By Ryan Asleson

The Arena Football League (AFL) offers a fast-paced, exciting game that keeps spectators on the edges of their seats.  The league features high scoring games powered by offenses built for speed and agility and aided by league rules that greatly favor offenses over defenses.  These factors make life difficult for defensive coordinators to plan effective defensive strategies.  Jeff Loots is the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Myth and is responsible for stopping the prolific offensive attacks the Myth will face this season.  Loots is quite familiar with the arena game, having played quarterback in the AFL from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s.

“This game was designed to be fast paced and fan friendly and everybody likes to see touchdowns,” Loots acknowledged.  “With the fifty yard field, you’re going to get scored on, so you have to have tough skin and be mentally tough, and try to come back and make a play in the next series.”  Loots explained that there are a lot of tools in the defensive coordinator’s proverbial toolbox:  “It definitely favors the offense, but there are different things you can do on defense.”

With the arena game being as pass heavy as it is, an important consideration for defensive coordinators is the choice between playing man-to-man versus zone coverage.  Both schemes have different strengths and weaknesses, and Loots explained that the choice will be determined by the skills of the players and the weekly matchups against opposing offenses.  As Loots said, “I think it will be both, but it primarily comes down to the type of players that you have.  I might play man-to-man a majority of the time if I had three or four guys who were really good at locking guys down.”  But playing man-to-man comes with its own dangers:  “The thing you have to worry about in this league is the easy touchdown that is 30 or 40 yards, or you’re getting beat on a post or a corner or a straight go route” if man coverage gets beat, Loots warned.  

Loots recalled a defensive player from his AFL playing days:  “He could come up and run with the receiver in high motion.  When the receiver in high motion was coming forward, he was still able to run with most guys and shut guys down that way.  In a perfect world, it would be awesome having a guy like that, but if not, you’re better off mixing it up between man-to-man and zone.”

There is variation even within zone coverage schemes, should a team decide to employ zone coverage.  Loots described one variation, dubbed “Sky,”  in which the defensive back lined up against the receiver on the single-receiver side would play the flat on that side, while the Jack linebacker on the other side, where the twin receivers would be, would play the flat on that side.  The other two defensive backs would split the deep zone.  Loots described another variation in which the two cornerbacks would each take a flat on one side, with another defensive back playing deep.  “You do a lot of that if you’re playing a team that is running a lot of hitches or short routes,” he noted. 

In addition to different coverage schemes, even the alignment of the defensive backs can be tweaked to defend certain routes.  Loots cited one example in which a defensive back could play deep coverage, which might bait the receiver to flatten the route to find a soft spot in the shallow zone.  If the receiver loses track of the other defensive backs, it may allow another defender to get underneath the throw for an interception.  Defensive backs new to the indoor game will need to adapt to the smaller field and learn how to use the boards to their advantage, Loots added.

Another way to successfully defend high-powered passing attacks, in addition to pass coverage schemes, is to apply pressure to the quarterback.  Loots described how one difficulty in finding good pass rushers is a side effect of the small team rosters, and most players playing both offense and defense.  “The tough thing in this game is finding players who are willing to be blockers and rushers.  One guy might be a defensive player who isn’t interested in blocking, while an offensive player doesn’t want to rush the passer, so we have to find the players who are willing to do both.”  Loots even speculated that if they could find a defensive tackle or end who was really good at rushing the passer, and could win the match up on most plays, they would consider making that player one of the two designated defensive specialists.  Normally the two best pass coverage players are the defensive specialists, so that shows how important a strong pass rush can be.  As Loots concluded, “If we have some guys who can put pressure on, that’s the best thing you can do for any defense.”

Offenses typically revolve around the quarterback, and confusing the quarterback is a top priority for Loots as he prepares game plans.  “There are so many young quarterbacks now it’s just trying not to tip your hat on what you’re doing.  We don’t want to give up what we’re doing.”  One technique to do that might be to show double press coverage pre-snap, and then sometimes lock up that way when the play starts, and other times bail out to a variation of zone coverage at the snap.  Another example offered by Loots:  “As a quarterback, whether it was college or any of the pro levels, anytime I saw the defensive back coming up and pressing the receiver, I was thinking it was man coverage and I was audibling to a fade or a go route.”  Baiting the quarterback into audibling to a deep route when the actual defensive call is to play a deep zone coverage can be advantageous for the defense.  “Showing different things and making them think it’s one thing that it’s not” is the name of the game, according to Loots.  

Coaches coach, but ultimately the plays on the field are made by the players.  Loots aims to make their assignments as easy as possible to keep them playing fast, and free from confusion-induced hesitation.  “We can’t confuse the players because then they won’t be able to play fast.  There are different things we can do to keep it simple and still be successful.”

To be as successful as Loots expects to be, he and his players will need to embrace the challenge of facing skilled coaches and players on a weekly basis.  Loots summed it up thusly: “It comes down to a lot of pride when you’re playing defense in this league.  Am I better than you on this play, or during the game?  You have to win your one-on-one battle and we should be excited for the opportunity to play some pretty good players and try to shut them down.”