Defending Third and Long

by David Purdum

American Football Monthly October 2007 Issue OnlineThe option has been grinding you up throughout the whole game. Three yards here, six yards there. It seems like your defense has been facing third and two’s all game.

But, on the next possession, you stuff the fullback on first down. Your linebacker makes a good tackle on a quarterback keeper on second down. Finally, it’s third and twelve ... only to have your corner bite on an out-and-up and surrender a 15-yard completion. For a defensive coordinator, there are not many things wor
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