4-4 Gurus...Where are ya???

Coach TSB - I just want to clarrify. When you are in your split 4-4 your DT has the dive and your ILB has the QB?

Thanks again for your insite Coach TSB.

Coach, our rule for veer varies toward and away from the strength. To the 3 surface side of the ball, that is the strong side w/ a TE, our ILB and DT have dive with the 7 tech on QB. To the 2 surface side, OG and OT, we play the 5 tech end on dive and ILB will scrape over top to the QB. THe 5 tech job is to squeeze the OT down block and that puts him into B-gap rith on the dive. That OT is trying to get to the ILB anyway so we just move him over top to chin the QB. We also run a "slice" stunt that runs our OLB right at the qb on option. Now your ILB runs to pitch. This is usually run out of our Snake front which is a 22i. I run a lot of 22i versus the veer. In the 33 front, our Base, we work alot on our BSLB getting across the centers face and our PSLB defeating the OT's downblock. WE will wrong arm that block and work downhill. Those 2 guys must work hard on keeping their hips closed inside the tackle box. Hope this helps. Coach Thompson

Coach our alignment across the front is as follows: SDE:7, SDT:3, WDT:3, WDE:5. The linebackers are as follows: SOLB: 3X3, SILB: strong A-gap shade on OG 4 yards deep, WILB: weak A-gap shade on OG 4 yards deep, WOLB: 3X3. These alignments will vary depending on the called front but that is my base defense. Like I said, I like to go to a 22i (two 2i DT's and B-gap ILB's). If we have a TE in the 22i we put our SILB shaded on the OT's inside shoulder at his normal depth. This allows him to key that tackles hat. If the OT blocks down we come forward HARD!!! If he attacks us we attack and find the football. I really believe technique is more important than alignment. Certainly you want to put your kids in the right spot to make plays, but eventually it will come down to who the better man is. Let me see what I have in the film dept. Coach Thompson

Here's what we went to this year and it really helped us against option teams. We align in a 7-3-1-5 strong to weak. ILB over OG 5 1/2 yds (we have small but very fast LB). OLB 3 by 3. OUr base rule is this: LB-- dive to Q to pitch, DL dive, OLB QB to pitch, FS QB to pitch (more pitch). Corners pitch. Here' how we play it.

One of the big keys is for the ILB to read path of FB. We usually read guard, but i have found reading FB on option is much quicker. A gap path= midline, B/C= inside veer, D=outside veer or load, flat path= speed. If you rep the crap out of this you will be amazed how much it helps you ILB play.

for weak outside veer here's a big key. WDE crush down the OT, look for dive. WILB-- if B gap is closed, scrape off DT's butt and kill the QB. If B gap opens (DE gets turned out) plug now, and take dive.
WOLB-- slow play QB to pitch... FS QB to pitch (more pitch).

With a one tech to the weak side, you will probably not get midline weak. But on midline, the QB reads ML path of FB..if DT is engaged on the FB, scrape to B gap...take QB. Now here are a couple of things that really helped us. First the SDT (7 tech.)-- IF FB is out of reach inside, or already being tackled... get ready for QB...but it is even more important to not let the TE block down on ILB... and control C gap, like always. Another inportant point is our OLB on QB. SOLB gets option his way, he slow plays and finds QB. He CAN get to the QB on ML. If he has to make the tackle it will probably be for 4-6 yards, but it will not be a big gain. FS is a big key...He doesn't have to hurry, but must be ready fir QB to pitch.

By doing this, we feel we have to brake down several places for them to be successful, instead of just one guy screwing up. We also try to take the ball out of their most dangerous man's hand. We put this in this year and it was great. Email me if you want to talk any more. football_coach82@yahoo.com