Coordinating Run And Pass Defense

Coordinating Run and Pass Defense

George Welsh Head Coach U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, Md.

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entlemen, it is an honor and a privilege for me to have been selected to be a speaker here today. I am especially pleased that the topic assigned me deals with defense since this year our defense was able to finish nationally in three categories: 10th in rushing defense — 121 yards per game (2.8 per attempt); fifth in pass defense — 79 yards per game; third in total defense — 201 yards per game. But the most important statistic of all is that in all 11 games, our defense gave up only four second half touchdowns, two of these came from seven- and four-yard drives resulting from offensive turnovers. Only one second half touchdown was scored after the opposing team gained possession on their side of the 50-yard line. Defensive Philosophy Basically, our defense is an overshifted one. We play the standard 52 defense, with an overshifted secondary. Factors determining the side of the overshift are: 1) the field, 2) the formation, 3) offensive tendencies. On occasion, our rover is allowed to go into the sidelines. We do not play a containing defense. Out theory is to Force the ball to bounce outside — to the sidelines if possible. The ball carriers must not be given vertical seams to allow them to get two-way cuts on our defensive backs. They must be bounced to the outside so that they cannot turn their shoulders upfield. In theory, we even try to make the isolation play bounce all the way outside to the point where the ball carrier goes out of bounds or one of our defensive backs will be completely unblocked and make the tackle. It is our philosophy that we must stop the run first. Statistics show that teams will throw an average of 18 to 20 passes while running 50 to 60 times. Therefore, regardless of which coverage is called, two backs in our secondary will have the responsibility to force the run. In order to accomplish these aims, we flop eight of our defensive personnel to better utilize their talents. Our nose and tackles remain constant while our rover, strong end, linebacker, and strong corner work as one unit and our quickside corner, willie linebacker, mike linebacker, and free safety work as another (Diagrams 1 & 2). Selecting Our Personnel — Criteria Strongside Strongside End: Bigger and stronger

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Diagram 1

Diagram 2

of the two outside men on the two outside men on the line of scrimmage. This player must be strong enough to stand up a tight end vs. a blast block and agile enough to get to the top of the I vs. sprintouts. He must have enough quickness to get to the sidelines in pursuit. Linebacker: Better of the two inside people at going to the wide side curl area. Rover: A defensive back with linebacker temperament. He has to be able to play the run first, pass second. Strong Corner: This is the only man on the strong side who must play pass first, then react to the run. Quickside Willie: Quicker of the outside two men on the line of scrimmage. He must have the speed to play a back man to man. Mike: This man must be strong enough to stand in there and play power plays and he must also be quick enough to play cut backs. Quick Corner: Same type as Rover except he must also be able to play man coverage. The Quick Corner plays run first. Safety: Like the Strong Corner, he plays pass first, run second.

Diagram 3: Our Basic Coverage Vs. Drop Back

George Welsh at a Glance Experience: Head Coach, Virginia, 1982-2000 (134-86-3); Head Coach, Navy, 1973-81 (55-46-1) Career Head Coaching Record: 189-131-4 Conference Championships: Atlantic Coast Conference 1989 & 1995 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Awards: 1975, 1980 & 1989 Notes: In 1989, Welsh led Virginia to its first-ever ACC championship, posted the schools first 10-win season and coached the Cavaliers in their first New Year’s Day Bowl. Welsh and Virginia won their second ACC crown in 1995 by beating Florida State. Virginia was the first ACC school to defeat the Seminoles since Florida State joined the conference. He was named ACC coach of the Year a record five times (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991 and 1995). At 55-46-1 he is the winningest coach in Navy history. He led the Midshipmen to a 23-16 come-from-behind victory over BYU in the first Holiday Bowl.

turning his head, then the flanker can crack him. When the rover recognizes this threat, he takes a step up and when the play comes his way, he must drive to a point behind the tight end’s position 3-4 yards deep. If the flanker is set very wide, then the rover can forget the crack and go up the field. If the play starts off tackle or inside, the rover will bounce in his place and wait until the ball comes to him. The rover’s job is to force the ball carrier off his running track and preferably to the outside. We want the ball running to the sidelines with the backer, strong end, and strong corner running to clean him up. The most difficult thing to coach is reading the relationship between the blocker and the ball carrier. If the ballcarrier is in phase with the blocker, we then attack the block low and hard.

Diagram 11 Diagram 4: Our Basic Coverage Vs. Sprint Strong

Diagram 5: Our Basic Coverage Vs. Sprint Weak

Diagram 6: Our Basic Coverage Vs. Counter Strong

Diagram 8: Our Basic Coverage Vs. Boot Strong

Diagram 9: Our Basic Coverage Vs. Boot Weak

The Run Force by Our Defensive Backs The single most important coaching point that I can pass on to you with regard to our secondary support is how we force the run.

When the rover gets a split read, he now knows to force tighter to the line of scrimmage. He must now read on the run the relationship between the guard and the ball carrier. The guard must not be allowed around the corner. The ball carrier must be forced deep and wide. Drill for Teaching Ballcarrier and Blocker Relationship The defensive secondary coach stands with the ball carriers and tells them, “at the dummy” or “Wide.” If he says, “at the dummy,” the ballcarrier takes the ball and runs straight at the dummy.

Diagram 12

Diagram 10

Diagram 7: Our Basic Coverage Vs. Counter Weak

Rover (quick corner) lines up facing in at a 45 degree angle reading the quarterback for action. If he can see the flanker without

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •

The rover reads the direction of the ball then the tight end who 1) blast blocks, 2) down blocks, 3) arc blocks one of our other backs who is waiting his turn. The rover

then drives low and hard into the dummy which simulates the blocker.

Diagram 14

Diagram 13

If the coach says, “wide,” the ballcarrier stays high to allow the defensive back to

read the relationship between the ball carrier and the blocker, in this case the defensive back bypasses the blocker and goes to the ballcarrier.

The second part of this drill is to add a fullback and run your split read. When the rover sees the blocker disappear, he now must drive closer to the line of scrimmage and be prepared to take on a guard or if the ball carrier isn’t in phase, bypass the guard and attack the ballcarrier. I have a seven-minute film that will show our run force in action. Gentlemen, I thank you for your time and patience. It has been an honor and a privilege to be here.

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• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •