#1 – Tell us your basic defensive philosophy?

Protect & Defend Each Other: Do your job and attack every play with Malice in your Heart and Directed Resolve in your Action. “Discipline, Desire, Ruthless and Relentless”  

#2 – What fronts and coverages do you use?

Upfront: Over, Under, Even, Bear, Okie, Junk.  Backend: Combinations of 4 over 3, 3 over 2, 2 over 1, Trap, Man Free, 3 Buzz, 3 Spot, 2 (2 Kathy)

#3 – With the recent proliferation of the spread offense, what are your priorities in how to stop this offense?

RPO [PWR READ, FAN READ]: Evaluate Pers. and Attack the Formations-in an Effort to Disrupt and Limit the Plays Continuity. i.e.,-Defend the 1st Threat (Give: Plug to Bounce), Bait/Disguise the 2nd Threat (Illusion of Access), Force the 3rd Aspect (Q in space). [*Our Goal is to Tag the Q 12-14 times a game.]

4 Threats/Empty

• Assess the 1 on 1 match up’s up front. Can ‘We’ Win Specific “Hat for Hat’ matchups.

• Assess the top personnel and the Tendencies of various Formations.

• Create the Illusion of Urgency (5-6 man games) and Mask it with Various Coverages.

• Pressure Game: “Live by the Sword, don’t Die by it!” 2.3 or less to “Get Home!”

#4 – Similarly, many schools now run the no-huddle offense. What are the key elements to slowing down the no-huddle offense?

• PRACTICE IT.

• Define Formation Tendencies.

• Establish an AUTO sequence. [See it, Set it, Call it; EYES NEVER LEAVE THE FIELD]

• Win the 1st Down Battle!; [Win it!]

• Diminish the Success Rate of each subsequent TEMPO Attempt.

#5 – You’ve had some great defensive teams – what drills do you find effective in your daily practices to improve your overall defense?

•Pursuit Drill [Plant Foot-Drive Foot/Pic Ambush] Everyday! [Great things happen when we run to the ball!!]

•Station Work: Rotating Circuits [Palace of Pain, Tackle Circuit, Combat, Agility, Cross fit] Exploring ones Character! We always try to do this period right before a ‘Good on Good period’. Objective: Operate at a high level when Gassed!

•Sub Group Work: Pressure Period, Cov. Combination’s, Red Zone Period, 1 on 1’s [At all levels]

#6 – You also have had some great red zone defensive teams – what are the keys to being an efficient defense in the red zone?

• The Basic Scheme should be fairly simple for the kids in the RED.

• Box Players are consumed with the Run Game and the Skill kids are locked in on the  throw game.

• Create Coverages that work from the Inside/Out and the Outside/In.

• Obviously, Formation’s & Personnel’s predicate the Law of the Land down deep.

• Delivering, Flipping (MOD) and Sitting are aspects that must be Utilized in the Backend!  ***Beware the Rise of the Infamous PICK!

#7 – In recruiting defensive players, what are the intangibles in an athlete that you look for?

• Do they have the Intellectual Qualities [Potential] that separates them from their Peers? i.e. does the prospects classroom performance correspond to their Football IQ. Can a Prospect ‘Speak’ to his Degree desires, or the importance there of, as passionately as he does to his Football desires.

• Does he hold [Genuine] elements of Humility within his Character? Can he define the word?

• Is he a Captain?

• How do his Coaches react when his Work Ethic is raised?

• What is the Coaches first response when asked how the Prospect handles Adversity –both on and off the field?

• Does he look you in the Eye?

• Does he hold his phone in his Hand-all the Time?

• Instincts: Does He impact all plays, within his area (consistently) and also when the ball is away.

• Is he a ‘Bastard’ on the field? Does he create havoc, is he Relentless, is he a Threat to the Game- In a Good way!

• Can he Run like a Deer, move like a Cat and strike like a Bear?

• Does he hand the official the Ball after he scores?

• Does he look to his Teammates after a Big Play?

David s. Wissman

Defensive Coordinator -Sacred Heart University Football

2013/2014 NEC Champions

2013/2014 FCS Playoffs

203.360.2978

@coachwissman