Adjusting to 4 down and Odd Stack out of the base 34 – Mark Holcomb

Coach Holcomb of Oak Grove High School (NC) expands on his defensive philosophy by detailing how his program transitions from 3 down to 4 down fronts. He explains alignments such as over, under, Indian, outlaw, heads, and even fronts, showing how each can be tailored to personnel and opponent tendencies. The session emphasizes consistency in rules, teaching players to master outside, head‑up, and inside shades, while using systematic coverage checks (Cover 2 funnel, Cover 3, quarters, and trips adjustments) to stay versatile. Coach Holcomb highlights the importance of adapting fronts to match team strengths whether linemen‑heavy or linebacker‑heavy while keeping the defense simple, sound, and able to force opponents to “play left‑handed.”