D-Line Play in the 4-2-5

Lee-Davis High School

Confederate Football
Jason Meade
Head Football Coach
Lee-Davis High School
meade@leedavisfootball.com
804.513.2460
www.leedavisfootball.com
Coaching Defensive Linemen
 Eliminate the word “don’t”
– Tell the players what to do
 Establish positive communication
 When we address one player, they all must
pay attention
– If they always listen, they will always learn
 They all have the same name
– Mental reps
 If you are focused, your body will react as if your were taking
the rep
 Players learn by doing
– Reps, Reps, Reps
 Great Defensive Linemen
 If you have quick feet you can be a
good Defensive Lineman
– Drill footwork everyday
 If you have quick hands you can be a
good Defensive Lineman
– Work on hand fight and quickness everyday
 If you have both, you can be a GREAT
Defensive Lineman
– If you play with leverage
 Great Defensive Linemen
 Maintain Body Leverage
– The goal is to keep your helmet below the
offensive linemen’s helmet the entire play
– In reality, some players struggle to
consistently play with this body position
– They must learn when to drop their pad level
 This is leverage control
– Timing your pad level for effective contact and control
– Pad level can be trained
 Box Squats, Hurdles, Duck Walk, Stadium Stairs
Defensive Line Philosophy
 We are going to make the offense earn every
block and every yard by:
– Attacking – work to the heels of the offensive line
and spill all kick-out blocks
– Escaping – recognize the blocking scheme and get
out of their line of fire
– Pursuing – make the tackle if your gap is threatened
or chase into the line of scrimmage with relentless
effort if it is not threatened
– Tackling – finish every play involved in the tackle
(Drive Stop, TFL, SACK, first hit/assist, FF, FR)
 Techniques
A

Y T G C G T Y

7 6i 5 4i 3 2i 1 1 2i 3 4i 5 6i 7
6 4 2 0 2 4 6
Storm
 Storm
A

Z Q

Y X

E T N A
6i 2i 2i Loose
J 5 R
3x3 S M 4x3
30 30
C
1x7 C
D 1x7
8-10
 Get Set (TNT)
 Defensive Call
– Everyone looks to the sideline
– There is no huddle
 Assignment/Responsibility
– Front
– Stunt
– Blitz
– Movement
 Get Set (TNT)
 Alignment
– Right or Left
 Depends on the call and the strength of the formation
– Heavy or Loose
 Depends on ability and confidence
– Credit Card
 Regular alignment
 Crowd the ball
– Shoe Box
 Movement alignment
 Between 12 and 18 inches off of the ball
 Get Set (TNT)
 Stance
– Nike
 3 point stance, man hand down
 Toe to instep stagger, man foot back
– Taller players may need to have more stagger
 Feet at a comfortable distance
 Down hand will always be in front of our eyes
 Weight slightly forward  60%/40%
 Hips slightly elevated above the shoulders
 Head up with the inside eye keying the football
– Guns
 Get-off stance in passing situations
 More stagger, more weight on the down hand, higher hips
Stance
Stance
Stance
Stance
Stance
 Pre-Snap Reads (TNT)
 Offensive Lineman’s stance
– Run (Reno call)
– Pass (Vegas call)
– This read may change your stance
 Gap size
 Offensive Lineman’s depth
– Most offensive lineman gain depth to pull or pass set
 We will study film to learn our opponents
tendencies
 Keys
1. Take-off Key
 Back point of the football
 Limit your vision
2. Man-on
 V of the neck or the screws of the helmet
 Block Recognition
 Base, Down, Zone Scoop, Reach, Pass Set, Pull, Double Team,
Arc
 Your alignment will limit the blocks you will face
3. Adjacent Man
4. Near Back
 Wrong arm and climb vertically
5. Down the Line
 Wrong arm and climb vertically
 Attack the Man
 Hands
– Violently strike the target from low to high
 Quick Jab
– Hand placement  Breast plate and Tricep/Shoulder Tip
– Keep your eyes below hands
 Hips
– Play with leverage
– Stay square and maintain your gap leverage
– Play with Great Body Position
 Keep your facemask below the offensive lineman’s facemask
 Feet
– Your 1st step is to your man, your 2nd step is with your key
– Stay square and maintain your gap leverage
– Be Active  Keep your feet moving
 Always drive to the offensive lineman’s heels
 Versus the Run
 Separate
– Arms of Steel
– Thumbs up and elbows locked
 Squeeze and spill all kickers
– Recognize the blocking scheme
– Occupy your gap
– Stay square until you are forced to wrong arm
 Escape
– Get out of the line of fire
– Must be quick, explosive, and aggressive
 Chase into the Line of Scrimmage
 Tackle
 Weekly Run Drills
 Footwork  Block Recognition
 Take-Offs – 1 vs 1; 1 vs 2; 2 vs 2
 Can Work – Involve ILB’s
– Techniques – Use the offensive line
– Movement  Wrong Arm Drill
– Stunts and Blitzes  Line of Fire Drill
 Involve ILB’s  Rip Technique
 Arms of Steel – Rip and Long Stick
– 6-point  ½ Line and Full Line Work
– 3-point – Involve the offensive line
– Sled
 3-point Fit and Press *Must also work these drills
– Working Extension under the chutes
 Versus the Pass
 Close the space and set up our move
– Defensive Tackles  Square Principle
 Make the offensive lineman move horizontally
– Defensive Ends  Tackle Set Line
 Sprint to a point 4 yard behind the offensive tackle’s outside foot
 Beat him with speed first
 React to his set
 Work a Move
– Same hand/shoulder, same foot
– Ends  Plant the seed of speed
– Tackle  Power
 Hip Slide
 Accelerate
 Sack or Pursue
– Rush Lanes
 Weekly Pass Drills
 Footwork
 Take-Offs
 Hand Fighting
 Rip Progression
 Swim Progression
 Transition Drill
– Recognizing high hats
 Hoops
– Under the chutes
 1 on 1 Pass Rush
 Illini Drill
 Pop-Up Bags
– Slalom
– Radical Turns
– Square Drill
 Push/Pull Drill
 3 (OL) on 1 (DL)
 Screen and Draw
– Retrace your steps
Film
D-Line Play in the 4-2-5
Lee-Davis High School
Confederate Football
Jason Meade
Head Football Coach
Lee-Davis High School
meade@leedavisfootball.com
804.513.2460
www.leedavisfootball.com