Stop on a Dime

Grambling State\'s dynamic dime package unwrapped!
by: Heishma Northern
Defensive Backs Coach & Special Teams Coordinator
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The past two seasons our defense has been in the top 10 in sacks, interceptions and turnover margin. During the 2001 season our defense was ranked in the top 15 in both rushing and scoring defense. We also finished fourth nationally in passes intercepted and third in total takeaways. A great deal of our success stems from our dime package. The following will familiarize the reader with the personnel and pressures we use in this package. The focal point being the defense of a double slot formation, the primary set we see in passing situations. (See Diagram 1.)

Personnel Groups
E - two best pass rushers regardless of size must be able to keep contain
N - most athletic interior player with great quickness and a nose for the ball
Sam & Mac - best run stoppers
Jac & Jill - fastest/aggressive defensive backs
CB - best man-to-man defenders
S - best tacklers in secondary

Diagram 1.Base Dime Package

Diagram 2.

The first pressure is Combo Blast. This pressure is designed to bring pressure off the edge. We use this versus an opponent whose Quarterback attempts to escape by releasing outside. The cornerbacks play man to man and more times than not we double the #2 receiver with the Sam or Mac and the safety to that side of the field. (See Diagram 2.)

N - nose tackle has a two way go, but if we determine a slide protection he will go away from the slide.
E - will line up in a four or tight five technique and take the B gap.
SAM & MAC - line up in a 40 technique, play man to man on the #2 receiver (inside responsibility)
Jack & Jill - align head up to inside the #2 receivers and blitz off the edge responsible for contain
S - help Sam & Mac with vertical and out routes by #2
C - man to man on #1 receiver

The next pressure is Combo “X”. We use this versus teams that frequently run draws, shuffle passes, and long traps out of the double slot set. On Combo “X” everything is the same except Jac & Jill will pressure the B Gap and the defensive end will have an outside pass rush. (See Diagram 3.)

Diagram 3.

BRACKETS “1”, “2”
Brackets is a middle pressure we use against a team whose quarterback is not that mobile. Our intentions are to force him to move laterally. We play two different coverages with Brackets, “1” or “2 “. On Brackets “1” the safeties will help the corners over the top with the #1 receiver while Jack & Jill play man- to- man. On Brackets “2” the safeties help Jack & Jill with the #2 receiver while the corners play man to man. We also allow our players to make different calls depending on which of our underneath defenders needs help or where the other team’s best receiver is lined up. (See Diagram 4.)

Diagram 4. Brackets 1

NT - head up on center 2 way go preferably away from slide
E - set 5 on tackle outside
SAM &MAC - stack behind DE; rush B Gap
JAC & JILL - man to man on #2 receiver taking away inside
S - inside help on #1 receiver
CB - man -to- man with inside help from safety

The same as Brackets 1 with the safeties helping Jack & Jill in coverage, depending on leverage. (See Diagram 5.)

Brackets “X” is another variation of the same defense except the Defensive End and the Sam or Mac to their side will exchange gap responsibilities. We will still use “1” or “2” as our coverage. (See Diagram 6)

Diagram 5. Brackets 2

Diagram 6.

N - 2 way go
E - jet (wide) 5-tech crossface the tackle and rush B gap
Sam & Mac - push up field until E heads up tackle then go outside for a contain rush
Jac & Jill - man- to- man on #2 receiver
S - help with # 1 or #2 depending on # called
C - man to man on #1 receiver

With the different variations, the offense sees six defenses to prepare for. These are our primary man coverage pressures.

ZONE BLITZES
The next defenses are the zone blitzes that we use. We zone blitz versus a team that:
• Throws slants to the #2 receiver
• Throws deep to intermediate crossing routes
• Throws curls to the #1 receiver

STRONG SHOOT WEAK LURK
The basis for this defense is to load one side of the formation with rushers. We will designate the strong side or weak side of the offense based on whether the quarterback is left-handed or right-handed, the protection schemes of the offense (slide or man), the alignment of the back, and the use of the back in protection and pass routes. If the tailback is lined up directly behind the QB we will call strong to the side of the quarterback’s throwing arm. In a shotgun formation the strength will be called towards the back, due to the fact most teams slide their protection away from the back. (See Diagram 7.)

Diagram 7.

N - O Tech or shade to strong side slant to A gap weak
E - align in 5 tech responsible for contain
Sam - stack behind N or E push B gap strong
Mac - stack behind N or weak E rush A gap strong
Jac & Jill - keep #2 receiver from releasing inside. Responsible for curl, rally late to flats.
SS - rotate to middle third deep
FS - check run to B gap weak, then play middle of field (hook) look for deep crossing route
C - responsible for deep 1/3 (outside)

WEAK SHOOT STRONG LURK

Diagram 8.

N - O Tech or shade WK responsible for A gap strong
E - 4 or 5 tech contain rush
Sam - stack behind N or strong E rush A gap weak
Mac - stack behind TE rush B gap Wk
Jac & Jill -same as strong shoot
C - same as strong shoot
SS - check run to B gap strong then play hook looking for deep crossing route
FS - rotate to deep middle

CLAW DOUBLE DECA LANES
The pressure is designed to cause confusion in both the protection scheme and the hot read of the QB. We play basic 1/4 “lanes” coverage with this pressure. If we decide to play man, the ends will rush the B gap to their side while Sam & Mac rush A gap to their side. (See Diagram 9.)

Diagram 9.

N - 0 Tech jams center and drop straight back.
E - “Deca” 5 Tech step hard at tackle and drop looking for slant route.
Sam & Mac - Stack behind E or N rush B Gap
Jack & Jill - Align over slot receiver, blitz outside the tackle (responsible for contain)
CB - Outside leverage, responsible for outside 1/4
S - Split difference between #1 receiver and tackle, responsible for inside 1/4.

One may have noticed we did not discuss covering the tailback. We cover the back depending on how he is used in pass routes, protections, hot releases, and screens that opposing teams may run against. A few strategies we use are rush to cover (put) by the outside rusher on outside release, spy with the nose for the screen after he determines the draw is no longer a threat, and pursue the to ball on short throws. What may seem like a lot to our opponents is simple for our players. Understanding the concept of the defense allows our players to play at a high level. This permits us to show a different alignment and then play one of the defenses we have provided for the reader. We at Grambling know that our dime package was a big part of our Back-to-Back Black College National Championships and we hope it will assist you in improving your defense.

GRAMBLING
Inside the Numbers:
(Regular season)

38: Total turnovers (ranked 3rd in NCAA Division 1-AA).

21: Interceptions (ranked 4th in NCAA Division 1-AA).

17: Fumble recoveries

104.4: Rushing yds./game allowed.

19.5: Pts./game scored by defense

Back-to-Back Black College National Champions (2000 - 2001)

Back-to-Back Southwestern Athletic Conference Champions (2000 - 2001

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