The Aggressive 8 Man Front

by: Michael Parker
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One of the best defenses in college football, over the last few years, plays on Long Island. C.W. Post is known for their tough 8 man fronts and for stopping the run. The challenge that most teams have in implementing an 8 man front is the pressure it puts on the secondary. But at C.W. Post, DB Coach Ernie Blount has managed to teach the skills required to his DBs to make sure that, even though the 4-4 scheme that the Pioneers employ leaves the defensive backfield on their own, the guys back there can handle it.

For anyone playing in a run-minded league at any level, an 8 man front is the best way to go. But there is a real concern that the players in the secondary can’t handle the extra pressure. Blount has found a way to teach the DBs that can help coaches anywhere.

THE C.W. POST 8 MAN FRONT DEFENSE
There are basically five different schemes that the Pioneers ask their DBs to master:
1. Cover 8
2. Cover 3
3. Cover 2
4. Man Coverage
5. Blitz Coverage

Blount believes that if you distill your defensive philosophy into separate parts, it makes it much easier on the kids you are teaching it to. This way, they will be able to remember only the things that each specific responsibility requires of them, instead of having to think for themselves.

Cover 8
First, Cover 8 (See Diagram). Cover 8 is probably C.W. Post’s favorite coverage to play. Against any team using two backs and a tight end, the Pioneers want to use this coverage. Cover 8 is essentially Cover 3 with the free safety robbing down. “We’ll be in Cover 8 against 21 personnel. We check personnel and we will change to nickel. But with the new spread sets, we would have our OLBs on slot guys who are often the other team’s best receiver,” says Blount.

C.W. Post's Cover 8

“Our cornerbacks will be two yards inside and nine yards deep off of the split receiver,” states Blount. “The free safety will align at 10 yards deep in the ‘B’ gap to the strength of the formation.” The corners, instead of playing their normally wide deep thirds, work their way closer to the middle of the field as they drop and split the deep area into halves. The free safety then robs down from his 10 yard depth and plays any receivers working to the middle of the field.

“The corners have no run responsibility at all but we want our safety to be in on any run play,” says Blount. There are a few little differences between Cover 8 and the traditional Cover 3. The corners have deep half. The free has robber coverage. Free is going to read #2 strong. If #2 strong blocks down, the free will fill the alley between #2 and the OLB on any run. If #2 goes out, he will stay where he is and wait for #1 coming in and get under that. If #2 does a drag across the field, he will look backside from the weakside and see if there is a dig coming from that side. If #2 goes vertical (which we declare at seven yards), the free takes him man to man. If the team sends #2 vertical, with a post from #1, the free makes a call and the LB takes the post,” says Blount.

Other than that, Cover 8 is pretty much just like Cover 3.

Cover 3
Second, Cover 3. This staple of almost every 8 man front is a change-up from the Cover 8 the Pioneers favor. Between Cover 3 and Cover 8, C.W. Post appears to be in the same coverage the entire game. “If you looked at it, you would swear we were in Cover 3 all the time,” says Blount. “The field is 53.3 yards so that divided into the three defensive backs, they have a little over 17 yards to cover,” comments Blount. “We want the corners at the top of the numbers, or nine yards from the sideline. The corners are at seven yards deep and one yard outside of the receiver. The safety will split the two widest receivers at 12 yards deep.”

Cover 2
Third, Cover 2. While the Pioneers don’t use Cover 2 nearly as much as either Cover 3 or Cover 8, they still use it enough. Blount believes that any coverage is the wrong coverage if your players don’t know what they’re doing. So he teaches it just as thoroughly as he would the others. “We want our corners to align at four yards with outside shade,” comments Blount. “The shading inside or outside in their alignment is also dictated by whether they are in cover two, two man or blitz coverage. They should be disguising their alignments. The safeties align – assuming the ball is in the middle of the field – on the hashes at 12 yards deep.”

Man Coverage
Fourth, Man Coverage. The Pioneers use man coverage some in different field zones. It is important that everyone is on the same page so that no receiver runs unimpeded to the end zone. “For us, this is a press alignment,” says Blount. “The DB must establish an inside shade because generally he doesn’t have help from the inside. When in press coverage, the DB can be three to four yards from the WR. The DB has to really work his hips and feet to direct, and be able to cut off the WR, since he is not using his hands.”

Blitz Coverage
Fifth, the Blitz. The way that the Pioneer DBs play their men in a blitz coverage is different than they would in Man. The distinctions, according to Blount, are important. It helps give his guys a little extra help, since they won’t be getting help from their now blitzing teammates. “This is a bump alignment,” says Blount. “Again, the DB has to establish an inside shade because we do not expect help from anyone else. When in bump coverage the DB crowds the line of scrimmage. He should be no more than two yards off from the receiver. The DB is trying to get as close as possible to the WR without being offside and still be very physical.”

A FEW KEYS TO REMEMBER (AND FOR YOUR DBs TO REMEMBER)
“In developing sound defensive back play I stress eight keys to success: clear communication, a good stance, proper alignment, a smooth backpedal, an effective plant/drive, the right interception point, doing your job and having the right mindset,” says Blount. “These keys are stressed everyday throughout practice, during every period. But on game day the big key is mindset.”

COMMUNICATION
“An important key for the secondary is to communicate,” says Blount. “The importance of talking cannot be overemphasized. The DBs must talk before and after the ball has been snapped. Before the snap they are determining strength, motion and any shifting adjustments. Coverage checks must be passed on to the entire defense. After the snap the call of run, pass, crack, reverse, draw, etc. will allow the defense to react to the play faster.”

STANCE
“The main thing is to keep your head and eyes up with a slight turn inside to see the QB’s movement,” emphasizes Blount. “The outside foot should be up in a heel/toe relationship with the inside foot. Toes should be slightly pinched inward. Knees need to be bent with some flexion in the ankles. Chest needs to be high with the chin over the knees. Arms are at your side raised slightly with a forty-five degree angle bend at elbow. DBs should be smooth and in control of their movements. They are required to have efficient, explosive moves.”

ALIGNMENT
“We practice alignment every day at practice,” says Blount. “It is a challenge with real estate here at a premium. We have to share a field with a bunch of other groups at practice. But we still make sure that we have enough room to check our alignments for each of the schemes that we are using. If you are lined up wrong, you are in trouble no matter how good you are.”

BACKPEDAL
“The key part of the backpedaling motion is making sure the DB is ready to play before the snap of the ball,” says Blount. “The DB must be in the proper alignment for the coverage called so that he can read the QB for route levels. Once in his proper stance, the DB should be slightly on his toes. Eyes will be in high beam/low beam mode (High Beam=eyes on the QB, Low Beam=eyes on the receiver). On the snap of the ball, the DB should lift his inside foot and push off his outside foot, which gives the DB the ability to run in reverse (which, in reality, is what backpedaling is). The first steps are controlled read steps that can be accelerated depending on what the DB is reading.

“The amount of ground covered in his backpedal is what is important for a DB, not really the length of his backpedal. So when analyzing his stride, short quick choppy steps are not any better than a slower paced backpedal. The DB must have a slight lean forward, while keeping a low center of gravity. In using the arms in backpedaling we will use as little movement as possible. The reason for this is that the extreme pumping of the arms slows down the ability to efficiently and quickly transition from the backpedal motion into a forward running attack motion.”

PLANT & DRIVE
“The plant is the placing of the rear foot with all cleats in the ground at approximately a 45 degree angle, causing momentum to stop,” says Blount. “This is the first phase of transitioning from backpedaling to running forward. The second key is to take a drive step with the other foot towards your target. These two movements are the keys to the successful transition from backwards to forwards for a DB.

“A DB’s success is dependent upon his ability to react as quickly as possible. The DB’s ability to change direction with the proper drive is crucial. When driving on an outside route the DB will plant on his inside foot, point his outside foot at the point of intercept and explodes to this point. The opposite happens on inside routes. The DB plants on his outside foot, points the inside foot and explode to the intercept point. But the DB should be getting to the intercept point before looking back at the QB.”

INTERCEPTION POINT
“The DB must break to the intercept point,” remarks Blount. “This is where the ball and the receiver will meet. The play cannot be overrun and the DB cannot break behind the ball. All breaks should be straight to the point and not rounded off. The DB must be able to judge angles so that he can meet the ball at the highest point before the receiver can catch it. What we want at the point of interception is to pick the ball off. If we can’t pick it off, then we want to break up the pass. If the first two can’t happen, then a secure tackle must be executed.”

JOB
“The most important job for the defensive backs is to get the ball back to the offense as soon as possible,” says Blount. Whether it is through an interception or a fumble recovery. DBs should be able to create the turnovers. When the QB releases the ball, great DBs feel as though the ball belongs to them.”

MINDSET
“DBs must know their assignments and be able to communicate to the rest of the defense,” says Blount. “A DB must be ready to lay it on the line and not be afraid to make a play. He can never give up on a play. If the ball is caught, then rip the ball out before it is put away. For DBs to have the proper mindset they must: Concentrate, Anticipate, Recognize and Execute.” Just like they do at C.W. Post.

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