As a part of practice you might consider dedicating 5 minutes to your practice schedule to emphasize the deamenor in which you want your players to take the field. The excitement they show diffently sends a message to your opponent. Also during this time you can practice your personnel packages and getting your players on and off the field.
Must consider practicing against a no huddle hurry up offense that does not want you to run players in and off the field. One thing that you must sell to your players verus this type of an offense is that they want to wear you down physically and challenge what type of shape your players are in through four quarters of a game.
Nose Sets the Huddle 3 yards from the ball.
Mike Linebacker takes call from coach on the sideline
Will Linebacker gives down and distance and possible situation.
Right End responsible for blocking quarterback if he throws an interception.
Mike linebacker takes the signal from a coach on the sideline and the Will linebacker will give down and distance along with situation. Nose is responsible for setting the huddle. The first thing that an offense sees is the defensive unit and the way they take the field, this is where the defense can send a real message.
Must get back and set the huddle with a sense of urgency.
The Huddle:
The huddle should be one of your first priorities when establishing team discipline. It takes all eleven players acting as one when it comes to setting the huddle. Huddle discipline starts when the defense walks onto the field, must look organized and enthusiastic a message must be sent to our opponent. If a defensive unit runs onto the field and looks organized and eager to play then this sends a very positive message to the opponent that the defense has definitely showed up to play and is ready. Early in our installation we must practice and teach this aspect of the game.
The “Mike” linebacker will be responsible
for calling the defense in the huddle, he is
the quarterback on the field. As the
defense huddles the Mike linebacker will
step back and look towards the coach on
the sideline to receive the desired huddle
call from the coach.
The Nose will be responsible for setting the huddle. Nose will set the huddle three yards from the ball. As the previous play ends he will hustle back to the ball and will raise both his hands to alert the other members of the defense of the huddle location.
3-4 Pre and Post Huddle Alignment
Post Huddle
C = Weak Corner aligns according to coverage called.
C = Strong corner follows the strentgh call.
S = Sam will follow the Right and or Left call made in the huddle.
B = Bandit will follow coverage called.
R = Rover will align opposite the Right or Left call.
FS = Free Safety alignment dictated by formation and coverage called.
M = Mike linebacker align towards the Right or Left call.
W = Will linebacker will align opposite the Right or Left call.
N = Nose aligns nose up on the center on base call.
RE = Right End aligns to the Right side.
LE = Left End aligns to the Left side.
3-4 Huddle Procedures
As soon as the previous play is blown dead the “Mike” linebacker should look to signal caller on the sideline as soon as possible to get to the next defensive call. If the “Mike” linebacker fails to get his call from thesideline, he can tap his hand on the top of his helmet to alert the coach for the call to be repeated. Your “Mike” linebacker must keep his composure at all times.
When calling your defense using the following principles the defensive call will consist of two to five part the call from the side line should be made in the following order.
Examples:
1. Front
2. Variation
3. Stunt, Dog or Blitz
4. Coverage
Once the call from the sideline has been received “Mike” will step into the huddle and give an “Up” call. When the defensive hears the “Up” call, all eye’s and attention should be focused on the signal caller. Under no circumstances will there be any talking beyond this point. The signal caller
must have complete concentration and cooperation from everyone. If anyone in the huddle doesn’t get the call, they can yell “Check” and the call we be repeated.
Huddle Break:
After making the huddle call, the “Mike” linebacker will give a verbal command of “Ready”. Once the rest of the defense hears the command “Ready” from the “Mike” linebacker then will yell “Break”. Upon breaking from the huddle the defense should get into their post huddle alignment and keep their eyes on the offense. The secondary personnel should be looking for their receivers leaving the offensive huddle and the linebackers looking for the Tight End. The first call or alert from the linebackers would be the strength call or alignment call of “Right” or “Left”.
Again, as the offense breaks the huddle the “Mike” and “Will” linebackers will make a directional “Right” or “Left” call to set the defensive front according to the Tight End or strength. The “Right” or “Left” call must be made as quickly as possible once the offense breaks the huddle. When facing a no-huddle offense get back to the L.O.S. as quickly as possible to anticipate a hurry up play called by the offense.
The “Right” or “Left” call made by the linebackers is dependent upon the Tight End, if no Tight End then the call will be made to the two receiver side. Versus a balanced formation and no Tight End then the linebackers will make their call to the defenses left side or the offenses right side.
How the Multiple 3-4 Defenses are Called
Base Defense:
Give defense a number alert
1. First number or tag tells and gives the defensive front.
2. Second number or tag tells the Nose his playside gap responsibility.
3. Tag then alerts Blitz, Dog, or Stunt if needed
4. Fourth response is Coverage call
Base Defense is 30 cover 2
This means based upon a four man front as our base defense; Linebacker gives Right or Left call according to the strength or Tight End.
About the Author of this post:
Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series. Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.