Linebacker Keys in the 3-3 Stack Defense Part 1

I am reposting this with diagrams. I am still trying to get the hang of illustrating this stuff.

LINEBACKER KEYS IN THE ODD STACK DEFENSE
             William Mitchell - Defensive Coordinator - Brunswick HS - Brunswick, GA

              Our staff is currently entering our second season at Brunswick High School in South Georgia. Previously, we were at Chester High School in Chester, SC. We have run the Odd Stack defense for the last 4 years with a great deal of success. (2 Region Championships, 1 State Runner-Up, 7 Shut-Outs in 2007) As we have used this defense as a base, we have had to continually look at what we are doing and see if it matches up with the offenses we face. Each year, we have tweaked different parts of our defense, but one of the best things we have done is to develop a system LB keys that we feel is simple and yet holds up against a variety of different opponents.
          Like most 30 front teams, we do a great deal of blitzing. But we kept facing the question, what do the LBs look at when they are not blitzing? We decided that keying the backfield would be the most effective system for our players. The LBs set their keys according to the backfield set and their own alignment.

LANDMARKSA key feature of our system is that we set landmarks of responsibility as opposed to specific gaps. We believe that our constant defensive line movement and the blocking combinations that we see combine to cause our gaps to “move”. For instance with a down block by the guard, B gap is not exactly where it was pre-snap. So instead of gaps, we label Landmarks:
• From the inside foot of one guard to the inside foot of the other guard is Inside Point (both A gaps)
• From the inside foot of the guard to the crotch of the tackle is Base Point (B gap)
• From the crotch of the tackle to the outside foot of the TE is Outside Point (C gap)

When a key tells the LB to attack a certain Landmark, the LB presses that area looking for an “open window”. When he gets the “open window”, he attacks through it, much like a RB running a zone play. So if his key says Inside Point, the LB may press frontside or backside A gap…it depends on the blocking and where the opening is. If his key says Base Point, the LB may press anywhere from in the crotch of the guard to the inside shoulder of the OT, depending on the “open window”.

I Backs
Against the I formation, the MLB keys the FB and the OLBs and the SPURs key the TB. We use the following keys out of our Stacked alignment.


• Vs hard flow (both backs attacking A or B gap right now)
----MLB mirrors FB and hits Inside Point
----OLB hard flow to = Base Point
----OLB hard flow away = Inside Point
----SPURs see hard flow in the box =Stack on C gap for cutback / reverse

• Vs fast flow (both backs attacking outside right now)
----MLB fast flow = Base Point
----OLB fast flow to = Outside Point
----OLB any flow outside the box = Get Over the Top!
----SPUR fast flow to = Cut It Off!
----SPUR fast flow away = Stack on C gap for cutback / reverse

• Vs angle flow (Fullback kick out , Tailback hit C gap)
----MLB angle flow = Base Point
----OLB angle flow to = Outside Point
----OLB any flow outside the box = Get Over the Top!
----SPUR angle flow to = Blow It Up!
----SPUR angle flow away = Stack on C gap for cutback / reverse

Some of our fronts call for us to go from a 3 LB stacked look to a 2 LB 50 front look. We use the following keys out of our 30 alignment (over guards):


• Vs hard flow
----hard flow to = Inside Point
----hard flow away = Inside Point

• Vs fast flow
----fast flow to = Outside Point
----fast flow away = Over The Top