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Pressure Defenses, Part II: Having the proper angle for each player is crucial in pursuing a ball carrier in space.by: Lou VarleyDefensive Coordinator, Peru State College © More from this issue Last month’s issue included our defensive alignment and strategy as well as our different fronts and coverages. This month, we feature three different defensive pursuit drills. A crucial period of practice for us is our pursuit drill time. The focus is on getting aligned, proper communication, correct angles, and great effort. This drill sets the tempo for the rest of practice. Going hard every time and sprinting to the football is a point of pride for all of our players. The remaining players execute their pass drops and intercept the pass thrown by a coach. The players rally to the ball and finish the drill by leading the ball carrier as they sprint through the corner of the end zone. We have three to four groups going rapid fire in this drill (Diagram 1). Diagram 1: “Oskie” Pursuit Drill
The defensive players will need to try to cross the face of the “Rabbit” to make sure they are taking the proper angle to the ball carrier (Diagram 2). If a defensive player is following a fellow player, he needs to adjust his angle so that the two defenders are not in the same line to the ball carrier. We will add throwing push backs at the feet of the defense to simulate cut blocks. Once all 11 cross the path of the “rabbit,” they sprint back down the sideline to the get ready for their turn. We run three to four groups with this drill. Diagram 2: Rabbit Pursuit You can make this an up-tempo drill that will help your defense prepare for a no-huddle team by having each group go three to five times in a row before another group rotates in. We use medium size storage tubs to give us an offensive formation/TE location/WR sets.
Diagram 3: 3-Dummy Pursuit Diagram 4: Left vs.Weak Slant Diagram 5: Left vs. Eagle Diagram 6: Right Slot vs. Eagle About the Authors: Assisting Lou Varley with the two articles were assistant coaches Chuck Mizerski ((defensive line), Derek Carr (outside linebackers), Brian Maher (inside linebackers) and Jeff Reed (safeties). More article like this: Defending the Zone Read – March, 2013 The “No-Name Defense: Mixing personnel, fronts, and coverages along with stunts and blitzes can continually keep an offense off-balance – October/November, 2012 Combating Offensive Speed With the 4-4 Defense – August, 2008 |
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