Tennessee Defense

I

t is a tremendous honor for the defensive staff to represent The University of Tennessee here at the AFCA National Convention. We appreciate your attendance and look forward to spending the morning with you. I will cover our base 4-3 alignments and linebacker reads, Coach Dan Brooks will follow and talk with you about our front play and Coach Larry Slade will wind up the session talking about our secondary alignments and techniques. When we began seven years ago, we decided our philosophy would be aggressive and multiple but we would stay simple in our techniques. We want them to know what to do, how to do it and therefore allow them to play with UNBELIEVABLE EFFORT. Scheme doesn't win, EFFORT does! We will also share something we feel is very important to everyone in our program. We do checklist for everything we do and it is always good to go back and check ourselves to make sure we have covered everything we do. We believe that in the end “scheme doesn't win” ... we work scheme all day but with time restrains it’s tough. It’s not what you as coaches know, it’s what your kids know. We focus in three major things for our success: Fundamentals: we want to be fundamentally sound as a football team. From day one we stress fundamentals to our defense and work to maintain this area throughout the season. Technique: We demand our technique be sound at all of our positions. No matter whether it’s a Defensive Lineman, Linebacker, or Defensive Back, technique will be the No.1 determinant of your success. Poor technique will get you beat every time. Execution: We don’t ask our players to do a lot but we do ask that they execute our schemes. If we play each play with sound fundamentals, good technique, and overall execution we feel we will be successful. We want to be a defense that gets an extra man in the box to make it tougher on the offense. We'll rock one of the two safeties down 70 percent of time. We’re a gap control defense. Our coaches and players have to be on the same page with what we’re talking about. We have a standard consistent terminology system for what we call. We try to make this simple and not too wordy. Our

numbering system for our defensive line and linebackers is pretty standard. Before every play we declare the offensive formation strength in order to set our defense. Our Sam linebacker makes a strength call and our Mike linebacker calls the formation for our defense. We have set terminology for all formations we see from offenses. We also have a play numbering system for runs and passes. We use a numbered route tree for passes and a numbering system for our runs. I want to talk a little about our teaching progression for our linebackers. Our progression begins with: Stance: Good football position, eyes up with ability to move in all directions at snap. Alignment/Responsibilities: This gets back to our numbering system and execution. The player must know what technique he’s lining up in and what all of his responsibilities are, run or pass. Keys: Our Linebackers must read their keys and use them to get to the ball. Initial Movement: This is a critical part of every play. Being able to read your keys immediately and take the proper first steps. Blow Delivery: We want to be a physical defense and deliver an aggressive blow every time. Good knee bend, head up, full hips and drive up through tackler. Dis-Engage: It’s critical that our Linebackers be able to dis-engage off blockers and get to the ball. Pursuit: This is one of the most important parts of defensive football. “A man’s value to his team can be measured by his distance from the ball when the whistle blows.” Swarm to the ball by taking the correct course to the ball. Our best defense is out of a 4-3 Alignment. We change up our fronts quite a bit but in the end we get back to our base 43. In this our callside end is in a 9 Technique and our callside tackle is in a 3 with B Gap responsibilities. On the backside our tackle is in a one technique and our end is in a 5. Our Sam and Will are in a 50 technique and our Mike is in a weak 10 stack look. The Mike linebacker has A Gap with flow to and has the B Gap with flow away (see Diagrams 1, 2 & 3) Again, we are honored to be here before our peers this morning. Hopefully, you can take some of this and incorporate it into your defensive system. I want to get Dan Brooks up here now to talk to you about defensive line play at The University of Tennessee.

• Proceedings • 79th AFCA Convention • 2002 •

Tennessee Defense

John Chavis Defensive Coordinator University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn.

Dan Brooks Defensive Line

Larry Slade Defensive Backs

Dan Brooks, Defensive Line Thank you for the opportunity to stand before you today and talk with you about Tennessee Defense. Also, I want to thank Coach Teaff and the AFCAfor all they do as well as thank Coach Phillip Fulmer and Coach John Chavis for this opportunity. Before I begin, allow me to tell you I believe we have the best job in the world. Coach is a big word and never take it for granted. We are working in the best game in the world and paying the way for all the other sports in all our schools and universities. Each time you speak to a group (Civic Clubs, etc.) speak up for football. As Coach Chavis pointed out our Base 4-3 defense allows all four players up front to align in on outside technique. We will break this down and talk with you about our teaching progression for multiple fronts. Give the player some thing to hang his hat on. What is his job when the lights come on and the fans are loud. Our players learn inside technique, outside technique and movement. We will break down the three techniques Coach Chavis alluded to. What’s my job —-TASK? T: Technique Numbers A: Alignment vertical/horizontal S: Stance Three point stance K: Key ball to man aligned on R: ResponsibilityGap/Option Weapons for the 3 technique include: Feet: accelerate on contact Eyes: read on the run Hands: stab hand grab hand We have been very basic but this is where the game begins. Our job is to get our players to know, not to convince them how much we know. Always know little guys are watching you and telling their mom, “he’s the coach and I want to play for him some day.” Thanks for your attention and we are limited with time and Coach Larry Slade will now come to share with you.

Larry Slade, Defensive Backs The University of Tennessee Defensive Backs: Preparing for Battle in the SEC It is an honor and privilege to speak before you today. The AFCA has over the years provided great clinics for its members. I hope that we can share some information with you that will benefit you and your program. It is very important to be fundamentally sound and have a great teaching sequence

to get all of the necessary things done in preparing a successful defensive secondary. Our meeting schedule and practice schedule affords us the opportunity to be very effective teachers. Daily DB Checklist I. Position Meeting A. Academic discussion B. Practice tape C. Opponent tape D. Coverage drill 1. Adjustments 2. Formations 3. Shifts 4. Tricks Chalk talks, chair drills, walk through, expect players’best. Keep meeting positive and lively. Get the players involved. II. Individual Time A. Release Drill vs. wide receivers 1. Bump and run 2. Hammer flat technique 3. Cushion man Emphasize finishing drill. This drill is done without a ball. Teach technique versus speed in your face. B. 1 on 1 Field and Goal Line C. Block Protection/Tackle D. Footwork Drills: Emphasize short distance quickness E. Ball Drills: Emphasize high point and reception point F. Phase Drill vs. Deep Ball 1. In Phase—DB in dominant position—look back for ball and intercept it at its highest point. 2. Out of Phase — defensive back is behind wide receiver—Do not look back: Play receivers hands and eyes. III. Half Line Option Drill A. Strong Side B. Weak Side C. Rapid Fire — get reps Rotate formations on a daily basis. Example: Day 1: I PRO Day 2: Twins Day 3: I Tight Use your base coverages to teach proper run support: vs lead option and dive option. IV. Half Line Skeleton Strong Side Weak Side Rapid Fire: get reps Strong Side (See Diagram 6) Weak Side (See Diagram 7) *Run basic routes vs base coverages V. Inside Drill (9 on 8) A. Proper Alignment

B. Proper Fit: Flow to and Flow away C. Corners vs Tight Formation Teach Proper Safety Fits (See Diagram 8) Teach Corner Support (See Diagram 9) VI. Pass Skeleton A. Versus Offense: Emphasize Technique Good vs Good B. Versus Scouts: Emphasize route and formation recognitions VII. Post Practice A. Spend time with 1 player per practice 1. Talk academics 2. Talk life skills 3. Get to know as much as you can about what’s going on in player’s life.Get extra individual work with the player.

Diagram 1

Alignment Position Assign. & Tech. Callside End 9 Callside Tackle 3 Backside Tackle 1 Backside End 5 Sam 50 Mike Weak 10 Will 50 Run Category Flow To Flow Away D-Gap D-Gap QB Reverse & Restrict B-Dive B-Gap Restrict A-Gap A-Gap Dive Restrict C-Gap C-Gap QB Reverse & Restrict C-Gap A-Gap Daylight or Dark Pull Block Off A-Gap B-Gap Flow Angle B-Gap B-Gap Daylight or Dark Cutback Pass Category Flow To/Drop Back/Flow Away Contain Rush Rush Naked Rush

• Proceedings • 79th AFCA Convention • 2002 •

Boot

A- or B-Gap Rush Push A-Gap Contain Rush

Rush

Boot Naked Rush

Coverage Called Coverage Called Coverage Called

Diagram 2 9/6/7 5/4/4I 3/2/2I

8 Wide 5

Wide 5

0

1

2I/2/3 4I/4/5 7/6/9

1

Wide 3

Wide 3

90

10 10 20

40

Eagle 20

Diagram 9

8

Diagram 3

30

Diagram 8

Diagram 4

0: Head up offensive center. 1: Inside foot to shade-side foot of offensive guard. 2I: Nose to inside ear of offensive guard. 2: Head up offensive guard. 3: Inside foot to outside foot of offensive guard. Wide 3: 6” Outside the outside foot of offensive tackle. 4I: Nose to inside ear of offensive tackle. 4: Head up offensive tackle. 5: Inside foot to outside foot of offensive tackle. Wide 5: At least one foot outside offensive tackle. 6: Head up tight end. 7: Outside foot to inside foot of tight end. 8: On air one half to two yards outside tight end on/off line of scrimmage. 9: Your inside foot to outside foot of tight end. All down linemen will take the ball crowding line of scrimmage as much as possible unless a call is added to change base alignment.

40 30 70 Eagle

30: I/S eye to O/S eye of offensive guard 40: Head up on the offensive tackle 50: I/S eye to the O/S eye of offensive tackle 70: O/S eye to I/S eye of TE 90: I/S eye to O/S eye of TE Eagle: O/S eye to I/S eye of offensive tackle All alignments are four and a half yards deep unless otherwise adjusted

Diagram 5

Diagram 6: Strong Side

Diagram 7: Weak Side

Make a Difference: Insist on Secure Assistant Coaches’ Contracts When Moving to a New Position AFCA members moving into a new position as a head coach can make a difference when it comes to improving the football coaching profession. Coaches who are in the process of interviewing for a head coaching position should make it a point to ask that assistant coaches’ contracts run from July to July or the equivalent (such as January to January plus six months) when negotiating with an insitution’s representatives.

70 90

10: I/S foot on tip of center’s outside pad. 20: Head up on the offensive guard. Heavy 20: O/S to I/S eye of offensive guard.

Only those within the profession can put an end to poor contracts. It’s up to you.

• Proceedings • 79th AFCA Convention • 2002 •