6-2 Defense for Youth Football
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!
Update 6/7/16
Check out my new video on the 62 Defense that I run.
For all my videos check out http://www.youtube.com/c/StephenParker
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!
Funny that you feel that you should include “my son played up”
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…..
So how do you adjust if they over load the right side and go off balanced on there offensive alignment?
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.
so you leave the end and safety and/or c.b. unblocked?! the veer would seem perfect for belly or dive plays but if i force you up the middle then what? Id press all day outside with single on and with at least two outside, you’d have to a remarkable r.b. or a q.b. with the brains of johnny unitas!
I love hearing what guys will do to my 6-2 defense “all day long”. Problem is I have not found the team who lives up to this promise. It is a great youth defense and there are tons of adjustments, stunts, stems, and blitzes to deal with what ever a coach thinks he can do “all day long.” My archaic 6-2 gave up 2 td’s last season, both on broken plays. For youth coaches looking for a good starting point, start with Cisar’s video. It will get you pointed in the right direction.