Jason Thier

After close evaluation following the 2022 season, our program underwent a strategic transformation in our red zone defensive approach. Recognizing the complexities inherent in executing a 7 across zone/man match concept, we embraced a scheme shift for the 2023 season. Our new methodology focuses on deploying three distinct man coverages, strategically fortified with zone assistance, effectively transforming the back of the endzone into our 12th defender. Through this course, we detail each coverage's rules, highlight their respective strengths, and outline adjustments tailored for handling bunch sets. Our results speak volumes: in 2023, our defense yielded a field goal or less on 50% of red zone trips, boasting a average of under 4.5 points per red zone possession. Learn how to unlock the secrets to red zone success and elevate your defensive performance to higher levels.

Here at Dickinson State University our base coverages are all rooted in split field concepts. We implement mostly two-high split field coverage concepts but also utilize single-high split field coverage concepts as well. We use these split field concepts in most of our 3-man, 4-man, and 5-man rushes out of both odd and even spaced fronts. Using split field coverage concepts has been a major piece of a defense that over the last four years has averaged 16.6 points per game, 306 total yards per game, 29 takeaways per year, and a 31% win percentage on 3rd down.

After performing a study on the types of formations we defend the most often, we realized that we defend 3x1 formation more than any other type. With this in mind it became important to us to be multiple in how we defend 3x1’s to prevent predictability and have answers for how offenses try to utilize 3x1 formations to attack defenses. This course will specifically address how to use split field coverage concepts to defend 3x1 formations. Even if you currently do not utilize split field coverage concepts, you can easily take the information from this course and adapt it to full field concepts to defend 3x1’s. This course will break down why we believe you need to be multiple in 3x1 coverage options, present things to consider when game planning 3x1 formations, outline single wide receiver side coverage concepts, outline multiple wide receiver side coverage concepts, and detail a method to choose how to take away what each offense wants to do the most out of their 3x1 formations.

Here at Dickinson State University we are a multiple front and multiple coverage defense that has to defend every style of offense throughout the course of the season. It is our universal run fit system that allows us to play both three and four man front structures with a variety of split field two high and one high coverages without slowing our players down.

Our universal run fit system has been a major piece of a defense that over the last four years has averaged 16.6 points per game, 306 total yards per game, 29 takeaways per year, and a 31% win percentage on 3rd down.

This course will break down our general philosophy on defending the run, our three rush techniques to affect the option, how we identify players in defending RPO's, the rules of our universal fit system, and our adjustments for defending everything an offense can throw at us.

The best part about this universal run system is it can be added to any defensive structure without having to change the rest of your scheme.