Coach Tom Bass brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to USA Football. Along with answering youth coaching questions, he also receives emails from young players. You can email the coach at NFLAskTheCoach@aol.com.
Andrew sent the following question:
I am a ninth grade defensive end, and my job is to get containment on the running back. If the running back cuts back into the line where it becomes hard to reach him, does that become the inside linebackers job to pick him up?
Hi Andrew,
When you play defense, it is very important that you have faith in your teammates and understand that you must focus on doing your job. Your job is to contain the running back and to turn him back to the inside.
You must have the confidence that when you do this that someone else will be there to make the tackle. If you try to do both jobs, then the ball carrier will fake to the inside and go wide around you for a big gain.
It may be an inside linebacker, a defensive lineman or even a safety coming up on the inside who makes first contact with the running back as he tries to cut inside.
Make certain that when you do contain the ball carrier that you do not widen out too much before the blocker reaches you. Try to get no more than 3 yards outside of the next defensive player to your inside.
Playing defense has to be a team commitment in order for the defense to be successful, with everyone doing their assignment first and then hustling to get in on the tackle.
Coach Tom Bass
Dan sent the following question:
I play outside linebacker and in a 4-4 defense, I have outside contain. How do I fight off a double-team block of the fullback and half back or pulling guard and fullback?
Hi Dan,
Anytime you have contain, it is very important that you identify the outside/up field blocker of the two and that you attack this player's outside/up field shoulder and not be caught in the middle with a blocker on either side of you.
You want to come across the line of scrimmage 1 or 2 yards, stay square and low to the line of scrimmage and attack the outside/up field shoulder of the outside/up field blocker with your inside shoulder and forearm. Do not wait on your side of the ball where the two blockers can get to your outside and turn up the field as they block you.
You need to keep your outside arm and leg free so you can react to the outside down the line of scrimmage if the ball carrier decides to try to run wide to your outside. Your goal should be to try to make the ball carrier turn back to the inside where your teammates can be part of the tackle or force the ball carrier wide where you can use the sideline as a 12th player on defense.
I realize this is not an easy task to complete but you need to try to always defeat the outside blocker of the two and force the ball carrier back to the center of the field if at all possible.
Coach Tom Bass
Neal sent the following question:
I am most curious about the actual type of cadence teams are using more than ready, down, set, etc. such as hot colors and play numbers. If a QB is at the line yelling Blue 46, I'd think a defense would be able to identify the plays through the QB cadence or is that just a chance the offense takes?
Hi Neal,
A typical cadence used by a quarterback at the line of scrimmage might include: Identification of the defensive front - Audible play call (fake or real based on live color of the week) - Setting the line - The actual cadence (when the ball is most often snapped).
As an example, a cadence could be "43 - 43" (defensive front) - "Blue 24 Blue 24" (live color of the week is blue so we are changing the play to 24) -"Down" (each player sets in their respective stance) -"Hut 1, Hut 2, Hut 3."
When the quarterback does not want to change the play called in the huddle, he will call out a color that is not the live color of week (blue). In this case, the cadence would be "43 - 43, Red 34 - Red 34, Down, Hut 1, Hut 2, Hut 3". The offensive players will ignore the play call, and prepare to run the play called in the huddle, because they know that "Red" is a dummy call and not the live color of the week.
Because the defense never knows if the play called at the line is real or a dummy call, it is difficult for them to adjust the defense they have called. Most of the time, the quarterback will be calling a dummy call, so the defense will be guessing wrong on those occasions.
Some teams will eliminate the calling of the defensive front or setting the players in their stance (they line up right out of the huddle).
The ball can be snapped at various points in the cadence based on the quarterback's call in the huddle. It can be snapped on the first sound, on the color, on the down or on the first, second or third "hut."
The quarterback will normally call out the first two segments of the cadence twice, once to his left and then to his right.
I hope this helps you understand how the cadence might sound at the line of scrimmage.
Coach Tom Bass
Nick sent the following question:
My new high school team won't let players play on both sides of the ball so I don't know if I should play running back or safety. I'm a small guy but I'm a great runner - I pick up at least 10 yards a carry, but I'm a great safety too. Which one would be best for me to play?
Hi Nick,
It is very hard for me to make this type of decision for you. You are really the only one who knows if you prefer playing on offense or defense. In making your decision, the first thing to think about is where you have the most fun and enjoyment.
Next would be the competition at the position that will allow you to get playing time. You might also want to consider who will be coaching you at each position and the type of players that make up the offensive and defensive teams.
Finally, and this is very important, you need to try to determine which position will give the best chance to make a real contribution to the success of the team. Football is a team sport that requires having the best players on the field a majority of the time.
A number of the most outstanding defensive backs that I had the privilege of coaching in the NFL actually played either running back or quarterback in high school and college. The physical attributes and mental toughness are very similar for both positions.
You will have success on either side, so give it some thought and then go 100 percent to be the best at the position you choose.
Coach Tom Bass
Chris sent the following question:
I'm a freshman offensive lineman and I made first string, so I just wanted some advice on how to better my run blocking because I'm pretty set on pass blocking.
Hi Chris,
Congratulations on having your pass blocking down. That is usually the most difficult block for an offensive lineman.
Good run blocking involves perfecting the proper footwork to go with each block and learning to explode into the defensive player. Try to have a stance where you can make the first step with either foot to put you in position to explode with your second step on the side of the shoulder pad that you are using to block.
An all-pro offensive lineman once told me that he curls his big toe of the foot that he is using to push off prior to the start of the play. This movement forced him to push off that foot and to take the proper first step with his opposite foot.
Break down each block that you will be using for run blocking and determine the exact footwork that you will use on each block. Always try to end up with the foot on the side of your shoulder that you are going to use to block as your second power step.
If you are going to use your right shoulder to make contact, your left foot will be your first short position step and your right foot will be your second explosion step as you drive up and through the defensive player.
Once you are stepping correctly, you can begin to use the palm of the hand on that side to drive into the body of the defensive player for extra momentum to drive him away from the path of the ball carrier.
Practice coming out of your stance low and hard, keeping your pad level below the pad level of the defender, keep your head positioned between the player you are blocking and the path of the ball carrier and try to anticipate the movement of the defensive player as you take your first position step.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found on http://www.coachbass.com/.
