A good defensive call sheet can help you gain two extra possessions each game by turning confusion into clear decisions. Top defensive coordinators do more than just call plays. They anticipate, organize, and adjust faster than the offense. On Friday nights, when the game moves quickly and emotions are high, the call sheet often decides who wins.
At Folsom High School, 2025 California state champion defensive coordinator Jordan Irsik uses his call sheet as a tool that continues to develop with new information, effort, and planning. Rather than reacting to every play, Irsik relies on his call sheet to stay aggressive, efficient, and in control.
This article will show you how to build a defensive call sheet for game day, using Irsik’s process as a guide for high school and college coaches who want to refine their approach while keeping their defensive style.
Start the Defensive Call Sheet on Saturday, not Friday night.
You don’t build an effective call sheet during the game. The process starts the morning after the last game. Irsik says Saturday is the key day for reviewing, planning, and setting up what comes next.
At Folsom High School, with the help of Modern Football Technology, the film is labeled simultaneously as the game goes on, saving time and helping them start the learning process right away. This efficiency remains important because it means the defensive call sheet is built on real-time information.
“All of our game film from the night before is already tagged… so it allows us to get our cutups prepped pretty quickly.” (Jordan Irsik, 01:11)
This approach means the call sheet is always built on real patterns. More importantly, coaches can spend their energy preparing for the next opponent instead of inputting plays manually.
Language to Speed Up Defensive Communication
Once the opponent’s film is ready, Irsik uses the same language his players already know. Instead of using generic terms for formations and concepts, Jordan and the Folsom staff have created a common language that their players understand.
This makes the call sheet more effective. When players recognize concepts right away, communication improves and hesitation disappears.
“I’m putting everything in our offensive language as much as possible… so we can relate it back to things that our kids already know.” (Jordan Irsik, 03:55)
Since the call sheet uses the same language as practice, players can mentally rehearse game situations earlier in the week. The call sheet then becomes both a teaching tool and a way to build confidence.
Structure the Defensive Call Sheet by Situation and Personnel
Instead of listing his favorite calls in no particular order, Irsik organizes his defensive call sheet by down, distance, and personnel group. This setup matches how information comes in on game day, which is fast and under pressure.
Each situation includes run-pass patterns formed based on what the other teams tendencies are. Calls are then grouped to make decisions easier, for each situation.
This approach helps prevent panic. Even if the offense speeds up, the call sheet still gives quick answers.
Build Calls Around Set, Stress, and Break Philosophy
At the core of Irsik’s call sheet is a simple but strong framework: Set, Stress, Break.
- Set: Your best call versus that situation
- Stress: A change-up once the offense adjusts
- Break: A disruptive answer when the offense wins the chess match
This structure helps the defensive call sheet stay proactive rather than reactive.
“We always call it set, stress, break… once it’s over 40% efficiency, that call is now stressed.” (Jordan Irsik, 28:03)
By tying calls to efficiency metrics, Irsik removes emotion from his decisions, following his clear plan.
Use In-Game Data to Adjust the Call Sheet Live
Modern defensive call sheets need to change during the game. At Folsom, real-time efficiency data goes straight into sideline decisions.
Instead of dropping a call after one big play, Irsik assesses how well it was executed relative to the plan. If the call is still working, he stays patient. But if the data shows a trend, the call sheet helps him decide what to do next.
“As long as the offense is staying below 40% success rate… we’re gonna keep coming back to this call.” (Jordan Irsik, 28:03)
Because of this discipline, Folsom stayed calm during the 2025 NorCal championship game. After adjusting their call sheet at halftime, they held the opponent scoreless in the second half.
Practice Calling the Defensive Call Sheet During the Week
One overlooked step separates good call sheets from elite ones: practice calling it.
Throughout the week, Irsik watches film just as he will on Friday night. He practices making decisions in real time to make sure the call sheet matches how information appears during games.
This practice during the week helps prevent overload and sharpens instincts. By Friday, the call sheet is familiar and has been tested multiple times, in real-time.
Track Defensive Unit Goals on the Call Sheet
Along with play calls, Irsik adds unit goals directly into the defensive call sheet. These goals help guide how aggressive the team should be and how much risk to take.
Key goals include:
- One negative play per drive
- Opponent under 125 rushing yards
- Fewer than 22 points allowed.
Tracking these goals during the game allows the defense to adjust its intent, not just its scheme.
When those benchmarks are met, Folsom’s win percentage is 100%.
Final Thoughts: Let the Defensive Call Sheet Work for You
A defensive call sheet shouldn’t feel like a crutch. It should help you make faster decisions, built on preparation, clarity, and trust. Allowing players to play as fast as possible.
Jordan Irsik’s system shows that when coaches prepare early, organize information well, and practice decisions each week, game day feels less stressful.
In the end, the best defensive call sheet not only tells you what to call, but also reminds you why you’re making that choice.
Elevate your Call Sheet with Modern Football Technology!
Modern Football Technology helps identify patterns and unlock hidden insights with real-time self scout and opponent tendencies while eliminating strenuous hours of manual data entry.
Book Your Demo with Modern Football:
Related:
A Modern Approach to Play Calling – Jordan Irsik, Defensive Coordinator, Folsom High School (CA)
Chart. Adjust. Win: Building a Defensive Workflow for In-Game Success- Jordan Irsik