2. Agenda
• Our Defensive Scheme
• Philosophy behind utilizing the FS as a
primary run defender
• Keys and Reads
• Run fits
• Drills
• FS blitzes
• Video Cuts
4. Philosophy behind utilizing the FS as a primary run
defender
1.Rarely accounted for by offensive blocking
schemes and FS is often unblocked
2. Tight alignment makes it very difficult for slot
receivers to block FS on inside runs
3. Best athlete able to go sideline to sideline
4. Tight alignment allows faster alley support for
option schemes
5. Creates overloads in blocking schemes; if FS is
blocked, another defender is freed up
6. Tight alignment allows him to be included in
pressure scheme
5. Free Safety Run Fit From 3 Shell
FS
QB R
"FILL TO FIT"
Coaching Points for Free Safety
1. Read Guards; they will take you to the ball!
2. Maintain inside-out leverage on ballcarrier
3. Don’t overpursue!
4. On pass read; execute your assignment
Based on your read-progression
Looks from a 3-Shell:
1. Cover 3 (vs. 2 back sets)
2. 1 Free
3. Cover 1 with FS on #3 to his side
4. Cover 0 “Target (FS on back)
5. 0 with FS as low-hole defender
6. 0 with FS blitzing
7. Cover 2 with defenders other than FS
Responsible for deep halves
6. Other Schemes with FS up in the box
ENE R
FS
M
L
QB
C
R
C B
S
Bear/’46’/Double Eagle
ENE
R
FS
ML
QB
C
R
C BS
30 Stack as a ‘Spy’ on QB
ENE
R
FS
ML
QB
C
R
C
BS
3-4 with various coverage
ETE
M
FS
S
T
QB
C
R
C
WSS
4-3 with various coverage
7. Drills for Free Safety
• Guard Read Drills
LG
FS
RG
FS
FS
LG
FS
RG
FS
FS
LG
FS
RG
FS
FS
LG
FS
RG
FS
FS
Drill
Coach Coach
Coach
Coach
8. Drills for Free Safety: Inside Run Period
ETE
M
FS
S
T
QB R
W
’43’ Inside Run Drill
ETE
FS
S
T
QB R
W
‘4-4’ Inside Run Drill
‘3-3’ Inside Run Drill
ENE
R
FS
ML
QB R
ENE
W
FS
M
S
QB R
‘3-4’ Inside Run Drill
9. FS Blitzes
• Why pressure with the FS?
1. Coming from 3rd
level (secondary), he will most likely not be
accounted for in pass pro
2. Gives a very quick and agile athlete to use his athleticism to get to
the QB
3. Gives opposing Offense something they must prepare for; takes
practice time away from something else they could be doing.
4. He will usually get a clean shot on the QB resulting in more:
• Hurried or errant throws
• Big hits from blind side causing fumble
• Sacks
• Fear factor established
10. Considerations when planning a FS Blitz
• From where will he come?
(field/boundary/strength/weakness)
• Will he use a peel technique if back is hot?
• From what depth will he come? LOS/2nd
level/secondary
• Will he time the blitz to be at LOS at snap?
• Is he delay blitzing?
• Is he key blitzing?
13. FS Blitzes; from ’34’ or ‘3-2-6’ Dime
Coaching Points
1. Run in conjunction with an inside Linebacker
2. Can be run with multiple coverages
3. Our “designations”
• “Abby” Fire: run away from the single back
• “Toby” Fire: run to the single back
• “Field” Fire: run to the wide side of the field
• “Boundary” Fire run to the short side of the field
• “Strong” Fire: run to the strong side of the formation
• “Weak” Fire: run to the weak side of the formation
“Fire”
• Double Fire
17. FS Blitzes/ “Fox” Blitzes
Tags for “Fox” Blitzes:
• From Field “Field Fox”
• From Boundary “Short Fox”
• Away from back “Abby Fox”
4. Formation Strength “Strong Fox”
5. Formation weakness “Weak Fox”
6. To side of slide protection “Tosi Fox”
“Fox” Blitz Category: Free Safety blitzing OUTSIDE as Contain rusher
Ensure Tackle
18. Video Cuts
JOHN RICEJOHN RICE
Defensive CoordinatorDefensive Coordinator
SANTIAGO HIGH SCHOOLSANTIAGO HIGH SCHOOL
CORONA, CACORONA, CA
(951) 537-9902(951) 537-9902
zacoach102@gmail.comzacoach102@gmail.com
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