Radar Defense Part 5

In the 5th installment of the radar defense series the focus will turn to usage and adjustments. 

Why use Defense 1,2,3,4,13,.etc ? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?

Defense 1

Strength: Best basic defense. Good vs. run and pass
Weakness: No quick pass rush
Use: Anytime except when a quick pass rush is needed
Defense 2

Strength: Good basic defense. Good vs. run and pass
Weakness: No quick pass rush
Use: Having the 2 man off the ball is good when the offense is trying to trap that player making the trap block much more difficult. Also the 2 being off the ball helps the 2 man play quickly in pursuit overlapping on off tackle runs.


Defense 3

Strength: Add predetermined rush from the 4 man, good interior run pursuit
Use: When and interior run defense and a edge pass rush is needed with adequate flat coverage


Defense 4

Strength: Aggressive interior gaps plugged
Weakness: Off tackle runs and pass coverage
Use: Short yardage and goal line run situations.

Defense 13

Strength: Good all around with run and edge pass rush
Use: Good all around defense

The result by changing up the edge pass rush as well as messing with who is on the LOS/off the LOS helps affects the offense's ability to attack each area. Each basic and combination defense presents different strength/weakness areas. The overlap of each makes for a total defensive package.

To disguise the defense would show a basic Defense 1 look and stem during the cadence into one of the other looks. The call "show" puts the defense into a Defense 1 look and during the cadence the players move to the call. Example Show 2 = the defense aligns in Defense 1 during the cadence the players move to Defense 2. This would only affect the 1's and 2's. This type of stemming helps hide the called defense's strengths while helping mitigate weaknesses of specific calls.

Adjustments:
The defense was also able to tag on adjustments to defensive calls to help add more versatility.

Crash

The Crash call only affects the 1's and 2's, all others play their normal techniques based on call. The Crash call is hard penetration in the interior gaps. This is a nice compliment to the read/react lateral base radar technique. 

Hold up the Ends

The 3 men stem during the cadence to head up on the TE or can be called to line up in the head up technique. All others play their normal technique. The 3 man beats up and impedes the release of the TE into a pass route. The 3 man will be late to enter the pass rush in this technique.

Knife

The 3 men stem during the cadence to an outside alignment on the TE or can be called to line up in edge alignment. All others play their normal technique. The 3 man can be a quick pass rusher and set the edge on the run. This call is used in other concepts and also could have modern applications especially with no TE present.

Sprint

Sprint is a flow based snap pressure. The 2's no longer read the OT, they penetrate the B Gap. The 1's react to the backfield flow. The flow side 1 immediately overlaps and pressures over the top of the penetrating 2. The 1 opposite the flow plays normal lateral technique pressing open seams. Sprint can also be run with a knife call.

Double Sprint

Double sprint is like sprint on the changing the responsibility of the the 1 opposite the flow. On flow away the B1 will pressure the midline are to create a quick run through. Double sprint can also be run with a knife call.

The different calls and adjustments show the radar defense is a total defensive package with the ability to handle various offensive threats. Next up a look as some film clips of the radar defense in action.