DC's WT62

[COACHPAUL]

Im running the DC's WT62.... We lost our first Game, 45-32.  It was a shootout, more importantly, my kids never gave up.  We are a true "B" team, with half of my team never playing FB before.  I have a couple questions:

Linebackers... They were standing straight up and very hesitant in finding the ball.  Looking at the film, they would stand straight up, and attempt to pursue the runner from behind.  I use the 3 Slot linebacker drill and a couple Angle pursuit drills.  Is there anything that Im missing?

Defensive Ends....  I have them Boxing and getting as deep as the deepest Ball Carrier.  When the Offense sends a few blockers his way, he attempts to take on the block with full force.  But..... he cannot recover when the ball carrier runs outside.  Should I teach him to avoid the contact???  I would think that if he avoided the contact, it would stretch the defense and open up natural holes for cutbacks.... Need some help!  Thanks..

Coach Paul

[davecisar]

DE-
Outside shoulder and had free, no one outflanks him- of course he is going to have to take on blockers on a sweep- his job is to outflank and force inside
He cant avoid contact at all- he is the road block NOT the guy making tackles on the sweep in many cases

Your CBs run fits are INSIDE the DEs, the DE forces everything inside

LBs- 3 slot challenge- they have to meet the RB in the hole
Open field tackling drills, 10 yard box
Full contact skeleton- LBs and DEs only- rep off tackle and sweeps with lead blockers
We use various sheds for our LBs, hands under chest plate as main one and rip

Last 2 games we have given up 1 first down in each game (first team defense)

Your LBs need to be your MOST aggressive kids that have great body control-
If your very best still lack aggression of course you could always have them use a first step forward read step- we dont

[Joker number 8]

In defending agains the Jet Sweep, should I move my DE out a step to begin with to make sure the speed does not beat him outside? The team we are playing aligns with a tight end . (the attached diagram is correct except there is no split end to the defense right. he stays tight)

Y comes in Jet Motion and takes handoff. H cracsks down on the Defensive end

We have been repping this but I do not have a back to replicate the speed we will face.

Todd

[Spread Coach]

Joker,

problem with moving your end out, is it makes for an easy zone read block for the TE, and also an extremely easy read on the backside for the QB.

It also depends on how they are blocking the Jet, if they are trying to "get the edge" then yes, but if it's a read your ends going to get swept out, and your LB's are going to have to over commit.  Guessing they have something backside, this would kill you.

I would defend my own offense "inside-out" have the ends line up head up, but if the motion comes at him, first step to the play side, this will string the T out and allow your LB's to come from underneath.

Let me know if you have questions.  I'd like to hear back if you use it and how they adjust/results.... I am an information gatherer especially because I am a student of the Youth level spread, and there's not alot out there for us!

[Jags10]

In defending agains the Jet Sweep, should I move my DE out a step to begin with to make sure the speed does not beat him outside? The team we are playing aligns with a tight end . (the attached diagram is correct except there is no split end to the defense right. he stays tight)

Y comes in Jet Motion and takes handoff. H cracsks down on the Defensive end

We have been repping this but I do not have a back to replicate the speed we will face.

Todd

Joker, if there is no split and H cracks down, then isn't your corner immediately stepping up as the contain man? In this defense, I'd almost rather see that than have the corner in conflict with a split.

That bring me to a question for Dave C or any other WT6 guys. Since the corner's run fit is inside the DE, how have you been successful when the corner has been put in conflict with a split, the offense runs off tackle, your end is boxing, and/or the DT simply gets doubled by the OT and TE...and the back just has path right on the outside of the off tackle hole.

[Joker number 8]

Joker, if there is no split and H cracks down, then isn't your corner immediately stepping up as the contain man? In this defense, I'd almost rather see that than have the corner in conflict with a split.

That bring me to a question for Dave C or any other WT6 guys. Since the corner's run fit is inside the DE, how have you been successful when the corner has been put in conflict with a split, the offense runs off tackle, your end is boxing, and/or the DT simply gets doubled by the OT and TE...and the back just has path right on the outside of the off tackle hole.

If there is no split, my coner has man coverage on the tigth end.  His run fit is inside the defensive end and tackle.  When there is a split, (we are 3rd 4th grade) corner has outside receiver in man coverage, but he wlll not split wider than 10-12 yards. It is imperative that the tackles not get driven back. They are lined up on the outsie shoulder of the offensive tackle so not a good angle on the double team. Also we rep 3 on 1 getting down and grabbing grass. 

Todd

[Jags10]

Yea, for us, the corner also has man coverage on the TE-if he releases, but his run fit is still inside the end. I tell the corners to read the TE. If he sees the run block, he is free to come inside that boxing end.

I too, have been teaching the tackles to grab grass, but I still feel like the back just cuts it immediately outside that little pile, inside the end. That's why I love when the corner is available.

I get worried when the corner is run off by a split. Even if we only let the corner out so far on the split, I still worry about 1)off tackle, and 2) halfback option against a young corner placed in conflict.

Anyway, regarding your original scenario, if the sole receiver on that side is cracking, 1) we know it's sweep, and 2) the corner should be there waiting for him. If anything I would be worried about the back cutting it up to the off-tackle hole. I know he wants to sweep, but a good back may make a good cut. I would just hope my DT's and LB's can react accordingly.

[COACHPAUL]

Thanks Dave...

I literally spend 30-45 minutes working my LB's and DE's every practice.  I've been doing it the way you recommend it and its already working.  Just a note for ya'll coaches.... be careful what you say and how you say it....

I told my DE's to "take on the block" vice "shedding the block and keep contain"... big difference.  My DE corrected me in practice... LOL.  Havent had an issue since.  We will see how it goes this Saturday!  Thanks.

Paul

[davecisar]

Game Day

Coach that has DEs, those are the ONLY 2 players he coaches on defense
Every snap he is making adjustments, encouraging etc

[Jags10]

DE-
Outside shoulder and had free, no one outflanks him- of course he is going to have to take on blockers on a sweep- his job is to outflank and force inside
He cant avoid contact at all- he is the road block NOT the guy making tackles on the sweep in many cases

Your CBs run fits are INSIDE the DEs, the DE forces everything inside

LBs- 3 slot challenge- they have to meet the RB in the hole
Open field tackling drills, 10 yard box
Full contact skeleton- LBs and DEs only- rep off tackle and sweeps with lead blockers
We use various sheds for our LBs, hands under chest plate as main one and rip

Last 2 games we have given up 1 first down in each game (first team defense)

Your LBs need to be your MOST aggressive kids that have great body control-
If your very best still lack aggression of course you could always have them use a first step forward read step- we dont

Yea, but Dave the one concern I have, and it happened last game, is the scenario where the corner is in conflict with a receiver and run off. With a boxing end, that OT hole is now an issue. I know the LB needs to flow fast, but it concerns me against a good team.

thus far, we are 5-0 with only one TD scored against us-and that was against the 2nd team D. We haven't played the best teams, but so far so good with the WT6. My only concern is the above with better team who is more persistent attacking that way.

[davecisar]

You have 2 LBs and a Safety
We dont let the DEs get too deep, outside shoulder free and squeeze the hole- once the play looks like it is going inside
DTs ripping in the OT hole, only getting to depth of the heels of the OT- unless of course they see pass

We also teach the CB to align wide of anyone 7 yards or tighter- he can see through the reciever and into the backfield.

We also have a "Monster" call where we can just put the Corners into a deep 1/2 zone
You can put the LBs in the off tackle hole and move the safety in to about 7 yards and let him flow to that if you like

[Jags10]

Thanks Dave. I'm most likely exaggerating, since It really hasn't been an issue thus far until this past week..and even that was only a couple of times. I guess my ends and tackles are doing fine.

One question: under what conditions do you use "Monster" most?

[davecisar]

Teams that dont throw much or dont throw consistently effectively

[coachstu]

If you're worried about the sweep or jet sweep, and you're playing a WT6 with a "B-team", get out of the WT6.  Been there, done that, you won't stop it in that defense.  Unless you're prepared to make a change at corner and use your better athletes there. 

[Jags10]

We do have veyr good athletes at corner, and maybe that's why I can't relate to you. Our division is weak, except for a couple of teams, but we are 5-0 and have only given up 1 score-and that was against the B defense.

We haven't faced a constant swarm of jet sweep, but I think we'll be ok. This week we face our other  Jr.pee wee team who is the other 5-o team. It's a showdown, and they are a little older and more stout than we are. They run multiple formations that include a little jet sweep. They also run a wishbone set with counters, QB sweeps with 2 lead blockers, and play action. I have covered this in practice, and we'll see what happens saturday evening.

What were your issues with sweeps?  were your ends not effective? could your corners not run fit well inside the ends?