Comments on: 6-2 Defense – Coaching Youth Football

By: Steve Parker

Steve Parker — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:20:18 +0000

I run this sometimes as a stunt call – “Stack” You can also run the 6-2 wide tackle which puts the DT on inside of TE and they stunt through C and LBs have B gaps.

By: birdsta1

birdsta1 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:20:08 +0000

I want to run this defense but with a twist, I want to line my DTs headsup with the OTs. I would call C gap or B gap which tells the DT which gap to go to. I will line the LBs right behind them and they would have resposibility of the other gap. When we ran this last year the DTs lined up in the B gap so at the snap the OTs just dived into the gap causing a logjam. This would be ok but on the 7-8 year old level most of the plays were outside and our DTs were athletic so it would take them out of the play. I think this would keep the OTs honest and you could always blitz LBs off this and posibly have the DT and the LB come free if the OTs are confused. If anyone sees a weakness to this please respond. Thanks

By: alex

alex — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:01:33 +0000

I also run the 6-2 & it’s great. If you have athletic de’s who can play multiple positions you’ll be alright(lb’s & db’s). Depending on the offensive alignment it will determine your de’s position’s. Run support (lb) or pass coverage (db).needless to say my de’s get a lot of rep’s at practice. I always play zone so your de’s have to be very smart & athletic.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:40:55 +0000

I have been coaching 9-12 year olds for 11 seasons, absolutley agree 100%. You have got to maintain outside containment or else your toast. I ran a 5-2 split defense with my kids. Biggest lineman head up center. DE’s Are my fastest best athletes on the field. Safety is usually my second best athlete. the rest just need to know how to hit and lock up.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:43:15 +0000

A very hard defence to run against. The only downfall is that if they do break through they usually get big yards. Therefore, it has to be a pressure defence, lots of blitz and stunts, to pressure the offence into making mistakes, can’t sit back with this type of defence.

By: dave

dave — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:54:05 +0000

The secret to a succesful 6-2 Defense, in my opinion, is to do what most coaches refuse to do…put your BEST two players at DE. If you don’t do this, and you do what most coaches actually do, which is put their best players at LB, you will get murdered off tackle. I realize that it may not seem to make sense, but it is true. I have run this before, as a twist to my normal Defense. I put the two best stud players on the team at both DEs. They would come upfield, fast and fearless, keeping outside shoulder free, and smother the offense. The blocking back had to be Superman to stop these guys. It was impossible to kick them out for the off tackle. Do not confuse this with crashing the ends. Go upfield fast, depth of the ball….then SMOTHER them. I saw a video of the 1950 Tennessee Volunteers, and I could not get over how their Ends got upfield and smothered every play from outside in. It was done in a 6-2 Defense. I tried it, and dominated the last three games of that season, allowing NO first downs. You have to throw caution to the wind and put the BEST two players at DE… When I coach against a 6-2, done the normal way…ie, best two at LB, with not so great DEs, I will generally have them under mercy rule by the third quarter.

By: Coach Bubba Savage

Coach Bubba Savage — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:37:56 +0000

It is funny how the skill level is even more advanced @ the 9-10 tear old level. I’m talking about it is not about just stopping the run anymore. These guys are passing as much as running. I found myself having go to the 5-2 with a strong safety. 2 corners and a FS I found once an athletic team gets beyond the 6-2 aligment a juke here and a juke there it is a quick 6 for the for your opponenet. Once you get your team to recognize the strong side it just goes to show you those first 2 weeks of shirts shorts and helments are a crucial time for conditioning and learning. What do you guys thinkK
Coach Bubba Savage Nederland TX