This was on Facebook with this commentary:

From my ‘04 training camp notebook (DC Gregg Williams/Washington). The principles of a great defense.  And they still apply today — at every level of the game. 

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Agree or is it missing anything?

Give me a nasty nose guard and a honey badger in the secondary.

4 minutes ago, theguru said:

This was on Facebook with this commentary:

From my ‘04 training camp notebook (DC Gregg Williams/Washington). The principles of a great defense.  And they still apply today — at every level of the game. 

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Agree or is it missing anything?

Agree. But some guru on here is going to point out something that's missing lol.

Just now, Honey Badger said:

Agree. But some guru on here is going to point out something that's missing lol.

That is the hope!

Just now, theguru said:

That is the hope!

Me too! I need the education.

To me, the key to having a great defense is having Chuck Smith running it!!  ?

It’s pretty much spot on.  If you want to make it even more basic, you can break it down to 4 & 5 because if you’re consistent on those, there’s a great chance you do 1-3 well as a unit anyway.  Keep it simple so the players can play & not think too much.  It slows them down.  Paralysis by analysis is a real thing.

I think number 5 is one that is often left off or undervalued. It also might be the most difficult for HS athletes. 

I would add the 3 R’s—

1-Relentless— keep attacking, never give up on a play

2– Resilient—be tough, both mentally and physically. You’re going to make mistakes and give up plays sometimes, but don’t let that change your mindset.

3–Rules—-know your assignment/responsibility, and play disciplined…no dumb penalties.

 

Love the list except for the last one.  Every great defense has at least one guy that is extremely emotionally unstable. Some have more than one. It's those wildcard guys that put them over the edge and make them intimidating for opposing teams.  Give me a MLB that's a loose canon on my defense all day long.

 

I will also add one more and probably the most important piece.... chemistry.  Defenses thrive on good chemistry.  If it is not there, even if you have all of the above on the list, they won't be truly great.  Chemistry is that "it" factor on defense.  You can get by without it on offense, but defense needs it, that's how they overcome adversity.

You'll never find a really good defense that can't run. 

There are always a few fundamentally sound, well-coached, hard-playing 4-6 teams each year here in KY with defenses that will light you up, but who, sadly, can't run. 

8 hours ago, VF111 said:

You'll never find a really good defense that can't run. 

There are always a few fundamentally sound, well-coached, hard-playing 4-6 teams each year here in KY with defenses that will light you up, but who, sadly, can't run. 

Well put!

9 hours ago, VF111 said:

You'll never find a really good defense that can't run. 

There are always a few fundamentally sound, well-coached, hard-playing 4-6 teams each year here in KY with defenses that will light you up, but who, sadly, can't run. 

Speed is very important. It was something I didn't think much about but a guy I used to coach with once mentioned much of the bad tackling you see isn't a result of bad technique....bad tackling is often a function of lack of speed, especially in space. Size also falls into this category, and when you're trying to tackle a guy that is bigger AND faster than you, even good tacklers can be made to look like a bad tackler.

 

A wise coach once explained to me that the number one factor to help a defensive player is "knowing where your help is."

If you want to have a great defense you better have a head coach that understands they better play good defense, and builds in the time for defense and the fundamentals and technique.

If the head coach treats it important the kids will also.

You may not be great every year but you can tell the defenses that spend time on it and those that don't.