Shedding Light on a Frequent Visitor
“Who is that guy?” I’ve been getting that question on Friday nights for 20 years. A lot of Friday nights while we are warming up, Coach Steele Harmon will come out on the field to visit with me. It is…
Basic ILB Run Reads in the Multiple 3-4 Defense
Defending the run in our 3-4 defensive scheme rests heavily on our inside linebackers ability to diagnose blocking schemes and attack the line of scrimmage with speed and efficiency. To accomplish this, our LBs need to be disciplined in their…
Defensive Back Drill: Stick Tackle
I got this one from our Defensive Coordinator, Jeff Moore, who is one of the best in the business. He was a 2012 finalist for D3football.com’s Division III Coordinator of the Year, and his defense has led us to a…
Fire 3 Zone Pressures Concept
Before we teach our players any of our pressures, we introduce them to the four rules of engagement, which are our standard blitz rules EVERY player on defense should know and understand. We also focus on teaching the rules and…
Shutting Down the Run With the Under Front in Your 4-3 Defense
I love using the 4-3 defense’s over front because it is one of the most versatile defensive fronts in the game. There are times, however, when we know that the offense wants to run the ball. In those situations, we…
Defensive Guru Smith Still Has Impact on Royals
It was a morning practice in the summer of 1986. The Mercer County football team had just finished a 10-minute period of throwing pass patterns on air — no defense. Not a single completion. The night before we had scrimmaged…
Shutting Down the Pistol Flex Bone Option With Your 4-3 Defense
There is nothing tougher than stopping a great option Offense. No matter how physically superior your guys are, the option guys are going by a simple mantra: If you can’t block ‘em, read ‘em! The power of the option attack…
Slanting 3-4 Defense
Swarm, tackles, and takeaways is the specific type of defense we play. The 3-4 is just the way we choose to play it. My philosophy is to be able to get lined up quick, get the calls, and put pressure…
Underneath Zone Coverage for ILB’s
Working to get inside linebackers to fully understand underneath zones in coverage is critical. Our philosophy here is that we will cover deeper routes, and break up on shorter ones. The big play occurs when your underneath defenders are out…
Linebacker Keys in the Miami 4-3 Defense
By Joe Daniel. Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach, Prince George High School (VA) The Miami 4-3 Defense originated in the mid-1980s at the University of Miami. The original concept was designed to stop the Wishbone Option (Diagram1). The design…