A dozen ways to manipulate a defense.

Defensive coaches are constantly searching for ways to manipulate or counter the offense. In my 36 years as a football coach, I have had to do a lot of this kind of homework and have had a good share of success. I would like to present a dozen of the most effective and innovative offensive tactics that I have had to deal with as a defensive coordinator.

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1. THE DOUBLE BIND.

It puts a defender in a no-win, damned if he does, damned if he doesn't dilemma. A linebacker employing a 9 technique is coached to close the C gap if the tight end blocks inside.

When the possibility of a wingback crack block is added to the scheme, the outside linebacker is faced with the predicament of either attacking the wingback and rendering himself vulnerable to the off-tackle play (Diag. 1) or ignoring the wingback and becoming vulnerable to the bounce (Diag. 2).

The same principal can be used to double bind a defensive end who is playing a 5 technique. If the DE ignores the fake crack block of the tight end and closes the B gap, he will effectively stop the trap (Diag. 3), but he will become vulnerable to the off tackle play (Diag. 4).

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2. THE DOUBLE CROSS.

Also referred to as a false key. Most coaches teach their inside linebackers and nose to include the guards as part of their key. In Diag. 5, the left guard is pulling left and the left halfback is iso blocking the LB. This is an indication for both the nose and linebacker that the ball will be given to the right halfback.

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This blocking scheme will force these two players to stay at home until they have identified the ball-carrier.

Since the fullback will most likely have cleared the LOS before this occurs, the pursuit of these two players will be seriously impaired.

3. A SHIFT OF FORMATION STRENGTH FOLLOWED BY BACKFIELD MOTION.

In Diag. 6, the offense quickly shifts from a wing right to a slot left formation. This Wing-T tactic is extremely effective vs teams that have a rover who favors offensive strength because it forces the rover to run across the formation. Immediately after the shift however, the offense motions a running back opposite the shift (Diag. 7).

Frequently, the rover will attempt to reverse directions and strive to get back to his original alignment prior to the shift. When this occurs, the rover not only looks like a confused idiot, but he becomes ineffective in the completion of his duties.

4. A TIGHT END STEM FOLLOWED BY BACKFIELD MOTION.

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This tactic is frequently used against an 8-man front that has two different types of athlete playing outside linebacker. One type is the Stud or Sam linebacker. This player is 100% linebacker and will always align on the side of the tight end. He is big, tough, and physical.

The other outside linebacker is the adjuster, usually a hybrid who is 50% LB and 50% DB. He plays opposite the tight end and is a much better cover player than the Stud but less effective versus the run.

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In Diag. 8, the offense stems its tight end. The defense will often view a tight end stem as just an annoyance and therefore won't flip-flop its outside linebackers because it assumes that if it pays minimum attention to the stem, the offense will stop doing it.

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When the offense motions its halfback immediately following the stem (Diag. 9), it will create a mismatch by isolating a running back in a one-on-one situation vs the Stud.

5. A NASTY SPLIT + TWINS.

This is a great formation vs an 8-man front that plays a lot of Cover 3 (3 deep/4-under zone) as it leaves the defense with only six players in the box (Diag. 10).

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If the defense insists upon keeping eight players in the box, the offense will not only have two one-on-one situations with its two wide receivers, but also an explosive quick pitch play toward the tight end (Diag. 11).

6. DOUBLE TWINS.

This is an excellent formation vs teams that insist upon playing Cover 2 because it leaves them with only six players in the box to defend against the run (Diag. 12).

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A team may occasionally attempt to keep seven defenders within the proximity of the box by having the two line-backers (who must loosen up) walk halfway between their offensive tackles and the slot receivers. This defensive tactic creates a free ticket to Camelot for an offense that has either a bubble or jail break screen in its package.

Furthermore, whenever a linebacker is assigned to cover wide receivers in either a man or zone situation, the potential for a mismatch is high.

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7. DOUBLE TEAMING A TANGO LINEBACKER.

For many years defenses have successfully defended the option by using a tango technique. When this technique was employed two defenders will read a single blocker and vary their option assignments based upon this blocker's movements.

In Diag. 13-15, the DE and LB are both reading the offensive tackle. In Diagram 13, the offensive tackle blocks inside. And so the DE will attack the dive and the LB will play the QB. In Diag. 14, the OT blocks the DE. And so the DE and LB will switch assignments.

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In Diag. 15, the OT again blocks inside which forces the DE to commit to the dive, but as the LB shuffles outside to play the QB, he is blocked by the right halfback, which enhances the possibility of the QB gaining considerable yardage.

8. SHIFTING FROM END OVER TO TRIPS AND VICE VERSA.

Teams that run the Flex Bone or run and shoot offense can beguile an 8-man front by putting both of their wide receivers on the same side of the formation.

Although the offense's running game is not affected, this formation forces the defense to get out of its base by moving an LB out of the box (Diag. 16).

If the defense refuses to adjust (because the #2 receiver is ineligible), the offense can immediately exploit the coverage and create a trips formation by moving the left halfback into the line and the #2 receiver off the line (Diag. 17).

9. USING MAX PROTECTION & HAVING THE QB SET UP BEHIND THE TACKLE VS A ZONE BLITZ.

Max protection is necessary vs the zone blitz because this defensive tactic forces the offense to be accountable for all of the defenders aligned in the box.

An old school max protection scheme similar to the one illustrated in Diag. 18 is ideal vs a Split-4 zone blitz. By having the QB set up behind the tackle (5 and 7 step drops), you can allow him to run away from half of the pass rush without disrupting the timing between himself and the receivers. This also simplifies pass-blocking techniques, creates misdirection in the passing game, and strengthens the QB's arm to the wide side of the field.

10. DESTROYING A DEFENDER'S READ WITH SEQUENTIAL PLAY PACKAGING.

Initially, the plays illustrated in Diags. 19 and 20 will look identical to the OLB. If he hesitates in dropping into the flats, he will be vulnerable to the high-low pass pattern in Diag. 20. If doesn't play run, however, he will create a soft corner for the offense.

Because these two plays have been sequentially packaged, the outside linebacker has no reliable key that will lead him to the ball.

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11. MOVING THE ACEBACK CLOSER TO THE LINE AND USING REAL MISDIRECTION.

At seven yards deep, it takes a powerful line, an excellent aceback, and a lot of time to make the inside zone work--especially when the counter trey is the only sequential misdirection in the offensive repertoire.

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The play possibilities illustrated in Diag. 21 hit very quickly; furthermore, they incorporate both misdirection and false keying. A play package of this nature is much more difficult to defend than the standard inside zone/ stretch/ counter trey package that has emerged in recent years.

12. OPTIONING A GREAT DEFENSE INSTEAD OF BLOCKING IT.

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Both Bob Ladouceur and J.T. Curtis have produced unbelievable winning records by optioning rather than blocking some of the finest defenses in America. I am certain that the success that these two coaches have achieved with the option speaks louder than all of the words that have ever been spoken or written about football strategy.

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BY LEO HAND

Defensive Coordinator

El Paso (TX) High School