The Mount Union Defense: The Complete Series

This course provides a comprehensive look into the foundational principles and structure of the Mount Union defensive system under Coach Daryl Ely. Designed to give coaches a clear understanding of the “why” behind the scheme, this series breaks down the philosophy, standards, and expectations that drive one of the most consistent defensive programs in college football.

Coach Ely walks through the core defensive philosophy, outlining how alignment, effort, discipline, and execution come together to build a dominant unit. The course explores the five critical skills required for linebackers, the concept of the “Sweet 6” within the defensive framework, and essential Football 101 principles that ensure players fully understand the game within the game.

You’ll also gain insight into how Mount Union players are taught to study film, identify offensive keys, and prepare situationally — including backed-up defense scenarios and daily routines that build consistency and accountability.

This course delivers a detailed blueprint of the mindset, structure, and teaching progression behind the Mount Union defense, offering a clear roadmap for building a disciplined, fast, and fundamentally sound defensive unit.

Multiple Blitzes in the Mount Union Defense

The Mount Union defense has long been known for its disciplined aggression, calculated pressure, and ability to dictate the game. In this course, Coach Daryl Ely breaks down the multiple blitz package that has helped power one of the most consistent defensive systems in college football.

This is not just about sending pressure — it’s about creating confusion, controlling contain, and attacking protections with purpose. Coach Ely details how each blitz fits within the overall defensive structure, how to teach it, and how to adjust based on formation and offensive tendencies.

You’ll gain insight into:

• Contain Blitz principles to maintain edge integrity while applying pressure

• Fire Burn concepts to heat up the quarterback without sacrificing coverage structure

• Shot 3x1 Blast adjustments versus spread formations

• Transportation Blitzes designed to stress protection rules and create communication breakdowns

• Surf / Car techniques to handle option elements and quarterback movement

• Army BMW pressure concepts and situational application

• NBA Blitzes and how to integrate them seamlessly into your game plan

Coach Ely provides practical teaching points, alignment details, and situational strategy so you can install these pressures with clarity and confidence.

If you’re looking to add calculated aggression to your defensive system while maintaining sound structure, this course gives you a blueprint for building a multiple, attack-minded defense.

In Run Fits in the Mountain Union Defense, Coach Daryl Ely provides a detailed breakdown of how the Mountain Union defensive structure handles run responsibilities with discipline, clarity, and physicality.

This course begins with a foundational overview of the Mountain Union front and philosophy, setting the framework for understanding how each run fit connects within the larger defensive structure. From there, Coach Ely systematically teaches the core fit concepts including 30 Fit, Plug Fits, Eye Lag Fits, and Lag Fits, explaining alignment, gap responsibility, and linebacker/defensive line coordination.

The course also covers adjustments to Split/Stack formations, along with detailed instruction on Stack Fits and specialty concepts such as Yoda Fits, ensuring defenders are prepared for multiple offensive presentations. Throughout the lessons, Coach Ely emphasizes technique, communication, and eye discipline—showing how proper fits eliminate vertical seams and force the ball where the defense wants it.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a clear understanding of how the Mountain Union Defense structures its run fits to maintain gap integrity, adapt to formation changes, and play sound, assignment-driven defense.

This course breaks down the structure and teaching progression behind the multiple coverage system within the Mount Union defense. Coach Daryl Ely provides a detailed look at how the defense maintains flexibility while preserving simplicity, allowing players to execute at a high level without sacrificing aggression or discipline.

Beginning with a comprehensive overview of Cover 4 principles, the course expands into the adjustments and variations that give the defense its multiplicity. Coach Ely explains how concepts such as Zombie, Bronco, Read It, Choke, Solo, and Rocket are installed and executed, emphasizing communication, leverage, and route recognition. Game clips reinforce how each coverage operates against various route combinations and offensive structures.

Additional segments focus on underneath coverage techniques including Outside Hook, Curl/Flat, Zoom Flat, and High Hole responsibilities, highlighting how defenders are taught to relate to routes and close throwing windows. Throughout the course, Coach Ely demonstrates how multiple coverages are built from a consistent foundation, allowing the defense to disguise intentions, adapt to offensive tendencies, and play fast with confidence.

This course provides a clear, systematic breakdown of how Mount Union structures and teaches its coverage packages to create a disciplined, versatile, and attack-minded secondary.

Defensive Fronts in the Mount Union Defense

The foundation of any dominant defense starts up front. In this detailed clinic, Coach Daryl Ely breaks down the multiple front structure that powers the Mount Union defensive system — one of the most consistent and disciplined programs in college football.

This course gives you a complete look at how Mount Union builds flexibility and aggression into its defensive fronts while maintaining gap integrity and assignment soundness. Coach Ely walks through each front’s structure, personnel usage, alignment rules, and situational application so you can understand not just what they run — but why they run it.

Inside this course, you’ll learn:

• The structure and philosophy behind the Eye, Owl, Tiger, and Panther fronts

• How the Wolf, Eagle, Badger, and T-Rex fronts adjust to offensive personnel and formations

• How to incorporate stunts and movement to disrupt blocking schemes

• Detailed breakdowns of movement calls like Y-Slant, Omar, Odin, Oscar, Mason, and Becky

• Teaching progressions and communication systems that allow your players to execute with confidence

Coach Ely explains how each front fits within the larger defensive philosophy, giving you tools to build multiplicity without overwhelming your players.

If you want to control the line of scrimmage, create confusion for offenses, and build a flexible front structure that can adjust week to week, this course provides a complete blueprint straight from the Mount Union defensive system.

This course provides a detailed breakdown of how man coverage is taught and executed within the Mount Union defensive system. Coach Daryl Ely walks through the technical foundations, communication adjustments, and situational applications that make their man coverage disciplined, aggressive, and assignment-sound.

The course begins with an in-depth look at Freeze coverage, including alignment, leverage, and technique responsibilities. From there, Coach Ely explains Banjo adjustments, showing how defenders handle motion, switches, and route combinations while maintaining coverage integrity. Press man and off-man techniques are also covered step-by-step, emphasizing footwork, hand placement, body positioning, and eye discipline.

Throughout the course, film clips are integrated to reinforce technique and demonstrate how concepts translate to game situations. The teaching progression focuses on fundamentals first, then builds into adjustments and real-game execution, giving a complete understanding of how man coverage fits into the overall Mount Union defensive philosophy.

By the end, you’ll have a clear framework for installing, teaching, and adjusting man coverage with precision and confidence.