Finding Unique Ways to Get Into an 8-Man Front

Every defensive coordinator wants an eighth man in the box without telling the offense it is coming. Jeff McDonald shows how to get there inside any defensive scheme, with four coverage concepts that change the support structure and a set of guidelines that keep the quarterback and receivers from reading the coverage before the snap. The material is shown against 2x2, 3x1, 4 wides, 2x1 and weakside variations.

What you'll learn

• How to get an eighth man in the box out of the front you already play
• How to keep your defensive scheme hidden before the snap
• Changing the force player so the offense cannot guess who fits where
• Four coverage concepts that change the defensive support structure
• Cover 3 principles against four verticals
• Fizz coverage against 2x2, 3x1 with a tight end, four wides, 2x1 and weakside variations
• Buzz coverage against the same formation set
• Hole coverage versus 2x2, 2x1, 3x1 and variations
• Key coverage - man coverage that still gets you an eight-man box - against 2x1, 2x2 and 3x1

Who it's for

High school and college defensive coordinators and secondary coaches. Because the concepts are built to drop into an existing scheme, they work from a 4-3, 4-4, 4-2-5, 3-3-5 or 3-5-3 base.

About the coach

Jeff McDonald coached linebackers at Wesleyan University after coaching stops at Quincy University, New Hampshire, Yale, Central Connecticut State and Towson.

Coverages diagrammed against each formation. Part 3 of Coach McDonald's three-part series on linebacker and defensive play. Runtime: about 65 minutes.