[FBALL]

If you have your defensive line penetrate then it can open up lanes to run through leading to big plays. Alot of the times defensive lineman are taught to maintain gap contol. Stay at home and block up this area of the field. Defensive ends have outside contain. Let nothing outside, stay home and watch for reverses and counters. This is to cut down on the potential for big plays and clog those lanes so the LBs can have a free path to the ball carrier.

The other side is, if you pin your ears back and go then it can create alot of havoc in the backfield disrupting the offense of the other team. The down side is it does leave you a little more exposed to a big play. If a running back gets past that first level there is no help for the secondary. If it is a passing team you better get to the QB to make him rush his throws and make poor decisions. This is the approach most teams have taken to defending Russell.

One side is the concervative approach. The other is more aggressive.

Russell is usually pretty conservative on defense. That is why you see alot of zone coverage in the secondary and lineman are there to maintain that gap control up front.

On the other side Breathitt County plays a very agressive style of defense. Bring everyone up shoot the gaps and try to stop the play before it gets started. Its kind of a gamble but if you are not big and strong enough up front and speed is your biggest asset then your hand is forced. They took this gamble last year against Russell and it paid off. They gave up some big plays but the defensive front was very disruptive. They tried the same thing against Belfry last year and paid for it. Those quick hitters from Belfry got the running backs to the second level and that game just snowballed on them.