The Master Defense Game Analysis Series

Bob Troppmann, a highly successful former high school coach in California and author of The Master Defense, a system of defensive strategy he developed more than forty years ago, still finds enjoyment in watching games on all levels of play.

Coach Troppmann describes defensive schemes as if he is conducting a clinic. His commentary demonstrates the flexibility of The Master Defense in that he can look at any defense on the field, high school, college or pro, and use his numbering scheme for the front and a color choice for secondary coverage and classify it into his system.

Recently, Bob caught the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants in pre-season action, and utilizing the terminology contained in his book, conversed with CompuSports reporter and former University of Minnesota quarterback Jim Reese on the KC defense and its inability to control New York quarterback Eli Manning in the early going.

“The Chiefs were in a Black 22 defense, which is a 4-3 with the corners playing man, and both the free and strong safeties employing zone coverage for their deep halves of the field,” stated Troppmann. “The linebackers were a good four yards deep, having gap and maintain responsibilities against the run, but mainly to help on the underneath passes with man coverage.”

(Ed. Note: Manning had success throwing over the linebackers or out to his wide receivers on short sideline patterns against single coverage, completing 11 of 14 passes for 80 yards, just slightly more than seven yards per catch, in building a 14-0 half-time lead enroute to a 17-0 win.)

“KC stayed in that defense throughout the first half, and with little to show for their offensive attack, (RB Larry Johnson had four carries for eight yards in the game) played catch-up all night,” noted Troppmann. “I think they might have considered going to a Blue Cloud 55 Out, a five-man front with cover 4 rotating responsibilities. That change would have put greater pressure on Manning, and with a rotating secondary, probably would have been more effective against the Giants’ short outside passing game. The weakness of Blue Cloud 55 Out is the deep 1/3 away from strength but that’s not where the Giants were having success. It was the mid-range passes that were killing Kansas City.”

Bob and I will continue our discussions on The Master Defense as the 2006 season progresses.

8/23/2006 The Master Defense Game Analysis Series

8/30/2006 The Master Defense Game Analysis – Pt 2

9/8/2006 The Master Defense Game Analysis – Pt 3

9/22/2006 The Master Defense Game Analysis – Pt 4

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For more information about the Master Defense, and to view an online version of the Master Defense “flip chart” visit www.masterdefense.com . A sample chapter and a complete table of contents from The Master Defense eBook is available to review if you Click Here.

This article was written by Jim Reese. Jim was a quarterback and assistant coach at the University of Minnesota and is now retired and lives in Tampa, Florida, where he reports on sports for a local newspaper.
Learn about and download Jim’s eBook, How to Win at Flag Football