Strategies for Defending the

Spread Offense with the 3-3

JOHN RICE
HEAD COACH
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL
RIALTO, CA
(951) 537-9902
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 Strategies
• “Maximum” Zone Coverage
– Rush 3, drop 8 (2 deep or 3deep)
– Rush 4, drop 7 (2 deep or 3 deep w/Tag)
• Pressure
– Man Pressure 4, 5, 6, or 7 man
– 1 Bracket with pressure
– Fire Zones rush 5 and drop 6
– Zone Blitzes (linemen dropping for blitzing LBs)
– Combination Coverage with Pressure

Coach John Rice

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 Common Spread Philosophy
Spread field through Formation and motion
Open up running lanes
Create personnel mismatches
“Take What you Give us philosophy
Run the ball vs. appropriate numbers in the box (audible to 5 in the
box)
Pass the ball vs. appropriate numbers in the box (audible to 6 or 7 in
the box)
Throw vs. Uncovered receivers
Create the big play vs. the blitz
Use of compressed formations to create confusion or gain an
advantage in numbers

Coach John Rice

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 Strategies for Defending the Spread
how to take away certain strategies:
 Take away bubble screen by alignment (draw on board)
Take away funnel screen by sticking like glue to #1
Outflank compressed formations
Play zone or match up zone vs. compressed formations
Playing bunches or stacks
• Jamming first man off the line in a zone
• Triangle concept man on LOS, bracket other two

Coach John Rice

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 Strategies for Defending the Spread
Analyze and understand protection scheme of
your opponent:
Have a pressure packaged based on their
protection weaknesses (stunts, bluffs, overloads,
personnel mismatches)
Anticipate the offensive coordinator’s adjustments
to your strategy and have at least one countermove
for each strategy he employs. two

Coach John Rice

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 Strategies for Defending the Spread
• Take away an opponents best receiver by
alignment, coverage, or both. Jam on line with
safety help to test him. Align deep if he’s a deep
threat. Bracket him if you can afford it.
Know the offensive coordinator’s philosophy and
take advantage of it
Take away what they do best. Make them beat
you with someone or something other than their
best play.
Coach John Rice
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 Strategies for Defending the Spread
• Be prepared for the no huddle
Practice preparation
– i.Use two huddles/units in pass skeleton back to back to
back w/#1 QB to keep continuity
– ii. Increase pace of drills and increase conditioning
Game preparation-getting the call on the field
– i.Hand Signal call to entire defense (everyone must
know signals)
– ii. Signal to one defender, he relays the call to defense
– iii .Use wristbands and coded calls

Coach John Rice

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 Strategies for Defending the Spread
Have multiple adjustments for motion/formation checks
Teaching progression early in spring/summer
Jam receivers at different levels to disrupt timing
In man
• i. On line
• ii. Catch and trail
In zone
• i. On the line in 2 jam or 3 jam
• ii. At 3 or 5 yards

Coach John Rice

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 Strategies for Defending the Spread
Disrupt the rhythm of the offense-force post-snap
reads. Disguise coverage (show examples)
Huddle call
“bluff” (make sure they are not the same)
“universal”
 wait on OC
Mix up your looks. Blend pressure and coverage.
Utilize straight man, combination (man zone),
zone blitzes, and fire zones. (Show game
ready sheet)
Coach John Rice
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 Strategies for Defending the Spread
Offense
Play fastest players on defense
• If the team you are playing uses personnel packages to gain
advantages, use the same 11 players without substituting
Stop the running game first with the least amount of
defenders in the box as possible. If you can stop the run with
5 you have an advantage
Force the offense to be one-dimensional by doing one of the
following:
Take away the pass. If you can consistently rush 3 and drop
8 defenders into pass coverage you are at an advantage
Take away the run by loading the line of scrimmage with
eight or nine defenders

Coach John Rice

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 Formulating a strategy:
• Take away what they do best; make them beat you
with something else
• Have multiple adjustments to formations if needed
• Have formations & coverage checks to prevent the
offense from gaining an advantage
• Be prepared for no huddle
• Be prepared for personnel groupings
• Know their pass protection and how to attack it
• Have a strategy to defend bunches and stacks

Coach John Rice

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 Alignment vs. Doubles
Vs. Doubles Corner
Spur

Free Lion
Safety
Mike

Ram
Bandit
Corner

Coach John Rice

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“Pull” ALIGNMENT VS. TRIPS

Coach John Rice

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“Stack” ALIGNMENT VS. (TE) TRIPS

Coach John Rice

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 Cover 3 Drops
Cover 3 Drops
Corner
5 under
3 Deep Zone Bandit
Ram
Free
Mike Safety

Spur Lion

Corner

Spur and Bandit buzz to the flats NOW, playing stop, hitch, & the out cut
by #1, and the arrow and bubble by John
Coach #2. Lion
Rice & Ram (as soon as they make
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a pass read) must get to the hashes to play vertical routes by #2s.
 Cover 3 “Jam” Pass Drops
Vs. Doubles Corner
Spur

Free Lion
Safety
Mike

Ram Spur and Bandit jam

Bandit & reroute #2s, then
buzz the flat. On other
Corner than a vertical release
By #2, they take their
normal drops to the
top of the number
Coach John Rice once they make their
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 Cover23Drops
Cover Drops
5 under Corner
2 Deep Zone
W/hi hole player Bandit

Ram
Free
Mike Safety
Lion
Spur

Corner

Coach John Rice

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 2 Deep Zone VS. TRIPS

Coaching Point in a 2 deep zone: Run with the #3’ vertical route
Coach John Rice
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 Strategies for covering empty w/33

• Max cover 3-base rules-pull call play 3

• Play 2 Deep zone, run with inside vertical
routes
• 3-2 w/man free
• 3-1 with 2 safety look

Coach John Rice

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 Pressure
• Man Pressure
– 5 man
– 6 man
– 7 man

Coach John Rice

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 Principles for Applying Pressure
• Disguise your intentions if at all possible
• Use more than one disguise per blitz
• Know the protection scheme you are attacking
• Know the opponent’s hot reads and sight adjustments
(may be able to force a certain throw favorable to you)

• Ensure your defense is gap sound

• Assign proper run force
• In man schemes, every potential receiver is accounted for
• Don’t allow offense to create a mismatch
• Create mismatches that favor the defense-attack weakness
Coach John Rice
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 Principles for Maximizing
Effectiveness of Pressure Scheme
• Pressure Calls MUST be scripted.
• Blitz Period /7 on 7/Team
– Practice the four looks (show, half, time, depth)
– Show unusual formations/motion
– Force checks to prevent unfavorable situations
– Emphasize blitzing defenders redirect to the ball if
play is a run

Coach John Rice

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 Zone Pressure

• Can you force an audible by showing

pressure pre-snap and drop a defender into a
passing lane?

Coach John Rice

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 Dime 4 “Idaho”

E N E
S B
C $ L M F C

1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

Coach John Rice

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 Dime 4 “Oregon”

E N E
S B
C $ L M F C

1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

Coach John Rice

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 5 Man Pressure
• From Base Front (6)
– Ox, Tiger, Smoke, Torch, Red, Crazy

• Fire Zones (9)

– Thunder, Hurrican, Lamb, Rambo, Rex, Lex,
Laser, Male, Mare

• From Dime Front (6)

– Crossfire, Mable (switch), Spice, Sugar, Axe

Coach John Rice

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 5 man pressure-from base
• “Coverage-Blitz”
• Examples:
– “3 Ox Show” (cover 3 with Mike & Ram going)
– “3 Tiger Half” (cover 3 Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Sting Time” (cover 0 with Spur and Bandit
going)
– “0 Smoke Show” (cover 0, line slanting weak,
Spur, Ram going outside End)

Coach John Rice

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 3 OX

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3 Tiger

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0 Smoke

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0 Torch

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3 Jacks Red

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“Crazy”

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5 man pressure from Dime:

•Crossfire
•Mable (Switch)
•Spice
•Sugar
•Axe

Coach John Rice

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 Dime 1Free Rules:

E N E
B
C S $ M R C
Hole

F Deep Middle
Dime ($) in for Lion; will align according to blitz called. Man up with #3 in empty
We are playing man coverage with Spur and Bandit on #2’s (over vs. trips)
We will always send at least 1 linebacker; the other will be a hole defender.
If we send both inside backers, Dime will be hole defender unless covering #3 in empty.
Free Safety is playing deep middle. We can also use him to bracket a receiver & play 0.
Coach John Rice
Hole defender will abandon responsibility if R releases. In that case, man up on R.
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 Dime Crossfire Cover 1Free

S E N E
$ B
C M R C
Hole

F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
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 Dime “Mable” Cover 1 Free

E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole

F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
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 Dime “ Mable Switch” Cover 1 Free

E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole

F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
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 Dime “Spice” Cover 1 Free

E N E
C $ B
M R C
S Hole

F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
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 Dime “Sugar” Cover 1 Free

E N E
$ B
C M R C
S Hole

Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
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 Dime Axe Cover 1Free
To field

E N E
$ B
C S M R C
Hole

F
Deep Middle
Nose slants to field (blitz) Coach John Rice
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2 Shell Pressure

Coach John Rice

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Dime Double Plug Robber

Coach John Rice

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 3-3 Fire Zone Pressure
Cover 33: 3 deep, 3 under, rush 5

E N E B
S
C L M R C
Seam/curl/flat hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Cover 33 Rules:
We are sending 5 (3 linemen and usually 2 linebackers)
The remaining linebackerCoach
is aJohn
hole
Rice
defender
We will cover both seams, not allow vertical releases by #2’s
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 Thunder Cover 33
Field

E N E B
C L M R C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole
S
F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
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 Hurricane Cover 33
Field

S E N E
C L M R C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F B

Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
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 Lamb Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
zacoach102@aol.com
 Rambo Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
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 Rex Cover 33

E N E R
C S L M B C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
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 Lex Cover 33

L E N E
C S M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
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 Laser Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
zacoach102@aol.com
 Male Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
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 Mare Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

F
Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice Thirds
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6 man pressure

Coach John Rice

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 Zoo

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TigerBandit

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Ox Spur

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TigerSpur

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OxBandit

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Pressure from dime

Coach John Rice

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 6 man pressure from Base
• “Coverage-Blitz”
• Examples:
– “ 0 Zoo Time” (cover 0 with Lion Mike,Ram
going)
– “3 Zoo” (cover 3 Lion,Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Tiger Bandit half” (cover 0 with Lion, Mike &
Bandit going)
– “0 Ox Spur” (cover 0, line slanting weak, Spur,
Ram going outside End)

Coach John Rice

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 Dime “Python” Cover 0

E N E
$
C M R C
L
S F

Coach John Rice

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 Dime “Python Under” Cover 0

E N E
$
C L M R C

S F

Coach John Rice

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 Dime “Boa” Cover 0

L E N E
$
C M R C

S F

Coach John Rice

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Numbers package

Coach John Rice

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 Numbers Package with Pressure
• When double-bracket coverage with
pressure is desirable as part of a package
• May play single bracket with pressure if
desired
• When a team places their best receiver at
various positions in the offensive formation

Coach John Rice

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 Dime Numbers “12” Anchor

E N E B
S
L M
C $ Low Hole F C

Coach John Rice

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 Dime Numbers “12” Anchor

E N E B
S
L M
C $ Low Hole F C

Coach John Rice

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 Numbers 11 Ox (Swap)

E N E B
S
L M
C $ C
F

Coach John Rice

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 “Duo” Package

S E N E B

N M $
C C
F

Corners Man on #1; keep inside leverage

Spur Bracket #2; outside leverage
Nickel Bracket #2; inside leverage
Mike Pressure
Dime Bracket #2; inside leverage
Bandit Bracket #2; inside leverage
Coach John Rice
Free Safety Pressure zacoach102@aol.com
 Duo Pressure

E N E E N E

M M
Tags:
F Right F
“Indiana Right” Left “Indiana Left”
Field
Boundary

E N E E N E

M M

F F
“Ohio Left” “Ohio
Coach John Rice Right”
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 Appendix
• Weekly Practice Overview
• Sample Defensive Practice Plan
• Sample Inside Drill Practice Script
• Sample 7 on 7 Period Practice Script
• Sample Team Period
• Sample Defensive Game Call Sheet
• Defensive Implementation Schedule
Coach John Rice
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 WEEKLY OVERVIEW (USED TO PLAN DAILY PRACTICE)
IKE FOOTBALL
are
TIFF
QuickTime™
needed
(LZW)to decompressor
see
andthis
a picture.
Weekly Concepts to

WEEKLY OVERVIEW
Weekly Defensive PRACTICE SCHEDULE Cover:
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Run

Right, Left, 3 Jacks Red, Smoke Cover 0 Spur, Bandit Tiger

Fundamentals 3 Anchor, 3 Torpedo Torch Cover 0 Swap, Ox Swap
Inside Zone

Review
Inside Dart/Wrap
Inside Zone
Wrap/Dart QB Trap Intro
QB Trap

Inside Drill Dart/Wrap

Zone Review QB Trap Goaline Runs
Review
Hi Lo Boot Vs. 2 minute offense
Hi Lo, Fade Dart/Wrap

Y or X Fade Intro Scat

7 on 7 Intro
Wheel/Post
Wheel/Post Smash Boot, S cat
Review Smash
Pass
Scat Inside Zone

Review
Wrap/Dart
Smash Intro Hi-Lo Crosses
Intro Fade

Team Hi-Lo Crosses Smash Review

Smash Hi Lo

Review
Boot

Empty Draw Crossing Routes Bear Strong Cov 0 vs.

Review
Intro Intro
Goaline Y or X Fade
All Sets
3 man Scat

Slant Review
Smash

Smoke Cover 0 Review

Linda, Rita, Bracket &
Tiger Swap,
Special No Huddle
3 Jacks Red vs. Trips
Spur/Bandit over #2, FS
2 Torch
minuteCover 0 Ox Swap, Spur/Bandit
Pressure Package
Wheel/Post

Situations Spur/Bandit over #2, FS over #2, FS align over

align over #3 Review
align over #3 #3

Coach John Rice

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 SAMPLE DEFENSIVE PRACTICE PLAN
THOUGHT O F T H E DAY :

IKE FOOTBALL Date:

Front/Coverage Lift
"WINNING IS A HABIT…UNFORTUNATELY,
SO IS LOSING." -VINCE LOMBARDI
Defensive
PRACTICE SCHEDULE 1 Free, Numbers PM

Plays and Formations for

Linebackers
D Line Spur and Bandit Corners and Safety Today
PERIOD: # Time (Mike, Lion, Ram)

1 5
Fundy INDIVIDUAL FUNDAMENTALS FORMATIONS RUNS
2 10
(15) (EVERY DAY DRILLS) Press Technique
3 15
2 by 2 QB Trap, zone
4 20
GROUP 1 RUN FITS/
(10) 5 25
SLANT TECH Hole Drop
In and Out bracket technique
Trips open Draw
6 30 WATER BREAK
GROUP 2 7 35
(20) 8 40 INSIDE RUN DRILL
2 ON 1 Bracket Drill
9 45 (SEE SCRIPT)
10 50
11 55
Passes Formations
GROUP 3
12 60 1 ON 1 PASS
13 65 7 ON 7 (SEE SCRIPT) SMASH
(20)
RUSH (STOP 4 WIDE
14 70 CORNER)
15 75
CURL/WHEEL
4 WIDE
16 80 (MIRROR)
TEAM
(20) 17 85 TEAM (SEE SCRIPT)
Fade 4 WIDE
18 90

Hi Low 4 WIDE
CONDITIONING AS NEEDED Conditioning
Coach John Rice
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 SAMPLE INSIDE DRILL
PRACTICE SCRIPT
IKE FOOTBALL

"BIG 8" DEFENSIVE PRACTICE SCRIPT wed 9/28

Emphasis: Defending Spread Formation Runs
Play Card H FORMATION PLAY FRONT STUNT COV NOTES
1 A L see card inside zone Base Male 33 Shift

2 C R see card QB Trap Dime None 4 Hard Count

3 D R see card Inside Zone Base Mare 33 Motion

4 E R see card Dart/Wrap Dime None 1 free Robber

5 A L see card Draw Base Mable 33 hard Count

6 F L see card QB Trap Dime None Numbers 22

7 D L see card Inside Zone Dime None Numbers 22 Shift

8 A M see card QB Trap Base Mable 33

9 E M see card Draw Base Mare 33
10 F L see card FB Trap Base Laser 33 Hard Count

11 A R see card Inside Zone Dime None Numbers 22 Shift

12 C L see card Draw Dime Pinch Numbers 22

Coach John Rice

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 SAMPLE 7 ON 7
PRACTICE SCRIPT
IKE FOOTBALL
7 on 7 DEFENSIVE PRACTICE SCRIPT Wed 9/28
Emphasis: Pressure vs. Spread

Play Card # h FORMATION PLAY FRONT STUNT/Blitz COV NOTES

1 A L see card Hi-Low Pass Dime w/bluff Red Numbers11 Zip motion
2 B M see card Fade Dime Cross Plug Numbers 11 Disguise!
3 A R see card Smash Base w/bluff Crazy Half 3 Disguise!
4 D L see card slant Base Zoo Show 1 Free Disguise!
5 A M see card Boot Pass Base Ox Swap 3 Shift
6 B M see card Fade Dime Tiger Lock 0 "Time"
7 A R see card trap pass Dime none 4 Bluff
8 D R see card slant Base none 3 Disguise!
9 A M see card trap pass Base w/bluff none 3 Disguise!
10 D L see card slant Base none 3 Disguise!

Coach John Rice

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 SAMPLE TEAM PERIOD
PRACTICE SCRIPT
IKE FOOTBALL
"TEAM" DEFENSIVE PRACTICE SCRIPT wed 9/28
Emphasis: Defending the Spread
Play Card H FORMATION PLAY FRONT STUNT COV NOTES
A see card Inside Zone Base Right Bandit 3 Shift
1
Hard
B see card Fade Base Crazy Half 3
2 Count
Hard
3 C see card Hi Lo Dime Red Numbers 22
Count
4 AA see card Boot Base Left Spur 3 Empty
1 Free
A see card Qb Trap Dime none Motion
5 Robber
B see card Inside Zone Dime None 4 Empty
6
C see card Wrap/Dart Base Zoo Time 3 Shift
7
Hard
C see card Inside Zone Dime Cross Plug Numbers 11
8 Count
Hard
BB see card Boot Base left 3
9 Count
C see card Hi Lo Base Tiger Spur 0 Empty
10
AA see card Fade Base Bandit 3 Motion
11
B see card Wrap/Dart Base left 3 Shift
12
Hard
A see card QB Trap Base Ox Bandit 0
13 Count
Hard
D see card Inside Zone Base right 3
14 Count

15 B see card Draw Coach John

Base Rice left 3 Empty
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SAMPLE DEFENSIVE GAME CALL
SHEET

Coach John Rice

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IKE

Coach John Rice

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 •VIDEO CUTS-DVD
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AVAILABLE FOR $5 ON CD
DVD CUTS AVAILABLE FOR $10

JOHN RICE
HEAD COACH
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL
RIALTO, CA
(951) 537-9902
zacoach102@aol.com Coach John Rice
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