| Coach: | Greg Scott |
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| Position: | Head Coach | |
| School: | McDermitt Nevada | |
| Explanation: | Coach Scott says he uses this defense because
he got tired of losing and having our butts kicked. Our kids
were not having fun. We switched to a 34 late last year and will continue to use it extensively this year as our base. If you have speed on your team, this is the defense for you. It is easy to shift and easy to learn, so your kids can fly to the ball without having to do mental gymnastics to figure out where they are and what they are supposed to be doing. If you have any questions you can email Coach Scott at gscott@hcsd.org. |
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Why the 3-4-1
I. Lack of athletic Defensive Lineman or lack of depth in your defensive front.
II. 6 Defensive secondary players who average 135 lbs but are quick, smart, and love to hit.
III. Easy to combat and adjust to offensive schemes. Since we play zone 90% of the time, you don't give up as many big plays.
IV. Technique for the lineman closely mirrors our offensive scheme so we save practice time by doubling up.
V. It puts our fastest kids on the field.
VI. SWARM AND PUNISH!!!
Basic Alignment
Nose Guard: (Bubba) The strongest, meanest SOB you've got. He MUST control both 'A' gaps and never give ground. If you don't have a player that can do this, then don't use this defense. If your player is big but not overly fast then have him crowd the ball, if he is fast then have him play off the ball about a yard. If he feels a double team, and he can't beat it, he must make a pile in the 'A" gap.
Defensive End: (Chaos and Mayhem) Two responsibilities. Control the 'B' Gap and smack the TE on every snap. The DE must keep penetration into the backfield to a minimum until he has determined what the play is and where it is going. If the DE penetrates too far he can be trapped. The technique varies according to the players ability (punch, and lock, shiver, crush).
OLB: (Loui and Ringo) Have your OLB read through the TE to the QB. He is responsible for 'C' gap first, then pass. Sweeps/option he must attack the play at the LOS by attacking the outside shoulder of the lead player, whether BC or not so that he takes away the sideline and contains the play.
MLB: (Mic and Mac) Two best football players. They have no gap responsibilities but must make the plays from sideline to sideline. Align inside eye on OG's outside eye. Primary hitter on his side, backside support on ;plays away from him. (great opportunity for big hits on cutbacks) Hook zone on pass plays. Must always keep ball side, not playside, shoulder free. Keys opposite back in 'T'', FB in I until a tendency is established.
Safety: (Monster) Speed, and football smarts. Center fielder. Read the action of the offense. Must think pass first. Watch the QB and take deepest receiver.
Adjustments:
A) Easiest one is with your DE's. If a teams OG are exceptionally quick then you can move them into the gap and keep them off of your MLB.
B) Scouting reports show you tendencies. One stud back = MLB key and attack, safety reads other back first. When on the hash marks, shift short side OLB back 2 yards, safety over wide side guard.
C) The more speed you have at MLB, the farther you can play them off the LOS.
D) If you have an athletic DE, use the zone blitz from his side. Have him engage and drop into coverage. OLB and MLB on his side blitz the 'B" and 'C" gaps either straight or on a cross with MLB going first. All other coverage is the same. (safety checks 'A" gap on blitz side on first step)
Drills to teach the 34
Defensive linemen: Your defensive linemen rely more on strength and reacting than anything else so these drills reflect this style of play.
Progressions:
I. Poppers: from the knees, coil and strike the sled.
II. Pop-n-turn: from the knees, coil and strike turning the sled as far as possible on the arm extension.
III. Coil-n-strike: 3 sets of 10
NG: from 4 pt stance, coil and punch the bag, locking arms out and keeping feet chopping.
DE: from 2 pt stance, coil and punch the bag, locking arms out and keeping feet chopping.
IV. Rip-n-Run: start in locked position with another player. On coaches command, Rip (get rid of) the offensive player and sprint to dummy designated by coaches arm movement. Tackle dummy and then hold dummy for next player.
LineBackers:
Progression:
I. Diamonds: set up cones in a diamond 8 yards across. Players are in the middle in their stance. On coaches command, they round the designated cone and return to the middle and keep their feet moving. Do this at three speeds ( LT - learning tempo, 3/4 tempo, BullDawg Tempo)
II. 3 way: Medicine ball, dummy, shield, tackle. The 4 obstacles are in a line. The player starts from a stance, catches and tosses medicine ball, takes the cut block from dummy, flippers the shield man and makes the tackle on the designated dummy.
III. Unit Drops: Zone drop practice. Have your units in their basic alignment. Put cones where each player is supposed to drop to. Then have them get to their zone responsibilities on the coaches command. One second command they come back to original spots and repeat. Keep feet moving and hustling. Once this is second nature, add in the drops from different formations.
IV: Popsicle: The popsicle sled is used in this drill. The player lines up 5 yards from the sled and on the coaches command, "HIT", he leads with his shoulder to drive the sled. The player must keep his eyes up and roll his hips up and under to lift the sled. The next player trails the player driving the sled and on the next "HIT" command he will replace the player driving the sled. The player driving the sled will quick release the sled and find the coach. As soon as the player makes eye contact with the coach, the coach will pass the ball to the player. When the ball is in the air the other players are yelling "BALL" and the player catching the ball yells "RAMBO" after the pick. This drill works on tackling plus the players get a chance to work on intercepting the ball.
Angle tackling is done with the players being 5 yards apart. There are two lines with one being the offensive ball carrier and the other being the tackler. On the coach's command "HIT" the ball carrier runs 1/2 speed in the direction predetermined. The tackler will roll his hips, keep his eyes up and get his head across the ball carrier. he is told to keep his feet moving and drive the ball carrier back. We do not allow the tackler to take the ball carrier to the ground. The players then rotate lines so everyone gets at least one chance to tackle going left, right and straight on. The two tackling drills should take about 5 to 7 minutes.
OLB's and Safety
Progression
I. Mirror Drill / Weave Drill: The mirror drill is done to teach our secondary to keep his cushion between the receiver and also to point his butt in the direction he is going. The defensive player lines up seven yards from the receiver and one yard toward the ball in man coverage. The receiver lines up on the sideline and faces the middle of the field. on the coaches command the receiver will run 1/2 speed making lazy "S" weaves every five yards from the line he started on. The defensive player must keep his feet moving, focus on the receivers belt, point his butt in the direction the receiver is going, and keep his cushion, Every time the receiver changes his direction, the defensive back must seeing his hips and point his butt in the correct direction. The Receiver will go as far as the hashmark and then move over and run the same drill in the other direction so the defensive back gets work in both directions.
II. Turn and Run Drill: This drill is designed for the defensive back to have to learn to turn and run when his cushion is broken. The defensive back lines up seven yards off the receiver and one yard inside toward the ball. The receiver runs 1/2 speed and when the defensive back feels his cushion is broken he turns and runs with the receiver. We teach the DB to turn into the receiver and throw his arm across the receiver to make contact. If you turn the other way we feel the DB looses eyesight and feel for the receiver, causing his back to be away from the receiver. Another problem is if the receiver runs a deep our or the ball is under thrown, he cannot adjust. After they have the basic skill we tell the receiver to go full speed and we use a football. The receiver is told to let the DB make the play so we do not have injuries in this drill. The players enjoy this drill when the ball is added because they have a chance to make picks.
III. Ball Highest Point Drill: This drill is designed to teach our secondary to always go up and get the football at its highest point. Once that ball is in the air it is ours. The defensive back lines up on the coach and backpedals straight back until the coach opens a certain direction. he then will open up and run in that direction. It is important that the player keeps eye contact on the coach. When the ball is in the air the player will yell "Ball" and then go up at the highest point and make the pick, which he then yells, "Rambo."
IV. Heel Click Drill: This drill is done with all the defensive backs on the line facing the coach. The coach asks the players to get in a comfortable stance -- everyone is different -- and get ready. When the coach gives the command, "HIT" the players backpedal for five yards. when they hit the line they are told to heel-click and sprint forward for five yards. Heel click is a short run in place with quick feet.This short run in place keeps the player's feet underneath him and prevents him from slipping down on his cut. Our secondary players are told to play pass first which means your first steps are backwards, but once you read run get up and help with run support. This technique is also used to close the cushion and gain ground on out routes.with quick hitches.
V. "W" Drill: The "W" drill is done to get our players to turn their hips, keep their nose over their toes and move their feet. The players line up in one line next to the coach. The drill is run from the sideline to the hashmark with the players backpedaling and running between five yard line. On the coach's command, the player backpedals at a 45 degree angle from the coach. When he hits the line five yards behind him he sprints up at a 45 degree angle to the line that he started on. When he hits that line he drops his butt and this backpedals at a 45 degree angle, hitting, the line sprinting at a 45 degree angle forward, thus making the letter "W". The player would make between 6-8 "W's" before he reaches the hashmark on the field. When he reaches the hashmark he moves across to a five yard space and does the drill back. This gets the player going in both directions. Coaches, make sure your players stay down, keep their nose over their toes, eyes up not looking at their feet, and have quick fee. It also gives you a chance to check their "Heel Click Technique".
VI. Hip Swivel Drill: This drill is done from the sideline to the hash mark using the yard lines on the field as the players marker or a course to stay on. The players go out in front of the coach one at a time. When the coach raises the ball the player backpedals keeping eye contact with the coach. The player must stay down, move his hips to one side and then come back to the main line, then turn his hips the other direction, then come back to the main line. You are trying to develop "loose", fluid, and smooth opening of the hips in this drill. You will be able to judge how "athletic" your kids are after a few repetitions.
VII. Pass/Run Drill: This drill is a pass/run drill for the secondary that is related to the heel click drill. The coach has the player in front of him on the line. he gets into a comfortable stance and focuses his eyes on the coach. When the coach raises the ball up by his ear the player is backpedaling yelling, "Pass" but keeping eye contact on the coach. When coach brings the ball down to his waist the player heel clicks and comes forward yelling, "Run" but never loses site of the ball and coach. When the coach brings the ball up backpedal and yells "Pass", ball down to waist yells "Run". this is done about two or three times before the next player steps in.
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