Tooele Football

2007 Defensive Play Book

Defensive Calls
Calling the Front:
While the Defensive huddle is being formed, the Mike linebacker looks at a defensive coach on the sideline to
receive the call. Once the coach is finished with the call, he will give the sign off signal, which tells the Mike
linebacker the call is finished. Mike will then step in front of the huddle and make the call. After Mike makes the
call, he will then wait for the Strong Safety to step into the huddle, make the coverage call and then break the
huddle.
All fronts, stunts, blitzes, slants or anything that pertains to lineman and linebackers will be called by using terms
such as: Over, Whip out. The word Over is the front and the Whip out is a Whip linebacker blitz. The following are
other examples: Under, Tex; Under is the front and Tex is a Tackle and End cross stunt.
Calling the Coverage:
While the Mike linebacker is getting the front call, the Strong Safety is also looking at a defensive coach to receive
the coverage call. Once the coach is finished with the coverage call, he will give the sign off signal. At this point
the Strong Safety will step in front of the huddle next to the Mike linebacker finish calling the front, stunt, blitz, etc.
When the Mike is finished, the Strong Safety with repeat the coverage call twice. He will then break the huddle.
The coverage will be called by using a two digit number. The first number call is for any non-doubles formation.
The second number in the call is for any doubles formation.
A doubles formation is any formation that has even receivers on both sides of the formation (2*2 or 1*1).
Examples of these formations are: Double slot, Ace, Wishbone, Power I.
A non-doubles formation is any formation that has different number or receivers on both sides of the
formation(1*2, 1*3, 2*3, etc.). These formations can have two running backs to no running backs. Examples of
these formations: Trips, Pro, Slot, Flanker, etc.
If the Strong Safety calls 32. The 3 is for any non-doubles formation and the 2 is for any balanced or doubles
formation. If the coverage call is 16, the 1 is for any non-doubles formation and the 6 is for any doubles
formation.

Huddle
F
C C
WS
R E
N T

S/S
M

X
Nose calls the huddle.
Mike calls the fronts.
Strong Safety calls the coverage.
Everyone faces our sideline to watch coaches.

Number System of the O Line

Even numbers are head up.
6
4 2
0
2 4 6
..E.....T.....G.....X.....G.....T.....E.....
6i 4i 2i
2i 4i 6i
.....E.....T.....G.....X.....G.....T.....E.....
7 5
3 1 1 3 5
7
Odd numbers (and is) are shades

Defensive Pass Coverages and

Responsibilities

F/S
C

S/S
W

M
S
X

Whip

S/S

Mike

Corners

F/S

Alignment

4 yds. off the ends

outside foot.

5 & 1 Off Tight

End.

20 Tech. 3 to 5
yds. Off Guard.

5-7 yds. Off from

the #1 apply align
rule in/out/on.

10 yds. Off the

ball.

Key

Through Tackle to
near back.

Uncovered
Lineman to Q/B.

Through Guard to
Q/B.

Uncovered
Lineman to Q/B.

Uncovered
Lineman to Q/B.

Run To

D Gap support
contain.

Support Everything
outside T/E.
Contain.

Onside B Gap,
then flatten.

Pass first then

support run.

Pass first then

support run.

Run Away

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Onside B Gap,
then flatten

Pass then Pursue.

Pass then Pursue.

Pass

Hook to Curl

Seam to Flats.

Onside Circle.

Deep Outside
Thirds.

Deep Middle Third.

Cover 3 (Zone) Trips

F/S
C

C
S

S/S

W
X

Alignment

Whip

Sam

Mike

Corners

S/S

F/S

# 3 Receiver
Mirror Rule: In,
Out, On.

4 yds. Off Ends

outside foot.

20 Tech. off
Guard. 3-5 yds.

5-7 Yds. Off # 1

receiver. In, on,
out rule.

4-6 yds. On # 2
receiver to trips
side.

10 yds. Off ball

use guard rule.

Tackle to # 3

Tackle to near
back.

Onside Guard
to near back.

Uncovered
Lineman to
Q/B.

Uncovered
Lineman to
Q/B.

Uncovered
Lineman to
Q/B.

Outside
contain.

Outside
contain.

B Gap and flow

flat to ball.

Pass first and

contain
support.

Pass first and

contain support

Pass first and

run to the ball.

Fold, watching
for cut-back,
reverse.

Fold, watching
for cut-back,
reverse.

B Gap and flow

to ball.

Pass first and

pursue.

Pass first
pursue.

Pass first and

pursue.

Hook to Curl.

Hook to Curl.

Onside circle.

Deep outside
third.

Seam to Flat.

Deep middle
third.

Key
Run To
Run Away
Pass

Cover 2 (Zone)
F/S
C

S/S

S
X

Whip

Sam

Mike

Corner

Safety

3 & 3 off the ends

outside foot or
inside eye # 2.

3 & 3 off the ends

outside foot or
inside eye # 2.

20 Tech. 3-5 yards

off the Guard.

2-5 yards outside

shade # 1.

10 yards off ball on

# 2 playing tech.
(Hash Rule)

Key

Through tackle to
near back.

Through tackle to
near back.

Through guard to
near back, flow!!

Fill # 1 and read #

2 to QB.

See # 1 & # 2 his

side and read QB.

Run To

Support off tackle if

needed, contain.

Support off tackle if

needed, contain.

Gap of response
and flow.

Pass first and

contain support.

Pass first and run

to the ball.

Run Away

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Gap of response
and flow.

Pass first and

backside pursue.

Pass first and run

to ball.

Hook to curl.

Hook to curl.

Onside circle.

Flats or deep.
Depending on # 1
and # 2.

Deep Half.

Align

Pass

Cover 1 (Man)
F/S
(Free)
C
W

S/S

S
X

Cover 1 (Man) Trips

F/S
(Free)
C

C
S

W
X

All alignments are the same as cover 3

S/S

Cover 6 (2 Man)
F/S

C
W

S/S

S
X

Align
Key
Run To
Run Away

Pass

Whip

Sam

Mike

Corner

Safety

Align rule: In, Out,

On. # 2

Align rule: In, Out,

On. # 2

20 tech off the

guard, 3 to 5 yards
off the ball

Close man or
bump alignment on
# 1.

10-12 yards off ball

playing Hash Rule
on # 2

Tackle to # 2.

Tackle to # 2.

Through guard to
near back.

Uncovered lineman
to # 1.

Uncovered
lineman, see # 1 &
# 2 his side.

Support off tackle if

needed, contain.

Support off tackle if

needed, contain.

Gap of response
and flow.

Pass first and

contain support.

Pass first and run

to the ball.

Fold, watching for

cutback.

Fold, watching for

cutback.

Gap of response
and flow.

Pass first and back

side pursue.

Pass first and back

side pursue.

Man to man # 2.

Man to Man # 2

Man to man back

out either side.

Man to man # 1.

Deep Half.

Cover 0

Non Doubles

F/S

W
Blitz

S/S

Doubles

F/S
W
Blitz

X
Blitz

S/S
M

S
X
Blitz

1. Cover 0 is a coverage that will be used against both doubles and non-doubles formations.
2. Once a DB is locked up with a man, he will stay with that man throughout that play. Even if that
man goes in motion, the DB will go with his man across the formation. This is the only coverage
we have corners cross the formation with motion (he will not bump the safety).
3. Sam and Whip are on an automatic blitz unless the offense runs a no back formation.
4. Corners will lock up with the # 1 receiver to their side. This will be their man throughout the
entire play.
5. Safeties will take the two inside receivers. If it is doubles, the FS will take the one side and the
SS will take the other. If it is non-doubles, the SS will go to the receiver strength and the FS will
go to the other side (back out).

Cover 0 (Man)
C

F/S
S

C
S/S

W
X

Blitz

Blitz

F/S

S
X
Blitz

Blitz

S/S

Defensive Fronts and

Responsibilities

F/S

Over (Strong)
W

E
X

S/S

N
B

T
A

R
B

S
C

Q
H

Mike
Sam
Whip
Nose
Tackle
End
Rush

Align

Key

Run To

Run Away

Pass

20 Tech. 3 to 5 yards
off. Weak Side.

Guard to near
back.

Read and react A

to B gap.

Read and flow to

ball.

Run first, onside

circle.

7 tech. Tight End.

Tight End.

D Gap Contain.

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Rush or drop
depending on
coverage.

50 tech. 3 to 5
yards off ball

Tackle to near
back.

Help B to C gap.
Help contain.

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Drop depend on
coverage.

0 Tech.

Center to near
back.

A Gaps (2 gaps
of response).

Pursue.

Rush

3 Tech. Strong
side.

Guard to near
back.

B Gap.

Pursue.

Rush

5 Tech. Weak side.

Tackle to near
back.

C Gap Contain.

Slow Trail, watching for

reverse, cutback.

Rush

5 Tech. Strong
Side.

Tackle to near
back.

C Gap.

Slow Trail, watching for

reverse, cutback.

Rush

F/S

Under (weak)
W

E T
N
T G C
Q

Mike
Sam
Whip
Nose
Tackle
End
Rush

S/S

R
T

S
Y

Z
F

Align

Key

Run To

Run Away

Pass

20 Tech. 3 to 5 yards off

ball. Strong side.

Guard to near
back.

Read and react A

to B gap.

Read and flow to

ball.

Drop depend on
coverage.

7 Tech. Tight End

Tight End.

D Gap Contain.

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Rush or drop depend

on coverage.

50 tech. 3 to 5
yards off ball.

Tackle to near
back.

Help B to C gap.
Help contain.

Fold watching for

cutback, reverse.

Drop depend on
coverage.

0 Tech.

Center to near
back.

A Gaps. (Two
gaps of response)

Pursue

Rush

3 Tech. Weak side.

Guard to near
back.

B Gap.

Pursue

Rush

5 Tech. Weak side.

Tackle to near
back.

C Gap Contain.

Slow Trail, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Rush

5 Tech. Strong
side.

Tackle to near
back.

C Gap.

Slow Trail, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Rush

F/S

Under Stack
(rover)

W
C

Mike
Sam
Whip
Nose
Tackle
End
Rush

E T
N
T G C
Q

S/S

R
T

S
Y

Z
F

Align

Key

Run To

Run Away

Pass

20 Tech. 3 to 5 yards off

ball. Strong side.

Guard to near
back.

Read and react A

to B gap.

Read and flow to

ball.

Drop depend on
coverage.

7 Tech. Tight End

Tight End.

D Gap Contain.

Fold, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Rush or drop depend

on coverage.

20 Tech. 3 to 5 yards off

ball. Weak side.

Guard to near
back.

Flow to ball. A, B, C
gaps

Fold watching for

cutback, reverse.

Drop depend on
coverage.

0 Tech.

Center to near
back.

A Gaps. (Two
gaps of response)

Pursue

Rush

3 Tech. Weak side.

Guard to near
back.

B Gap.

Pursue

Rush

5 Tech. Weak side.

Tackle to near
back.

C Gap Contain.

Slow Trail, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Rush

5 Tech. Strong
side.

Tackle to near
back.

C Gap.

Slow Trail, watching for

cutback, reverse.

Rush

Special Defenses

Purple Ants
C
W
X

F/S

S/S

E
T

M
G

N
C
Q

T
G

R
T

S
Y

Start in Over then shift.

Nose shifts to tight side A Gap.
Mike shifts to weak side A gap on the line.
End shifts to weak side B gap.
Whip shifts to a wide 5 tech.
Strong Safety shifts to the middle.
Secondary will be in a man coverage 0.

Nickel 33
F/S

C
$

M
W

N
G

R
G

S/S

Y
Z

1. We will only use nickel in obvious passing situations.

2. The tackle comes out and $ back will come in.
3. The Sam will be off the ball even if there is a tight end in the formation.
4. Rush End still plays a 5 tech. to strong side.
5. 33 means cover 3 no matter the formation.

Nickel 44
C

F/S

S/S
M

W
E
X

N
G

R
G

Y
Z

1. The $ back in 44 will line up on the # 2 receiver strong side.

2. 44 means we will be in cover 4 no matter the formation.

Stunts & Blitzes

Titan
W

Cain

W
E

W
N

W
N

Mike

Mike A

W
N
X

Max A

E T

Zeus Zone Blitz

W
N

Mike stunts and blitzes

M
N
X

R S

Switch
W
E

W
E

M
T

W
R

Whip In
M

Swap

Wham

W
N
X

W
T

Whip Out
M

Vice Whip In

W
N

Whip Stunts and Blitzes

M
T

N
X

AX

MAX
M

M
R

N
X

SEX

TEX

Vice
M

R S

Slant Strong

Slant Weak

M
S

N
X

M
N

Double Vice
T

M
E

REX

M
R S
Y

Line Stunts

N
X

R S
Y