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Building a "Base" Defense

Item Number: FD-02556B

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Discover seven foundational blitz principles essential for aggressive football defense
Learn from renowmed defenseive coordinator Mike Hankwitz!
Get a menu of blitzes that will allow you to select formations that best fit your team and defensive philosophy

Your Price: $39.99

Video Format: DVD Instant Video DVD & Instant Video (+ $10)

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Mike Hankwitz

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Discover seven foundational blitz principles essential for aggressive football defense
Learn from renowmed defenseive coordinator Mike Hankwitz!
Get a menu of blitzes that will allow you to select formations that best fit your team and defensive philosophy

with Mike Hankwitz,
Northwestern University Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach (2008-2020);
Defensive Coordinator at Wisconsin ('06 to '07), Colorado ('04-'05 + 1988 - 1994), Arizona ('03), Texas A&M ('97 to '02), Kansas ('95 to '96), Western Michigan ('82 to '84), Arizona (1976) + additional coaching positions with Michigan and Purdue;
In his 25 years as a defensive coordinator, his defense ranked in the nation's top 25 on 14 occasions;
played linebacker and tight end for Michigan

Mike Hankwitz's accomplishments as a coach are incredible. In his 40+ years as a defensive coordinator he experienced 18 winning seasons, 15 bowl games and seven conference championships. As the defensive mastermind behind the 1990 Colorado national champions, Coach Hankwitz knows what it takes to win at the highest collegiate levels.

This presentation focuses on the base defense that Hankwitz has installed at his last four schools; Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, and Texas A & M. His experience has helped him blend 4-3 defenses into the 3-4 defense. Multiple formations such as Field, Bench, Strong and Tight are discussed. This base defense is strengthened by executing zone blitz's 25 percent of the time. Hankwitz impressively covers the Field Cover 4 defense and its adjustments. Variations of this base defense illustrated are vs. double width formations, 3 x 1 formation to the field, 3 x 1 formation to the boundary, unbalanced and empty. Also shown is Field 4 Press where the corners press up on the outside.

Segments of the base defense are the Cleo, stunts to take away blocking angles and Field Storm. In addition, the safety blitz, field fade and the weak side "field cobra" blitz are used to fortify this basic defense. Hankwitz's no-nonsense approach to defensive football can be witnessed in this video.

Successful teams from youth to the NFL begin with a solid, fundamental defense. Take the lead from the master of the base defense and lay the defensive groundwork in your program. This impenetrable base will keep opponents out of the end zone year after year.

67 minutes. 2006.

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