Defensive Line
BASIC RULES OF DEFENSIVE LINE
1. AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER FROM TACKLE TO TACKLE MAY NOT ADJUST HIS HANDS ONCE HE IS IN A 3 OR 4 POINT STANCE. HE MAY SHIFT FROM A 2 POINT STANCE, OR ADJUST HIS FEET. A SLOT, WING, OR TIGHT END MAY ADJUST THEIR STANCE.
2. FALL ON ALL FUMBLES -- DO NOT TRY TO PICK UP THE FUMBLE AND RUN WITH IT. THAT IS NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. MAKE SURE YOU RECOVER THE FUMBLE USING GOOD FUMBLE RECOVERY TECHNIQUE. YOU MAY ADVANCE A FUMBLE THAT IS CAUGHT IN MID-AIR.
3. RECOVER ALL PASSES THAT DO NOT CROSS THE LOS. LET THE REFEREE DECIDE WHETHER IT IS FORWARD OR LATERAL.
4. NO LATE HITS AFTER THE QB HAS THROWN THE BALL OR WHEN THE RUNNER IS DOWN OR OUT OF BOUNDS. BE THE NASTIEST "LEGAL" PLAYER.
5. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR MOUTH GUARD IN DURING EACH PLAY. IT'S A PENALTY IF YOU DO NOT.
6. IF YOU ARE REPLACED BY A SUB, YOU MUST DEPART AT THE SIDELINE NEAREST YOUR BENCH.
7. THERE CAN BE NO PASS INTERFERENCE BEHIND THE LOS. BE RECKLESS IN HANDLING POTENTIAL RECEIVERS BEHIND LOS.
A. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN MUST KNOW FOR EVERY DEFENSE:
1. CALL - BOTH IN THE HUDDLE AND AT THE LINE.
2. ALIGNMENT - MUST BE EXACT - GIVES POOR BLOCKING ANGLES.
3. STANCE - MUST ALLOW YOU TO EXECUTE.
4. KEY - BOTH MOVEMENT AND DIRECTION.
5. RESPONSIBILITY - AREA YOU PRIMARILY DEFEND.
6. EXECUTION - TECHNIQUE TO DEFEAT MAN IN ASSIGNED AREA.
7. PURSUIT - PROPER ANGLE TO BALL - PASS RUSH IS INCLUDED.
B. KEY - NORMAL:
1. YOU ARE ALWAYS READY IN YOUR STANCE WHEN THE OFFENSIVE CENTER PUTS HIS HANDS ON THE BALL.
2. IF THE BLOCKER IN YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY IS:
A. IN AN UP STANCE, KEY THE BALL FOR MOVEMENT. GET OFF QUICKLY IF THE BALL IS SNAPPED AS IT WILL PROBABLY BE A PASS.
B. IN A DOWN STANCE, KEY HIS HAND FOR MOVEMENT AND HIS HEAD FOR DIRECTION
C. EXECUTION - VITAL TECHNIQUES:
1. STRIKING - ATTACK AND DEFEAT THE BLOCKER. KEEP YOUR PADS UNDER THE PADS OF THE OFFENSIVE BLOCKER AND ROLL YOUR HIPS ON CONTACT NEUTRALIZING HIS CHARGE. (LOW TO HIGH)
2. SEPARATION - ONCE YOU HAVE NEUTRALIZED THE CHARGE, USE HANDS TO CREATE SEPARATION.
3. DISENGAGE - AS YOU LOCATE THE BALL CARRIER, ESCAPE FROM THE BLOCKER.
4. PURSUIT - TAKE PROPER ANGLE TO GUARANTEE A COLLISION COURSE WITH BALL CARRIER.
5. TACKLING - END PLAY BY EXECUTING A SEAGULL TACKLE ON THE BALL CARRIER.
BASIC DEFENSIVE LINE TECHNIQUES
BASIC DEFENSIVE LINE STANCE
1. FEET ARE SPREAD THE WIDTH OF THE SHOULDERS APART A LITTLE WIDER. IF YOU ARE RIGHT HANDED, THE RIGHT FOOT SHOULD BE DROPPED SLIGHTLY AS THE RIGHT HAND WILL BE DOWN (LEFT FOOT AND LEFT HAND FOR LEFT-HANDERS).
2. THE RIGHT FOOT MUST HAVE NO MORE THAN A HEEL-TOE RELATIONSHIP.
3. FEET SHOULD ALWAYS BE POINTED STRAIGHT DOWN THE FIELD. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
4. FROM THIS POSITION YOU DROP INTO A SQUATTING POSITION, DROPPING BOTH ARMS DOWN FROM THE SHOULDER AND SLIGHTLY IN FRONT OF THE KNEES.
5. THE FORWARD FOOT IS NOW PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE POWER PRODUCING ANGLES AT THE ANKLES AND KNEE JOINTS. TO GET THIS POSITION YOU WILL ROLL THE WEIGHT FORWARD ON THE BALL OF THE UP FOOT. THIS WILL RAISE THE WEIGHT OFF THE HEEL TO A POINT WHERE YOU CAN SEE SLIGHT DAYLIGHT UNDER THE HEEL OF THE UP-FOOT. ROCK FORWARD.
6. THE HEEL OF THE BACK FOOT AFTER YOU ARE IN THIS POSITION WILL BE AN INCH TO TWO INCHES OFF THE GROUND WITH THE WEIGHT ON THE BALL OF THE FOOT.
7. THE SHOULDERS ARE PARALLEL TO THE GROUND. THE HEAD IS IN A NATURAL POSITION WITH LITTLE OR NOT MUCH STRAIN ON THE NECK MUSCLES. THE HEAD IS COCKED BACK SLIGHTLY.
8. THE RIGHT HAND IS DOWN, WELL FORWARD OF THE FEET, IN A DIRECT LINE WITH THE KNEE OF THE INSIDE LEG. THE BODY MUST LEAN FORWARD UNTIL THE RIGHT ARM IS VERTICAL WITH THE HAND DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SHOULDER. THE ARM IS PERPENDICULAR WITH THE GROUND.
9. THERE IS AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT ON BOTH FEET AND THE DOWN HAND IS IN A TRIPOD FASHION.
10. THE WRIST OF THE OTHER ARM SHOULD REST NATURALLY UPON THE KNEE OF THE LEFT LEG.
11. STARTING FROM THIS STANCE, YOU DRIVE OFF THE UP-FOOT, FIRING OUT WITH THE BACK FOOT. THE RIGHT HAND MOVES QUICKLY BACK ALONG THE GROUND, WHILE THE LEFT HAND IS "PUNCHED" IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT.
12. LINE UP ON THE FRONT TIP OF THE BALL.
13. EVERY PLAY STARTS WITH A STANCE. A GOOD STANCE IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL YOUR MOVEMENT IN FOOTBALL.
DEFENSIVE LINE FUNDAMENTALS
THERE ARE SIX BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL DEFENSIVE LINE TECHNIQUES TO BE MASTERED:
1. ARM UNDER.
2. SWIM
3. SEAT ROLL (TO PRESSURE)
4. SPIN (TO PRESSURE)
5. SHOOT THE GAP
6. BULL RUSH
EVERY DEFENSIVE LINEMAN SHOULD PRACTICE THESE TECHNIQUES UNTIL THEY CAN BE EXECUTED FLAWLESS AND EFFORTLESSLY. WHEN YOU HAVE MASTERED THESE TECHNIQUES THEY WILL BE PERFORMED DURING THE GAME WITHOUT THOUGHT.
END DEFENSE
ALIGNMENT: YOUR BASE ALIGNMENT IS THE INSIDE EYE (SHOULDER) OF THE TIGHT END TO YOUR SIDE. IF THERE IS NO TE, YOUR ALIGNMENT IS ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE TO YOUR SIDE.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
STRIKE THE OPPONENT!
YOUR ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE C-GAP (END-TACKLE GAP) TO YOUR SIDE.
ON OPTION YOU ARE RESPOBSIBLE FOR THE QB. IF PASS SHOWS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RUSHING THE QB FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. THE QB MUST NEVER GET OUTSIDE YOUR CONTAINMENT.
AGAINST THE SWEEP, YOU HAVE AN INSIDE-OUT ANGLE OF PURSUIT TO BE BALL CARRIER.
ON PASS, RUSH THE PASSER FROM THE OUTSIDE IN - NEVER FROM THE INSIDE OUT. ALWAYS CONTAIN THE QB. THE QB MUST NEVER GET OUTSIDE YOUR CONTAINMENT.
1. DRIVE FOREARM AND SHOULDER INTO BLOCKER'S PRESSURE SINCE THE SHOULDER AREA AND THE HANDS CAN RESIST BETTER.
2. KEEP SHOULDERS PARALLEL TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE WITH FEET TOWARD THE GOAL LINE. KEEP YOUR OUTSIDE ARM AND LEG FREE.
3. PENETRATE AS DEEP AS THE BALL.
4. ON OPTION PLAYS RED DOG THE QB AND TACKLE FORCING HIM TO MAKE AS EARLY A DECISION AS POSSIBLE.
5. IF BALL IS HANDED BACK DEEP ON A POWER PLAY, PITCH-OUT, OR SPEED SWEEP, THEN WE WANT THE END TO GET HIS DEPTH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND FORCE ANY BLOCKER TO SHOW HIS HAND DEEP IN HIS OWN BACKFIELD.
6. IF BACK APPROACHES TO BLOCK YOU, MEET HIM HEAD-ON IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE WISHES TO RUN INSIDE OR OUTSIDE YOU. YOU CAN DETERMINE THIS BY THE BLOCKERS HEAD-DIP AND PRESSURE.
7. THE DEFENSIVE END SHOULD REMEMBER THAT HE MUST CLOSE DOWN ON ANY PLAY GOING OFF-TACKLE AND KEEP EVERYTHING FROM GETTING AROUND HIM.
8. ON PASS, RUSH THE QB FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. CONTAIN RUSH. THE QB MUST NEVER GET OUTSIDE YOUR CONTAIMENT.
TACKLE DEFENSE
ALIGNMENT: YOUR BASE ALIGNMENT IS THE INSIDE EYE (SHOULDER) OF THE OFFENSIVE GUARD TO YOUR SIDE.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
STRIKE THE OPPONENT!
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING THE A-GAP TO YOUR SIDE.
STOP THE TRAP. YOU, YOUR DEFENSIVE TACKLE TEAMMATE, AND THE MIKE LB'ER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR STOPPING THE TRAP IN THE MIDDLE.
AGAINST THE OPTION, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIVE BACK, AND AN INSIDE OUT FORCE ON ALL WIDER PLAYS.
IF PASS SHOWS, RUSH UP FIELD TO THE QB. STAY IN YOUR PASS RUSH LANE. GET YOUR HANDS UP WHEN NEAR THE QB. TACKLE QB HIGH. KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND.
1. MOVE WITH BALL, HIT AND HUNT, FIGHT PRESSURE (THROUGH THE HEAD AND NOT AROUND THE TAIL) PURSUE, AND TACKLE.
2. YOU ARE TO CAUSE AS MUCH HAVOC FOR THE OFFENSE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
3. THE PROBLEM IS TO RECOGNIZE THE VARIOUS MOVEMENTS WHICH THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN WILL USE TO BLOCK YOU AND THEN BE ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY TO THESE MOVEMENTS.
4. IF THE CENTER ATTACKS YOU, FIGHT PRESSURE THROUGH HIS HEAD INTO THE HOLE.
5. IF YOU ARE BEING DOUBLE TEAMED, YOU MUST FIRST TRY TO SPLIT THE TEAM OR IF YOU CANNOT, SEAT ROLL INTO THE HOLE (TOWARD THE PRESSURE). DO NOT GIVE GROUND TO THE BLOCK. YOUR LAST RESORT IS TO MAKE A PILE ON THE LOS.
6. IF YOU ARE NOT BLOCKED AND LET THROUGH TO THE BACKFIELD CLEAN, YOU HAVE THREE RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.) THINK TRAP, SQUAT ON THE LOS, LOOK TO THE INSIDE- KEEP SHOULDERS PARALLEL TO THE LOS-MAKE TACKLE.
2.) THINK SCREEN, AFTER CHECKING TRAP CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS A SCREEN PASS BEING SET UP TO YOUR SIDE,
3.) THINK PURSUIT, AFTER YOU HAVE CHECKED TRAP, COUNTER, AND REVERSE, AS WELL AS SCREEN, THEN THE PLAY IS GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE AND YOU MUST FLY IN YOUR PURSUIT COURSE TO THE BALL CARRIER TO GANG TACKLE HIM.
7. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT PENETRATE DEEPER THAN THE HEELS OF THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. WHEN YOU GET TOO DEEP, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR ANGLE OF PURSUIT AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THE BALL CARRIER AS HE CUTS TO THE HOLE. NEVER CHASE THE BALL.
8. YOUR CORRECT ANGLE OF PURSUIT IS DOWN THE LOS.
PURSUIT COURSES
A PURSUIT COURSE IS ONE WHICH TAKES YOU FOR A REUNION WITH THE BALL CARRIER.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET TO THE POINT OF INTERSECTION IN AN UGLY FRAME OF MIND. NEVER TAKE A PURSUIT COURSE FOLLOWING A JERSEY OF YOUR OWN COLOR.
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