HOW YOUR DEFENSE handles sudden change is the true test of a great defensive football team.
Description: It’s late in the fourth quarter and you’re leading your opponent, 3-0. They’re driving and moving the ball downfield, when your defense causes a fumble on your 28-yard line. Your defensive players return to the bench, congratulating one another and preparing to rest, relieved and pleased at the job they’ve done. Your chances for a victory look good.
As your offense begins its drive and starts to use up the clock, suddenly there’s a fumble and your opponents recover on your 21-yard line! This is a sudden change situation.
What are the two teams thinking at this time?
1. Your Opponent:
- Great, we have them now.
- They’ll be tired and mentally defeated.
- Let’s get after them right now.
- We’re going to win!
-. Your Defense:
- Why can’t the offense hold onto the ball?
- We’ve got our hands full now.
- I’m tired! I don’t know if we can stop them again.
- We might lose this game!
It’s fairly obvious that it takes a great defensive team to overcome this kind of situation. Your opponent will be cranked up and unless your defensive players understand their mission, the situation can get worse.
Overcoming Sudden Change
Before your players go back out on the field, the defensive coordinator needs to quickly huddle up with the defense. Be sure to do this with your players facing the bench.
The defensive coordinator should give instructions on:
‚ The defense called. ‚ Tendency alerts.
‚ Field position alerts. ‚ Big play alerts.
The defensive coordinator gives his players the defensive call and communicates all alerts and the head coach gives some brief final words.
Focus On Task At Hand
Poise and confidence are the cornerstones for success in this situation. Your players must control their thoughts and be more mentally alert now than at any time during the course of the ball game.
The defense’s primary mission isn’t just to stop the offense. They should also be trying to get the ball back. Regardless of where the opponent gets the ball or under what circumstances, your defense’s job is to get the ball back.
Be Aggressive
All your players have “big play” capabilities and now is the time for all 11 defensive players to give their all to make the big play.
Try to get the ball back with a fumble recovery, interception, blocked field goal, missed field goal or by making the other team punt.
Your players must remember that the pressure is on the opposing offense. They have to score to win the game.
This is the type of situation that every competitor yearns for. Each defender should hope the play is directed at him, so that he can be the focal point of the defensive team effort.