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Georgia Military College’s Devastating 3-5 DefenseHead Football CoachDefensive Coordinator © More from this issue Following the 2000 season, our staff met to discuss what we needed to do to give our team a chance to play for something special in 2001. We had just finished the season 7-3 with the #2 ranked defense in the NJCAA, but we knew we had the talent returning to do better in 2001. One of the things we decided to do was to revamp our defense and change to a 3-5 scheme. While some may question the sanity of rebuilding a defense that finished #2 in the nation, we had sound reasons for making the change. After several discussions with Defense Coordinator Scot Sloan (now at Georgia Southern University), we made the change. We believed the 3-5 scheme made our recruiting efforts easier, increased adaptability to what offenses presented us, and allowed us the opportunity to bring better pressure and create better opportunities for our offense. Finding defensive linemen seems to be the yearly challenge for colleges of all levels. Signing enough defensive linemen to meet our needs got tougher every year and, conversely, we always seemed to have a larger number of linebacker, outside linebacker and safety-type players to recruit. There are not nearly as many high schools with 6’4”, 290 lb. defensive linemen who can run as there are high schools with players in that 6’0”-6’2”, 200-230 lb. range who can run and make plays. Switching to the 3-5 scheme reduced the number of defensive linemen we had to recruit and allowed us to take advantage of the larger pool of talent found at the various linebacker positions. We were able to place more speed on the field, and that was a tremendous boost to our defense. The 3-5 scheme also provided us the opportunity to expand on our pressure-oriented defense. The alignment alone caused problems for opponents blocking schemes, and the seemingly endless ways to bring pressure kept opponents on their heels throughout the 2001 season. The additional speed brought to the field through the change in personnel added to the impact of the various pressure schemes we used. Also, the greater number of DB and linebacker types on the field made it easier for our defense to adjust to trips formations and motions without unbalancing our defensive front. The obvious question at this point is “was it successful?” Through the efforts and consistent belief in the benefits of the 3-5 scheme, our defensive staff crafted a unit that was second to none in the 2001 season. In fact, our defense set an all-time NJCAA record for Total Defense with 67.6 yards of offense allowed per game. Additionally, we only gave up five touchdowns and no field goals during the regular season, and went on to win the NJCAA National Championship in 2001. The defense met and exceeded all of our expectations in 2001 and, needless to say, we believe strongly in its merits. The following will detail how we installed the defense and a couple of the key coaching points we taught our defensive personnel. Base Alignment Keys to Execution Constant Movement and Pressure Coverage Combinations Base Alignment In the 3-5 defense the alignment places our Defensive Ends head up over the offensive tackles and our Nose Guard aligned over the center. The linemen are taught to attack the backfield and get flat to the ball. The defensive lines play allows linebacker to run and make plays. The linebackers are stacked behind defensive linemen. Our outside backers, dog safeties, are aligned off the end man on the line of scrimmage. The dogs usually are given the freedom to move between an area of 3-5 yards outside the end man on line of scrimmage and 3-8 yards away from the line of scrimmage. They must be in the correct position when the play starts. The Free Safety is behind the Mike linebacker at 10-12 yards deep. The corners are aligned 7 yards off the ball over the widest man to their man to their side of the field. The following is the basic alignment for our defense (Diagram 1). Diagram 1. Base Alignment Keys to Execution The key to success for the 3-5 defense is the ability to stunt and blitz from all areas of the defense. Based on the alignment in figure 1, we were able to move the linemen in a direction determined by formations, down and distance, and the offense’s favorite plays. The defensive line responsibilities are made simple, based on our philosophy that we must control the line of scrimmage. We make playing defense line simple so that they can be aggressive in their attack. Our defensive ends and nose guards are very quick and are seldom asked to take on a base block. The movement of the defensive linemen requires offenses to account for them. Based on this thought, an attempt to block our defensive linemen must be made by two or more offensive linemen. The defensive linemen move in the same direction accordingly with the stunt and blitz called to allow linebackers to hit the correct gaps. We drill and constantly stress the option responsibilities in every blitz and stunt we do. We work on pad level in blitzing, because a high pad level allows offenses to disrupt the blitz. The linebackers must be able to attack the line of scrimmage with low pad level and be ready to redirect to the recognized play. To recognize the play we run a Key Drill. This is an important part of our practice where the linebackers learn to recognize formations, sets and plays the opponents run. The important coaching point is for the linebacker to understand where the defensive line is stunting and where they will fit on each play. The linebacker’s ability to read the play fast and then attack helps us to make plays in the backfield. The following is a key drill we use to help linebackers with play recognition. (Diagrams 2,3,4) Diagram 2. - VS. ISO Mike - fit inside/out to the football Left Bat - attack, keep outside arm free Right Bat - slow read for cut back, fit with the noseguard Left Dog - buzz feet and be ready to fit inside or outside as determined by the ball location Right Dog - slow read for cut back Diagram 3. VS. SWEEP Mike - fast flow - go now and stay inside/out on the football Left Bat - slow read away fit with the noseguard for cut back Right Bat - fit off the end man on the line of scrimmage Left Dog - slow read for cut back Right Dog - attack ball and turn everything back inside Diagram 4. VS. OPTION The noseguard, Mike, Right Bat and Right End must handle dive and QB Mike - read inside out, dive, QB, pitch Left Bat - slow read fit with the nose for cutback Right Bat - attack line of scrimmage QB (Mike, Nose, End have Dive) Left Dog - slow read for cut back Right Dog - buzz feet on line of scrimmage until football location is determined, then to pitch Free Safety - has dive, QB to pitch
Constant Movement and Pressure The biggest coaching point that we have picked up with this defense is to not just teach where to stunt but rather teach how to stunt. How to fight through, seeing the ball, and how to redirect are all elements of how to stunt. Where to go is only part of it, but how to take on the different levels during a play is even more important. The second coaching point is to make sure each player knows their responsibility for option in all of the stunts. Coverage Combinations The cornerbacks are asked to do one thing and do it very well. They must be able to cover the side receivers. Whether we are in zone or man to man the corners cover and support late on the run. Diagram 9. Cover Two Robber Diagram 10. Cover 1/4 1/4 1/2's When we are stunting the Dog and Bat on the same side we use One Roll. In One Roll the Covers have #1, the free safety will roll down and cover #2 on the side that the Dog and Bat are stunting. The Bat not going on a stunt and the Mike will take #3. On the opposite side of the stunt, the Dog will have #2 man (Diagram 11). In this stunt it is crucial that the Dog on the blitz attack at the second level for containment and pitch. The Bat is attacking at the first level and has quarterback on option. If we are stunting our Bats and Mike, then we will run Cover Zero. Cover Zero simply says that the offense has five eligible receivers and we have five defensive backs. The Corners have #1, the Dogs have #2 and the Free Safety has #3 (Diagram 12). Diagram 11. One Roll Diagram 12. Cover Zero Diagram 13. Cover Three The zone package we run comes out of a three deep principle in Cover Three. The basic rules are the Corners and Free Safety have deep 1/3’s, the Dogs have curl/flat, the Bats have hook/curl and the Mike has the middle hole (Diagram 13). We will also roll our Cover three responsibilities so that we can add zone pressure packages. Bert Williams & Taylor Burks Bert Williams began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Ray Goff at the University of Georgia. Williams also coached at Union College in Kentucky where he served as the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. Williams held these same positions at GMC prior to his promotion to Athletic Director and Head Coach. His overall record as a head coach is 18-3. He was also named NJCAA 2001 Head Coach of the year. Williams was a three-year starter at offensive tackle at Davidson College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE DEFENSE 82: Net Rushing Yards Allowed Since 1991: • 2001 NJCAA National Champions |
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