2008 AlABAMA DEFENSIVE PlAYBOOK

BASIC INFORMATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

DEFENSIVE GOALS 1

DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY 2

HUDDLE 3

DEFENSIVE COMMUNICATION 4-5

SIGNAL CALLERS 6-8

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

2008 DEFENSIVE GOALS

1. WIN

2. POINTS ALLOWED

~ HOLD OPPONENT TO 13 ORLESS.

3. RUNS

~ HOLD OPPONENT TO 3.3 YARDS PER RUSH.

4. PASSES

~ HOLD OPPONENT TO 5.0 YARDS PER PASS

)0> EFFECT QUARTERBACK (SACK, PRESSURE, DISGUISE, HURRIES, BATTED BALLS).

5. TURNOVERS

~ 3 TURNOVERS PER GAME.

6. BIGPLAY

~. No 15 YARD RUNS. ~ No 20 YARD PASSES.

7. REDAREA

~ 600/0 NO TOUCHDOWNS.

8. THIRD DOWN

~ 30% OR LESS OFFENSE CONVERTS.

1

PHILOSOPHY OF THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE DEFENSE

The University of Alabama philosophy on first and second down is to stop the run and play good zone pass defense. We will also play man-to-man and blitz in this situation. On third down, we will primarily play manto-man and mix-insome zone and blitzes. We will rush 4 or more players versus the pass about 90% of the time.

In all situations, we will defend the inside or middle of the field first - defend inside to outside. Against the run, we will not allow the ball to be run inside. We want to force the ball outside. Against the pass, we will not allow the ball to be thrown deep down the middle or inside. We want to force the ball to be thrown short and/or outside.

The trademark of the Alabama Defense is aggressiveness and physical play. We will be physically strong at the line of scrimmage and will hustle and pursue relentlessly. We will be hard and sure tacklers. The Crimson Tide will be successful on defense if we give 100% physical effort, play with tremendous physical toughness and do not make mental mistakes. To eliminate mental errors, we must fully understand the concept of the defense and be disciplined to play the defense called. We must have mental discipline to eliminate mistakes and penalties. We will not allow big plays against us.

The Alabama Defense must perform efficiently inside our 20 yard line (red area) and on the goal line. We annot allow our opponents to run the ball into the end zone. We will have a good run defense with tight pass coverage. We will prevent touchdowns and force field goal attempts by playing good team defense.

Defensively, we must adapt to every situation that presents itself and execute successfully. This requires good communication, team work, and often personnel substitution. Defensive situations that occur regularly are: 3rd down, 4th down, two-minute, short yardage, conserving time, protecting a lead, opponent backed up, and no huddle. We will prepare for and handle these crucial situations. We also must have the attitude to react to sudden change whenever it presents itself. We must put the fire out - control momentum of the game on defense.

Finally, our job is to take the ball away from the opponents' offense and score or set up good field position for the offense. We must knock the ball loose, force mistakes and cause turnovers. Turnovers and making big plays win games. We will be alert and aggressive and take advantage of every opportunity to come up with the ball.

The Alabama defense will play for 60 minutes in every game regardless of the score or situation. The trademark of our defense will be effort, toughness and no mental mistakes regardless of score or situation in any game.

o C Co

o C' c

2

HUDDLE

(BALL)

• G)

G

(RE/\ ~

IN HUDDLE:

1. Form huddle quickly .... Don't be the last man.

2. Keep a constant huddle ... Lt and Rt form huddle on ball. The shape and hands-on-knees appearance is the responsibility of each individual.

3. The signal caller does the talking ... All others listen! Make the call only when all eleven players are in the defensive huddle. Talk straight out ... not up in the air or down at the ground ... see all of your men.

4. Free Safety (LS) will call the down and distance, Strong Safety (RS) will make hash call. Ex: "2nd & 8", Right hash - Mike will alert the defense to the offensive personnel. Mike will call the defense.

Ex: "Regular people ... Under 0 Zone Alert Bump"!

5. After the call, Mike will say, "READY" ... then pause ... All clap hands, which is the signal to break and concentrate on offensive huddle. Watch opponents break huddle.

6. Mike make front call, will call out backfield set, SS (RS) determine secondary strength.

If you do not hear or do not understand the defensive signal, alert the signal caller and the call will then be repeated.

Good defense starts with a good huddle. Get in the huddle quickly. Get the call. Break the huddle and see the offense come out.

Be ready to play. Think about your assignment and anticipate the situation.

CP.: SAFETIES ... Check the coverage call with the secondary as you break the huddle.

3

DEFENSIVE COMMUNICATION

In Huddle:

A. Free Safety:

Down & the Distance

B. Strong Safety:

Offensive Personnel

C. Mike:

Defensive Signal

Before Snap:

A. Mike: Make call to set front / any adjustments.

(Tite / Closed / Raph-Larry)

B. Strong Safety: Call strength of formation / any adjustments

Call force to alignment (Hand Signals)

C. Free Safety: Call coverage & repeat strength

Call force to your alignment (Hand Signals) Any adjustment calls to motion or shifting

D. Sam / Will / Jack: Acknowledge & repeat front & force calls

E. Comers: Acknowledge & repeat force calls Communicate any split variation by WR's

After Snap:

A. Defensive Team:

Run / Pass / Screen / Draw / Boot Calls

B. LB's / DB's:

Pass Routes (In / Out / Under / Cross / Etc ... )

4

AT THE LINE:

WATCH THE OFFENSIVE HUDDLE AND PICK OUT THE STRENGTH OF THE FORMATION AS OPPONENTS LEA VE THE HUDDLE. THE PASSING STRENGTH IS THE 2 RECEIVER SIDE, NOT THE TE. IT IS EVERYONE'S OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO RECOGNIZE AND KNOW THE SITUA TlON.

CALLS:

1. SAFETIES AND MIKE --- FIRST CALL THE STRENGTH (RIGHT OR LEFT)

2. MIKE--- CALL COMPLETE FORMA TION WHEN IT IS SET

3. SAFETIES--- MAKE THE FORCE CALL TO THE OLBER. "SKY. CLOUD, BACKER',)

4. LBERS & DBS--- THEN MAKE ANY OTHER CALLS/ALERTS BY SIT'UA TlON, FRONT OR COVERAGE.

VS MOVEMENT - NO CHANGE OF STRENGTH OR COVERAGE ADJUSTMENTS: 1. MIKE/SAFETY--- CALL "PLAY IT"

VS CHANGE OF STRENGTH MOVEMENT:

1. MIKE/SAFETY--- CALL "CHECK RIGHT OR LEFT" TO RECALL STRENGTH OR PLAY IT TO CONFIRM COVERAGE FIRST.

2. SAFETlES--- RECALL FORCES

F H

o 0

Z "SKY"
0 "BACKER"
Y 0 X
000.00 0
5 E T T E W
M
SPLIT LEFT
55 RC
LC
STRONG LEFT "SKY" F5 STRONG LEFT "BACKER" F H
0 0
Z
0 a )0
y X
000.00 0
5 E T T E W
M
CHECK "RIGHT" SKY
..:
L 55
~ F5 RC
"LIZ SKY"
CHECK
"RIPS~'" AT THE LINE:

Watch the offensive huddle & pick out the strength of the formation as opponents leave the huddle. The passing strength is the 2 receiver side, not the TE. It is everyone's own responsibility to recognize & know the situation.

CALLS:

1. SAFETIES & MIKE --- First call the strength (RIGHT or LEFT)

2. MIKE --- Call complete formation when it is set (ex: "Give it to me" to set front).

3. SAFETIES --- Make the force call to the OLBer. "Sky, Cloud, Backer, Bronco".

The OLBer will acknowledge the call by hand movement.

4. LBers & DBs --- Then make any other calls/alerts by situation, front or coverage.

VS. MOVEMENT - NO CHANGE or STRENGTH or COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT:

1. MIKE/SAFETY --- Call "PLAY IT".

7S CHANGE OF STRENGTH MOVEMENT:

1. MIKE/SAFETY --- Call "Check Right or Left" to recall strength or play it to confirm coverage first.

2.

SAFETIES --- Recall forces.

F

H

o

o

z

o OOODOO

o

y

x

o

SET

T E W

SS

LC STRONG LEFT "SKY"

M SPLIT LEFT

FS

RC

STRONG LEFT "BACKER"

F

H

z

o

o

·················································0 .. ··· .

o y ,

OOODOO

x

o

.:<f S

..........

LC.····~·LOUD SS JJ\.

E T

T

E W

M CHECK "RIGHT"

• ••••••.• ". SKY

F~ ········

RC

PLAY IT "RITA" STRONG RIGHT CLOUD

6

SIGNAL CALLERS

RESPONSIBILITIES & DEFINITIONS

MIKE LINEBACKER

~ QB at L.O.S. & in the gun.

>- Study QB' s cadence rhythm and demeanor. ~ Study audibles - use of hand signals, etc ...

> When QB is in gun, how does he use his cadence?

o Ex: Silent Count, Hand Clap or Leg Pump.

o Ex: Does he Double Clap or Leg Pump?

SAM LINEBACKER

~ Study backfield sets & 5th personnel group.

y SAM takes backfield sets (1, Near, Far) & discusses tendencies of each set for run or pass. (ex: I back with QB under - all run or bubble pass).

>- The 5th personnel grouping - talk about down and distance and what they use grouping for & give their favorite runs & passes out of set.

o Ex: Black is their short yardage & goal line grouping.

WILL LINEBACKER

>- Study Yellow Calls & RB depth.

>- Study OL to see who pulls & how they adjust stance to pull.

o Ex: Having little pressure in stance with hand in dirt.

o Look for OL to not stagger feet as much in his stance.

>- Studying depth ofRB's as they adjust their distance from L.O.S. for certain runs or passes.

o Ex: RB cheats to 6 yards for K -Passes.

7

LEFT DEFENSIVE TACKLE

~ Study opponent's offense for screens and sets used. ~ See how OL depth in pass set is different.

RIGHT DEFENSIVE TACKLE

~ Study OL for BIRD & RABBIT keys.

);- See how OL aligns with splits & stances so we can LD. for Run/Pass.

o EX: Look for OL having more pressure on hand in dirt.

o Splits widen for inside runs & normally tighten for outside runs & passes.

~ Which OL gives it away - Run or Pass?

RIGHT DEFENSIVE END/JACK

~ Studies short yardage and goal line.

~ Defines personnel groupings used & what their favorite formations, runs, and passes are out of each.

~ Know if short yardage is 3rd -1 & 3rd -2, or 3rd -1, 3rd -2, & 3rd -3. ~ What do they do on 4th -2?

LEFT DEFENSIVE END

~ Study line splits of the OT's & TE's.

o Ex: Use their spacing to determine what runs & passes take place by OT/TE alignments.

STRONG SAFETY

~ Studies team's favorite motion & shifts & the tendencies or most prominent plays that occur with these motions and shifts.

y Studies 4th personnel grouping & discusses situations grouping is used for, along with the favorite runs and passes out of the set.

8

FREE SAFETY

~ Studies 1 st favorite personnel grouping and discusses situations the grouping is used for, along with the favorite runs & passes of the set.

LEFT CORNER

Y Studies 2nd favorite personnel grouping and discusses situations the grouping is used for along with the favorite runs & passes out of the set.

RIGHT CORNER

~ Studies 3rd favorite personnel grouping and discusses situations the grouping is used for along with the favorite runs & passes out of the set.

9