Specific Defensive Strategies – Defensive Drills

Schemes only work if the defense can run, tackle and take the ball away. John Thompson closes his defensive series with the team and individual drills he uses to build those habits, along with the fundamentals of linebacker play - stance, keys and the intangibles that decide close games. Every drill is presented so a staff can lift it straight into a practice plan.

What you'll learn

• Detailed team and individual defensive drills
• Team drills including huddle/swarm, pursuit, contain, stem, string out and the 11 line drill
• The principles of proper tackling
• Tackling drills that work at every level of play
• Ball dislocation concepts and the drills that teach them
• The overall concept of successful linebacker play
• Linebacker fundamentals from the ground up
• The intangibles in defensive players that decide the outcome of a game

Who it's for

Defensive coordinators, linebacker coaches and head coaches at the youth, high school and college levels who want a ready-made drill menu for team defense and for individual periods.

About the coach

John Thompson spent a long college career as a head coach and as a defensive coordinator at four SEC schools, and coordinated the defense at Georgia State.

On-field drill demonstration throughout. Part 4 of Coach Thompson's four-part series on specific defensive strategies.