Merritt Island Christian School

Cougar Football

Numbers Defense
2004
 Contents
I. Introduction
II. Gaps
III. Techniques Numbering
IV. Positions
V. Base Defense
A. Run
B. Pass
VI. Defenses
VII. Coverage's
VIII. Stunts/Blitzes
 I. Introduction
The MICS “Numbers” defense is built on
technique and alignment. The techniques used
in our defense our taught daily to ensure muscle
memory by the defensive player. The “Numbers”
defense is geared to our type of personnel. As
you progress through the playbook you will see
the simplicity of the defense and how it can be
highly effective against the numerous offensive
sets that you will see. The Numbers defense will
put your players in the best possible position to
make plays that will ultimately lead your team to
a victory on the field.
 II. Gaps

D C B A A B C D

*The Gaps are lettered from A to D going from the ball outward
 III. Numbering Technique

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

*The number technique is numbered 1-9 from the center out.

*A shade on the nose can be a “shade to” or “shade away” call.
 IV. Positions
T-Tackles, Base is a 2 technique, A gap control in base D.
E-Ends, Base is an 8 technique, C gap control, Contain man.
Sam-Strong ILB, 30 technique (outside shoulder of G, 4-5 yards of ball), Strong
B gap control.
*Sam calls offensive strength. “Roger”-most receivers to right side, “Leo”
most receivers to left side.
Will- Weak ILB, 30 technique, Weak B gap control.
Kat-Strong OLB, 4 yards over and off LOS from last man on LOS, D+ gap
control player.
Blood-Weak OLB, same alignment and responsibility on weak side as Kat.
Corners-Run support players, Cover 3 base, 5-7 yards of the LOS.
Free Safety- Over the center 10-12 yards off the ball, pass player first but must
be able to come up and be a strong run support player.
 V. Base Defense “22 Cover 3”

E T T E

B
K S W

C C
F

* “22” is the call to let our DL to know where to line up

*The first # is for the strong side T, second # for the weak side T
*Ends are in 8 techniques unless there us there is a 3rd # in the call (example: 227 Cover 3)
*Strength call is dependent upon side with most receiver s, a balanced offense is a “Leo” call.
*The “22 Cov 3” is our base call, we have variations of fronts (see “Defenses” section)
 A. Run Defense

E T T E

B
K S W

C C
F
*Each position in every call has a gap responsibility, each player will have one gap
Coaching Points:
T-go 2 steps , go flat down LOS to the bal, keep head up to find the ball
E- go 2 steps, contain players, keep everything inside, do not go up field and do not get washed down inside
S/W- play the B gaps, fill any open holes, do no go backwards away from contact, force iso’s to spill to other backers
K/B-Counter-Reverse-Screen-Bootleg players, then go to the ball, not contain man but must turn plays in to the ILB’s
C-After initial drop read steps find ball and be run support player
F-After initial drop read steps and sure of no pass become run support player
 B. Pass Defense (Cover 3)
E T T E

B
K S W

C C
F

Coaching Points
S/W-Hook to Curl Zone, 10-12 off LOS, 45 degree angle away from the center
K/B-Flats, 7-8 yards off LOS, sideline in to the hash
C-Deep outside 1/3
F-Deep Middle 1/3, deeper than the deepest receiver, must come over the top of any pass play
VI. Defenses
30 Cover 3
E T T E

B
K S W

C C
F

Position Run To Run Away Pass

ST-Strong B 2 steps, flat down LOS to Rush
T WT-Weak A ball

C Gap, Contain CRSB, Pursue Rush

E
Sam-Strong A, Force Player Squat on Gap, flow to ball Hook/Curl
S/W Will-Weak B, Force Player

D+ Gap Player CRSB, Pursue to ball Flats

K/B
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Outside 1/3
C
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Middle 1/3
F
306 Cover 3

E T T E

B
C K S W C

Position Run To Run Away Pass

ST-Strong B 2 steps, flat down LOS to Rush
T WT-Weak A ball

C Gap, Contain CRSB, Pursue Rush/Contain

E
Sam-Strong A, Force Player Squat on Gap, flow to ball Hook/Curl
S/W Will-Weak B, Force Player

D+ Gap Player CRSB, Pursue to ball Flats

K/B
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Outside 1/3
C
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Middle 1/3
F
11 Cover 3

E T T E

B
C K S W C

Position Run To Run Away Pass

A Gap 2 steps, flat down LOS to Rush
T ball

C Gap, Contain CRSB, Pursue Rush/Contain

E
Sam-Strong B, Force Player Squat on Gap, flow to ball Hook/Curl
S/W Will-Weak B, Force Player

D+ Gap Player CRSB, Pursue to ball Flats

K/B
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Outside 1/3
C
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Middle 1/3
F
309 Cover 3

E T T E

B
C K S W C

Position Run To Run Away Pass

ST-Strong B Gap 2 steps, flat down LOS to Rush
T WT-Weak A Gap ball

C Gap, Contain CRSB, Pursue Rush/Contain

E
Sam-Strong A, Force Player Squat on Gap, flow to ball Hook/Curl
S/W Will-Weak B, Force Player

D+ Gap Player CRSB, Pursue to ball Flats

K/B
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Outside 1/3
C
Run Support Pursue to ball Deep Middle 1/3
F
115 Cover 1

K E T T E B

S W
C C

Position Run To Run Away Pass

A Gaps 2 steps, flat down LOS to Rush
T ball

C Gap, Contain CRSB, Pursue Rush/Contain

E
B Gaps Squat on Gap, flow to ball #3 Receiver
S/W
D+ Gap Player CRSB, Pursue to ball #2 Receiver
K/B
Run Support Pursue to ball #1 Receiver
C
Run Support Pursue to ball Free, Most Dangerous WR
F
VII. Coverage's
Cover 1
E T T E

B
K S W
#2
#2 #3
#3

C C
#1
#1 F
Free

*The Cover one is Man/Free coverage scheme. The receivers are numbered from the sideline in to the ball.
*The Free must help on deep patterns.
 Cover 2 E E
T T

B
K S W

C C
F

C-Flats
K-Deep ½
B-Hook/Curl
S-Hook/Curl
W-Middle Curl
F-Deep ½
 Cover 2 Invert E E
T T

B
K S W

C C
F

C-Deep ½
K/B-Flats
S/W- Hook/Curl
F-Middle Curl
 Cover 3 E E
T T

B
K S W

C C
F

C- Deep Outside 1/3

K/B-Flats
S/W-Hook/Curl
F-Deep Middle 1/3
VIII. Stunts/Blitzes
TOM-Tackles out
*Gaps will change for ILB’s
T T

TIM-Tackles In

T T

Twist-ST goes first

T T

Loop-Strong or Weak Loop

T E

Stew-Slant to the call

Stay-Slant away
from the call T E
E T

*Numerous possibilities on line stunts but in order to keep it simple find a few effective stunts and excel in those.
 S

Sam-Blitz to Gap
*All other LB position are the same call,
the name of the LB is a blitz to the assigned
gap.
(ex: Kat, Blood, Will)
*To Blitz to another gap change the blitz call,
(ex: “Sock”-Sam outside, “wookie”-Will
outside, “Kill”-Kat inside, “Bite”-Blood inside

**IMPORTANT-Make sure all blitzers find the ball at the LOS and aim for the up field shoulder of the
QB if he is in the pocket. Outside blitzers must keep contain.

Defensive Back Blitzes:

*Same as LB calls with the name calling the blitzer. You can change names of the stunts to change the blitz
gaps.
As you can see the numbers defense is
very simple to teach and execute. By
keeping it simple coach’s can focus on
teaching technique and tackling as much
as possible. You can make this more
complex but putting your players in the
best possible position to succeed is the
most important thing.