Up and out??  Up and in??  Up and hold??  Drift??  Float??  Hybrid patterns?? 

cheers

didds

On every single play, a coach can tell his key players exactly where to line up, their defensive assignments, etc while the player catches his breath.  This aspect of gridiron makes for a sharp contrast to rugby, where tired players must line up, find their assignment (where a channel or an opposite number) and react to the play.

A tired player makes poorer decisions and has less skill than a fit and ready player.  Simple systems seem a requirement of physiology more than skill-set.

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is who you are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are" - John Wooden

Gridiron employs specialist defensive teams where players concentrate on their defensive techniques and patterns. They have a pause before every play to discuss and call the next defensive play which is only one phase at a time. The defensive systems they employ, while complex, are more 3 dimensional and individual man on man than in rugby and therefore require less decision making and communication. Once the defensive team have done their job they get a rest until the next time, they rarely have to think about attacking and when they do its pretty much off the cuff from turnovers.

Rugby League has more to offer the Rugby Union coach. Although it is worth remembering that the influence from League to Union was in terms of attitudes to defence and individual and team psychology as much as employing rugby league style patterns of defence.

Rugby Union is a multi phase game where defenders have to constantly react to a changing environment in front of them. Defence is more team orientated then either League or Gridiron and so communication is absolutely essential. Tacklers have multiple roles other than just knocking down the ball carrier - rolling away, competing for the ball, re-aligning for the next phase or rucking. The instantanious decision making needed makes rugby union defence far more complex than either of the other two sports.

For this reason rugby union teams usually use one defensive pattern (possibly two) but they make sure it works effectivley and the players are comfortable with it.

In my opinion (and that's all it is) I wouldn't worry about what defensive system you use. Instead coach the David Ellis principles:

Exert pressure

Gain ground

Win Possession

Physically dominate the opposition

Concentrate on the individual and the team:

Individual: tackle technique, confidence 1 on 1, enjoyment, commitment, understanding

Team: straight line, COMMUNICATION, constant line speed and more COMMUNICATION

Make sure players understand the need for a straight line and for moving up at the same speed. As players improve they can start looking for the turnover oppotunities, when and where they occur.

You can find out more on David Ellis' site http://www.de-fence.co.uk/defence.html 

Maybe a safer approach would be to vary the speed at which the defensive line "attacks" the possession of the opposition, keeping the same "system" in place.  My thought was around the lines that most teams use a variation of some sort of the up and in system and, consequently, that most of the teams are used to attack against a team that defends in that manner.  Not altering the call for the system "in the move" but rather have it applied from certain set pieces in certain situations.  Maybe, up and in for the first 20 minutes of the game, each time we are in their own half, from set pieces only. 

Regards,

IME, the majority of junior clubs in England use drift/up and out...

cheers

didds