University of Alabama Clinic Part III

Al Groh Head Coach University of Virginia

The Flexibility of the 3-4

Reasons for 3-4

Opponent’s lack of being familiar with D
May see it once a year or twice at most so teams have no background to draw from at
college or high school level

Quote:
All organizations are perfectly designed to get the results that they get

To design a system – must first look back from the results to the beginning to find the
components needed for winning

Defense is based on two factors

1. Negative plays to keep points down
2. The higher efficiency the QB throw for the more successful the record of the team
so D must be geared to combat
Defense must do these things to have a direction to build a system

It is up to the coach to decide the culture of the team then coach it, if not then it will self
select
A coach must look for players and coaches that love football and people that are
motivated to succeed. These people can be led to success and this type of self selection is
positive.

Plan to Win
Great off season program
In Jan start from scratch building our culture and team
Divide into two phases
Winter and Summer
Keep Points Down
Great D
Field Position
Special teams
First 3 of 8 Spring training sessions are 75% special teams
Players expect and want to be on special teams
Dominate the kicking game in a way most people do not understand
Critical factors
Penalties
Any O drive only scores 20% of the time when committing at least one
penalty
 Any D drive that commits at least one penalty allows at least a FG or score
60% of the time
Turnover to takeaway margin
Pass Efficiency
Of the 17 top O’s in the nation all won 8 or more games
Runs + completions
90% of the time the team that has more rushes plus completions wins
Crucial situations
Red Zone-Score or keep out/limit to FGS
Beat the clock-End of half, end of game
Must practice to gain a competitive edge

3-4
Not dictated to like many Ds
Do not have to substitute as much
Must make an emphasis on beating blocks more than just movement must be part of the
culture
Goal of the two deep shell and under coverage must be to stop vertical entry, secondary is
designed to reroute
Zone blitz works because even against kids that know their protection the shear volume
of movement creates confusion
Dean Pees Defensive Coordinator New England

The Patriots Defense

Defensive Laws
Leverage
Attack
Wall
Square

Patriots ran 37 coverages and 17 fronts in 2007

Coach’s Fundamentals

Drill work- Does your drill work emphasize the player fundamentals
that you want because practice must mimic game.
Evaluation-Does it works? Can your players do it? Does it fit your
scheme?

3-4

Defense must fit together to build a wall to force indecision in the

running backs mind.
Separation in the defense creates a seam.
Must stay square if a guy turns sideways it creates seams.
From end zone, should be able to stand behind and see the back
numbers of defenders, if you cannot then that player got turned.
Practice what kids are going to see.
Not as much penetration in base.
LBs must attack and come across square.
Press the offensive player and stay square.
Do not use a sled or bags because its not who you play against.
Goal is 3 yards a carry because two gapping penetration causes
positive gains.
Never wrong arm anything. Face to face, never give self up. Make a
play by staying square (two gap him). Do not cut offensive player because it
causes seams.
Everybody pushes east and west, not north and south.
Safety reads the shoulders of backs-stay square.
Everything is read and react.
#1 coverage is quarters
#2 cover 3
Bill Belichick Head Coach New England Patriots

Patriot Football

Organization

Sign going into the football offices at Gillette Stadium – Do Your Job
Create a division of labor
Put together an organization to become the best
Tell staff what to do and say in situations
Be out in front of the direction of the team
Meets with captains every week because it’s a more manageable
group to deal with
Allow players to make some decisions, create a connection to
program
Group discipline and rewards-Works both ways

Setting up a D

Must be able to defend what you are going to see

Define how you will defend a basic set of problems
Regardless of your personnel the 3-4 is more flexible
Originally made it easier to sign and draft players but is changing as
more teams adapt 3-4
Maintain as much coverage flexibility as possible in order to take
away best player
Establish the front 7 to handle running game
Running game force is OLB
Set Edge
Force inside
DL two gap responsible
If not two gap must add secondary into run game D
If LB is being committed to one gap then secondary comes down
Brad Bradshaw Head Football Coach Bastrop High School, Louisiana

Improving your pace of play

GATA is the motto

We do not make excuses about what other schools have
Practice is about attitude
My Time and Your Time (Coach and Player)
If I believe in you then you don’t have to make me believe everyday.
Limited hitting after first few days
Physical but no long pants but still full speed contact
Put kids that do not hit on O
If players want the ball then they learn to block
If you do not teach it, rep it, and get it – do not be surprised with the results.
Game speed at practice or they do not play.

Coaching

It is an injustice if you don’t

Help a player for nothing in return
Position players are mirror images of their coach
Everything is important
If they do not make mistakes then they do not need your ass
Right and you are praising
Wrong and you are accepting

Playing the Game

Players must step from self and into team

Competition equals struggle – look for fighters
Play sound, play bold, play dangerously
Take advantage of your advantages
Drill are all designed in 6 second bursts

15 min early period for stretching, team work then divide into O and
D-only top 15 to 18 for each then rest do only fundamental work separately

Do not warm-up with pads on, only snappers have full gear
Change of pace with your O
Be as fresh as possible
We want to draw first blood by taking ball
Work on opponents mind
Win on first down
Chase ball at a speed your opponent is not able to adjust to
Do not chase same color jersey-it is\wrong able
Show things D has not seen
Earn right to play on D by playing special teams
Make opponent defend option
O gets skill players
D gets size
Go for throat in every aspect
Do not fall on ball ever – take a shot, try to score