| One of the most popular defenses in all of college | | | | team, he's tackling the fullback on every snap. |
| and the NFL is the 4-3 Defense. The 4-3 is also | | | | The next key in your 4-3 Defense is the |
| one of the most popular defensive fronts in High | | | | 3-Technique Defensive Tackle. He needs to be |
| School football today. With the incredible variation | | | | the biggest, baddest beast you've got. Speed is |
| in High School offenses, the 4-3 Defense is a | | | | not required, but is preferred. At the very least, |
| great answer to the question, "How can you stop | | | | this guy is going to plug the strong side B Gap |
| everything?" | | | | and stop the run. It takes pressure off the Mike |
| The 4-3 Defense utilizes four down linemen and | | | | Linebacker if this guy can really handle a big area. |
| three linebackers. Using sophisticated coverage | | | | Your best athletes will be playing the Safety |
| schemes, you can also include 1 or 2 of the | | | | positions. This is a 2-high safety defense. |
| safeties or cornerbacks in the run stopping | | | | Personally, I like to run Quarters Coverage with |
| element of the defense. Not many defenses give | | | | the 4-3 Defensive front. That gives the ability to |
| you the ability to play with 9 defenders in the box | | | | have 9 guys in the box. This means that your |
| against heavy running teams. In addition, you | | | | safeties need to be speedy cats who can cover |
| already have 4 deep secondary players for | | | | the deep ball, but have the mentality of a |
| passing teams, as well as 3 linebackers and a solid | | | | linebacker. |
| 4 man pass rush. | | | | If you can find these 4 guys in your entire High |
| When running the 4-3 Defense in High School, it is | | | | School, you can have a solid defense. Yes, you |
| important to put the right players in the right | | | | need a couple of good athletes to play |
| places. For details on how to install and run the | | | | Cornerback for you - but they can be |
| defense, be sure to check out as well as | | | | one-dimensional and rarely need to be extremely |
| "Installing Football's 4-3 Defensive Front," available | | | | physical. Your Defensive Ends should be speedy, |
| on that website. Here, I want to describe how to | | | | more like linebackers than traditional Defensive |
| utilizes your players within the defense. | | | | Ends. I'd like to have the best wrestler in the |
| In High School we don't have the chance to | | | | school at the 1-Technique Defensive Tackle, and I |
| recruit or draft. We have what we have. So it is | | | | don't care what weight class it is. He can be the |
| of the utmost importance that we fit our players | | | | 103 or the Heavyweight (unless you need the |
| into the scheme in the right spots, and then | | | | Heavyweight at the 3-tech!). And the Outside |
| adjust the scheme to fit their talents and abilities. | | | | Linebackers are those hybrid type of guys that |
| Your best football player, in terms of speed, | | | | many teams are using as overhang safeties in the |
| strength, power, and toughness will be the Mike | | | | 4-2-5 or 3-5-3 Defenses. |
| Linebacker. He takes the most punishment, and | | | | The 4-3 Defense is still one of the most effective |
| his abilities will be apparant when you play a | | | | defenses in all of football, whether it is High |
| power running team. If he's cleaning house, he's | | | | School, College, or the NFL. For more information, |
| your man. If you are taking it down the throat, | | | | check out the links below and keep learning! |
| he may not be the one. Against a Triple Option | | | | |
