30 Stack: What are simple rules for your Strong Safeties?

That's what I'm talking about. Soccer players make great DBs as well. We use a term with our Spurs called "logical alignment". There are so many variables (especially variables that offenses are looking to expose) that we don't tell a kid too many steadfast rules for alignment. I ask them, can you do your job from that spot? He has to consider run first and pass second. So if he is in cover three and on the short side of the field, is it logical for him to line up 7 yards deep. Nope.

As far as reads are concerned, we have always kept it simple. EMLOS blocks down, you fill, the coverage doesn't matter.... There are 1,000 drills for this.

We also play with their stances a bit. We have them backpedal when they are hash safeties in our Cover 4 but they still make the same read, they have their inside foot exaggerated forward in Cover 3 and they use a cocked stance on a TE jam in cover 1 or when they don't have coverage. We also teach a number of techniques and aiming points when they blitz.

In a perfect world, you would have 4 coaches for this scheme:

1. LB Coach (just the 3 inside guys or "stack" players)
2. DL Coach (nose and two DEs)
3. DB Coach (Corners and sometime FS)
4. Spur Coach (this should be the D-Coordinator and sometimes he brings the FS with him)

The Spurs need the most coaching, because they really set the defense and give the offense the most variations and looks.