Group Period Defensive Fundamentals High Tempo / Many Reps Small Groups Tackling Pursuit Turnovers Escapes

Group PeriodGroup Period

• Defensive Fundamentals• High Tempo / Many Reps• Small Groups• Tackling• Pursuit• Turnovers• Escapes

Tackling StationsTackling Stations

• Pits (Resistance Tackling)– Teaches Running the feet– Teaches Elbows in and controlling the ball carrier– Teaches Big Chest and Hip Explosion

• Cones (Angle / Space Tackling)– Teaches settling the hips and having body control– Teaches patience and eliminate lunging– Teaches latching on and getting your hips around

• Pads (Leaving Your Feet Tackling)– Teaches tackling with speed in space– Teaches how to getting into ball carriers hips and core– Teaches not to lunge, but to grab and roll ball carrier to ground

Form and Drive

•LB Facemask 12” from BC chest

•Knees / Hips / ankles bent

•Feet staggered

•One step and fire hands through hip pocket, grab

cloth, roll hips, run feet and drive into mat (Tackle

Progression Technique)

Pits (Resistance Tackling)

Head Across and Drive

•Ball Carrier turns sideways



•Feet staggered





Moving Angle Tackle

•BC Moves forward on a light job


•Feet staggered

•Full speed collision, fire hands through hip pocket,

grab cloth, roll hips, run feet and drive into mat (Tackle Progression Technique)


45 Degree Tackle



•Feet staggered





Tough man Tackle



•Feet staggered

•BC throws aggressive flipper under the chin of LB

•One step and fire hands through hip pocket, grab cloth, roll hips,

run feet and drive into mat (Tackle Progression Technique)

•LB MUST run feet to finish this drill otherwise it will be a

stalemate


Cones / Agility TacklingCones / Agility Tackling

• Within position groups – change up every week

– Angle / Leverage Tackle

– Open Field Tackle

– Fit and Fill Tackle

– Eye Opener

– Sweep Tackle

Angle / Leverage TackleAngle / Leverage Tackle

• Need: 3 cones

• DB will make will keep inside leverage on RB. Stay square on inside cut and run down outside cut

DB

BC

Same foot / Same Shoulder FitSame foot / Same Shoulder Fit

• Need: 3 cones

• DB will make contact with BC with same foot same shoulder to utilize maximum power and reduce the BS’s power.

DB

BC

Extension FitExtension Fit

• Need: 3 cones

• DB will make contact with blocker with same foot same shoulder to utilize maximum power and reduce the BS’s power. Hands fire inside

and control blocker, extend out and then escape with rip.

DB

Blocker

Perimeter TacklePerimeter Tackle

• Need: 4 cones

• BC is allowed one move.

DB

BC

Fit and Fill TackleFit and Fill Tackle• Need: 5 Big bags

• Low intensity. Tackler will mirror BC and fit each gap with hands loaded in six shooters, head up, big chest. Finish the

drill with a good form tackle and run the feet

LB

BC

Eye OpenerEye Opener• Need: 5 Big bags

• LB will shuffle staying a half step behind BC. The BC will pick a whole and the LB must fill and drive back.

LB

BC

Gator Roll TackleGator Roll Tackle• Need: 2 Big bags

– Good for undersized players, but must be taught with caution

• DB must take his backside arm and wrap around the outside leg of the BC or in this case the bag. Then he rolls over his outside

shoulder.

DBDB

Sweep TackleSweep Tackle• Need: 2 Big bags

– Used when the ball carrier has gotten behind us and we are in a trail position

• DB must take any arm and sweep arm to trip back leg of the BC or in this case the bag

DBDB

Turnover CircuitTurnover Circuit

• Within position groups – change up every week

– Line strip drill

– Scoop & Score

– Tip and Pick

– Secure tackle and strip

– QB takeaway

– Attitude!!!

Line Strip DrillLine Strip Drill• Need: 3 Footballs

• Hammer• Punch• Claw

LB

BC

LBLB

BCBC

Scoop & ScoreScoop & Score• Need: 5 Big bags & 2 Footballs

• DL will shuffle over the bags. Once he clears the last bag the coach will drop a ball, which the DL must pick up and score.

DL

C

Tip & PickTip & Pick• Need: 2 Footballs

• 1st Def. player will tip the ball in the air and the second will go up at the highest point for the INT.

C

LBLB

Secure Tackle and StripSecure Tackle and Strip• Need: 2 Footballs

• 1st Def. player will secure the tackle and the 2nd will come to either help strip the ball or scoop and score if the ball is already out.

BC

LBLB

QB TakeawayQB Takeaway• Need: 2 Footballs & 2 Cones

• 1st Def. player will knock the ball out of the QB’s arm and the 2nd player will scoop & score.

QB

LBLB

PursuitPursuit

• Attitude!!!

• 11 players to the football

• Do it with only 3 players

• Do not follow

• Play side defender set edge

• Other players tap near hip

• Conditioning Drill

Basic Alignment

SSC FS

Ccoach

INTINT

• Communicate!!!

• Catch at the highest point

• Go up the nearest sideline

• 1 DL must block the QB

• Pick and Score!!!

Basic Alignment

F M

S TNE W

SS

C

FS

H

EndzoneEndzonecoach coach

QB

Advanced Group DrillsAdvanced Group Drills

• Try to get as many players involved in a drill as possible, minimize standing

around.

• Keep the drill up-tempo to keep focus.

• Use as mini-conditioning segment.

Down the Hill DrillDown the Hill Drill

• Four different groups set up

• 2 groups go at a time

• Tackler will shed base block and cut block

• Form fit the ball carrier

• Guy from sideline comes in after cut block and rips ball out

• Strip and Recover!!!

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Tackler

TacklerTackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

BaseBase

BaseBase

Cut

CutCut

Cut

BC

BCBC

BC

LB

Cut

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Tackler

TacklerTackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

BaseBase

BaseBase

Cut

CutCut

Cut

BC

BCBC

BC

LB

Cut

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Tackler

Tackler

Tackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

BaseBase

BaseBase

Cut

CutCut

Cut

BC

BCBC

BC

LB

Cut

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Tackler

Tackler

Tackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

BaseBase

BaseBase

Cut

CutCut

Cut

BC

BCBC

BC

LB

Cut

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Tackler

Tackler

Tackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

BaseBase

BaseBase

Cut

CutCut

Cut

BC

BCBC

BC

LB

Cut

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Tackler

Tackler

Tackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

BaseBase

BaseBase

Cut

CutCut

CutBC

BC

BC

BC

LB

Cut

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Tackler

Tackler

Tackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

LB

Base

Base

Base

Base Cut

Cut

Cut

Cut BC

BC

BC

BC

LB

Cut

Rotation / Other 2 Groups Go

coach coach

Tackler

coachcoach

Ta

ckle

rT

ack

ler

Tackler

LB

LB LB

LB LB

LBLB

LB

LB

LB

LB

Base

Base

Base

Base Cut

Cut

Cut

Cut BC

BC

BC

BC

LB

Cut

Rotation / Other 2 Groups Go

Cup ItCup It• Need: 2 Big bags

• LB’s will lie down, and on the whistle they will jump and pursue the BC. The 1st man there must turn the BC back into his help, and the rest will clean

up.

LB

BC

LBLB

Keep the CupKeep the Cup• 3 different groups set up• All 3 groups go at a time

• The 3 guys will run down under control and react to ball carrier

• Near outside guy keeps outside leverage on the ball carrier• Inside guy controls any cutback

• Backside outside folds back to eliminate the ball carrier from threading the 2 defenders• Move side to side!!

coach coachcoach

3 Groups / 9 Guys at a Time

LB LB LBLB LB LBLB LBLB

X X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X X X

coach

1st Run Fit

LB LBLB

coach

Transition - 2nd Run Fit

LB LB

LB

coach

Other Side - 3rd Run Fit

LBLBLB

Documents

Group Period Defensive Fundamentals High Tempo / Many Reps Small Groups Tackling Pursuit Turnovers Escapes