To have and teach successful run support, you must first make Sure that your players are aware of what they are doing on specific plays in run situations.  Teach them the definitions of the techniques that they are applying.  Let them know what their job is on every play.    You don’t want a defense where everyone feels that they have to make every play.  You must instill trust, communication, and cohesiveness in your players, without those three components, your defense will have problems with cutbacks, reverses, bootlegs and any misdirection plays, because everyone is trying to get to the point of attack.  So here are the run support rules and their explanations:

Force:  The responsibility of meeting outside run plays as fast as possible, filling the running lane, making the tackle, forcing it wide to the sideline or making it cutback. 

Fill:  Defenders responsible for not allowing the ball to cutback.

Secondary support:  Run support by Safety or Corner during a run play depending on coverage.

Pursuit:  Taking the proper angle to the ball once the defender has carried out his responsibility.

Reverse Contain:  Players responsible for the reverse and or bootleg during a play.

Run Support Types & Calls

 To have a top notch defense, the first thing that the players must understand is the importance of communication.  It seems silly and redundant, but if players are reminded who has primary support on every play, everything else falls into place and your run defense will improve.  Here are the run support types & calls: 

Safety:  Safety has primary support.  Call that is made is “Safety”, “Safety”.  By the Safety who has the force.

Corner:  Corner has primary run support.  No call needs to be made.  This support is used in any Cover 2 or Cloud situation.

Backer:  Linebacker has primary support.  Call that is made is “Backer”, “Backer”, by the Safety and the Linebacker to that side.

Box:  Defensive End has primary run support.  Call that is made is “Easy”, “Easy”, by the Linebacker to that side.

Sky:  Safety has primary support.  Call made is “Sky”, “Sky”, by the Safety down in cover 3 who has the flats.