Fundamentals: Defensive Backs

Ran across some great fundamental drills for honing man-to-man skills recently.

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Very basic stuff, but the simplicity of repeating leverage on receivers in these drills and reinforcing the concept (and avoiding the unnecessary movements) is something to take away from these.

Good luck this season.....

Norm Parker - Nothin' Fancy

People will make a big deal about "having a month to prepare" for flexbone can make any defense look good, but with Norm Parker, What You See Is What You Get.

Parker's no-nonsense approach to defense, stressing (schematic) minimalism and disciplined fundamentals is what has been showing up every week for years in Iowa City.

Below are some clips from the defensive annihilation at the Orange Bowl with Iowa's defense matching the formation (doubles or trips) then gap controlling the front 7 (spilling to force corners).

There is nothing here that will blow your brains out with scheme - but the flawless execution of footwork and hand placement along the front is what gets this done. The most entertaining element (IMO) is watching the backside outside linebacker methodically shuffle into the hole for cutback. This also puts him in great position to match the final 3.

With the 'even' (coverage) defense matching the even (formation), it allows MLB Angerer (rep Bettendorf!) to completely sell out to the fullback on every play.

Even though #94 Clayborn is a consummate ass-kicker, if you need an example of "bock-down-step-down" DE execution; this is it.

For the compendium of defending the triple option, see Coach Hoover's series here

Pass Rush (IA Hawkeyes)

Continuing a theme from the Hawkeye Defensive Circuit, here are clips of fundamental DL work courtesy of Ron Aiken;

Be sure to check out previous DL entries here , here, and here.

Geaux Hawkeyes: Outside Zone

Congratulations to the Iowa Hawkeyes and their battle against Michigan State this weekend. As they climb the BCS rankings this season, take note of former Oline coach, Kirk Ferentz's bread-and-butter running play, Stretch (Outside Zone).

Ferentz and Oline coaches, Reese Morgan and John McLaughlin ( no, not THAT guy ), stress key fundamentals for gaining leverage on defenders. The system they have used since Ferentz’s arrival in Iowa City has consistently featured a dominant run game (regardless of talent).

Their teaching progression for gaining leverage is as follows;

• Get underneath and inside
• Eyes on Target
• Flat Back
• Pad under chin
• Elbows in
• Hands Under
• Knees under chest

They stress the Olinemen to attack low-to-high, deliver an initial punch and then get the defender on his toes.

Once locked on to the target, if the defender tries to get away, they should accelerate their knees (and run over him). When the defender attempts to run away, that’s when guys get flattened because the inertia and combo blocking is too much to overcome.

The first step of the Olineman is a tight reach to the defenders' playside number. It doesn’t really matter if it is 3” or 6”, it all is relative to the athlete’s ability. The second step should be placed to put the lineman’s knee in the crotch (center of balance) and get vertical by driving his feet. From there, leverage is something they fight for with every step, looking to overtake the defender with movement.

HAWK RUN GAME from ragin caucasian on Vimeo.

Here we see their stretch run game utilized heavily throughout the game from various formations (both strong and weak). The following clips coming from their last drive in the game and the exciting last minute play (just basic 3-step slant-shoot concept) in the final 2 seconds is worth seeing again....

HAWK STRETCH from ragin caucasian on Vimeo.

Having coached one, and also against five Hawkeye starters, I don't feel so bad about my situation now.

Helmet to Helmet

Watching the Hawks battle the Spartans this weekend, there were quite a few vicious hits taking place. Two of which took out two phenomenal players (whom I've had the displeasure of trying to defend in the MAC), Brett Greenwood (#30) and Colin Sandeman (#22).

sandeman @ Yahoo! Video

In the clip below, Sandeman gets blindsided with what would appear to be an other wise innocuous hit, but the neurological impact can be clearly seen. In light of the recent research of brain trauma and the long-term degenerative impact, this may amp up how these injuries are dealt with by training staffs.

But more importantly (for coaches), as Head Coach Mark Dantonio protests, defensive back, Jeremy Ware, was flagged for a 15 yard penalty of unnecessary roughness. From how we coach form tackling, Ware was in textbook position and presented his chest as the tackling surface.

shoots @ Yahoo! Video

eye opener @ Yahoo! Video
It just so happened that his helmet made contact with Sandeman's helmet. From a technique standpoint, I am unsure what Ware could have done to consciously prevent the injury (as his head naturally dips in anticipation of the hit as the chest makes contact).

See Malcolm Gladwell on Brain Injuries in Football , Brain Injuries and the NFL , Concussions Management in Sports

Further commentary here;

http://coachhuey.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=33694

Iowa Hawkeye Defensive Circuit

Back again with more video fun.....

Everyone loves this video and it is SO helpful....

This is Norm Parker's defensive funamental circuit work from a mini-clinic (Rock Island) in 2005. Without a doubt, no coach has made a more dramatic impact on my thinking from a defensive perspective, than Coach Parker. Thinking I knew everything and finding excitement in a myriad of blitzes and coverages, after talking with Coach Parker, he illuminated the folly of that thinking by dilluting it all back to what the players know and how everything is essentially just tackling and leverage. That the defense (and players) have to adjust to what the offense presents - the more you introduce into a situation, the greater the likelihood something will break.

enjoy

Here is a semi-formal write-up of what Norm Parker shared in the session where he presented this video.

The key for defensive coordinators is to let players play. Offenses make it confusing enough, don't contribute to slowing down your players.

This is a simple game for simple people.
How could a game invented by a bunch of Phys Ed majors be that hard?

One other thing, don't force your kids to get along and play nice. Don't expect everyone to like each other. That isn't important. Some are big, some little, some fast, some slow - that's life. The thing is to look past the person and see the one thing that matters - the single common denominator - TOUGHNESS.

Each player should ask of another, "Do you respect his toughness"? This attitude or swagger is one that resonates, "If you're not tough enough, you're not one of us" that quickly weeds out non-performers and continually raises the expectations of the unit.

"If the offensive players were any good, they'd be playing defense with us"

To put player development in a practical perspective, Parker uses the "Rodeo Theory". This 'theory' states that; "There has never been a horse that hasn't been rode. There has never been a rider that hasn't been thrown.You're gonna get knocked down, its getting back up that's the key.

This same mentality is reinforced with his players to foster an aggressive, unrelenting, tough mindset where improvement is stressed and errors are tools to learn from.

3 Things for Coordinators to Stress

1. Support the Ball (Support Rules) - players must understand where they fit into the puzzle of run support. Flying around aimlessly won't help your players, they should know the path and pursuit relationship of their teammates.
2. Block Protection - Defenders are meant to be blocked, thats what offenses are supposed to do. Defenses are only as good as their ability to not be blocked and protect themselves from being prevented from making a play.
3. Tackle - None of it makes any difference if a defender can't consistently make contact and kill forward progress of the ball. Ultimately, this is where defensive players get their all their confidence from. If a defender is unsure of how to tackle he will hesitate and shy away from contact. By using the tackling circuit everyday, if only for 5 minutes, players begin believing in their abilities and recognize its importance due to the attention coaches place on it.
   

The Main Objective: Play Fast
This is easier said than done. We all want a lights-out defense but how can you do this? Parker cites 3 simple rules (for turning players loose).

1. Know Keys - There have to be certain, distinct things you want each position looking for on a given play. Limit what stimuli a position needs to be attentive to.
2. Believe Their Eyes - when a player sees his key he should know its not a trick, don't hesitate. A player should not be second guessing what his key shows him.
3. GO! (once you see it - GO!) - once diagnosed, there should be an absolute reaction for the defender. This keeps responsibilies simple and the logic short. The less thinking a player does, the better he'll perform.
   
   * Work the exceptions later. Build the player's confidence now and you can throw in all the what-ifs later.

Some additional key coaching points include:

• Block Protection
  Keep the hips away from his hips on block proection to maintain separation and leverage. Once the blocker gets into the defender, he's through.
• Tackling
  Bring the hips together (uncoil) into the target and unload through the core.
  
  Teaching Tackling (see the Shoots Drill)
  1) Chest-to-Chest
  2) Roll Hips
  3) Club with Arms
  4) Follow Through.