I t is a tremendous honor for the defen-

sive staff to represent The University of

Tennessee here at the AFCA National
numbering system for our defensive line
and linebackers is pretty standard.
Before every play we declare the offen-
Tennessee Defense

Convention. We appreciate your atten- sive formation strength in order to set our
dance and look forward to spending the defense. Our Sam linebacker makes a
morning with you. I will cover our base 4-3 strength call and our Mike linebacker calls
alignments and linebacker reads, Coach the formation for our defense. We have set
Dan Brooks will follow and talk with you terminology for all formations we see from
about our front play and Coach Larry Slade offenses. We also have a play numbering
will wind up the session talking about our system for runs and passes. We use a John Chavis
secondary alignments and techniques. numbered route tree for passes and a num-
When we began seven years ago, we bering system for our runs. Defensive
decided our philosophy would be aggres- I want to talk a little about our teaching Coordinator
sive and multiple but we would stay simple progression for our linebackers. Our pro-
in our techniques. We want them to know gression begins with: University of
what to do, how to do it and therefore allow Stance: Good football position, eyes up Tennessee
them to play with UNBELIEVABLE with ability to move in all directions at snap.
EFFORT. Scheme doesn't win, EFFORT Alignment/Responsibilities: This gets Knoxville, Tenn.
does! back to our numbering system and execu-
We will also share something we feel is tion. The player must know what technique
very important to everyone in our program. he’s lining up in and what all of his respon-
We do checklist for everything we do and it sibilities are, run or pass.
is always good to go back and check our- Keys: Our Linebackers must read their
selves to make sure we have covered keys and use them to get to the ball.
everything we do. Initial Movement: This is a critical part
We believe that in the end “scheme of every play. Being able to read your keys
doesn't win” ... we work scheme all day but immediately and take the proper first steps. Dan Brooks
with time restrains it’s tough. It’s not what Blow Delivery: We want to be a physi-
you as coaches know, it’s what your kids cal defense and deliver an aggressive blow Defensive Line
know. We focus in three major things for every time. Good knee bend, head up, full
our success: hips and drive up through tackler.
Fundamentals: we want to be funda- Dis-Engage: It’s critical that our
mentally sound as a football team. From Linebackers be able to dis-engage off
day one we stress fundamentals to our blockers and get to the ball.
defense and work to maintain this area Pursuit: This is one of the most impor-
throughout the season. tant parts of defensive football. “A man’s
Technique: We demand our technique value to his team can be measured by his
be sound at all of our positions. No matter distance from the ball when the whistle
whether it’s a Defensive Lineman, blows.” Swarm to the ball by taking the cor- Larry Slade
Linebacker, or Defensive Back, technique rect course to the ball.
will be the No.1 determinant of your suc- Our best defense is out of a 4-3 Defensive Backs
cess. Poor technique will get you beat Alignment. We change up our fronts quite a
every time. bit but in the end we get back to our base 4-
Execution: We don’t ask our players 3. In this our callside end is in a 9 Technique
to do a lot but we do ask that they exe- and our callside tackle is in a 3 with B Gap
cute our schemes. If we play each play responsibilities. On the backside our tackle
with sound fundamentals, good tech- is in a one technique and our end is in a 5.
nique, and overall execution we feel we Our Sam and Will are in a 50 technique and
will be successful. our Mike is in a weak 10 stack look. The
We want to be a defense that gets an Mike linebacker has A Gap with flow to and
extra man in the box to make it tougher on has the B Gap with flow away (see
the offense. We'll rock one of the two Diagrams 1, 2 & 3)
safeties down 70 percent of time. We’re a Again, we are honored to be here before
gap control defense. our peers this morning. Hopefully, you can
Our coaches and players have to be on take some of this and incorporate it into
the same page with what we’re talking your defensive system. I want to get Dan
about. We have a standard consistent ter- Brooks up here now to talk to you about
minology system for what we call. We try to defensive line play at The University of
make this simple and not too wordy. Our Tennessee.

• Proceedings • 79th AFCA Convention • 2002 •

 to get all of the necessary things done in B. Proper Fit: Flow to and Flow away
Dan Brooks, Defensive Line
preparing a successful defensive secondary. C. Corners vs Tight Formation
Thank you for the opportunity to stand Our meeting schedule and practice schedule Teach Proper Safety Fits (See Diagram 8)
before you today and talk with you about affords us the opportunity to be very effective Teach Corner Support (See Diagram 9)
Tennessee Defense. Also, I want to thank teachers. VI. Pass Skeleton
Coach Teaff and the AFCAfor all they do as A. Versus Offense: Emphasize
well as thank Coach Phillip Fulmer and Daily DB Checklist Technique
Coach John Chavis for this opportunity. I. Position Meeting Good vs Good
Before I begin, allow me to tell you I A. Academic discussion B. Versus Scouts: Emphasize route
believe we have the best job in the world. B. Practice tape and formation recognitions
Coach is a big word and never take it for C. Opponent tape VII. Post Practice
granted. We are working in the best game D. Coverage drill A. Spend time with 1 player per practice
in the world and paying the way for all the 1. Adjustments 1. Talk academics
other sports in all our schools and universi- 2. Formations 2. Talk life skills
ties. Each time you speak to a group (Civic 3. Shifts 3. Get to know as much as you can
Clubs, etc.) speak up for football. 4. Tricks about what’s going on in player’s [Link]
As Coach Chavis pointed out our Base Chalk talks, chair drills, walk through, extra individual work with the player.
4-3 defense allows all four players up front expect players’best. Keep meeting positive
Diagram 1
to align in on outside technique. We will and lively. Get the players involved.
break this down and talk with you about our II. Individual Time
teaching progression for multiple fronts. A. Release Drill vs. wide receivers
Give the player some thing to hang his hat 1. Bump and run
on. What is his job when the lights come on 2. Hammer flat technique
and the fans are loud. Our players learn 3. Cushion man
inside technique, outside technique and Emphasize finishing drill. This drill is
movement. We will break down the three done without a ball. Teach technique ver-
techniques Coach Chavis alluded to. sus speed in your face.
What’s my job —-TASK? B. 1 on 1 Field and Goal Line Alignment
T: Technique Numbers C. Block Protection/Tackle Position Assign. & Tech.
A: Alignment vertical/horizontal D. Footwork Drills: Emphasize short Callside End 9
S: Stance Three point stance distance quickness Callside Tackle 3
K: Key ball to man aligned on E. Ball Drills: Emphasize high point Backside Tackle 1
R: ResponsibilityGap/Option and reception point Backside End 5
Weapons for the 3 technique include: F. Phase Drill vs. Deep Ball Sam 50
Feet: accelerate on contact 1. In Phase—DB in dominant posi- Mike Weak 10
Eyes: read on the run tion—look back for ball and intercept it at its Will 50
Hands: stab hand grab hand highest point.
We have been very basic but this is 2. Out of Phase — defensive back is Run Category
where the game begins. Our job is to get behind wide receiver—Do not look back: Flow To Flow Away
our players to know, not to convince them Play receivers hands and eyes. D-Gap D-Gap
how much we know. Always know little III. Half Line Option Drill QB Reverse & Restrict
guys are watching you and telling their A. Strong Side B-Dive B-Gap Restrict
mom, “he’s the coach and I want to play for B. Weak Side A-Gap A-Gap
him some day.” C. Rapid Fire — get reps Dive Restrict
Thanks for your attention and we are Rotate formations on a daily basis. C-Gap C-Gap
limited with time and Coach Larry Slade will Example: Day 1: I PRO QB Reverse & Restrict
now come to share with you. Day 2: Twins C-Gap A-Gap
Day 3: I Tight Daylight or Dark Pull Block Off
Larry Slade, Defensive Backs
Use your base coverages to teach proper A-Gap B-Gap
The University of Tennessee run support: vs lead option and dive option. Flow Angle
Defensive Backs: IV. Half Line Skeleton B-Gap B-Gap
Preparing for Battle in the SEC Strong Side Daylight or Dark Cutback
It is an honor and privilege to speak before Weak Side
you today. The AFCA has over the years pro- Rapid Fire: get reps Pass Category
vided great clinics for its members. I hope that Strong Side (See Diagram 6) Flow To/Drop Back/Flow Away
we can share some information with you that Weak Side (See Diagram 7) Contain Rush Boot
will benefit you and your program. *Run basic routes vs base coverages Rush
It is very important to be fundamentally V. Inside Drill (9 on 8) Naked
sound and have a great teaching sequence A. Proper Alignment Rush

• Proceedings • 79th AFCA Convention • 2002 •

A- or B-Gap Rush 30: I/S eye to O/S eye of offensive
Diagram 8
Push A-Gap guard
Contain Rush Boot 40: Head up on the offensive tackle
Rush Naked 50: I/S eye to the O/S eye of offensive
Rush tackle
Coverage Called 70: O/S eye to I/S eye of TE
Coverage Called 90: I/S eye to O/S eye of TE
Coverage Called Eagle: O/S eye to I/S eye of offensive
tackle
Diagram 2
All alignments are four and a half yards
deep unless otherwise adjusted
9/6/7 5/4/4I 3/2/2I 0 2I/2/3 4I/4/5 7/6/9 Diagram 9
Diagram 4

8 Wide 5 Wide 5 1 1 Wide 3 Wide 3 8

0: Head up offensive center.

1: Inside foot to shade-side foot of offen-
sive guard.
2I: Nose to inside ear of offensive
guard. Diagram 5 Make a Difference:
2: Head up offensive guard. Insist on Secure
3: Inside foot to outside foot of offensive
guard. Assistant Coaches’
Wide 3: 6” Outside the outside foot of
offensive tackle.
Contracts When
4I: Nose to inside ear of offensive tackle. Moving to a New
4: Head up offensive tackle.
5: Inside foot to outside foot of offensive
Position
tackle.
Wide 5: At least one foot outside offen- Diagram 6: Strong Side AFCA members moving into a
sive tackle. new position as a head coach
6: Head up tight end. can make a difference when it
7: Outside foot to inside foot of tight comes to improving the foot-
end.
8: On air one half to two yards outside
ball coaching profession.
tight end on/off line of scrimmage.
9: Your inside foot to outside foot of tight Coaches who are in the
end. process of interviewing for a
All down linemen will take the ball head coaching position should
crowding line of scrimmage as much as Diagram 7: Weak Side
possible unless a call is added to change
make it a point to ask that
base alignment. assistant coaches’ contracts
Diagram 3
run from July to July or the
equivalent (such as January to
January plus six months)
when negotiating with an insi-
40 30 30 40 tution’s representatives.
70 Eagle 70
Eagle
10 10 Only those within the profession
90 90
20 20 can put an end to poor con-
10: I/S foot on tip of center’s outside pad.
tracts.
20: Head up on the offensive guard.
Heavy 20: O/S to I/S eye of offensive It’s up to you.
guard.

• Proceedings • 79th AFCA Convention • 2002 •