Watchung Hills Junior Warriors

Defensive Playbook
Table of Contents
1. Fronts from 3-5-3 Defense
2. Defensive Line Play in 3-5-3 Defense
3. Inside Linebacker Play in 3-5-3
Defense
4. Outside Linebacker Play in 3-5-3 Defense
5. Blitz Packages in 3-5-3 Defense
6. Secondary Play in 3-5-3 Defense
 Huddle

B E N E B

D C F C D

1. Nose sets and calls the huddle 2 yards off the LOS after every play
2. Mike calls the defensive plays
3. (Defensive Formation) (Line Stunt) (Blitz) (Coverage)
4. Repeats twice and breaks Huddle
5. Entire defense waits for the offense to break the huddle
6. LBs and DBs call the strength of the offensive formation Lt or Rt
 GAP LETTERING SYSTEM:

O O O X O O O
D C B A A B C D

REGARDLESS OF THE DEFENSE CALLED EVERY GAP WILL HAVE A

DEFENDER ASSIGNED. WHEN NO THREAT TO THE DEFENDERS GAP
OCCURS, HE WILL GET AN ANGLE OF PURSUIT TO THE BALL CARRIER.

“A” Gap – Between the Center and Guard

“B” Gap – Between the Guard and Tackle
“C” Gap – Between the Tackle and Tight End
“D” Gap – Outside the Tight End
 TECHNIQUE NUMBERING SYSTEM:

TE T G C G T TE
O O O X O O O
987 5 4 4I 3 2 2I 101 2I 2 3 4I 4 5 7 8 9
3 TECH 7 TECH B
90 TECH
B 40 TECH

WHEN ALIGNED OFF THE L.O.S. A ZERO IS ADDED TO THE

TECHNIQUE NUMBER

Alignment Technique
0-Head up the center 4-Head up the tackle
1-Shade the center 5-Outside shade of tackle
2i-Inside shade of guard 7-Inside shade of tight end
2-Head up the guard 8-Head up tight end
3-Outside shade of guard 9-Outside shade of tight end
4i-Inside shade of tackle
RECEIVER IDENTIFICATION BY NUMBER SYSTEM
RECEIVER IDENTIFICATION BY NUMBER SYSTEM
 How to Determine Strength of
Formation
Some General Rules:
• The strength of the formation will typically
be to the side with more eligible receivers.
• When there is a TE and one eligible
receiver on the other side it will be to the
TE side.
• When there are 2 or 3 eligible receivers to
one side it will be to the 2 or 3 receiver
side.
 How to Determine Strength of
Formation (examples)
• Balanced formation with 2 TE.
– To the wide side of the field
– If in middle of the field to the side of their main or scouted TE
• Unbalanced Line Left or Right
– To the strong unbalanced side
• TE and Split End Left with a TE OR SE Right
– To the TE / 2 receiver Side in this case Left
• TE or SE Left, Twins Right
– To the twins or 2 receiver side in this case right
• TE Left and Split End Right
– To the TE side, in this case Left
• Trips to either side
– Will always be to the Trips side
• TE and Wing Back Left with a TE or Split End Right
– To the 2 receiver side in this case Left
Base 3-5-3 Defense “Jacks”

E N E

D D
B M B

C C

FS
Position Alignment Reads and Keys Run To resp. Run Away resp.

Left End 4-Tech attack TE ‘C’ gap squeeze

Right End 4-Tech outside loop ‘C’ gap chase
Nose 0-Tech attack strong side guard strong ‘A’ gap chase
Bat 40-tech left triangle: ball-back-guard ‘B’ gap ‘A’ gap (if I’m Here)
Bat 40-tech right triangle: ball-back-guard ‘B’ gap ‘A’ gap (if I’m Here)
Mike 00-tech triangle: ball-back-guard weak ‘A’ gap scrape to open door
Dawg 3x2 off DE End man to near back force-contain I’m Here
Dawg 3x2 off DE End man to near back force-contain I’m Here
Field Corner 7 yds, inside #2 to #1 Receiver contain pursuit
Boundary corner 7 yds, inside #2 to #1 Receiver contain pursuit
Free Safety Shde 2 rec sid 10 yd QB alley player alley player
 4-4 Stack

LE N RE D

C C
B M B D

FS

Position Alignment Reads and Keys Run To resp. Run Away resp.
Boundry End 8-tech to Boundry Block of lineman slanting to C or D gap dep on slant Pursue along LOS 1 yd dp
Field End 2-tech to Field Block of lineman slanting to A or B gap dep on slant Pursue along LOS 1 yd dp
Nose 2-tech to Boundry Block of lineman slanting to A or B gap dep on slant Pursue along LOS 1 yd dp
Dawg 8-tech to Field Block of lineman slanting to C or D gap dep on slant Pursue along LOS 1 yd dp
Bob 80-tech to Boundry, Stk EMOLS to near back C or D gp dep on line slnt Counter Reverse Bootleg
Mike 20-tech to Boundry, Stk Triangle: ball-back-guard A or B gp dep on line slnt Scrape to Open Door
Bat 20-tech to Field, Stack Triangle: ball-back-guard A or B gp dep on line slnt Scrape to Open Door
Dawg 80-tech to Field, Stack EMOLS to near back C or D gp dep on line slnt Counter Reverse Bootleg
 4-6 Bear

D B LE N RE D

M B

C C

FS

Position Alignment Reads and Keys Run To resp. Run Away resp.

Strong End strong 3-Tech Attack Guard ‘B’ gap squeeze

Weak End weak 3-Tech Attack Guard ‘B’ gap squeeze
Nose ‘0’ Tech Crush technique Both ‘A’ gaps squeeze
Mike 40-tech Strong triangle: ball-guard-back Flow/scrape Flow/scrape
Bat 40-tech Weak triangle: ball-guard-back Flow/scrape Flow/scrape
Bob 7-tech on TE Read TE ‘C’ Gap pursuit
Strong Dawg strong 9-tech End man to near back force-contain I’m Here
Weak Dawg Weak 5-tech End man to near back Force-contain I’m Here
Free Safety strong ‘B’ gap QB alley player pursuit
 5-3 Tuff Right

D E N E D

B W B

C C

FS

Position Alignment Reads and Keys Run To resp. Run Away resp.

Strong End 4-Tech Block of lineman slanting to B or C gap squeeze

Weak End 4-Tech Block of lineman slanting to B or C gap squeeze
Nose 0-Tech Block of lineman slanting to A gap slanting to squeeze
Strong Bat 40-tech triangle: ball-guard-back uncovered A/B gap ‘A’ gap (if “I’m Here”)
Weak Dawg ghost 9-tech squeeze tackle force-contain I’m Here
Weak Bat 40-tech triangle: ball-guard-back uncovered A/B gap ‘A’ gap (if “I’m Here”)
Strong Dawg strong 9-tech End man to near back force-contain I’m Here
Mike 00-tech Triangle: ball-guard-back A gap dep on slant Scrape to open door
Free Safety 8-10 yards inside TE EMLOS QB Back alley player pursuit
Defensive Line
 Ends and Nose Guard
• The job of our defensive linemen is to
disrupt the offensive line and free up
linebackers to make tackles.
• We must be physical and attack the
offensive linemen.
• Work the line of scrimmage to close down
gaps and bounce inside runs outside.
Force the offense to go where they do not
want to go!
 Working the Line of Scrimmage
• Defensive Linemen must pursue up and
down the Line of Scrimmage.
• DL cannot over-penetrate, creating open
running lanes underneath them.
• DL cannot chase backs in the backfield.
• DL must pursue down the line of
scrimmage or deeper in order to meet the
ball carrier as soon as possible.
 Defensive Line Technique
• Since our lineman will usually be aligned head up and
slanting either direction, we should be in a balanced
stance with either hand down.
• Align 1 ½ yards from the helmet of the defensive lineman
– do not crowd the ball! (WHJW adjustment – line up on
the line of scrimmage.)
• Be able to see the ball and move on the snap.
• First step – lateral step in direction of slant, similar to a
pull step. Work to the inside hip of the next lineman.
• We want to touch his hip! Disrupt the linemen and
keep them off linebackers.
• Only after we touch the hip, read the block of the
linemen and begin to work up field and find the ball
carrier.
 4-4 Stack Front Technique
• In 4-4 Stack, defensive linemen will squeeze
the nearest lineman and get big in their gap.
• Step to the near number of the lineman and
deliver initial blow with inside
shoulder/forearm.
• Drive the off-hand underneath the shoulder
pads of the OL and squeeze the gap
• Always keep shoulders square to LOS and
do not look for the football until you control
the OL!
 Line Stunts

1. Left – Nose and Defensive Ends: Slant

to Left Gap
2. Right – Nose and Defensive Ends:
Slant to Right Gap
3. Weak – Nose: Slant Strong A Gap.
Ends: Slant Outside to C Gap
4. Strong – Nose: Slant Weak A Gap.
Ends: Slant Outside to C Gap.
5. Pinch – Nose: Slant Strong Side A Gap.
Ends: Slant Inside to B Gap
 LE N RE

Weak / Jacks
Nose: Slant Strong A Gap
Ends: Slant Outside to C Gap
 LE N RE

Strong
Nose: Slant Weak A Gap
Ends: Slant Outside to C Gap
 LE N RE

Pinch
Nose: Slant Strong Side A gap
Ends: Slant Inside to B Gap
 LE N RE

Right
Nose and Defensive Ends: Slant to Right Gap
 LE N RE

Left
Nose and Defensive Ends: Slant to Left Gap
 Outside Slant:
Slant away from football

1. Step with near foot toward aiming point: near hip of next lineman

2. Follow with back foot and rip near arm underneath head-up lineman

3. Collision next lineman, then read his block.

4. It is critical that you keep the lineman off your linebackers!!

 Inside Slant:
Slant toward football

1. Step with near foot toward aiming point: near hip of next lineman

2. Follow with back foot and rip near arm underneath head-up lineman

3. Collision next lineman, then read his block.

4. It is critical that you keep the lineman off your linebackers!!

Down Block:
Work through shoulder of blocker
Pursue down L.O.S.
 Double Team Block:
Attack down blocker and fight
to his opposite shoulder
OR

Work low to split the blockers.

DO NOT GIVE GROUND!
Drop outside hip to ground and crawl!
Reach Block:
You must not allow the blocker to cross your face.
Fight across his face, square your shoulders,
Work down the L.O.S. to football.
 x
No Block:
If you are unblocked on your stunt,
LOOK INSIDE! Someone will block you.
Expect a trap block, Attack it down the L.O.S.
Do not over-penetrate!!!
**If OLB has given “I’M HERE” call, wrong-arm
the trap. If no call, you must squeeze and contain!
Pull by covered lineman:
Get in ‘hip pocket’ and follow
Down the L.O.S.
Pull by Lineman to Stunt:
Fight across back block,
Get in pulling lineman’s ‘hip pocket’
Follow pulling lineman down L.O.S.
Inside Linebackers
“Bats” and “Mike”
 Inside Linebacker Alignment &
Assignments
• L Bat, Mike and R Bat will align 4-5 yards
off the LOS, stacked behind the DL.
• Stance on toes, butt down with chest up,
head up and hands free
• LBs will be in motion prowling and working
to time the snap count.
Triangle Read

LE N RE

L M R

1. Linebackers: See the ball out of the corner of your eye

2. On snap of the ball, read through the nearest uncovered lineman

3. To the near back in the backfield

4. React to run to, run away, or pass read

 Scrape Technique
• On flow away from Inside LB, scrape
technique may be used.
• Shuffle down LOS, attacking at 45 degree
angle with head on a swivel, looking for an
“Open Door”
• Keep hands up, eyes up, butt down and
‘feel’ past “Closed doors” until finding an
opening in LOS.
• When you find an “Open Door,” shoot
through and find the ball carrier.
 Prowling
• For our defense to be successful, we must make
it hard for the offense to find us.
• Prowling is Linebackers moving in and out of
gaps, decoying and disguising stunts.
• DO NOT move past the next gap
• DO NOT move past the heels of the DL
• Our linebackers should be in constant motion
during pre-snap cadence.
• No matter where you are on the snap, LBs must
play their original responsibility when the play
starts.
Down block,
Flow To
1. Read Step on snap

2. Uncovered lineman
Blocks down, step outside

3. Read near back flow to,

Scrape to open door
Block away,
Flow To
1. Read Step on snap

2. Uncovered lineman
Blocks out, step inside of
His block.

3. Read near back flow to,

Attack to gap responsibility.
Block to,
Flow away
1. Read Step on snap

2. Uncovered lineman
Blocks out, step inside of
His block.

3. Read near back flow away,

Attack to backside gap
responsibility.
Block to,
Flow to.

1. Read Step on snap

2. Uncovered lineman blocks

to, step inside of his block,
being mindful of gap resp.

3. Read flow to and attack

immediately.
Pull outside,
Flow to.
1. Read Step on snap

2. Uncovered lineman pulls

outside, Flow will go in
direction of pull.

3. Make sure ball clears play

side gap and attack to
pulling lineman (point of
attack).
Pull inside,
Flow away

1. Read Step on snap

2. Uncovered lineman pulls inside,

Flow will go away.

3. Chase pulling lineman to

backside gap responsibility.
 Reading Guards
1. Read the helmet of the Guard for keys.
2. If the helmet goes down, it is a run block.
Read near back and attack.
3. If you see ear hole, it is a trap block.
4. If the helmet comes at you, attack
immediately. Do not hesitate!
5. If the helmet pops up, it is pass block.
Check for draw and then zone drop,
reading #3 to #2 receiver.
Outside Linebackers
“Dawgs”
 Outside Linebacker Alignment &
Assignment
• OLB will be aligned 3x2 off DE when he does
not have a slot receiver.
• OLB will be aligned 4x2 inside of #2 slot
receiver.
• Read End Man on Line of Scrimmage to Near
Back on every snap
• EMOLS blocks down: Squeeze to his hip
• EMOLS blocks out: Attack and Squeeze
• EMOLS pass blocks: Drop to pass, crossing #2
face and listening for CB call
 Force-Contain Player
• The Dawg is the Force-Contain Player on
runs to his side.
• Dawg must maintain outside leverage on
all run plays to his side, keeping outside
arm and leg free.
• Dawg must force the ball carrier to either
cut back inside, or string the play out to
the sideline.
• Dawg cannot chase a play in the backfield,
making lanes for the back to cut.
 “I’m Here” Call
• When flow goes away from Dawg, he is
responsible for Counter/ Reverse/ Bootleg if he
does not have pass coverage
• If Dawg reads flow away and has no pass
coverage, he should call “I’M HERE” loudly to
BAT
• This alerts BAT that Dawg has C.R.B covered,
and BAT can begin scrape/pursuit.
• If BAT does not here “I’M HERE” or hears “YOU
YOU YOU!”, he must assume C.R.B.
responsibility.
Reads:
1. End Man on Line of Scrimmage

2. Near Back
End Man blocks down,
Flow toward

1. Take read step on snap

2. End man blocks down, attack to LOS

And call “DOWN DOWN” to BAT

3. Read flow to, keep shoulders square and

Prepare to take on a block at LOS. Squeeze
The block down and either force the play inside
Or force ball carrier to bounce.
End Man blocks out,
Flow toward

1. Take read step on snap

2. End man blocks out, maintain outside

leverage and read to near back.

3. Read flow to, be sure to force play inside,

Then attempt to help on inside run.
Blitz Packages
4 Man Pressure
5 Man Pressure
6 Man Pressure
7 Man Pressure
8 Man Pressure
 4 Man Pressure
1. BoB – BAT to call side goes to B Gap
2. BAt – BAT away from call side goes to
near side A Gap
3. BuCk – BAT away from call side goes to
near side C Gap
4. Mike – Mike goes to call side B Gap
5. Mike Choice – Mike chooses A Gap, NG
goes opposite.
6. Dawg – Dawg away from call goes D
Gap
 5 Man Pressure
1. Bat Bob – same as BAT 4 man pressure plus Bob
call.
2. Buck Bob – same as Buck 4 man pressure plus
Bob call.
3. Double Dawg – Both Dawgs go D Gap on their
side
4. Double Buck – Both BATs go to C Gap on their
side
5. Blast – both Bats go to B Gap on their side
6. Zoo – BAT on call side goes to B Gap and Mike
goes A Gap to call side
7. Boom – Bat and Dawg away from call go. Bat
shows at LOS and goes C- Gap tight. Dawg goes
wider to second level. Good against option.
 5 Man Pressure (cont)
8. Dawg Left Bob – Left Dawg goes to D Gap.
Bob to line call goes to B Gap.
9. Dawg Left Mike – Left Dawg goes to D Gap.
Mike to line call goes to call side B Gap.
10. Dawg Left Bat – Left Dawg goes to D Gap. Bat
away from line call goes to near side A Gap.
11. Dawg Right Bob – Right Dawg goes to D Gap.
Bob to line call goes to B Gap.
12. Dawg Right Mike – Right Dawg goes to D Gap.
Bob to line call goes to B Gap.
13. Dawg Right Bat – Right Dawg goes to D Gap.
Bob to line call goes to B Gap.
 6 Man Pressure
1. Hammer – Dawg, BAT and Mike to line call
side go to closest open Gap as per line call.
2. Middle – Bat, Mike and Bat go to closest open
Gap as per line call.
3. Warrior – Dawg, BAT and Mike away from line
call go to the closest open Gap.
4. Double Dawg Bat - Both Dawgs go D Gap on
their side. Bat away from line call goes to near
side A Gap
5. Double Dawg Bob - Both Dawgs go D Gap on
their side. Bob to line call goes to B Gap.
 6 Man Pressure (cont)
6. Double Buck Dawg Right - Both BATs go
to C Gap on their side. Right Dawg also
goes to D Gap.
7. Double Buck Dawg Left - Both BATs go
to C Gap on their side. Left Dawg also
goes to D Gap.
 7 Man Pressure
1. Thunder – Dawg, BAT to Call, Mike and Bat away
from call go to closest open Gap based on line
call.
2. Hurricane – both Dawgs and Bats go to closest
open Gap based on line call.
3. Lightning – Dawg, BAT away from call, Mike and
Bat to call go to the closest open Gap based on
line call.
4. Hammer Dawg - Dawg, BAT and Mike to line call
side go to closest open Gap as per line call. Dawg
away from line call also goes to closest open Gap.
5. Warrior Dawg - Dawg, BAT and Mike away from
line call go to the closest open Gap. Dawg to line
call also goes to closest open Gap.
 8 Man Pressure
• Tornado – Both Dawgs, both BATs and
Mike all go to closest open Gap based on
line call.
Secondary
 Corners Alignment & Assignment
• In Cover 3, we will align 8 yards off, one
yard inside of #1 Receiver, with outside
foot up.
• On the snap, bail and read #2 receiver for
run/pass read
• See the QB out of the corner of your eye
and look for his release.
• Always turn with hips facing the QB and
maintain inside position.
 Cornerback Rules
• CB reads #2 to #1 Receiver
• CB must communicate the #2 Routes to the
OLB. This is crucial in our coverage. TALK
EVERY PLAY!
• If #2 runs “OUT”: Check #1, OLB has man on
#2
• If #2 runs “IN”: Check #1, OLB covers #2 until
he crosses into next zone
• If #2 runs “DEEP”: Check #1 for deep route, get
depth and do not get beat deep!
“OUT” “DEEP” “IN”

“OUT” “DEEP” “IN”

 Free Safety Alignment and
Assignment
• In Cover 3 will align 10 yards from LOS shading
to the 2 receiver side.
• On snap of ball bail and read EMOLS to QB to
near back for run pass read
• On run support middle of field if flow outside run
alley
• On pass must be read route of #2 receiver to #1
• Drop is to deep middle 1/3. Must see whole field
• Must be deepest man on field. No one behind
you. Listen for coverage calls from CBs