Defensive Philosophy

There are eight core principles that drive everything we do on defense.

Core Principle	Explanation
Be Multiple	Present as many looks as possible. It forces your opponent to spend meaningful practice time preparing for you and creates a major burden for them. They should spend more time on you than anyone else they play.
Be Different	Strategically and tactically, be more creative and more intelligent than anyone of your opponents.
Disguise	Line up one way, then attack another way. Force your opponent to have to think before and after the snap. Never allow them to just line up and tee off on you.
Attack Attack ​Attack	It took 1/3 of the U.S. Calvary (~5,000 soldiers) to force Geronimo and his 34 warriors to surrender. He didn’t fight like his opponent. He was offensive on defense. Inflicted his enemy with fear. Planned, manipulated the enemy, and took advantage of opportunities. His warriors executed his strategy with discipline, and they attacked…brutally
Control the Gaps	All defensive linemen are responsible for one gap that is predetermined by the huddle call. They attack and control those gaps. Line up pre-snap and play great technique by attacking the linemen/TE, or slant to the gap responsibility using quickness to offset your opponent. All linebackers are two-gap players depending on flow.
Prevent Scoring	While stats do give an indication of how a defense is playing, the only stat that matters in the end is points allowed.
Create Turnovers	It is imperative that the defense give the ball back to the offense on turnovers as often as possible. On average, each team will have 12 offensive possessions per game. Take it away on three of those possessions, and you eliminate your opponent’s scoring opportunities by 25%.
Play Fast & Swarm to the Ball	We will play fast. Hustle does not take talent. You don’t always have to have highly talented athletes to play good defense. The one thing they must possess, though, is a great desire to get to the ball. 100% effort and swarming players is something to be stressed and practiced constantly. Always rally to the ball as a team. Never assume someone else is going to make the tackle.

Coach Calloway's Favorite Defensive Plays

55 Front

• Pinch BoW Black
• Out Fire Black
• Out Fire Mike Green
• Blood Cross Black

Stack Front

• Out Fire Black
• Slash Buck Green / Black
• Whiz Will Green / Black
• Pinch BoW Black

Angle Front

• Axe Cross Gold
• Blade Gold
• RoD Grey

Additional Navigation
Training Center Home
Premium Member Library
​Online Store
Staff Selection, Management and Development 
Parents Meeting and Parents Management 
Practice Foundation and Fundamentals
Offensive Introduction and Identity
Offensive Philosophy and Position Profiles
Offensive Line Pass Protection Basics
Defensive Basics
Defensive Philosophy
Tackling Basics