Responsibilities:

Strong End: Outside shade of TE. Wants to make sure the TE does not get a free release on to Sam but must still play outside gap. If anything comes at him, wants to bounce it outside toward the sideline. The basic philosophy is to make everything go toward the sideline. Do not let the Ball Carrier get running north to south!

Strong Tackle: Responsible for the B gap strong side. Playing outside shade of the Guard.

Weak Tackle: Responsible for the A gap weak side. Playing inside shade of the Guard

Weak Tackle: Responsible for the C gap weak side. Has to be more of the physical of the Defensive Ends. Also should be one of your better pass rushers.

Sam Linebacker: Sam will align 5 yards deep with his nose on the outside shade of the Offensive Tackle to the Strong Side. Sam is responsible for the C gap on run and also will be responsible for helping bounce everything outside toward the sideline. On pass, Sam is responsible for the Curl on the # 1 receiver. If there are more than 2 receivers outside, Sam is to wall the # 2 receiver using a "trail technique" and pushing him outside the hash. The Sam will always square up at 15 yards and not chase any vertical routes. (This is in cover 2)

Mike Linebacker: Mike will align 5 yards deep with his nose on the strong shoulder of the center. He is responsible for the Strong A gap on run and responsible for pursuing inside out on anything else. On pass, Mike is responsible for walling the TE using a "trail technique" and not allowing him to get the "hot" pass or setting up in the hook zone. If the TE disappears within 5 yards from the L.O.S. Mike will open up to the middle of the field looking for anybody crossing his zone. Mike will always square up at 15 yards and never chase any vertical routes (This is in cover 2)

Will Linebacker: Will will align 5 yards deep with his nose on the strong shoulder of the Offensive Tackle.Will is responsible for the "B" gap on the run and also will be responsible for helping bounce everything outside toward the sideline. On pass, Will is responsible for the Curl on the # 1 receiver. If there are more than 2 receivers outside,Will is to wall the # 2 receiver using a "trail technique" and pushing him outside the hash. The Will will always square up at 15 yards and not chase any vertical routes. (This is in cover 2)

SS: 10 - 12 yards deep over the TE. on run, SS will play run support on top of the Sam Linebacker, again helping bounce everything to the sideline and cornerback. On pass, SS is playing 2 deep. He wants to work to the hash and keep everything in front of him and break on the ball once it is IN THE AIR, not any sooner.

FS: 10 - 12 yards deep between the #1 receiver and Offensive Tackle. The FS will have same responsibilities as SS. Normally your SS is the better tackler and the FS is your better pass defender.

Corners: 5 yards off the #1 receiver outside shade. On the snap, they want to jam the receivers toward the inside, denying them the sidelines and forcing them toward the Safety. The Corners do not backpedal, they will wait for the receiver to come to them maintaining that outside leverage. They are also looking inside finding the ball. On run, they are the containment. They are to force everything back inside where he has support pursuing the play. On pass, if the ball is not in the air after the 3rd step, they are to open to the inside and sprint to 15 yards depth to help squeeze the deep out route pass and allow the safety time to come from over the top to make the play.