2011 X-Men Defensive Playbook Part 1

8/3/2019 2011 X-Men Defensive Playbook Part 1

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Defensive Philosophy

At St. Francis Xavier University, we believe that the most important aspect to defensive

football is effort. We will be committed to out-hitting and out-hustling our opponentsevery week. We will have such a thorough understanding of our defensive concepts and

schemes that, on game day, we will not have to think about these things at all. They will

be automatic. This will leave us free to fly around and simply play football.

We will come into each week with a complete understanding of our opponent and what

we are going to do to prevent them from moving the football. First downs will be game

planned based on our opponent and their offensive philosophy. When we get them into

second and long situations, we will punish them. We will have the ability to send

numerous types of pressure on any down and in any situation. We will attack offenses

from every conceivable angle, and we will not stop until the final whistle has blown.

We will use many different methods to cover the pass, and we will disguise our Coverage

to keep the offense guessing. Whether we are playing Zone or Man, we will always have

the same goal, which is to separate our opponent from the football. We must always

know where our help is and align accordingly. We will be physical in our Covering and

Re-routing of receivers, making it difficult for them to run their patterns. No matter

where the ball is thrown, each player will break on it as if its being thrown to his man.

Our pursuit must be relentless and with a purpose.

We will stop the run by canceling all of the gaps. Each player must understand where he

fits on each play, do his job, and trust that his teammates will do the same. We will be

experts in reading our keys and flying to the football. We will shed blocks with intensity

and intelligence, always maintaining the proper leverage and funneling the ball

appropriately. This will be drilled in practice until it is second nature. Before the snap,

the only thing each player will be thinking is: I hope they run it my way.

In summary, the St. Francis Xavier University defense will be something to be feared.

Our physicality and unpredictability will be unparalleled in this league, as will our ability

and willingness to send pressure. Combine this with our thorough understanding of

concepts and systems, and we will have a defensive unit that will prove to be harmful for

opposing offenses.


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DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

E T N X

Whip Mac Stud

WC WS

SS SC

FS

END =Active player who is strong enough to anchor down the wide side edge, yetagile and quick enough to contain the sprint out and rush the passer.

TACKLE =Explosive with good pass rushing skills. Capable of handling zoneblocking and double team schemes.

NOSE =Alsostrong and explosive, yet quick enough to handle double team andzone blocking schemes. Can play two gap responsibilities if needed.

X =Big, physical Defensive Lineman who can anchor the short side edge. Has a greatmotor and chase down ability. Excellent pass rusher. Cannot be blocked one on one.

WHIP =The most active linebacker, an outstanding open field player and passdefender. ( a combination of a linebacker and safety )

MAC =Smart player who is the quarterback of the defense. Must be a sound tacklerwho has the ability to escape blocks, make plays and cover tackle to tackle.

STUD =The second most active linebacker who always aligns on the short side of thefield. ( a combination of inside and outside linebacker )

WC =An excellent cover player who always aligns on the wide side of the field. Hemust be able to react and break on the long throw.

WS =He always aligns on the wide side of the field. He has excellent cover skills isgood in open space and is a sure tackler.


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FS =The centerfielder, an excellent tackler and instinctive player who has greatjudgment and anticipation. A ball hawk. He must understand angles of pursuit.

SS =An excellent run support player with very good cover skills. He always aligns on

the short side of the field.

SC = The best one on one deep coverage player on the team. Aligns on the short side.

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X-Men Defensive Terminology

Bonzai Indicates that we are now switching to no huddle play calling

Chop Alerts teammates of a Receiver traveling from the Man to the Zone

side

Close Call made by FS telling a LB to go back into the Box

Down Alerts your teammates that a WR has sat down in a Zone

Eagle Tells the secondary to un-Falcon and return to original alignment

Ex Expands the End or X into a wide Stinger position

Falcon Tells the secondary to roll their alignment towards WR strength

Fish Tells Defensive Lineman to execute play as called

Gone Call made by LB to announce hes leaving the Box

Heat Call made in Man Coverage vs. a Bunch or Cluster

Hit Alerts the defense that a Wing is going across the formation behind the

LOS

In Alerts your teammates that a WR is running an In route


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Ice Call made by LB to tell the E/X to crash down the LOS if he reads a

down block

Jet Alerts everyone that a Receiver is going across the formation behind

the LOS

Liz Last in Zone, tells a player he must chase a crosser to the Man side

Ohio Calls off a certain play call

Open Call made by FS telling a LB to leave the Box

Out Alerts your teammates that a WR is running an Out route

Ozone Tells a player to shift one zone over in coverage

Pull Alerts everyone of a Pulling Lineman

Push Moves the linebackers over in order to fill a vacated gap

Shark Tells Defensive Lineman to ignore Stunt or Cross Face and hit

original Gap

Shift Moves the front from one alignment to another based on the call in

the huddle

Swap Changes responsibilities between two players

Tag youre it; Tells a teammate that he is now covering down a certain

receiver

Up Alerts your teammates that a WR is running a Vertical route


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Offensive Recognition

Backfield Formations

I Formation

Split

Ace

Empty

Gun Strong/Weak

Pistol

Load

Away


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FRONTS


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Wide 43 OVER

E T N X

W M S


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POSITION

ALIGNMENT

KEY

TO

AWAY

PASS

END

5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

TACKLE

3

G

B

Pursue

Rush B Gap

NOSE

1

G

A

Pursue

Rush A Gap

X


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5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

WHIP

40i

OL To Flow

Free

Cutback

Cov called

MAC

S

OL To Flow

A

B Window

Cov called

STUD

40i

OL To Flow

B

Cutback

Cov called

WC

7 YARDS

EMOL


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Contain

On Top

Cov called

WS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

FS

8-10 YARDS

Triangle

Alley

Alley Cutback

Cov called

SS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

SC

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

On Top


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POSITION

ALIGNMENT

KEY

TO

AWAY

PASS

END

5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

TACKLE

3

G

B

Pursue

Rush B Gap

NOSE

1

G

A

Pursue

Rush A Gap

X


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5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

WHIP

40i

OL To Flow

B

Cutback

Cov called

MAC

S

OL To Flow

A

B- Window

Cov called

STUD

40i

OL To Flow

Free

Cutback

Cov called

WC

7 YARDS

EMOL


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Contain

On Top

Cov called

WS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

FS

8-10 YARDS

Triangle

Alley

Alley Cutback

Cov called

SS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

SC

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

On Top


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Cov called

Wide 43 DONE

E T N X

W M S


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POSITION

ALIGNMENT

KEY

TO

AWAY

PASS

END

5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

TACKLE

1

G

A

Pursue

Rush A Gap

NOSE

1

G

A

Pursue

Rush A Gap

X


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5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

WHIP

40i

OL To Flow

B

Cutback

Cov called

MAC

HUC

OL To Flow

Free

B- Window

Cov called

STUD

40i

OL To Flow

B

Cutback

Cov called

WC

7 YARDS

EMOL


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Contain

On Top

Cov called

WS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

FS

8-10 YARDS

Triangle

Alley

Alley Cutback

Cov called

SS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

SC

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

On Top


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Cov called

Wide 43 TREE

E T N X

W M S


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POSITION

ALIGNMENT

KEY

TO

AWAY

PASS

END

5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

TACKLE

3

G

B

Pursue

Rush B Gap

NOSE

3

G

B

Pursue

Rush B Gap

X


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5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

WHIP

40i

OL To Flow

Free

Cutback

Cov called

MAC

10

OL To Flow

A

B Window

Cov called

STUD

10

OL To Flow

A

Cutback

Cov called

WC

7 YARDS

EMOL


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Contain

On Top

Cov called

WS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

FS

8-10 YARDS

Triangle

Alley

Alley Cutback

Cov called

SS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

SC

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

On Top


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Cov called


Wide 52

E T M N X

W S


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POSITION

ALIGNMENT

KEY

TO

AWAY

PASS

END

5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

TACKLE

3

G

B

Pursue

Rush B Gap

NOSE

3

G

B

Pursue

Rush B Gap

X


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5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

WHIP

20

OL To Flow

FREE

Cutback

Cov called

MAC

0

C

Both A Gaps

Pursue

Bull Rush

STUD

20

OL To Flow

Free

Cutback

Cov called

WC

7 YARDS

EMOL


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Contain

On Top

Cov called

WS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

FS

8-10 YARDS

Triangle

Alley

Alley Cutback

Cov called

SS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

SC

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

On Top


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Cov called

Wide 63

E N X

W M S


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POSITION

ALIGNMENT

KEY

TO

AWAY

PASS

END

5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

NOSE

0

C

A/A

A - Pursue

Bull Rush

X

5

T

C

Chase Contain

Contain Rush

WHIP


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40i

OL To Flow

B

Cutback

Cov called

MAC

HUC

OL To Flow

FREE

Cutback

Cov called

STUD

40i

OL To Flow

B

Cutback

Cov called

WC

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

On Top

Cov called

WS

7 YARDS

EMOL


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Contain

Squat

Cov called

FS

8-10 YARDS

Triangle

Alley

Alley Cutback

Cov called

6

8-10 YARDS

Triangle

Alley

Alley Cutback

Cov called

SS

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

Squat

Cov called

SC

7 YARDS

EMOL

Contain

On Top


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Cov called


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Tight End/Wing Adjustments

The Mac linebacker will be responsible for making a Tight Left/Right call vs. a

single Tight End set and a Heavy call vs. a double Tight End set. The LB/Safety to the

Tight End side is responsible for communicating the alignment adjustment to the End/X.

INDIAN

W E

OUTLAW

E

W

SLIDE

E

W

Base

E T N X

W M S


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Adjustment = SLIDE

Tweak

E T N X

W M S SS

If a Safety is covering down a TE, a Slide Adjustment should be used

Zone Blitz

W E T N X

M S

If we are sending outside pressure from the TE side, we should be in an Indian Alignment.

E T N X

W M SIf the End/X on the TE side is dropping, we should be in an Outlaw Alignment.

vs. Heavy

E T N X

W M S SS

We will Slide on both TEs


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ZONE

PRESSURES

Key:

= Base Coverage

= Wall Technique

= Match-up


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Blitz Package


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Documents

2011 X-Men Defensive Playbook Part 1