BASE DEFENSE CALLS

Normal defensive calls are Louie (left), Roger (right), and Diamond (balanced). All three are aggressive defenses involving multiple sets. In Louie/Roger, the ILB to the call side keys the near back. ILB away from call reads the ball (10-11). In Diamond, both ILBs (S & W) are call side LBs and both key the near back to their side (12).

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS DEFENSE.

If interested in learning more about this defense, I would be happy to discuss it with you via internet, phone, or in person, if feasible. Should you decide to use the defense, I could also be available to give seminars on implementing the defense at no charge or for expenses, if travel is involved.

I am currently retired but have had considerable experience at the high school, community college, and Division I and II college levels. To my knowledge, I am not aware of anyone presently using the defense in this way.

Name: Bill Richerson
Address: 471 Raintree Court, 1-B, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Phone: 630 858- 0645
Email: Richersonmb@yahoo.com

EXPLANATION OF STUNT CALLS

WILDCARD BLITZ – Wildcard blitz A gap opposite of Mike. CP: Wildcard can also blitz from corner away from call side with ‘Okie’ or ‘50’ call.

ONION/IVY – End and ILB or Anchor and ILB. If Anchor on LOS, penetrate inside/outside gaps away from call side in Louie/Roger; to call side (rip/liz) in Diamond. CP: Anchor off LOS vs. TE sets: ILB aligns head on TE and uses angle technique inside. ILB will indicate direction to End or Anchor w o/I call. Diag. 1 has End away from call going inside, ILB outside. Diag. 2 has End going outside, ILB inside. Diag. 3 has Anchor going inside, ILB outside. Diag. 4 has Anchor going outside, ILB inside. Diag. 5 illustrates o/I w rip/liz call away from TE side. Versus two TE sets, the call is to the weak side. CP: Wildcard makes rip/liz call in Diamond defense.

STRONG GUN – Strong Safety or Anchor, if aligned off LOS, comes off corner and forces ball inside (diag. 6)

WEAK GUN – Strong Safety, if aligned on weak side in C-3 or weak side Corner in C-2 comes off corner and forces ball inside (diag. 7)

GUN – both Gunners come off opposite corners and force ball inside (diag.8). NOTE: Anchor and Strong Safety are Gunners in C-3. Anchor and weak side Corner are Gunners in C-2. CP: Gun is off when aligned on two wide-receiver side

FIRE - linebackers forego reads and fire gap responsibilities on ball movement

SPECIAL FIRE – Mike and ILB away from call exchange gap responsibilities; only run with w/ Louie/Roger

PINCH – Ends, Anchor, if off LOS, and ILBs penetrate inside gaps respectively, while Mike plays base and is responsible for both A gaps. CP: Mike can also loop to either A gap w Wild-card responsible for opposite A gap.

DIAMOND FIRE – Mike and Wildcard penetrate A gaps; Sam and Will, B gaps; Ends, angle-to technique; Cover-1 is secondary call in Diamond Fire with Strong Safety coming off weak side corner if free.

KILLER – same as Diamond Fire except call is Cover 0. Anchor and Strong Safety, if free, are added to the blitz. CP: rush more defenders than offense can block in Killer

STUNTS

1. Dotted line stunts are combination stunts that follow the w/wo symbol and are run in conjunction with primary defensive calls.

2. Combo stunts are governed by certain rules and depend on how much pressure a coach wants to apply to the offensive team.

3. Combo stunts generally come into play as the game progresses. They are not called in the huddle but are discussed by coach and players involved when defense is off the field.

4. Wildcard and Strong Safety (weak Gunner) are the only players involved in combination stunts so it is a simple matter to talk to them during the game should you want to add combos to the game plan.

PASS COVERAGE

Diagram 8

Pass coverage is basically zone, combining spot drops and pattern reads. ILBs are responsible
for hook/curl to their sides unless stunt forces them into a rushing mode. Drops are altered based on #2 receiver’s route. Wildcard takes Sam’s or Will’s pass responsibilities if either is on stunt; otherwise, he has middle zone in Cover 3. In China or Cover 2 his responsibilities vary. Both Wildcard and Anchor must be strong safety type players with speed as they are used in a variety of positions and must play both the run and pass with equal aplomb.

Outside linebacker techniques vary with QB drop and offensive formation. They read #2
receiver to their side and react accordingly in Cover 3. Responsibilities are slightly more complicated
in Cover 2.

Corners and Safeties learn a variety of coverages, both zone and man, depending on the
opponent’s offensive formations and level of passing sophistication.

Diagram 8 is the typical alignment for the 3-5-3 defense vs. a pro-set offense, Cover 3.

Diagram 9
Down linemen align head up; Anchor aligns head on TE or loose if on LOS; 3x3-5x5 from TE if off LOS. Sam and Will stack behind defensive ends, heels 4-5 yds. from LOS; Wildcard stacks behind Mike, 4-5 yds. from LOS. Strong Safety aligns 5x5 outside weak side tackle; however, this varies by formation and call. Corners play 1 yd. outside normally split receiver and 7 yds. from LOS. Free Safety plays 12-15 yds. deep middle of field or between corners. Depth off ball for all defenders is predicated on down and distance, field position, and ability of individual players. Normal rule of thumb is for Ends to play off ball and Mike and Anchor, if on LOS, to crowd the ball.

Diagram 9 is the typical alignment vs. a pro-set offense, Cover 2.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER TECHNIQUES

Anchor and strong safety are outside linebackers in Cover-3. Anchor aligns to TE or strong side and plays on or off LOS depending on coverage call. When on LOS, Anchor plays head on TE and uses a cross-over and plant technique vs. TE on angle-to call {6}, and an angle technique on an angle-away call {7}. Off LOS, Anchor and Strong Safety are force players with action to and pursuit players with action away. Outside linebacker to one receiver side will eventually have the option to become gunner at coach's discretion.

LINEBACKER AND WILDCARD TECHNIQUES

The 3-5-3 loop, angle, slant defense is based to a large degree on wildcard and linebackers’ abilities to make plays. It is important that all three of them understand not only their roles, but also the responsibilities of all other players as well. ILB (S & W) execute either a penetration, scrape, or pursuit move. Angle-to ILB keys the near back and penetrates the B gap on full or split flow his way{1}. Fast flow his way, he pursues down hill, inside-out to ball {2}. Action away, he checks away back for counter, and pursues inside-out-to ball {3}. Angle-away ILB reads ball and reacts accordingly. Action to, he scrapes C-D gap on down hill angle, keeping shoulders square {4}. Action away, he checks away back for counter and pursues inside-out to ball {5}. Wildcard keys the center/guard/QB triangle and pursues the ball inside-out, taking an intelligent pursuit angle.

Rules for Defensive Line Play

1. NEVER, NEVER GET REACHED ON THE PLAY SIDE.
2. NEVER, NEVER GET SCOOPED ON THE BACK SIDE.
3. NEVER, NEVER, EVER STOP MOVING YOUR FEET.

Defensive linemen (M&Es) can execute either a loop, angle, slant, or slide technique. Normally, the angle-to end uses slant technique to the tight end side and a loop technique to the non-tight end side; mike, a loop technique; angle away end, an angle technique. This is not to say however, that the defensive linemen could not alter their techniques where all down linemen use the same technique or some combination of angle, loop, slant, or slide. An explanation of each technique follows.
ANGLE - 45 degree angle step with near foot aiming for near hip of adjacent lineman (1)
LOOP - lateral but ground gaining move toward LOS reading ball (2)
SLANT - attack chin of adjacent OL with two step move while reading ball (3)
SLIDE - lateral (24+ in.) move while reading ball (4) As stated previously, the odd defense generally deploys a combination of slant (a), loop(b), angle(c), techniques{5}. The defense, however, could deploy other combinations of the same technique(6-9). Distance off the ball for slant, angle, and slide techniques is 2-3 feet (tip of the ball) to ground hand(s); loop technique crowds the ball.

DEFENSIVE LINE TECHNIQUES

The objective of the defensive line is to attack the LOS and penetrate to the heels of the offensive linemen. This is not a reading defense; it is a gap control defense. Control of your gap is attained by beating the offensive lineman off the ball, gaining penetration on the OL's heels, and reacting to the ball. The majority of your drill work will be spent perfecting position techniques and speed off the ball.

3-5-3 Loop, Angle, Slant Defense

The odd (loop, angle, slant) defense is an aggressive, penetrating defense that relies on speed and quickness. It is easy to teach, fun to play, and causes confusion with opponents' blocking schemes and pass reads. Ideally, the defense consists of three down linemen, two inside linebackers, and six secondary players including one anchor, one wild card, two corners, and two safeties.