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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

Mike Morrison

Defensive Coordinator

Lyons Township High School

LaGrange, IL

mmorrison@lths.netcell: 708-262-0126

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

A. Philosophy1. We align in a 4-3, Cover 2 shell

2. We make the QB beat man coverage

3. We spill the ball4. We use independent movement

5. We use safe pressure

B. Pressure

1. DL stunts

2. LB blitzes3. DB blitzes

4. Coverages

C. Practice Periods

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

1. WE ALIGN IN A 4-3, 2 SHELLCoaching Points

* nine in the box vs. run and remain strong vs. pass

* 2 shell prevents big plays and forces long drives, especially vs. the spread(10% of NFL scoring drives are 80+ yards)

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

vs. 2 x 2

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

ADJUSTMENT TO TRIPS

Mike & Will stack, Sam leaves the box

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

ADJUSTMENT TO TRIPS

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

ADJUSTMENT TO TRIPS

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

ADJUSTMENT TO TRIPS with a TE5 becomes a 6i, Sam decides how far to move (both are scouting report driven)

52i3

MS W

6i

C

SS WS

C

52i3

MS W

6i

C

SS WS

C

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

ADJUSTMENT TO TRIPS with a TE

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

ADJUSTMENT WITH 8 IN BOX

* Weak Safety moves to 7 technique

5 2i 5WS

M S

3

C

W

SS

C

5 2i 5WS

M S

3

C

W

SS

C

* cover 3 and man are two coverage options (WS rushes vs. pass)

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

ADJUSTMENT WITH 8 IN BOX

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

2. WE MAKE THE QB BEAT MAN COVERAGE

Coaching Points

* QB must be accurate and have a strong arm to beat man coverage

* undersized, less skilled DBs can be protected with man & pressure

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

3. WE SPILL THE BALL

Coaching Points

* opposite of 4-4s squeezing of the ball* get speed on the field (move a physical corner to LB, tall LB to 5)

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

SPILLING THE BALL

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

2010 TACKLING TOTALS

MLB & safeties will be the leading tacklers

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

52i3

MS W

5

C

SS WS

C

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

4. WE USE INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT

Coaching Points

* all 11 defenders must be involved* use practice periods (with DBs) & film to show examples

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

5. WE USE SAFE PRESSURE

Source: Bill Arnsparger

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

5. WE USE SAFE PRESSURE

Coaching Points

* use practice periods (with DBs) & film to show examples

* keeps all 11 involved, makes defense exciting and aggressive

* requires offensive thinking

* 2 shell makes pressure safe

* we keep blitzes on regardless of formations (we dictate to them)

* communication between players is essential

* high school hash marks are your best friend

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

DL STUNTS

W

2i3 5

M

5

Q

S W

3 5

M

5

Q

W

2i3 5

M

5

Q

S W

3 5

M

5

Q

5

S

3

Q

S

3

Q

W

5 2i3 5

M

Q

S W

5 3 5

M

Q

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

LB BLITZES

5

W

2i

Q

W

2i

Q

W

2i3 5

M

5

Q

S W

3 5

M

5

Q

2i3

M

Q

3

M

Q

W

2i3 5

M

5

Q

S W

3 5

M

5

Q

W

2i3 5

M

5

Q

S W

3 5

M

5

Q

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

* cover 3 is a coverage option

DB BLITZES* usually run when the ball is on the hash

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

1/31/31/3

curlcurl hole

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

* man is a coverage option

DB BLITZES* usually run when the ball is on the hash

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

Cman

vs. #1

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #3

man

vs. #1

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #3

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

* cover 3 is a coverage option

DB BLITZES* usually run when the ball is on the hash

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

1/31/31/3

holehookcurl

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

* man is a coverage option

DB BLITZES* usually run when the ball is on the hash

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

Cman

vs. #1

man

vs. #1

man

vs. #3

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #4

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

DB BLITZES* usually run when the ball is on the hash* cover 3 is a coverage option

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

1/31/31/3

curlcurl hole

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

DB BLITZES* usually run when the ball is on the hash* man is a coverage option

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

Cman

vs. #1

man

vs. #1

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #3

man

vs. #3

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

COVERAGES

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

1/3

1/31/3

curl

flat

curlhole

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

COVERAGES

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

1/3

1/31/3

curlhole

curl to

flat hook

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

COVERAGES

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

Cmanvs. #1

man

vs. #1

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #3

man

vs. #2

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

COVERAGES

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

5 3 2i

M WS

5

C

WSSS

C

1/21/2

man

vs. #1

man

vs. #1

man

vs. #2

man

vs. #2man

vs. #3

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

TUESDAY

Tackling 10

Ind. Movement 10Stunts & Blitzes 10

WEDNESDAY

Must Tackle 5

Marriage 10* DB vs. WR: man

* LB vs. RB: blitz

* DL vs. OL: pass rush

MONDAY

Takeaways 10 minutes

Pursuit Drill 10

Bracketing 5

Run Fits 10

PRACTICE PERIODS

LT FLT FLT FLT F

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ATTACKING WITH THE 4-3 DEFENSE

Mike Morrison

Defensive Coordinator

Lyons Township High School

LaGrange, IL

mmorrison@lths.netcell: 708-262-0126

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