After being focused on offense the last two seasons and reading Football Principals and Play by David Nelson, I assigned myself the Defensive Coordinator role this season, so I would focus my efforts on Defense for my tackle pee wee football team. Coach Nelson is right, if your opponent doesn’t score, you can’t lose. And as many youth football coaches have learned, defense is easier to teach than offense. My goal is to go undefeated this season, by implementing a sound defensive strategy. We had a top 6 defense last year in our league based on total points allowed, but I want to be number one this season.
This off season I have read several books on defense, Coaching Youth Football by Reed, Football Principals and Play, Winning Youth Footballby Cisar, The Complete Guide to Installing the 44 Split Defenseby Roman and countless articles in American Football Monthly and youth football websites. After much research, I am going to use the 6-2 Wide tackle defense as my base youth defensive formation. I ran this last year as a variation to my base 6-2, but after reading and watching Coach Cisar’s book and video, I think the 6-2 wide tackle should be my base and move to a 6-2 Tight formation in short yardage situations. The 6-2 is also easy to move into 4-4 and Gap 8 Defensive formations for pass and Goal line situations.
In my new 6-2 base defense, the defensive tackles will align in the C Gap just inside the Tight Ends shoulder pads. This will give the D-tackle a great attack angle to beat the O-tackle into the C Gap. I want the D-tackle to blow past the offensive tackle and be behind the O-tackle before the play develops. I am thinking about using skill players as d-tackles upright in a two point stance to take advantage of their quickness. Most youth offensive lineman will stand straight up before moving forward to block, so we should be by them as they are standing straight up to block air. Since most youth offenses run Gap On Down or Angle blocking schemes this might give us advantage to bull rush the gap, because the O-tackle should be worrying about the B Gap. We should be past the Tight end before he can get an angle block on us to the inside and thus free up our D-End for contain. Yes, this will put a lot of pressure on my two linebackers in the B gap, but I have two very strong LBs. Plus I am hoping the D-tackles can make B gap tackles if they are able to blow into the C Gap and scrape down for B Gap runs. Here’s what it will look like.
6-2 Base Defense – Wide Tackle
So what do you think? Let me know. Have a great season!
I would you stop the fullback trap in the 6-2 defense?
I USED THE WIDE TACKLE 6 D LAST YEAR AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESFUL FOR OUR TEAM. THIS D REALLY CONFUSED THE O LINE IN THE SENSE THAT THE GAURDS DID NOT KNOW WHO TO BLOCK, THE TACKLES ALWAYS WENT OUT WIDE TO BLOCK OUR TACKLES WITCH THEN LEFT OPEN GAPS FOR MY LB’S AND OR SAFTY TO BLITZ. I WOULD PUT MY MIDDLE LB ON THE LINE TO BLITZ THE A GAP FLIP FLOP AS NEEDED. IT WORKED WELL THE 5-3 AND DIAMOND 7 D’S WORK WELL ALSO.
the 6-2 wide tackle is working great for us. I have the NG’s in 2 techniques, the DT’s on inside shoulder of TE, DE’s two yards outside of TE, LB’s 3 yards off over the OT’s with B gap responsibility. My weakest players seem to be the DT’s and the FS and we’re still smoking them. I love this defense, it’s simple and easy to coach. I’ve got a few blitzes that I rarely call because we don’t need to. I’m very fortunate this year to have the kids we have!
My experience with the 6-2 is almost 100% similar with Mike. We are dominating at he 5th grade level. Our guys only play on one side, so our talent is stretched a little, we to are hiding players at the DT’s and FS positions, yet no one has been able to run against us all year long. Our LB’s and corners have to be five yards off the line, so the B gap can be a concern, however we have very strong NG’s so it hasn’t been a problem yet. Easy D to teach and we are able to stunt our NG’s and DT’s (which they just love to do) quite a bit which really confuses the OL.
We used this defense this year and had 5 shutouts in 7 games. We were undersized on our line and our speed was about middle of the road in our league. We put our weakest players at NG and had them bear crawl through the A gaps. This occupied the C and both Gs and created a pile that completely shut down those gaps. Our weakness was that our ends tended to be undisciplined and were susceptable to reverses and superior speed by the RBs. To make this defense work well you need two talented DEs that stay home and two aggressive LBs that flow well. I found that I usually put the S at the same depth as the LBs and acted as a third LB. When we had the S play deep, they were not very effective because they did not read the play fast enough to contribute. Moving them close to LOS had them involved much more.
Our Pee-Wee League requires headup alignment with no gap alignment. Does the “Wide Tackle 6″ work with this or would you recommend something different. I used the “Wide Tackle 6″ last year and it seemed to work OK
our 10-12 age group won league championship with 6-2 monster defense posting 8 shutouts ,and holding teams to a season total of -349 yds.The year before we were 0-11 without the 6-2.
Wide Tackle 6 in a great defense, played as follows:
GUARDS: 2. The 2 technique is similar to the 0 technique. One difference is the guard (note: you might now call him a tackle) is head on the offensive guard, instead of on the offensive center. The distance he lines up off the ball in a staggered stance will be determined by the tactical situation. On the snap of the ball he plays the guard with a hand shiver, and immediately locates the football. If it is a back-up pass and there is no man in a 0 or 1 technique, he will look for the draw play first, and then rush the passer. If it is a running play, he will look first toward the inside for a trap, and then pursue the football.
TACKLES: 7. The 7 tehnique player line up splitting the inside foot of the offensive end. He is responsible for forcing the end to reduce his offensive split. We want him to line up with the outside foot staggered, and he must never be blocked out by the offensive end. He has 75% inside responsibility and 25% outside responsibility. When the ball is snapped, he uses a hand or forearm flipper charge on the offensive end and brings his back foot up even with his front foot. His main responsibility is to whip the offensive end, and to close the off-tackle play. If the play is a straight drop back pass, he is the outside rusher and he must not permit the quarterback to get outside of him. If the play goes away from him, he is to trail the ball carrier. He plays just like the trail or chase man on the 6 technique. He should be as deep as the deepest offensive backfield man so he can contain any reverse play coming back to his side of the line. He should not let such a play get outside of his position.
ENDS: 8. When we speak of a man playing an 8 technique, we are speaking of a “true end,” or a defensive end who lines up outside of the offensive end. The 8 man will be from one and one-half to three yards outside of the offensive end’s normal position, with his inside foot forward, and his shoulders parallel with the line of scrimmage. If it is a straight back pass, the defensive end, without taking his eyes off the passer, will turn to his outside, and using a cross-over step will sprint to his outside trying to get width and depth to play the ball to his side. His depth should be 8-10 yards deep, similar to a linebacker’s position covering the flat. He stops running when the quarterback stops to set up. When the ball is thrown, he sprints for the ball. If the play comes toward the 8 man, we want him to cross the line of scrimmage about two yards, getting set with his inside foot forward, shoulders parallel with the line of scrimmage, and playing the outside blocker. He is the outside contain man, and he must never permit the ball to get outside of him. He never makes the quarterback pitch on option plays. If it is a running pass toward him, he is the outside contain and rush man. If the flow goes away from him, he must make sure it is not a reverse play back to his side before he takes the proper angle of pursuit, which is through the area where the defensive safety man lined up originally.
LINEBACKERS = HEAD UP R INSIDE SHOULDER OF TACKLE.
SECONDARY = COVER 3 DEEP ZONE
The last two seasons, I’ve coached defense for my son’s 8 year old and then 9 year old teams (he played up both years). The first year, we out scored our opponents 348 to 13. This past year we out scored them 352 to 7 (that 7 came on a busted play and still haunts me LOL). As a matter of fact, we only allowed 6 first downs all year and 3 were from penalties. Both seasons we played at least 10 games. The 6-2 Wide Tackle is the only defense we used. Our weakest players were at the DT positions, but our guards and LBs were able to take up the slack. This year, we’re on a differant team (due to my son playing in his own age group and wanting more of a challenge) and I’ve got the defense again. No doubt about it…the 6-2 Wide Tackle is the only defense for us!
I just purchased the Dave Cisar defense DVD which teaches the 6-2 Wide Tackle Defense. Can’t wait to get the DVD and be ready for the season…..
coach, I coach 12 and 13 yrs old. Please don’t get offended but I would run one of my 7 run plays all day. The inside veer. PST veer block down on LB, TE arc on FS, WR stalk C. PSG and Center double def Guard and backside scoop. QB takes 2 steps and read your DT. If your DT does not close on QB, we would run this until the cows came home. I am in the Houston VEER formation 90% of the game. If I flex my TE, your LB could never cover them in the flat. 7 PLAYS ISV, OSV, CT, CT OPT, Quick Pitch, Handback Trap & QB Wedge. 3 Pass plays Veer Pass, CT Pass & Dash Pass. KISS & REP REP REP.
Like I have stated before, every defense has a weakness and you may have found one here. The 6-2 is my base defense, and I have 20 other adjustments, so I doubt you can block it perfect every play or make the perfect read on every play. I think the coach brings up an excellent point though, if you are running only one defensive formation then you may want to re-consider your defense strategy. We run 4 different defensive formations with 20 stunts / blitzes.
I, personally, love teams that run a 5-3 when I coach offense, because I have several plays to attack the 5-3. As I am sure every one has the perfect offense to beat some defense.
Thanks for your post. Leave your email next time, so I can email you. Thanks.
I just started coaching my sons 6 and 7 year old team and I am noticing that every team runs a 6-2 defense. What is the best way to attack that D. Every team lines their nose guards in both a gaps. While the the tackles play outside shoulder of the offensive tackles in the c gaps. Both ends have outside contain. Every team is protecting against sweeps but I think the 3 and 4 whole will be open. I am going to try to double one nose tackle with the center and guard and put my best lineman on the other nose tackle. My tackle and TE will double the tackle on the side I am running to and kick him out leaving the 3 and 4 whole open. My fullback will have to hit the linebacker and my running back is fast and elusive. I need feedback. Tell me where you see a weakness in this offense against a 6-2. Thanks
I run this defense and the power is probably the most effective play against it. The defense has to adjust to it more than other plays. We played a team this past week that beat us 18-6. They ran powers all day and when i would shut the power down the RB’s would just bounce it outside and turn the corner. Plus our offense lost three fumbles that didn’t help the matter but they ran a dbl wing they would leave the ends alone. The wing playside would hook the LB and the fullback would go to the corner TE and OT dbl teamed my DT play side. So when i started crashing my ends and having me corner come up they would just do a little head fake and bounce it outside. Which we did miss alot of tackles. Also i would watch the ends on the team your playing if their undisplined the reverse works well too.
Coach B,
Let me know how you’ve adjusted to the pwer being run againt the 6-2. I’ve experienced a similar thing in that the RBs run inside the DE and just bounce the play outside. I’m looking for an adjustment to stop the power.
Consider having your defensive ends read the tight end. In college we would read the foot of the tightend….if he steps out then we keep outside leverage…if the tight end blocks down then have your DE crash down right off the butt of the tight end and take on the powerback disturbing the play. The linebacker will have to be smart enough to understand he no longer has the B gap, but must scrape to replace the DE…simple gap replacement.
I know this is a little late but what we did. We moved are DT to the inside shoulder of the TE as stated above and had him just shoot the gap in which we put more skilled players at this position. also we would keep our corners outside even if there was not a wr split out there. So when they tried to run the power the DT would be there then they would try and bounce outside past our DE then the Corner would come up to force him out of bounds. The corner would not commit in until the RB turned inside. I had to coach them up on this all week every week always reminding
them and it paid off. Also i added two blitzes which the linebacker would come thru C and DT would crash to B and the DE would sprint as fast as he could to the hip of the deepest back to mess up the play.
I am using a 6-2, but not a wide tackle formatoin, i will try this at our next game, can someone show me some of your stunts.
Can I get some sort of base formation with the WT6 with 8 v 8? Pop Warner Flag states you must have 5 men lined up on the LOS. That could be 3 linemen, 2 WR, 2TE, 5 linemen etc, etc.
In my experience, not many QB’s cant throw at this age, and I have only had 1 throw against us in 4 games thus far. I would say my QB is the best in the entire assoc. with his arm, but we dont have any hands for him, so we have been sticking with running plays in a modified single wing.
I was thinking to have just 2 Tackles lined up in the A gaps, 2 DE’s on the outside shoulder of the WR’s/TE’s.
2 LB’s lined up in the B gaps to cover those holes and 2 CB’s to actually contain and box in the sweep at the deepest point of the backfield with a back.
Any suggestions from anyone who has used 8v8?
what is the best way to cover the play action when running 6-2. the team we are playing in the playoffs runs a i formaion with spit out wr…they attempt to flood the strong side of the field with the TE and FB.
The 6-2 Defence is a solid youth football defence,very hard to run against. I do like the idea as well of starting the DT’s in a two point stance and at the snap hitting the gaps. Great pressure defence!
Ron,
I’m not doubting that YOUR inside Veer works for your team. I’m sure you have a very thorough QB that is talented at making quick reads…….however, your leaving the DE free to blow up the play, if your QB read is not quick enough or his pitch off the mark or rushed……..Now at 12/13 yrs old, average players are just beginning to have a high football IQ for reading…….so, with that said, I do believe that 6-2 is still most effective for youth up to about 12 yrs old, in my opinion.
How many solid athletes does this defense require? I think at 6-8 years old it’s easier to hide your weaker players in the 53 without giving up the outside.
4 to 6. DEs and LBs and CBs
6-2 wide tackle worked in junior high level for 30 plus years. Coach Jack Perry (now in national high school hall of fame0 ran this. Some replies indicated hiding weak player at DT. Coach Perry stressed that the DT’s have to win their battle (crash the outside shoulder of OT). Great advise above to read the TE first movement. We countered the power play with this very thing in a championship game as a half time adjustment.
I have been using this defense for years on my pee wee team. I tend to put my 2nd and 3rd best tacklers at cornerbacks to stop sweeps. Then I use my stud player at FS and bring him 1 step behind the linebackers and tell just find the ball and hit it. It is basically a rover position for me. The guards are only there to clog the middle so I can put my weaker players there. Just make sure they don’t stand up and fire in low and they will clog the middle all day. I don’t send my tackles through the c gap. I have the stand the offensive tackle up and fall into the b gap or c gap depending on which hole the ball goes through.
This is my first year coaching and i am going to run a 6-2 defense. How do i work with my ends and my corners on staying put?
we run two contain pod drills side by side a ton in practice and watch backside contain of the DE and CB. If bakside DE and CB chase then we have them run or do 10/20/25 up and downs. Its reps over and over and a little punishment motivation of they chase play side. Same thing with the play side DE crashing. He must stay in the sweep lane and not crash.
here’s the link to contain pod..
http://youthfootballzone.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/containpod-drill.jpg
Thanks
Coach Parker
I really have a good team this. I just need to work with jkids on playing there gap and getting a little more aggressive. We are from El Paso. TX and we are taking the gold this year. N.E Miners Rule EPT
I have to admit the 6-2 is a great defense for youth football. I actually dont bother having a safety most of the time. I just use the S as a middle linebacker playing 1 step behind the Outside LBs. I crash my ends or having then read when I think a team my be good a screen plays but that is rare.
Up here in CT mostly all of the teams have moved out of the under center snap to a shotgun spread offense using double splits on both sides or spread offense. The WT6 hasn’t been that successful at the upper grade level against it but it does still stop the outside run. Kids have to be aggressive and always penetrate in order for this defense to work against the spread and you need really good corners and aggressive Tackles as well.
we are 5-1 and will be playing a team who beat us once already. they are bigger and faster than we are. they run outside, outside and outside and once in a blue moon in between the tackles. most of it is shotgun motion trips right or left and/or twins right or left hand it off or keep it. what kinda d should we run. we ran a 4-4 last time and every now and then a 3 3 5. played a triangle off the ends and the ends shot out/ it worked but we had some injuries and had to change.
I too use the wide tackle 6 and use my two guards to bear crawl the a gap until the ref told me that was illegal that they had to make contact above the knees first and then could bearcrawl. Has anyone run into this? We play under NYS HS rules.
We are in Texas and have not seen this yet. Maybe in the NY rules. I thought this might be coming on defense soon.
Coach Parker
Thanks, can’t find this rule anywhere
We play our inside down tackles (NGs) head up on the OGs. They crash the A gaps. Our Tackles are head up on the OTs and crash the B gaps. The Ends are strictly contain. The LBs read flow and fill C gaps if needed. We usually use our best LB to spy the premier back. We play Man Press on the outsides with our Corners and Safety is over the top and reads QB shoulders. When facing the spread, we play Cover 3 with Ends in the flats and LBs dropping and reading. We then use a weak side call to (x) or twist rush the QB. We do this by having the Inside Tackle cross the face of the guard and attack the B gap. The Tackle then comes off the butt of the Inside Tackle and attacks the A gap. This usually causes confusion on the Offensive Line. Our weaker of the LBs will blitz strong side B gap just to add pressure. Hope this helps you guys.
Coach S
We played the 6-2 spread. A little different than the diagram. DT in the B gaps . Linebackers over the C gaps.Corners are good open field 1v1 tacklers, Safety 10 yards off the ball. We go into double containment with one or both LB or Cb’s depending on formation and spot of the ball.
DE and LB discipline is the key. If he has a bad game so will the defense.
Gave up 3 offensive TD’s. Went 6 games without giving up a first down.
The weakness is to figure out which side has the weaker players and run right at the DE/LB combo and brute force them and wear them down with a fast pace. You just keep hitting them from different angles using TE /Double Tight End/ Power I alternating between off-tackle and off-end (not a sweep)
It makes for a long drive and a ball control type game but it’s better than losing.
You can pass your way out with an exceptional QB and inside slants but that isn’t realistic for most teams.
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