Step 1: Build Your Defense Around Umbrella Run Fits
Before making adjustments to defend the Straight T, Wishbone, or Power I, understand how your base defense already accounts for the running game. Learn the responsibilities of Spill, Force, Alley, and Stay in Coverage defenders so you can maintain sound run fits against heavy formations.
READ: Coach the Umbrella Principle to Get Perfect Run Fits for Your Defense
Step 2: Identify the Plays You Really Need to Stop
Don't let the formation distract you from what the offense is actually running. Learn to identify the inside run, off-tackle run, outside run, and counter concepts that make up these offenses. Focus your game plan on the plays your opponent executes best rather than preparing a different defense for every formation.
LISTEN: How to Defend the Wing-T Offense | FBCP S21E03
Step 3: Make Adjustments Without Breaking Your Defense
Learn how to use alignment, personnel, and defensive fronts to strengthen your defense against a powerful interior running game. Understand how adding defenders to the box, tightening gaps, or changing fronts affects your ability to spill, force, and fill the alley. Recognize the weaknesses your adjustments create before your opponent exploits them.
READ: Identify These Four Weaknesses in Your Defensive Playbook to Make Great Adjustments
Step 4: Defeat Gap Schemes by Playing Horizontal
Against Power, Trap, Iso, and Wedge, attacking vertically up the field can create the running lanes the offense wants. Learn to teach defensive linemen to squeeze down blocks, defeat kickout blocks, and control their gaps without getting washed out. Build a defensive front that disrupts blocking schemes while keeping linebackers free to scrape.
READ: How to Use Defensive Line Drills to Eliminate the 5 Mistakes Killing Your Front
Step 5: Prepare Your Defense for the Triple Option
The Wishbone adds another challenge by combining the inside run, quarterback run, and outside pitch into one play. Learn how your existing run fits account for each phase of the option without changing your defensive philosophy. Understand how to prepare for option football while maintaining disciplined assignments and protecting against play action.
LISTEN: How to Defend the Flexbone Offense | FBCP S21E10
Step 6: Teach Your Safeties to Set the Edge and Fill the Alley
Your defensive adjustments won't work if your force and alley defenders cannot execute their responsibilities. Learn how to teach safeties to recognize their keys, maintain outside leverage, and fill the alley against Toss, Power, and Counter. Use consistent drills to prepare them for heavy running formations without sacrificing their pass responsibilities.
LISTEN: Drills to Set the Edge and Fill the Alley | FBCP S21E12
Step 7: Build a Complete Defensive System That Handles Any Offense
Bring everything together into a defensive system that can adapt to different offensive attacks without requiring a new playbook every week. Learn how your run fits, alignments, key reads, practice drills, and game planning work together so your players can execute confidently against everything from the Spread to the Power I.
DOWNLOAD: What You Need to Know to Build the Ultimate Defensive Football Coaching System
