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Panther
Defense
Panther Defense
Patton High School will become known for its aggressive, relentless, dominating defense. If you commit to developing yourself as the ultimate team player who pursues excellence, there is no limit to what we can do as a unit.
The 2 most important parts of our team defense will be getting to the ball and making something happen when we get there. Theres a reason we do the Pursuit Drill, not for the conditioning but to get used to having 11 people around the ball in a hurry. Attack With A Purpose!! Believe in yourself, your teammates, and our defense. Other teams will sometimes make plays, bad things may happen. Stay together. Stay focused. Really big plays happen when players lose focus and arent doing their jobs. Have faith in your ability and those around you. Create our future. Create turnovers. If the ball is in the air, its ours. If the ball is on the ground, its ours. Winning the turnover battle helps us win the game. Become one unit on defense. Let nothing come between us and our goals. When people walk away after our football games, we want them talking about the fastest playing, hardest hitting, best defense that they have ever seen. Become the defense that opponents hate to play. Like the panther on the prowl, strike fear into your prey.
Panther Defense
Positions
Defensive Line Devil (D)- Left side defensive end 3 Tech (T)- Strong side defensive tackle Nose (N)- Weak side defensive tackle Edge (E)- Right side defensive end
Linebackers Sam (S)- Left side outside linebacker Mike (M)- Strong side inside linebacker Will (W)- Weak side inside linebacker Rover (R)- Right side outside linebacker
Defensive Backs Corner (C)- Left side corner Free Safety (F)- Middle of the field Corner (C)- Right side corner
*Prowler (P)- Extra safety in Mustang package *Backer (B)- Extra linebacker in Goal Line package
Panther Defense
The Huddle
M W SDTNER CFC
Get to the huddle quickly! Stay together until the MIKE calls the strength.
MIKE: Calls the defense/front adjustments WILL: Calls the huddle together SAM: Calls the Down & Distance FREE SAFETY: Makes the secondary adjustments
Example: W- Huddle! M- Okie Green S- 2nd and 7 M- Strong Left F- Trips, WhiteLucky, Lucky
Shades:
4i
2i
21
4i
Head Up:
Linebackers should add a zero 0 to the end of the number for their alignment.
Panther Defense
Definitions
Alignment: The proper place or position you line up on the field. Assignment: The proper duty you must fill in order for us to be successful. Attack step/Read step: The first two steps used by defensive linemen to read the blocks and play. BCR: Boot/Counter/Reverse, Sam and Rover are responsible for these on every play Breastplate: The center of the chest on an offensive player EMOL: End Man on Line, usually a Tight End or Tackle. Used to help the Sam and Rover with their alignment. GATA: Gifted And Talented Athletes, or our private definition. Huddle: The place where the Mike calls the defense between plays.
Keys: Helpful tools used to recognize the play and whether its a run or pass.
LOS: Line of Scrimmage, the plane where the ball lies before being snapped. Man Coverage: Type of coverage used to defend the pass. A defender is responsible for covering an assigned receiver, no matter where they go. Peripheral Vision: Being able to see something in your vision without focusing on it. Also known as seeing it out of the corner of your eye. Used for run or pass purposes. PTFT: Pull The Freaking Trigger, used by our inside linebackers to remind them to hit the gap as soon as they make their read SCF: called scif, refers to Seam/Curl/Flat. This is the pass responsibility of the Sam and Rover in GREEN coverage. Shock Factor: Describes the hand punch used by linebackers when defeating blocks of offensive linemen and running backs. Turnover: When our defense gains control of the football, either through interceptions or fumbles. Zone Coverage: Type of coverage used to defend the pass. A defender is assigned a specific zone to cover, no matter what receivers come in or out of it. The defender cannot leave his zone.
Panther Defense
Okie
T
S C F
D, E: 7 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 3 Tech. to strength, 2i away M: 10 Tech. to the strength W: 30 Tech. to weak side S, R: Ghost 80 (3x3) C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
N
M W R C
T S M
N R W
T S M
N R W
Panther Defense
Okie G
T
S C F
D, E: 7 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 3 Tech. to strength, 2i away M: 30 Tech. to the strength W: 30 Tech. to weak side S, R: Ghost 80 (3x3) C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
N
W R C
Panther Defense
Wedge
T
S C F
D, E: 7 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 1 Tech. to strength, 1 Tech. away M: 30 Tech. to the strength W: 30 Tech. to weak side S, R: Ghost 80 (3x3) C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
N
W R C
T S M
N R W
T S M
N R W
Panther Defense
Wedge Stack
T
S C F
D, E: 7 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 2 Tech. to strength, 2 Tech. away M: 20 Tech. to the strength W: 20 Tech. to weak side S, R: Ghost 80 (3x3) C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
N
W R C
Panther Defense
Wedge Tite
S
M C
N
W
C F
D, E: 5 Technique to strength, 4 Tech. away T, N: 1 Tech. to strength, 1 Tech. away M: 30 Tech. to the strength W: 30 Tech. to weak side S, R: Tight 9 Tech. C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
Panther Defense
Eagle
T
M
N
W R C F
D, E: 9 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 3 Tech. to strength, 2i away M: 10 Tech. to the strength W: 30 Tech. to weak side S, R: 6 Tech. to strength, Ghost 80 (3x3) away C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
C S T M N R W
T S M
N R W
Panther Defense
Eagle G
S
M C
N
W R C F
D, E: 9 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 3 Tech. to strength, 2i away M: 30 Tech. to the strength W: 30 Tech. to weak side S, R: 6 Tech. to strength, Ghost 80 (3x3) away C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
Panther Defense
Eagle Stack
T
M
N
W R C F
D, E: 9 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 2 Tech. to strength, 2 Tech. away M: 20 Tech. to the strength W: 20 Tech. to weak side S, R: 6 Tech. to strength, Ghost 80 (3x3) away C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
Panther Defense
Bear
T
S C F
D, E: 7 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T, N: 3 Tech. to strength, 3 Tech. away M: 10 Tech. to the strength, 3 yards off W: 10 Tech. to weak side S, R: Ghost 80 (3x3) C: Green- 1 yard outside, 8 yards off
N
M W R C
Panther Defense
Mustang
T
S C M F W P R C
D, E: 5 Technique to strength, 5 Tech. away T: 0 Tech. (Head up) M: 30 Tech. to the strength W: 30 Tech. to weak side
M W S T R
T S M W R S M
T R W
Panther Defense
Tiger
S D
C
T
M
N
W
R
C
D, E: 6 Technique to strength, 3 Tech. away T, N: 3 Tech. to strength, 0 Tech. away M: 20 Tech. to the strength W: 20 Tech. to weak side S, R: Tight 9 Tech. C: Orange- Press Man
Panther Defense
Goal Line
S
C
D
M
N
B
E W
R C
D, E: 5 Tech. with TE, 4 Tech. without T, N: 1 Tech. to strength, 1Tech. away M: 40 Tech. to the strength W: 40 Tech. to weak side S, R: Tight 9 Tech. C: Green- Head up, Orange- Press man
S D M T B N E W R
C C
S C
D M
T B
N W
Panther Defense
GATA
Panther Defense
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Panther Defense
4.
5. 6. 7. 8.
Steps
1. 2. 3. 4. Attack step, read step are your first 2 steps Feet must stay close to the ground. You should feel turf as you are moving. Feet must move quickly. There is no room for high stepping or stopping your feet. Your power comes from the ground. Your feet are closest to the ground.
Eyes
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. You must have tremendous peripheral vision. You must be able to see the ball, your blocker, as well as the blockers near him. This ability will increase your awareness of the type of block you will get. Your eyes control your spinal cord, which means your body will do what your eyes recognize and tell it to do. Your eyes will take you to the ball. Great players have great eyes and get to the ball.
Panther Defense
Angles
1. 2. The angle that a blocker is attacking you from is critical. Especially his shoulders. You must be able to recognize his up-field shoulder. It is usually the one that is closest to you. This is the one that will tell you exactly what he is trying to do.
Arms
1. 2. You must lead with your hands and arms. This goes along with your attack step and read step. When making contact with an offensive blockers chest, you must drive the heel of your hand through his body. This will keep you from using your fingers and makes your Shock Factor stronger
Shed
1. 2. Control the blocker and drive him downfield. Shed him off of you when the ball carrier commits himself. When shedding the blocker, get separation and throw the blocker across and away from your body.
Attitude
1. The most important aspect of playing the run. You must throw your body around and be aggressive.
Keys
1. Go on the snap. Identify the run
2.
Panther Defense
N
2. Cut Off Block
If the offensive blocker tries to get inside position on you, strain into his pressure and squeeze to the inside. Always keep shoulders square and be ready for the cutback.
T
3. Reach Block
If the offensive blocker tries to get outside position on you, play to his outside jaw and maintain outside position. Play with your hands and throw him quickly, so that you can react to the ball carrier when he commits.
Panther Defense
N
5. Double Team (Combo) Block
If you are double teamed, attempt to defeat the one-on-one block first.. If the double gets to you, split it. If you cant split it, grab cloth and take a seat. Pull the double over top of you and create a pile
T
6. Trap Block
If the lineman blocks down to your inside and you feel no pressure outside, stay low and squeeze to the inside. Find the trapper, and wrong arm his block Try to trap the trapper. The more up field you get the quicker the trap will hit you.
Panther Defense
Get your hands up when you see the QB is about to deliver the ball and you cant get to him. When is off hand come off the ball and the throwing arm begins to cock, get em up!
Coaching Points
Anticipate a passing situation. Know your down and distance. Listen to the call in the huddle for stunts/blitzes. Recognize a pass set by the offensive lineman. Know your opponents protection schemes and who is responsible for blocking you. Always make progress towards the QB. Make the blocker move his feet as much as possible. Youre going forwards, hes going backwards. Make the blocker stop your initial move before you hit your second move or counter move. Close the gap between you and the blocker as quickly as possible. The longer he keeps you away, the less effect you have rushing the passer. Limit your blocking surface area. Avoid full frontal contact.
Panther Defense
2.
Finesse Rush
A. Rip- Get a great take off straight up field attacking the blocker with your nose just outside the shoulder of the blocker. As you close the distance and the blocker tries to lock you out, dip your inside pad through his hip and rip your inside arm and hand through his elbow. Drive your inside leg through with your rip. Pop the elbow up and accelerate past his hip and close towards the QB. B. Swim- Get a great take off up field attacking the blocker with your nose just outside the shoulder of the blocker. As you close the distance, Club his outside arm on the triceps with your outside arm. Grab cloth if you can and pull his shoulders down and in. As you pull down, swim over his shoulder with your inside arm just over top of his pads. As your inside arm clears, swing your inside leg and hip through to replace his outside leg. Drive your inside elbow off his back to push off and accelerate towards the QB.
Panther Defense
Panther Linebackers
GATA
Panther Defense
Linebacker Requirements
1. 2. 3. Be a team player. Great defensive football teams need eleven players playing all out on every play. You must be disciplined with your alignments and assignments. You are responsible for setting the defensive front and making sure everyone is lined up properly. You must be a student of the game. You have to know all of our defenses, field positions, and game situations.
4.
5. 6. 7.
You must know the opponent completely- their formations, favorite plays, tendencies, and personnel.
Fly to the football on every play. Set the tempo of our defense. Always run on and off the field. Never let your opponent know you are tired- develop this attitude in practice. You must have the ability to find the football through a crowd of bodies. You have to play with reckless abandon and be willing to sacrifice your body to destroy blockers or ball carriers. You must be strong enough to take on the biggest and toughest offensive lineman. You must have the speed, quickness, and agility to track a ball carrier down from sideline to sideline. You must have the ability to play sound zone coverage or cover any receiver man to man. You must be the most dependable player on the field who can do anything we ask of you. You must have a never-ending desire to WIN! You must be the best group of linebackers in North Carolina.
8.
Defeating a Blocker
To defeat a one on one block, we will use two basic techniques. You must attack the blocker in his territory, constantly closing the distance between you and the blocker. Meet the blocker in a leverage position as close to head up as possible in order to play either inside or outside the block. You must be under his pads, the low man wins. This will allow you to strike a blow to straighten the blockers legs allow the LB to separate from the blocker and pursue the ball.
Techniques
1. 2. Hand Punch- Shock Factor. At contact dip your hips and explode your hands into the breast plate. Drive your hands to create separation. This will allow you to escape and pursue. Forearm Punch- Deliver a blow up and out with forearm. When you make contact with flipper, drive him off. The forearm is the power arm and the off arm is the control arm.
Panther Defense
Inside Linebackers
The Basics
Stance- Two point stance. Feet even with each other, shoulder width apart. Weight on the inside of your feet, on the balls of your feet. Legs in a good bent position with arms hanging loose in front. Alignment- Heels should be at 4 yards. Specific alignment will vary with the front call. Responsibility- Determined by alignment and block of guard. Keys- We are a guard reading team. Use their block to know your gap. Flash the backs for a flow key. These two keys will get you to the ball. When you make your read, PTFT.
Panther Defense
Panther Defense
Inside Linebackers Block Reaction 4. Guard Down Block with Hard Flow
Get downfield as quickly as possible and strike aggressive blow with both hands into the breast plate of the guard. Be able to shed, locate, and tackle the ball carrier inside or outside.
B
5. Guard Down Block with Split Flow
45^ attack step with your outside foot (replace your toe with your heel) to the near hip of the defensive lineman. Find your DE. Get downhill, closing the distance between you and the guard. Stay low and square, deliver a Shock Factor. Separate, locate the ball, and be able to play inside or outside.
B
6. Guard Pulls Outside
45^ attack step with outside foot to the near hip of the defensive lineman. Get downhill to DE to fit inside or outside. Pursue the ball and tackle ball carrier.
Panther Defense
Inside Linebackers Block Reaction 7. Guard Down Block with Split Flow
45^ attack step with your inside foot to the near hip of the defensive lineman. Make a Pull call to the other ILB. Get downhill, stack tight to fit inside or outside the defensive lineman.
B
8. Guard Pass Protects
Make run read step until draw threat is clear. Defend draw first. Once back clears, play pass technique determined by the coverage called.
Panther Defense
Outside Linebackers
The Basics
Stance- Ghost 80: Staggered feet under your shoulders. Inside foot up with heel-toe relationship. Good bend in legs and hips. Hands hanging down loose in front. 9 Tech: Feet even under your shoulders. Good bend in legs and hips. Hands locked in front to attack TE. Alignment- Ghost 80: 3x3 from the EMOL. 9 Tech: Inside foot in crotch of TE Responsibility- Determined by alignment and block of EMOL. Everything gets spilled to you in space, finish every tackle. Step with your inside foot and hand to react to EMOL block. Pick up the Keys- We are a block reading team. Use their block to know your gap. Step with your inside foot and hand to react to EMOL block. Pick up the backs for a flow key and look down the LOS when the TE does not block you. These two keys will get you to the ball. When you make your read, PTFT.
Panther Defense
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Make your run/pass read first. After the draw threat is clear, your attention should be on the QB while feeling the receiver routes with peripheral vision Open the hip to your zone and drive as vertical as you can without turning your body. Pin the chin on your shoulder. Settle in your zone when the QB settles. Read the eyes and shoulder of the QB. Break on the long arm of the QB. Collision with any crossing routes. Help disrupt the timing. Break at sharp angles. Dont round anything and react slowly. Strike like a panther quickly and with purpose. When you recognize pass, yell Pass, pass!!. When receivers enter or exit your zone, give an In, in or Out, out call to help your other defenders. When the ball is in the air, yell Ball, ball!!
9.
Yell Bingo! when we intercept it and get to the nearest sideline for the wall.
1. 2. 3.
Focus on your assigned receiver. Keep good inside out position on receiver. Keep your eyes on the midsection of your receiver at all times.
4.
5. 6. 7.
Panther Defense
Get your hands up when you see the QB is about to deliver the ball and you cant get to him. When is off hand come off the ball and the throwing arm begins to cock, get em up!
Coaching Points
Anticipate a passing situation. Know your down and distance. Listen to the call in the huddle for stunts/blitzes. Recognize a pass set by the offensive lineman. Know your opponents protection schemes and who is responsible for blocking you. Always make progress towards the QB. Make the blocker move his feet as much as possible. Youre going forwards, hes going backwards. Make the blocker stop your initial move before you hit your second move or counter move. Close the gap between you and the blocker as quickly as possible. The longer he keeps you away, the less effect you have rushing the passer. Limit your blocking surface area. Avoid full frontal contact.
Panther Defense
2.
Finesse Rush
A. Rip- Get a great take off straight up field attacking the blocker with your nose just outside the shoulder of the blocker. As you close the distance and the blocker tries to lock you out, dip your inside pad through his hip and rip your inside arm and hand through his elbow. Drive your inside leg through with your rip. Pop the elbow up and accelerate past his hip and close towards the QB. B. Swim- Get a great take off up field attacking the blocker with your nose just outside the shoulder of the blocker. As you close the distance, Club his outside arm on the triceps with your outside arm. Grab cloth if you can and pull his shoulders down and in. As you pull down, swim over his shoulder with your inside arm just over top of his pads. As your inside arm clears, swing your inside leg and hip through to replace his outside leg. Drive your inside elbow off his back to push off and accelerate towards the QB.
Panther Defense
GATA
Panther Defense
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Stance
1. Corners- Your outside foot is up, your weight is on this foot. Your outside foot should be placed under your nose as you lean forward, not your shoulder. Bend at the waist, keeping your shoulders over your toes. Allow your arms to hang loosely to the side.
Safety- Keep your feet even but narrower than your shoulders. All your weight should be on the inside balls of your feet. Keep your weight leaning forward, shoulders over toes. Bend a little at the waist and in the legs. Allow your arms to hang loosely to the side.
2.
Panther Defense
Start
If you dont start by taking a step backwards with your back foot, you will seriously hurt your ability to cover. Push off the front foot and step back with your back foot. Dont get in a hurry and raise your shoulders or hips. If you step forward with your back foot you have lost 2 steps in coverage. Keeps your hips back. Dont drive them forward and raise up.
Backpedal
You should now be running backwards. Do not push off with your feet while backpedaling. Keep your hips behind you and reach back with each step. Pull your body over your feet just as if you were running forward. Keep a slight forward lean with your shoulders, shoulders over toes! Move your arms in a normal running fashion, elbows tight and hands high.
Change of Direction
The next progression is to be able to change the angle of your run without crossing your legs. This is the Weave. You want to continue with the same arm movement. The only change is the action of your legs. Take the leg opposite of the direction you want to go and swing it towards the way you want to go without crossing your legs.
Break
When trying to break on a running play or a ball thrown in front of you, you should sink your hips as you begin to try and change directions. With the foot opposite of the way you want to go, drive the toe into the ground hard. Swing the front side leg to the point you want to go and drive it towards your target.