Lou Tepper's Reduction Defense

We use the reduction quite a bit as we see a lot of I formation run and option (veer, mid-line, trap, counter, etc...). The defense has been incredibly effective for us. We play 1/4 1/4 1/2 behind it, stemming from different looks in the secondary. We spill, spill, spill and never get trapped! We mix up the option reads for the QB and run some games inside with the lineman. We generally get out of it on tendency pass downs. We also get out of it vs. spread teams. This defense really lets our Backers run and make alot of tackles.

When we see pure spread/run & shoot, we stem and stunt out of a 3-4 look. We play Cover 3 or 2 as base zone and some combination coverages. We will also pressure and check blitz based on formation tendency. When in the 52 against spread we check based on tendency and talent, if we can match-up in man and pressure we will, otherwise we vary from 3-5 to 3-4 to 4-3. I know it sounds like alot but we like the flexibility and we get it all in in the summer.

No matter how you slice it.....you will have to get out of the reduced front when you see a spread offense. It's a great run defense but you will have to package personnell when you see spread offenses. Your 9 tech will get eaten alive when facing a WR in coverage for example. We ran the 50 eagle and it was a great run stopper and a good 2 back defense but we ended up teaching two packages which made us work harder as coaches to try and keep it simple for the kids which it isn't. We now play the 3-5-3 and have 1/3 of the checks we had before. We are more focused on the kids playing football and the stack defense allows us to do that...coach the kids.

Good Luck!

Coach -

We do everything out of the 3-5-3. We played well all season in the scheme because I feel our kids played with confidence and we have very athletic kids to run the scheme.

Last year we played mostly base and this year we will stem and move to a couple of fronts. It still boils down to being able to get the kids to understand what we are doing in the scheme. By keeping things simple we have accomplished that.

In the eagle 50 front, I never felt our kids truly understood all the finer points especially in the secondary because that's where all the adjustments stem from in the eagle package.

Don't get me wrong...I'm a big fan of the eagle package especially against two back sets. With all the spread teams you will encounter these days, you need to make sure you have a sound plan on how to handle it with the personnell you'll have on the field.

Good Luck!

Center -

Take a look at the 3-5-3. It is simple enough to adapt to spread formations as well as 2 TE fronts. You also have the ability to drop 8 vs spread which in our area seems to get t hem out of their comfort zone.

At first, it will not make any sense, I never thought playing off the TE 2 x2 or 2 x 4 could keep you from getting ripped but it is very effective to put your guys in space and turn them loose. Spill everything and run it down.

What ever you run, choose it to fit your personnel and not vice versa.

Center -

We went to WVU and talked with the Tulsa coaches. Also we picked up the Tulsa tapes and Georgia Military tapes. Everyone is slightly different but the general ideas are all the same. If I was starting from scratch, I'd start with the Geogia Military tapes. We probably do of their stuff than anyone else.

Good Luck!

We have run the reduction defense for the last 7 years. We are far from being authorities on the subject. We have contacted Coach Tepper with questions and have a couple of high school coaches that we use as resources. If there is something we can help you with let me know.

center,
Do you have an email address to contact you at?
Thanks!

We use the Tepper way of doing things and we get into the 4-4 look when we see some spread teams.
RushLB we have playbooks and if you want to Read a Book on this it is basically the book called Coaching the Tilted nose by Denny Marcin who was at Illinois when Tepper was there. Let me know if you need anything on this defense.
jjohnson@cusd15.k12.il.us

center,
How are thing's going?
I have emailed Coach Tepper, and will try to go down to Edinboro this summer. I'm from Pittsburgh anyway.
If you'd like me to send you anything I get please let me know.]
Best wishes.

Just a point of information:

The 33 Stack was originally created and installed at Oregon State while Rocky Long was the defensive coordinator there. He is now the head coach at the University of New Mexico; this defense helped contain the nation's top passing team, Texas Tech, in an upset win last season. Tech got a lot of yards passing (449 on 44-70, 1 TD, 2 INT) but was held to only a field goal in the second half before losing, 27-24.
I watched New Mexico play Utah last season, and the defense gave Utah fits before Urban Meyer adjusted, and (more importantly) their superior talent prevailed (Utah won, 28-7).
I would contact Osia Lewis (who was an assistant with Long at Oregon State) at 505-925-5065 about the defense, or email or call Long at 505-925-5700 or Rocky Long.

What coverages do you tend to find yourself in when in the hawk defense and why?