CoachHoover: Notes on Belichick Coaches Clinic

Another great find! Here are the notes taken by a coach attending a coaching clinic by BB. Some great stuff, but since we’re on a defense schemology week we’re only posting the notes from that side of the ball. Note the very last note at the bottom…

Defense

•        Just because you have 11 guys wearing the same-colored jersey doesn’t mean you are a coordinated unit.

Pass Defense – must collision WRs so they don’t just run down field uncontested. 

•         Get on WRs quickly – don’t give them any space.
•        Don’t let them inside – keep good inside leverage.
•        He showed his team cut-ups of Arizona’s WRs running downfield uncontested to reinforce what NOT to do.  Then show examples of what you do want to do.
•        Pass Defense – DBs – job #1 – defend the deep ball.

Run Defense – set the edge – turn the ball back inside toward pursuit.

•        Don’t just run upfield – must attack at correct angle. 
•        Don’t let the ball outside for uncontested yardage.
•        Force player – once you force it inside, shed block and get in on tackle.  You want to push back the  LOS.
•        Must teach players how to defeat blocks.
•        QB as runner – Offense will always out-gap you.  Somebody must be a two-gap player.
•        Backside of Defense – still want to set the edge for Reverse, Cutback, and Misdirection.
•       Every week – emphasis is on setting the edge.
•      Tackling – don’t leave your feet – run thru the RB.

Pass Rush – worst place to be is behind the QB.

•      Must collapse the pocket to get at depth of QB.
•       Must have push up the middle – don’t let QB step up in pocket.
•       Michael Vick – obviously would play differently.
•       Pass Rusher behind QB – worst position in football that you can be in.
•       Pass rush helps the coverage more than having four Champ Baileys will do.