HAND

COACHING FOOTBALLS DOUBLE EAGLE-DOUBLE FLEX DEFENSE

2010 Coaches Choice. All rights reserved. The double eagle-double flex defense, featuring a unique twistthe addition of a second flexed defenderprovides defensive coaches at all competitive levels with a whole new bag of tricks to stop opponents offenses. Coaching Footballs Double Eagle-Double Flex Defense offers the reader the following information: Detailed explanations and illustrations that provide all of the information about alignments, adjustments, techniques, strategies, and tactics that coaches need to successfully install the double eagle-double flex defense Over 300 explosive stunts that are adaptable to a variety of man and zone pass coverages An overview of an easy-to-understand and -apply system of confusing blocking assignments by stemming the base front into multiple looks The introduction of a distinctly different phonetic nomenclature that enables coaches to merge two or more sophisticated stunt maneuvers into a single stunt and then succinctly and expeditiously communicate the stunt to his players In-depth explanations and illustrations of the adjustments and techniques necessary to install eight different pass coverages Detailed explanations and illustrations of the techniques necessary to stop the most potent running plays currently popular in football An overview of how to create a variety of strategies for dealing with empty, red zone, and wildcat formations
ISBN 978-1-60679-141-7

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COACHING FOOTBALLS DOUBLE EAGLE-DOUBLE FLEX DEFENSE

COACHING FOOTBALLS DOUBLE EAGLE-DOUBLE FLEX DEFENSE

LEO AND MARY HAND

OTHER BOOKS FROM LEO HAND: 101 3-4 Stunts 101 3-5 Stunts 101 4-3 Stunts 101 Aceback Bunch Plays 101 Bear 4-6 Stunts 101 Double Eagle Flex Stunts 101 Fire Zone Blitzes 101 Split 4-4 Stunts 101 Weak Eagle Stunts Attacking the 3-3-5 Defense With the I Offense Coaching Footballs 3-3-5 Defense Coaching Footballs Modern T Offense

COACHES CHOICE

51995

LEO HAND

www.coacheschoice.com

9 781606 791417

$19.95

 2010 Coaches Choice. All rights reserved.

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Coaching Footballs Double Eagle-Double Flex Defense

Leo Hand

 2010 Coaches Choice. All rights reserved.

www.coacheschoice.com

2011 Coaches Choice. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Coaches Choice. Throughout this book, the masculine shall be deemed to include the feminine and vice versa. ISBN: 978-1-60679-141-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2010941738 Cover design: Brenden Murphy Book layout: Studio J Art & Design Front cover photo: Alan Smith/Cal Sport Media/ZUMA Press Diagrams: Marcus Graham Coaches Choice P.O. Box 1828 Monterey, CA 93942 www.coacheschoice.com

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Contents

Dedication ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 6

Chapter 1: An Overview of the Double Eagle-Double Flex................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Five-in-the-TrenchesResponsibilities and Techniques .................................15 Chapter 3: Stud, Rover, and WhipResponsibilities and Techniques .............................29 Chapter 4: Pass Coverage Techniques of Cover 1 ................................................................40 Chapter 5: Base Cover 1 Stunts and Twists of Five-in-the-Trenches ..............................52 Chapter 6: Five-in-the-Trenches Schemes ................................................................................64 Chapter 7: Creating a Different Twist for Five-in-the-Trenches Stunt Schemes .......116 Chapter 8: Incorporating Linebacker Blitzes With Five-in-the-Trenches Schemes ...126 Chapter 9: Additional Coverages and Stunts.........................................................................152 Chapter 10: Defending Empty and Red Zone Formations ..............................................168

About the Author .............................................................................................................................176

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Introduction

In 2003, I discovered a unique twist to the double eagle flex defensethe addition of a second flexed defender. This discovery occurred when Coach Rich Ellersons Cal Poly Mustangs, a 1AA team, faced UTEP, a 1A team, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Although UTEP was far superior to Cal Poly in physical size, speed, and raw talent, the Mustangs won the game 34-13 and held UTEP to 256 total yards. The UTEP offense, which towered above the Cal Poly defense, was totally baffled by the stemming and stunting of the Mustang defense. It became obvious that the addition of a second flexed defender would give the double eagle flex a whole new bag of tricks to stop opponents offenses.

Whats in this book for you?

The first eight chapters of this book focus on the base alignment, responsibilities, stunts, and coverage of the double eagle-double flex, which is a gap-control, eight-man frontal defense that employs a three-deep secondary that utilizes cover 1 as its primary coverage. Chapter 9 explains in detail and illustrates seven additional pass coverages and their corresponding stunts. The first nine chapters focus on stopping two-back and aceback offenses. Chapter 10 concludes with suggestions on how to defeat empty and red zone offenses. This book offers the reader the following information: Detailed explanations and illustrations that provide all of the information about alignments, adjustments, techniques, strategies, and tactics that coaches need to successfully install the double eagle-double flex defense Over 300 explosive stunts that are adaptable to a variety of man and zone pass coverages An overview of an easy-to-understand and -apply system of confusing blocking assignments by stemming the base front into multiple looks The introduction of a distinctly different phonetic nomenclature that enables coaches to merge two or more sophisticated stunt maneuvers into a single stunt and then succinctly and expeditiously communicate the stunt to his players In-depth explanations and illustrations of the adjustments and techniques necessary to install eight different pass coverages Detailed explanations and illustrations of the techniques necessary to stop the most potent running plays currently popular in football


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An overview of how to create a variety of strategies for dealing with empty, red zone, and wildcat formations A few terms will be constantly referred to throughout the text. Because different words and phrases can mean different things to different people, the following terms are defined and clarified as they are used in this book: Strongside/weakside: The strongside is toward the tight end, and the weakside is toward the split end. Strong defenders (e.g., strong ends) are aligned toward the tight end, and weak defenders (e.g., weak ends) are aligned toward the split end. Gap responsibilities are lettered as illustrated in Figure Intro-1. Alignments are numbered as illustrated in Figure Intro-2.
8 8

6 9 7 5

4 3

2 1

0 1

2 3

4 5 7

6 9

C B

A B

Figure Intro-1

Figure Intro-2

Personnel groupings are designated by two-digit numbers. The first digit indicates the number of running backs aligned in the formation, and the second digit indicates the number of tight ends. Figures Intro-3A through Intro-3F illustrate six examples of these groupings. These figures also illustrate how receivers are numbered. Note in Figures Intro-3D, Intro-3E, and Intro-3F that the acebacks number changes based on the direction of his movement at the snap of the ball.
3 1 2

Figure Intro-3A. 21 personnel (two running backs and one tight end)

3 1

Figure Intro-3B. 22 personnel (two running backs and two tight ends)

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3 2 1

Figure Intro-3C. 20 personnel (two running backs and no tight ends)

2 1 2 1

Figure Intro-3D. 11 personnel (one running back and one tight end)
3

2 1

2 1

Figure Intro-3E. 10 personnel (one running back and no tight ends)

2 1 3 1

Figure Intro-3F. 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends)

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1
An Overview of the Double Eagle-Double Flex

Figure 1-1 illustrates the base pass coverage of the defense, and Figures 1-2A and 1-2B illustrate the base responsibilities versus the weakside and strongside run.

S FC

E R

M W

E BC

Figure 1-1

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S C

E R

E W C

Figure 1-2A

S C

E R

E W C

Figure 1-2B

Advantages of the Double Eagle-Double Flex Defense

It is new and entirely different from the status quo. It is a four-level defense. Almost every other defense in football is a three-level defense. Many coaches arent really sure how to block it and effectively game plan against it. Its an eight-man front that is easily capable of being converted into a nine-man front, which makes it enormously effective versus the run. It is extremely flexible. Nickel-dime substitutions can easily be made without disrupting the overall scheme, which enables the defense to automatically adapt itself to any type of offensive personnel that is on the field.
10

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It is easily converted to a four-deep secondary, which enables it to utilize a wide assortment of pass coverages that differ from its base three-deep package. Pass coverages are easily disguised from both a three- and a four-deep secondary. The defense is sound versus the optionmany eight-man fronts are not. An explosive stunt package can easily be installed into the system. It confuses blocking assignments by easily shifting into multiple fronts. Its base is an odd front, which enables the nose tackle to attack and pin the arm in which the center of a shotgun offense uses to hike the ball.

Double Eagle-Double Flex Personnel Requirements and Responsibilities

Stud This player is both a linebacker and defensive back. Hopefully, he is a hybrid who can not only defeat the block of a big tight end or fullback and effectively shut down an opponents power running game, but can also leave the box and cover a swift wide receiver. When a team is not blessed with a hybrid, the following guidelines should be followed: Use a defensive back versus 10 or 20 personnel. Use a defensive back in an obvious passing situation versus any type of personnel. Use a defensive back when planning to blitz Stud from the edge. Use a linebacker in all other situations. Stud lines up in a loose 8 technique. He assumes a two-point stance with his inside foot back. His primary key is the tight end, and his secondary keys are first the nearest back and then a pulling lineman. Stud must be able to instantly read and react to the tight ends movements. Versus a run in which the tight end blocks the 7 technique, Stud must close the seam between himself and the tight end and force the ballcarrier to bounce the play outside. When the tight end releases, Stud must jam the tight end and simultaneously read the near back. If the near backs movements indicate run, and Stud must restrict the D gap and force the play outside. If the play is pass, his technique will vary depending upon the coverage. However, because cover 1 is the primary coverage, Stud will normally cover the tight end by jamming him and aggressively funneling the tight end into the free safety. Strong End The strong end lines up in a 7 technique. He must be big enough and strong enough to control the block of a tight end. He lines up in a three- or four-point stance on the inside eye of the tight end. His feet should either be parallel or slightly staggered (inside foot up). He jams the tight end by stepping with his outside foot and attacking

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