Playing Outside Linebacker or Defensive End

Fritz Shurmur's description of how to play the outside linebacker or defensive end whichever you call it, maybe the best I have read yet.  I just got his book today The Eagle Five-Linebacker Defense, and was thumbing through it and came across his outside linebacker description.  Unbelievable!  I can't wait to read more, but need to finish the Lombardi book first.  I must be ADD.  I've got 15 defensive football books on the coffee table.  

 

Coaching Football's 46 Defense book by Ryan and Walker

One of the defensive football books that I read this summer was Coaching Footballs 46 Defense by Rex Ryan and Jeff Walker.  This football coaching book is a must have for our coaching library.  I love Rex Ryan.  I watched him speak on one of the COOL clinic DVDs three years ago and recently on HBOs Hard Knocks with the New York Jets.  He is a coach I wish I would have had the opportunity to play for and would die for an internship opportunity with him and the Jets.  Ok, so let me dream.  :)

Buddy Ryan's 46 Defense gained exposure with the 1985 Championship Chicago Bears.  And because the defense is so widely identified with the Bears, it is sometimes known as the "Bear."  The Defense focuses on the run so its great for all football levels even youth football teams where the run is king.

I highly recommend this book.

Youth Football Defensive Football Drills - Great football drills book

I am the defensive coordinator this season for the Keller Raiders Select youth football club in Keller Texas, and I am reading a ton of defensive books this season.  Every month I buy one or two used football defensive books that are less than $10 on Amazon. I keep a few books by the TV, and when I get bored with a game like today's Cowboys game against the Vikings, I thumb through one of the books for some youth football coaching ideas.

One of the books that has been instrumental in my defensive practices, and one that I carry in my football backpack is AFCAs Defensive Football Drills by the American Football Coaches Association with a forward by Grant Teaff.  For just $5 you really need to give up a six pack or latte and get a great defensive football coaching book.

Wilkinson's Football Winning Defense Book

I recently ordered about 10 defensive football books from Amazon.com, and one of my favorite football books of all time is becoming Football Winning Defense, 1994 Sports Illustrated published book by Bud Wilkinson,  a member of Football's Hall of Fame.  Coach Wilkinson coached the University of Oklahoma to 47 straight wins, an all time record.

The book is very well written and simple to understand.  Coach Wilkinson's no nonsense way of writing is what makes me love this book.  I must have highlighted 50% of this book.

I love this quote, "If your opponent does not score, you cannot lose.  The worst you can do is tie"

Gang Tackling but. ...

A coaching friend of mine wanted me to remind everyone that you must play your position responsibilities before the all out "gang tackle". You must watch the cut back. And he is right.
In my defensive scheme the linebackers and free safety are assigned cut back roles. So just because I use pack tackling or gang tackling phrases, many times the backside players may not be in the gang tackle. It will be a gang tackle of 6 or 7 not all 11. To me, that's still a good Wolf Pack tackling scheme because everyone played their responsibilities and we made the proverbial "gang tackle"
Play for Fun and Winning is Funner.
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Defensive Goals - youth football

So my 2010 defensive goals for my youth football team are:
1. Score on Defense
2. Limit offensive plays over 12 yards
3. Create turnovers
4. Control field position
5. Stop opponent on Short Yardage
6. Excellent field communications
7. No more than 7 points allowed a game
8. Hands are weapons use them
Play for Fun and Winning is Funner.

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Youth Football Defenses

This season I am stepping into a Defensive Coordinator role again.  I missed defense last season and I am happy to be back.  I played linebacker most of my football career so Defense feels like home.  Since the two Keller youth football teams that I will be coaching this fall are under 14 years old, I will run a Defense that focusing on stopping the rushing game.  Passing at these age groups will be 20% or less, so stop the run!

There are several defenses I like for stopping the run and they are:

1. wide Tackle 6
2. 5-4 Oklahoma
3. Gap 8
4. Diamond

I just bought the above book this week and its great.
 
Directory of football defenses: Successful defenses and how to attack them Hardcover – 1969
by Drew Tallman 

It goes over many of these rushing type defenses.   Eben though the book is from 1969, it is a great book on these rushing defenses.

I personally prefer the Wide Tackle 6 with a heavy load of blitzing.  For more on that visit my other blog at CoachParker.org

Play for Fun and Winning is Funner!

Thanks
Coach Parker
Keller, TX