“FIT DRILL”

Each week we put our opponents’ top 7 or 8 running plays on cards. First, we work against them with a “walk through” the way each play is blocked. As we are doing this, we show each defensive player where he “fits” to stop the play. From there, we progress to a full speed fit drill and tape it. I have found this to be the best way to get our defense ready to play physical football.

As you can imagine, this is a fast flow defensive front except for our contain players. These players ($$/R) must stay at home and check for reverse when flow is away. Their technique is to “bounce read” and slow play it. They must always check cutback and pursue only when the runner crosses the L.O.S. away from them. In most defenses it is the responsibility of the defensive ends to contain the reverse. Not with the 3-3-5. The Rover and Strong Safety may move down to a “hang” position to the “C” gap when the ball goes away.

Another major difference with the 3-3-5, is the Free Safety. He must fill the alley between the contain player and the defensive end on sweeps and option. In order to do this, he must read the offensive guards and not look into the backfield as his primary read. Like everything else, this must be drilled constantly. He is the ninth man in our nine man front.

The outside backer away from flow must play for cutback. His initial step is up into the weakside ‘a’ gap. Also, the linebackers can slide one half man to the strongside of the formation on their alignment. You’ll notice too, the contain men always stay the same.

Two very important coaching points concerning the techniques of Sam and Mac. Sam must take on any blocker with his inside shoulder. He must control the “B” gap when the O.G. blocks down and a lead blocker comes at him. Mac must run through the outside shoulder of the O.G. and take on any lead blocker with his playside shoulder. He basically has responsibility for the “A” gap. However, he cannot get cut off by the O.G. on a combo block.

Because we are a fast flow defense, any misdirection play can present a problem. The Counter Trey and the Naked Bootleg are two such plays. It begins with the playside D.E. because he must “hold point”. He cannot get blown back by the double team. Usually, against I back teams that run a lot of counter, we are going to slant to the T.E. This puts our three down guys in great position to stop the counter. But, it puts our backside D.E. at a disadvantage on the bootleg pass.

The Sam Backer may run through the “B” gap. If he can penetrate the L.O.S., the play’s over. If he can’t, he must see the pulling guard coming and redirect to “C” gap.Another key is for the $$ to close down quickly when he sees the T.E. block down and take on the O.G. If he is late, that will allow the O.T. and R.B. time to turn upfield.

The backside D.E. must redirect down the L.O.S. as quickly as possible when he recognizes the Naked Bootleg. Obviously, if he is slanting, this is more difficult. We can’t expect him to both slant and contain at the same time. Therefore, the Will Backer must come out of coverage once the QB gets outside the tackle box. Normally, our Mac Backer is the first to come out of coverage. But the counter action is going to occupy his attention too long. The Rover must stay in coverage on the back out. If there is no back out, he then can help in coverage of the crossing T.E.

A major key is the ability of the Free Safety to recognize the T.E. releasing on the drag route. He cannot continue to misread the run. He must redirect and pick up the crossing T.E. man to man.