Defending Run, Pitch And Pass

[aquint 0]

4 seasons coaching 5 on 5 youth flag. 2nd straight season returning to the championship game. I am coaching 3rd/4th graders, no QB run and players can blitz if 7yards deep.

We have been running a 2/1/2 zone (all staying home). 2 DE's, 1 MLB (5 yards deep) and 2 safeties (7 yards deep) - we don't blitz.

We are playing a pass heavy opponent. They love to pitch and pass. They have a hard time passing when pressured. QB's can throw a 20-25yard deep ball on their team.

I want to change my defense to 2/3. 2 DE's and 3 safeties. With a couple wrinkles with the safeties:

> 1 blitzing up the middle and 2 playing 8-10yards back

> 2 blitzing on the L and R and 1 playing center 8-10yards back.

> no blitzing, will have DE defend the pitch by crossing the LOS on their side at the time of the pitch.

Also, has anyone seen this: (imagine a triangle) -

1 NT

2 LB's (5yards deep)

2 Safeties (8 yards deep)

I am asking for any advice to my proposed 2/3: pros, cons, ideas, comments.

And I am curious to see if anyone has seen the triangle defense.

Thanks!!!!

[aquint 0]

I also just read similar threads and am now thinking about taking my stud player to mirror their stud player. Their stud plays QB and RB. He is a double threat at RB - running and pitch and pass.

[Coach Rob 26]

aquint -

Congrats on getting the championship again. Nice job.

I use the 2/3 with the same variations you're talking about with audibles that determine who will rush from the 3 in back. For example, if we suspected a run based on how they came out of the huddle, we'd call an audible that brought our middle safety to the los before the snap. His primary responsibility was to get in the backfield ASAP after a pitch or handoff. If they faked a run, he'd back peddle to his original position and cover the pass. This works well to shut down a quick handoff or those pitches that can turn into a possible pass play. I like the 2/3 because it gives me flexibility to send different rushers, morph into a 3/2 and basically keep the offense guessing.

We call out audibles on every play. The safeties are numbered 1,2 and 3, so they know what to listen for from the audible. The words didn't matter, they just needed to hear a 1,2, or 3 which meant they were the rusher. "Rick from NY 71" sent the left rusher, "Pizza! Pizza! 42" sent the middle and so on. Anything with a zero sent the middle safety up to the los to watch for the run as I mentioned above; "BlackJet10!", "NY NY 30!" If we yell out any number other than 1,2,3 or 0, they stay in their basic formation with no rush. "Avenger 55!" "Slam Right 99!"

Now and then, we call an audible to rush our two outside safeties (1 & 2). "Orange Crush 21" or "Elway 12". This told my two DE's they needed to back peddle and cover the holes left by the safeties as soon as the ball was snapped.

If you have time to practice before the championship. I'd go over what it looks like to rush the QB, things like: not over pursuing, forcing them to their weak side, containment, etc. We made all 3 safeties look like they were going to rush each play to get the advantage of speed. Even though only one usually rushed, they were all ready to go in a sprinters stance.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[Coach Rob 26]

I also just read similar threads and am now thinking about taking my stud player to mirror their stud player. Their stud plays QB and RB. He is a double threat at RB - running and pitch and pass.

We also do this when a team is using one stud player consistently. I definitely do this in basketball and it can frustrate a team.