As we all do, I have football as a hobby to pass some of my down time and to break up all that goes on in my everyday life. One of the books I have read is "Coaching the multiple 4-3 Defense" by Dennis Harris. This book is intended for developing the system in high school and college ranks, but the information is universal to the concept and provides knowledge of the fundamentals of the game. I wrote a short essay to share some of this information with all of you, in this terrific forum provided by Rich ( MightyGiants) called Chalk Talk.
The more we explore the game of Football together, the more we understand and appreciate the complexity and the science of this great game. One of the reasons I love this game so much is because it challenges the mind and the learning process never ends. I hope I explained the information clearly and that you enjoy the subject matter. I felt it necessary to start off with some related information.
The HashmarksOn an NFL field, the distance from sideline to sideline is 53.3 yards or 160 feet. The hashmarks are 70.9 feet from each sideline. The distance between the hashmarks is 18.2 feet on center, which is the same as the distance between the goal posts. This is different than high school or college dimensions.
The Strong SideThe strong side of the field is the side of the ball on the line that the offense has more players lined up with. The common answer is the side the TE lines up, but it’s a bit more detailed than that.
Consideration at the high school and college level would be the side of the field that there is more playing field. For example, if the ball is on the left hash mark, the right side would be considered the strong side, because there is 33 and one third yards on that side to defend while only 20 yards on the other side.
In pro football, if the play is dead between the hashmarks, the ball is placed at the spot the play was dead. Outside the hashmarks, it’s placed on the nearest hashmark.
On balanced formations such as T formations, double slot or double wing, the declaration would go to the side of the passing arm of the QB or to the scouting tendencies. The call would be declared from the side the defense is facing by the strong safety.
If the offense is heavy to the left side the defense is facing or the right side of the offense, then it would be called left side strong.
Strong side declaration is important because it determines the order the call is made by the defensive coordinator in how the defense lines up. By using Roger as the strong side right call and Lucy as the strong side left call, declaration is made. So a 63 cover 2 Lucy call would mean that the strong side would line up in a 6 alignment on the defensive left side and the right side or weak side would line up in a 3 alignment. The first of the two numbers is designated for the strong side. The second number is the weak side. Cover 2 would of course refer to the secondary coverage. A 63 Roger call would mean that the 6 alignment would be on the defensive right side. Simple right? Not so fast.
What is an alignment?Just what do these numbers mean? Well, there are 9 alignments that refer to how the defensive tackles, defensive ends and linebackers line up on each side of the ball. In each alignment, there are gap responsibilities for each position. As mentioned in other articles, the gaps are given alphabetical designation starting from the center and moving to the left or right of the defense. The gap refers to the space between offensive line players. So, the space between the center and the O-guard is the A gap and the space between the O-guard and the O-Tackle is the B gap. The space between the O-tackle and the TE or where the TE would line up is the C gap. These alignments also assign shading of the front four. Shading is either inside shading or outside shading. It’s where the inside eye or outside eye of the defender is to the inside eye or outside eye of the offensive lineman. This is done to give advantage to their gap responsibility.
In the example of a 2 alignment, on the strong side the DT would line up across from the O-guard but shaded so his outside or left eye is lined up with the inside or left eye of the O-guard. The defensive end would be lined up two feet back and straight against the O-tackle and the sam (strong side linebacker) would be lined up against the TE. The mike (middle linebacker) would be lined up off the line behind the down linemen against the center. The 3 alignment would shade the tackle to his inside eye against the outside eye of the O-guard. Remember, that on the other side of the ball there is an assigned alignment for the weak side tackle, end and linebacker (will).
Speaking in terms of running plays, the defensive front will now have to read the offensive line and how they apply their blocking scheme. The first read or first progression read is the man aligned to. That is the offensive player who is going to try and control the defensive player by blocking him to control the gap. The next progressions are reading double team and then pulling O-linemen. There are blocking terms called zone, trap, sweep, tony, G-scheme and counter trey that are offensive blocking plays intended to control the defensive players and open up gaps and lanes for the running game.
The alignment call of the defensive line will determine the alignment of the player, stance and gap responsibility of the defensive player. The tackles read how they are being blocked and have to react accordingly. His reactions change according to each situation. Responsibilities will vary according to alignments. 1,2,8 and 9 alignments, 3,6 and 7 alignments,4 alignment and 5 alignment determine reaction and responsibility. For example in a 4 vs a 3,6,7 alignment, a tackle might have to make plays to the C gap while being responsible to the B gap. In a double team he has to protect the linebacker from the OT in a combo.
While the tackles have their reads, responsibilities and techniques to how they handle the blocking schemes of the offensive line, the defensive ends and the linebackers each have their own. All working together to accomplish a successful play. If a player fails in their assignment or is controlled by their counterpart, it usually results in the success of the offense in moving the ball or scoring.
Here are some examples of just 4 alignments on one side of the defense only. It describes how the players line up including eye shading, how the offense is looking to block them and what their gap responsibilities are.
Techniques and alignments
1,2,8, and 9 alignment
Tackles in the inside shadesBoth tackles lined off guard outside eye to inside eye of the O-guard, one yard off the ball in a 4 point stance. Both the backside DT and the playside DT are responsible for the A gap. The mike backer is lined up on the center in a 2 point stance, 5 yards off the ball and is responsible for the B gaps.
Base- The O-guard attacks the tackle head on. If the ball carrier is behind the center the mike backer should attack the center under the pads and be prepared to slide to the B gaps.
Base (outside cutoff)- The O-guard takes an outside release on the tackle
Reach block by the center- The O-guard takes an outside release on the tackle and the center tries to reach or scoop the tackle. Mike backer works the playside B gap.
Guard pulls inside- The center blocks the backside tackle as the guard pulls to the opposite side
Trap with influence (playside defensive left)- The center blocks the backside tackle as the left O-guard attacks the playside tackle. The right O-guard pulls to the defensive left behind the right O-tackle. The right O-tackle is responsible for outside containment, but doesn’t move toward the playside tackle. The Mike backer should read the angle of the pulling guard and avoid being blocked by the OT.
Fold block- The center blocks the backside tackle as his O-guard pulls behind the block toward the mike backer. The other O-guard engages in a base block on the playside tackle. The mike backer takes on the pulling O-guard to close the hole. If there is no threat to the hole, he should get to the outside parallel to the ball carrier before the O-guard blocks him.
Guard pulls outside with the tackle down block- The O-tackle blocks the tackle while the O-guard pulls to the outside. The tackle should not be pushed off the line into the mike backer.
Double team- Both the O-tackle and the O-guard block the DT. The tackle’s job is to split the seam and not give up any ground.
Sweep- The center blocks either DT while both O-guards pull behind the line.
Bootleg- If a lineman pulls opposite the flow action fake, the mike backer should go with the lineman and pressure the QB
Pass Block- When the linemen show pass protection, the mike backer should drop back into his responsibility of pass protection, while watching the QB and being alert for draws or screens.
Defensive ends alignments and responsibilities- In a 1 alignment he controls the B gap. In a 2 and 8 alignment he is responsible for the C gap. In the 9 alignment he is responsible for the D gap. In a 1 alignment he lines up on the line in a 4 point stance, his outside eye on the inside eye of the OT. In a 2 alignment he is inside eye to outside eye of the OT about 2 feet off the line. In an 8 or 9 alignment he is on the line in a 4 point stance outside eye to inside eye of the TE. He has to deal with blocking TE’s and slow the release of the TE in passing situations. There are times they have to protect the outside linebackers from being blocked. In dropback passing situations the DE should work to contain the QB while the tackles rush the lanes. In rollout situations, the tackles should work to pressure while the playside DE should contain the QB and work him sideways. The backside DE should go after the QB but contain a reverse.
Outside linebackers- In 1,2,8 and 9 alignments the outside linebacker (OLB) controls the D gaps and in certain situations should work to squeeze the C gap. In a 1 and 2 alignment the OLB should line up his inside eye to the outside eye of the TE on the line. In an 8 or 9 alignment he lines up his inside eye to the outside eye of the OT about 2 feet behind the line. There are times he works in tandem with the DE. They have coverage responsibilities in the passing game.
Are you bored yet? Far too much information right? There are 79 combinations of defensive alignments in this 4-3 defense. What we didn’t touch on was how each defensive player approaches the blocking scheme and exactly what they have to accomplish on any given play. We didn’t discuss stunting with terminology like gut, mike twist, 99 blitz. shoot, twist, loop, slant and more. We didn’t talk about hand work or foot work. We barely even touched on the passing game and zone coverage responsibilities of a zone blitz. You have to have tremendous respect for these men just to remember the alignments, lining up properly on the strong and weak sides and knowing what to do while adjusting by thinking on your feet or recognizing something out of the ordinary based on experience. Remember you move and react based on reads by progression as the play unfolds.
So next time you watch a football game and the analyst comments on how a certain player is really having a good day, or has x amount of sacks or x amount of pressures or tackles, remember that there are 10 other men out there who did their job in order for that to happen. Just because you don’t hear someone’s name being called out during a game doesn’t mean he hasn’t had a good game. This is especially true of the Defensive Tackle positions where in my opinion the battle is won or lost on many plays. These guys do all the dirty work and they get none of the glamour or the glory. It also explains why the coaching staff of pro football teams come to work at 5:00AM and go home at 9:00PM. Certainly the time and dedication by Coach Coughlin and his staff of coaches put the Giants in the position they were in to win the SuperBowl with preparation and game plan. The players did the rest. Now you know just a little bit of what the rest is.
Credit to Dennis Harris and his book, “Coaching The Multiple 4-3 Defense”
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