Let’s Talk About Downfield Defense

9:12-9:19: On the left side of the screen our defender covering the pull opts for a spatial buffer, and overcommits. Even though the defender was much deeper, the change in momentum gives the offense a lot of separation. This occurs all the time! Not just on pulls.

10:27-10:37: An opportunity for individual or team defense. As the disc swings, the first defender is ‘backing’ when the big attacking space is that open under. There is no resistance and the offense wins – as they normally do when they can pick the start. Yellow could have also set up a bracket in this spot- instead, both get beat on the same cut. 

17:50-17:57: Fronting is almost always the best way to play defense because of moments like this. The downfield cutter is given the deep, and takes it. But many throwers do not huck, so now the deep cutter and the defender are both stuck deep of the play, and the defender can now offer a few seconds of deep help. 

25:39-25:49: Individual fronting turns into a nice bracket as the disc hits the sideline. No free under and the disc needs to be swung, and is turned over a throw later.