designate which side is to call first, and the other linebacker can adjust his call so (in the case of an even front) there is not a large gap in the middle of the defensive line." Basic rules for the linebackers were that they must have a man in, or capable of covering, every gap, and, to keep from having to cover too much territory themselves, they were never to call two successive numbers (2-3, or 6-7). Needless to say, Coach Bryant's linebackers were like quarterbacks on the field (quarterbacks also called their own plays back then) and had to know the strengths and weaknesses of every defense against every possible offensive set, as well as how to make changes in a hurry. After the players were lined up, if a linebacker wanted a man to change his charge half a man to the inside, he would add a zero to his number: calling out , say, "20" would instruct the man in a "2" technique to charge one-half man to his inside; adding a "1" to the man's number ("21") would instruct the man in a "2" technique to charge one-half man to his outside. By calling out the number of both men on his side ("21-71", for example), he would be able to change the charge of both of them.


Description of the defensive techniques (in Coach Bryant's own words):

0- The defender lines up head on the offensive center. Depending on the situation, the distance he lines up off the football will vary. On a short yardage situation, he will line up close to the center's head. On a long yardage situation, normally he will be about one yard off the ball. He will use either a three- or four-point stance, with one foot staggered. His technique is to play the center's head with a quick hand shiver on the snap of the ball. When he makes contact with the center, he brings his back foot up so his feet are even with each other. If the quarterback goes straight back to pass, the 0 technique man is responsible for a draw play, and then he rushes the passer. If it is a run instead of a pass play, he will keep the center away from his blocking surface, not permitting himself to be tied up in the middle of the line, and he will pursue the ball taking his proper angle depending on the type of running play.


1- The main job of the player(s) employing the 1 technique is to control the offensive splits, forcing the guards to keep their splits to a minimum. He is also responsible for keeping the center off of the defensive linebacker. If both guards are playing in this technique, only one will "slam" the center, and the other will take a long step toward his guard, playing him from inside-out. He must always be aware of the trap coming from the inside, however. If the play is a back-up pass, he is responsible for the draw first, and rushing the passer second. If it is a running play, he will slam the center or guard and then pursue the football.

2. The 2 technique is similar to the 0 technique. One difference is the guard (note: you might now call him a tackle) is head on the offensive guard, instead of on the offensive center. The distance he lines up off the ball in a staggered stance will be determined by the tactical situation. On the snap of the ball he plays the guard with a hand shiver, and immediately locates the football. If it is a back-up pass and there is no man in a 0 or 1 technique, he will look for the draw play first, and then rush the passer. If it is a running play, he will look first toward the inside for a trap, and then pursue the football.


3. The 3 technique is similar to the 1 technique. The 3 man is responsible for keeping the offensive tackle's split cut down, and on occasion to keep the offensive guard or tackle from blocking the defensive linebacker. He, too, lines up with the feet slightly staggered, and about one foot off the ball. Depending on the defense, when the ball is snapped he will play either the guard or tackle with a quick flipper or shiver, preferably with the hands. He is to watch for the trap at all times. If the play is a straight drop back pass, he will rush the passer from the inside. If it is a running play, he will pursue the football
To be continued...



4. The 4 technique man lines up head on the offensive tackle and abut one to one and one-half feet off the ball. He will have his feet staggered, and on the snap of the ball he is to play the offensive tackle with a quick hand or forearm flipper. If it is a running play toward him, he must whip the offensive tackle, be ready to stop the handoff, and help out on the off-tackle play. If it is a straight back pass, he will rush the passer from the inside. If the play goes away or to the far side, he will control the offensive tackle and pursue the football. On his angle of pursuit he should never go around the offensive tackle, but pursue the football going through the tackle's head.


5. The 5 technique man lines up on the outside eye of the offensive tackle, with the feet staggered (outside foot back in most cases). On the snap of the ball he employs a forearm flip charge into the tackle. As he makes contact, his back foot is brought up even with his front foot. He has 75% off-tackle responsibillity, and he should never be blocked by only one man. If it is a straight back pass, he should rush the passer from inside-out. If the play comes toward him, he should whip the tackle and make the play. He must be certain to keep the offensive blocker in front of him at all times as the 5 man will be eliminated from the play very easily if he tries to go around his blocker. If the play goes away from him, he must pursue the football. He is instructed not to cross the offensive line of scrimmage when employing a 5 technique.

6. The 6 technique player lines up head on the offensive end. If the end splits too far, the 6 man is to "shoot the gap." He is primarily responsible for keeping the offensive end from releasing quickly on passes, and he must keep the end from blocking the linebacker. He is responsible for the off-tackle play. Consequently he must not be blocked in our out. The game situation will determine how far he lines up off the ball, but it will usually vary from one to three yards. If the play is a straight back pass, he is responsible for rushing the passer fom the outside-in. If the passer runs out of the pocket, the 6 man must not permit him to get to the outside. He must either tackle the passer or force him to throw the football. If the play comes toward the 6 man, he whips the end with a flip or shiver charge, and helps out on both inside and outside. He never crosses the line of scrimmage unless it is a back-up pass. If it is an option play toward him, he must make the quarterback pitch the ball or he must tackle the quarterback. If the flow goes away from him, he trails the play. He should be as deep as the deepest man in the offensive backfield so he can contain the reverse play back to his side, not permitting the ball carrier to get outside of him.


7. The 7 tehnique player line up splitting the inside foot of the offensive end. He is responsible for forcing the end to reduce his offensive split. We want him to line up with the outside foot staggered, and he must never be blocked out by the offensive end. He has 75% inside responsibility and 25% outside responsibility. When the ball is snapped, he uses a hand or forearm flipper charge on the offensive end and brings his back foot up even with his front foot. His main responsibility is to whip the offensive end, and to close the off-tackle play. If the play is a straight drop back pass, he is the outside rusher and he must not permit the quarterback to get outside of him. If the play goes away from him, he is to trail the ball carrier. He plays just like the trail or chase man on the 6 technique. He should be as deep as the deepest offensive backfield man so he can contain any reverse play coming back to his side of the line. He should not let such a play get outside of his position.


8. When we speak of a man playing an 8 technique, we are speaking of a "true end," or a defensive end who lines up outside of the offensive end. The 8 man will be from one and one-half to three yards outside of the offensive end's normal position, with his inside foot forward, and his shoulders parallel with the line of scrimmage. If it is a straight back pass, the defensive end, without taking his eyes off the passer, will turn to his outside, and using a cross-over step will sprint to his outside trying to get width and depth to play the ball to his side. His depth should be 8-10 yards deep, similar to a linebacker's position covering the flat. He stops running when the quarterback stops to set up. When the ball is thrown, he sprints for the ball. If the play comes toward the 8 man, we want him to cross the line of scrimmage about two yards, getting set with his inside foot forward, shoulders parallel with the line of scrimmage, and playing the outside blocker. He is the outside contain man, and he must never permit the ball to get outside of him. He never makes the quarterback pitch on option plays. If it is a running pass toward him, he is the outside contain and rush man. If the flow goes away from him, he must make sure it is not a reverse play back to his side before he takes the proper angle of pursuit, which is through the area where the defensive safety man lined up originally.


9. The 9 technique splits the outside foot of the offensive end. He should line up 14 inches off the line of scrimmage, with most of the weight on his outside foot, which is back. When the ball is snapped, the 9 technique man will take a short step with his inside foot toward the offensive end, and at the same time he will deliver a hand or forearm shiver to the head of the offensive end. If the offensive end blocks in and the play comes toward him, the 9 man immediately looks for the near halfback or the trapper, expecting to be blocked by either offensive man. If a running play comes toward him and the quarterback is going to option the football, he must make the quarterback pitch the ball. If the quarterback is faking the ball to the fullback, the 9 man must "search" the fullback for the ball first. The 9 technique man never crosses the line of scrimmage. If the offensive play is a straight back pass, the 9 man delivers a blow to the end, and drops back two or three yards looking for the screen or short pass. He is in a position to come up and make the tackle if the quarterback gets outside of your outside rusher and the quarterback decides to run with the football. If the flow goes away, he is the trail man and has the same responsibilities as the 6 and 7 technique man, which I explained previously. The most important coaching point is that the man playing the 9 technique must deliver a good blow to the offensive end on every play.