Mike Abou-Mechrek: Now You Know
If you don’t know by now, due to biases held by Yours Truly this space has, and will continue to be over loaded with O-line content. And there isn’t a position on a football team that is more different-yet exactly the same- as an offensive lineman than a Defensive Back…and there isn’t a position on the field that I know less about.
In practice (and most games) our paths never cross. O-linemen spend most of our time in meetings and on the practice field working on the run game and pass protection with the Running Backs, and of course we need the D-Line and Linebackers to give us a “look” (so we see tons of those surly beasts). Naturally we get together with the QBs and Receivers to work on the entire offensive package, but we can go the whole season (or in my case 10) never having to work with a DB.
Our physical differences couldn’t be greater. Let’s take American Cornerback Carlos Thomas (5’11 195lbs) and put him back to back with Canadian Tackle Ben Heenan (6’4 and “listed” at a lean 310lbs) …need I say more? The physical similarities between our o-line and DBS begin and end with Xavier Fulton and Dwight Anderson’s dreadlocks….but their duties and responsibilities on the field could not be more similar- the only difference is that those skinny buggers have much more field to defend.
Where the o-line has to defend the A, B and C gaps (see last week’s entry for explanation) from our opponents, Defensive Backs need to defend the entire field- from the line of scrimmage to their end zone- hence the physical differences. (As good as Brendan LaBatte is, we wouldn’t want him running down receivers in the open field.)
In defending all this space the five guys (8 if you include the linebackers) need to work together and communicate on the fly so they are all on the same page for any of them to have any individual, or team, success. (sound familiar? If not read back a few weeks). And similar to the question “Who’s fault is that sack?” the question “Who’s man was that that was sooo wide open?” does not have a generic answer as each outcome factors in a number of variables independent to each play.
Factors may be: The play call? Every defense has a weakness. Maybe the opponent made a great play? Maybe, but more times than not, when a receiver is wide open (or when the linebacker runs unblocked through the A gap) there has been a breakdown in communication. Good defensive backfields (and olines) are always shouting back and forth with one another to “switch,” or “watch this guy,” the trouble happens when one DB recognizes the route combinations that the receivers are running one way and the DB next to him sees something else. Offenses are always trying to confuse the feeble minded defenders in this colossal game of chess and the defense responds in kind.
DBs typically line up across the top of the defense like an umbrella, and like the o-line the 5 DB positions are broken down further. On the outsides, closest to the sideline we have the Cornerback. On our Rider defense Thomas and Prince Miller hold down these spots. They are often said to “be on an island” (like offensive tackles) because they are the furthest away from the other defensive players and therefore have the least amount of help to get their job done. Where their slim advantage comes from is that they are furthest away from the QB’s throw, and if you recall that space=time, the QBs throw takes longer to get out to the sidelines and therefore the CB has a fraction of a second longer to adjust once the ball is in the air.
Inside of the Corners we have Dwight Anderson and Terrell Maze, the defensive Half Backs. As hard as it is for me, an o-lineman, to admit in my opinion this is the toughest position in football. Although these players are closer to their help than Corners they have no sideline for them to use- there is a whole lot of space for HBs to defend AND they are much closer to the QB which means far less time to react to the throw which is exactly why last off season Brendan Taman went out and got one of the best cover HBs in the league- Dwight Anderson.
The fifth position in the defensive backfield is the Safety. On the roster we have Tyron Brackenridge listed as the Safety but in Ritchie Hall’s style of defense in an attempt to confuse the offensive players (which is tough to do. lol) he will interchange the Safety and our SAM linebacker, UWO alumni, Craig Butler on any given play. In fact, the Strong side Linebacker (SAM) in the pass happy CFL is a LB in name only and has evolved into a 6th DB.
The Safety is just that: a safety valve, and is typically asked to be the deepest man on the field and not to let anything behind him. Safeties are also usually “big hitters” and if nothing else inflict fear in Receivers who attempt to cross over the middle of the field in hopes of catching as pass…and our Safety TB is one of the best that I’ve ever seen at delivering the big hit. I don’t know what it is but some players just seem to hit harder and if you look at the game film you will see that TBs supernatural ability to inflict punishment on opponents causes a lot of dropped balls, fumbles, and (unfortunately?) knock outs. Craig Butler is no slouch at it either. These two players could be the two best “football players” we have, meaning that they could probably play anywhere on the field and have success and are a major part of our Special Teams units.
Now that we’ve identified the positions in the defensive secondary and the players we have in these spots I’d like to go over the basic styles of defensive coverage (man to man and zone concepts). Unfortunately I am well over my word count so we will pick this up next week in Now You Know.
(I value your feedback at Mike.Abou-Mechrek@InvestorsGroup.com)
