[Orange]

We ran into a team that effectively used picks against us. They were really good at it especially for short yardage and one even broke for a long TD. They would do it during short yardage situations by creating a screen and then run a short drag pass in front of the screen. Basic setup was something like this. Two wideouts and third receiver next to center. They would bring one of the wideouts in motion and he'd line up on the other side of the center. On the snap two of the middle guys ran about 3 yards forward and created a screen. The other would delay for a second and drag in front of the screen. It was an easy 2 yards and since the receiver was running, he'd have a nice head of steam running around the screen for more.

Any thoughts on how to defend it?

[rushbuster70]

Bring the middle guy up and push the front zone back a bit

[Orange]

rushbuster70, on 02 November 2009 - 08:59 AM, said:

Bring the middle guy up and push the front zone back a bit

Are you talking about like standing right over the center so they have no space to set the screen?

[rushbuster70]

orange,dont know if it should be that much.I would wing it and put him wherever the defense runs that though.

[Orange]

OK, I answered this question because we faced the same team in our first round playoff game yesterday. When they looked like they were going to do that pick I had my defender stand as close to them as possible on the line of scrimmage. It totally disrupted the play and frustrated them so that they got called for pushing(illegal screen). At half time their coach spoke with the referee, asking if we were allowed to stand that close to their players. They had to confer with the league officials who said we have to start the play 1 yard back, kind of like a neutral zone. We played like that the rest of the game but at that point their little pick/ screen play was not effective.

[rushbuster70]

Great Job!Told you just bring them up lol...

[Johnp2]

Because we have been moved to 6vs6 we've been instructed to no longer block, but to instead set up picks.

I did not institute this in our first game. My assistant told me he watched the team we played earlier and they were blocking. We have three type of blocking schemes: Level A which is where our team is to hunt on sight and lay a lick on players. Level B, which is to set picks, and Level C, which is where we essentially run our dummy routes into the defenders. This team did not block nor pick, so I elected not to call any level (thinking 6vs6 would open it up), but have found now that we need to call Level B or C---at a minimum and will still begin with Level A until we are told to stop.

That "Smash-Mouth" team you played, Orange, seems a lot like mine. We move the ball slowly down the field, and are most successful when we dictate the play.

The best way to beat it is to be pro-active. There is little time to react. When a defense sticks to their assignments, we do well. However, if they deviate and become aggressive, that is when we need to improvise.