Neutralizing The Run With The 43 Attacking Defense Front Seven

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t is a great honor to be selected by the AFCA as the 1999 Division II Assistant Coach of the Year. I would like to genuinely thank the AFCA for their farsightedness in granting this opportunity. It is also important that I give thanks to the head football coach at Kentucky State University, George M. Small and Mr. Isadore A. Rich, the academic advisor for athletics for such a impressive recommendation. It is equally important that I thank our outstanding staff for their support which consists of Scott Anderson, Chennis Berry, Tim Edwards, William Jones III, and David Patterson. When a program has success, people believe specific detailed information catapulted the program to its moment of greatness. In 1995 we were cited as the No. 1 defense in all of NCAA Division II football and the No. 1 pass defense in 1997. We have had two defensive players drafted to the National Football League and made rosters. Also we won the 1997 Pioneer Bowl against a high-powered Livingston College offense. All of this came after taking over a program that had been futile for nearly a decade. At Kentucky State University, we enjoyed the previously mentioned success in the main due to our uncompromising defensive philosophy.

down linemen, three linebackers, two safeties and two cornerbacks. The first thing we teach the front seven is stance, alignment, reads, keys, reaction and assignment. The tackle and nose tackle stances are not as deep as the end, their feet are more parallel. Further, the stance will very according to down and distance. The inside hand is down with the inside leg back. This allows a great power step attacking the offensive lineman at the V of the neck getting great hand placement for leverage, separation and escape. Ninety percent of the defensive lineman’s weight is on his down hand with his butt high resembling a sprinter’s stance. While getting off and reestablishing the line of scrimmage on the snap, the defensive linemen must recognize blocks on the run and defeat his block while keeping a clean picture for the linebacker.

Neutralizing the Run with the 43 Attacking Defense Front Seven

Defeating a Block The defensive linemen must defeat the blocker first, if he looks for the ballcarrier before defeating the blocker, he will be easily defeated. He must be taught to be great with his hands. This is the one advantage he has over the offensive lineman, the use of the hands fighting off blocks.

Wesley McGriff

Diagram 1: Down Block

Defensive Coordinator Defensive Philosophy: We will stop the running game first and not give up the big play but making big play opportunities for our offense by creating and converting turnovers into possessions. The basic premise of our defensive philosophy is to devise simple schemes that will allow all 11 players to react on the snap of the ball rather than thinking which lets them to swarm to the football and make plays. Our motto, It takes no talent to hustle, get to the football, supports this doctrine. We think there is nothing more enjoyable for the fans, frightening for officials, or intimidating for offensive players and coaches than a ball-hawking defense. Our basic scheme is a one gap scheme reestablishing the line of scrimmage on the snap, ambushing and closing every gap while spilling the ball to the perimeter. This prevents the runner from getting square shoulders running north and south. We will be fast and aggressive enough to beat you to the perimeter. Therefore, recruiting the right personnel to fit this philosophy and scheme is fundamental. Personnel Our 43 attacking scheme features four

Kentucky State University Frankfort, Ky.

Down Block 1. Get inside foot down close. 2. Eliminate block threats. 3. Wrong shoulder second blocker. 4. Determine flow. Look for the reverse or the boot if no blocker appears.

Diagram 2: Drive Block

Drive Block: The offensive lineman drives the defensive lineman straight back with his head and hands inside on the numbers. 1. Maintain hat in his gap. 2. Deliver a blow with palms of both

• Proceedings • 77th AFCA Convention • 2000 •

hands for leverage. Extend arms for separation and escape. 3. Keep feet under hips driving with short steps, driving the blocker. 4. Do not get wash. Control the gap.

Diagram 5: Trap Block

Diagram 7

3. Wrong shoulder the pulling guard. Attacking the inside shoulder with the outside shoulder and forearm then wheel up field. 4. Do not get kicked out by the blocker. Pre-Snap Indicators: Assist the linemen in determining the type of run block to expect. 1. Formation/Personnel Group. 2. Down & Distance. 3. Field Position. 4. Alignment and Technique. Linebackers: Must get their key and react quick to the blocking scheme. They are taught to get initial reads from interior uncovered linemen. Linebackers should not be looking for the ballcarrier. Instead they must focus their eyes on the blocker coming to block them and defeat him first. Knowing and understanding the front four alignment assists in determining types of blocks to expect. Stance: Feet remain shoulder width to ensure balance and lateral movement. Outside linebacker’s feet should be slightly staggered. They should be flexed at the knees with a straight back. Comfort and balance are most important for good linebacker play.

Diagram 8

Diagram 3: Hook/Reach Block

Hook/Reach Block: A hook block is used when the offensive lineman attempts to prevent the defensive lineman for getting to the outside to his left or right. Offensive line wants to establish the perimeter. 1. Redirect once the blocker moves lateral. 2. Get proper hand placement and fight against pressure turning the shoulders of the offensive lineman. 3. Keep your head gear in your gap locating the ballcarrier.

Diagram 4: Double Team

Double Team: Play side by two adjacent line to get movement and one comes off to block pursuing linebacker. The weight, strength and size of the offensive lineman makes it difficult to defeat. This block is only successful if the defensive lineman is driven off the line of scrimmage. 1. Get both hands on the drive blocker. 2. Take surface away from angle blocker and split the double team. 3. Stay active. 4. Drop to a knee if upon pressure that moves the defensive lineman off the line of scrimmage. 5. Must NOT get high. Trap Block: This block is used by a pulling lineman to explode through a defender at the point of attack, creating a running lane. This block takes longer to develop because of type of play and the distance the blocker travels. 1. Treat guard release same as down block. 2. Get inside foot down, read block progression, gather and commit.

Basic Rules 1. Read the uncovered lineman and then flow. 2. Identify backfield sets and recognize flow as play progress. 3. Maintain a low hitting position. 4. Attack inside out to the perimeter. 5. Take window (Cloudy or Clear Principle).

Diagram 6

6. If window closes, flow comes, escape outside. 7. Pull block by uncovered lineman. Look for the ball in that direction, come down hill and play cut back (Diagram 7). 8. Drive block. Attack it with square shoulder at the line of scrimmage (Diagram 8).

Diagram 9

Diagram 10

9. On the zone block, step to the uncovered lineman’s release and attack gap (Diagram 9). 10. Cut block. Extend his arms striking the blocker’s pads with open palms pushing the blocker to the turf. At the same time keep feet back (Diagram 10). The important thing for linebackers in a 43 scheme is to focus on and defeat the blocker before taking his eyes off of him. However, he must identify the flow of the backers as the play develops. Getting off of blockers and making tackles is paramount for the backers in this scheme. It is also important that the linebackers know the backfield set and the personnel group before the snap. We believe at Kentucky State University that we must stop the run which gives us the opportunity to neutralize offensive schemes by keeping them off the field. If we cannot stop the run, we lose any chance of winning.

• Proceedings • 77th AFCA Convention • 2000 •