Subject: How do we line up against that!?
Date: 11-10-2026

It is the single most important thing that you must get right for your defense. Before anything else, you gotta line up right.

It’s one of my favorite sayings:

You gotta start right to finish right.

Here’s 3 tips to getting the alignment right against any offensive formation, no matter what defense you run:

Alignment Tip #1: Follow the Rules

When I published the revised & expanded Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense, 2nd Edition manual, several coaches expressed disappointment that I didn’t just show the alignment against every offensive formation ever invented.

Feedback heard, and I have a new guide coming soon to fill in some of that. But in my mind, this wasn’t missing from the manual. It’s all a matter of viewpoint.

I think in terms of rules. Not alignment to a formation.

An offense can throw hundreds of formations at you. Your defense can’t memorize the alignment for every one of those.

But each player can remember his main alignment rule, plus one or two exceptions to the rule. Teach the rules, and you can line up to anything. More on this tomorrow.

Alignment Tip #2: Take Something Away.

One of the first lessons I learned as a Defensive Coordinator was also one of the most important:

You Can’t Stop Everything.

The only way to take away everything is to have vastly superior athletes. Beyond that, you have to figure out what you need to take away first.
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Then you line up in a position to take that away, knowing it makes you vulnerable to something else. Because if you line up to take away everything, you aren’t taking away anything.

Alignment Tip #3: Learn to Count.

I tell my Offensive Linemen that the only thing they must be able to do is count to 3, and talk. It’s harder than you think… but in our Pistol Power Offense System, it is a big chunk of the battle.

If you want to be a successful offensive or defensive play caller, you better be able to count. You do not even have to count to 11. Seven is usually high enough. But you do need to do it fast.

A big part of alignment is simply matching numbers. If you get outnumbered anywhere on the field, you have a big disadvantage.

Learn to count. You have enough fingers and toes to get the job done, but it’s better if you can do this without a calculator.

Over the next few days I’ll expand on each of these tips in your email inbox.

For now, if you’re ready to get the rules for your defensive system, check out JDFB Premium Coaching Systems. During November, you can get a 30-Day Test Drive for $29, plus a FREE gift:

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~ Joe Daniel