5 replies to this topic

[Seahawks]

I coach a 6-8 year old NFL Flag football team (5 v. 5) and was wondering if anyone had any advice on defending against the Tripps formation (three WRs lined up either on the right or left of the center and no RB). I am a first year coach running a 2-1-2 defensive scheme (two defensive players on the line, one rusher, and two safeties). There are several teams in our league that regularly interchange between the basic T formation and the Tripps formation. I was hoping someone with more expertise than myself could give pointers on the best defensive scheme against this formation. I would also appreciate it if anyone had any strategies on how to quickly modify a 2-1-2 during a game when the offense lines up in Tripps.

[cpg]

I coach a 6-8 year old NFL Flag football team (5 v. 5) and was wondering if anyone had any advice on defending against the Tripps formation (three WRs lined up either on the right or left of the center and no RB). I am a first year coach running a 2-1-2 defensive scheme (two defensive players on the line, one rusher, and two safeties). There are several teams in our league that regularly interchange between the basic T formation and the Tripps formation. I was hoping someone with more expertise than myself could give pointers on the best defensive scheme against this formation. I would also appreciate it if anyone had any strategies on how to quickly modify a 2-1-2 during a game when the offense lines up in Tripps.

I would cheat the weak-side safety towards the trip-side and maybe call off the blitz and drop your blitzer into coverage. At that age, going deep isn't usually a reliable option so two defenders may even be able cover the 3 receivers in a cluster. If someone breaks towards the middle, your "1" picks him up. You could also go man-to-man, but I have had much better luck setting kids up in zones so they always know where to be. Make sure the weak-side corner stays home guard against end-arounds.

[Johnp2]

I would keep them in the 2-1-2 and have all the kids stay in their zone. By that, cover the field instead of the players, and let them beat themselves.

At a maximum, shift the players over a little to the strong side--but stay in the 2-1-2. I'm not sure what trouble you are facing against the Trips formation. Is the offense hitting quick screens to that side?

We are 6v6, and we run a "Quad" formation (which would be the same idea as Trips in 5v5). Depending on what how the defense lines up is the play we run. If they put most of their players on the strong side, we'll just hand it off to the Center going to the weak side or something.

What I don't like to see when we run this formation is the defense staying put. If they do, I'll send a player in motion to the weak side and send him on a drag route.

Regarding switching schemes, we use hand signals to run one of three types of zones. However, we only switch if the offense is beating us out of a particular formation--other than that we stay with our base. By that, the offense has to give us a reason to respect the formation.

[rushbuster70]

Just move the weakside safety over.Still blitz your middle LB to make sure you get pressure on the QB.Slide your front guys over towards the trips side also.As long as your kids keep a good zone that should solve your prob.

[Coach Rob]

Just move the weakside safety over.Still blitz your middle LB to make sure you get pressure on the QB.Slide your front guys over towards the trips side also.As long as your kids keep a good zone that should solve your prob.

Yep, we did the same thing. Our D coach had a few audibles he'd call for trips or other formations. Worked well. The weakside safety understood they had to cover the middle and their side.

[Orange]

Just move the weakside safety over.Still blitz your middle LB to make sure you get pressure on the QB.Slide your front guys over towards the trips side also.As long as your kids keep a good zone that should solve your prob.

This is exactly what we do. You slide everyone over a bit but not too far. Here is a position by position explanation of the shift:

Rusher: Have him shade to the strong side maybe 5 yards. The QB will probably roll to that side. Also, the rusher can possibly disrupt passes in this area.

Strong corner. Have him play right over the middle trip receiver close to the los unless the formation is really funky. Wider is probably better in that case.

Weak corner. Move him about halfway between where he'd normally play and the center. So maybe 5 yards outside the center. Have him play off the los maybe 3 yards. He needs to carefully watch the center and anything back to his side.

Strong safety. Back 7 yards over the outside shoulder of the middle receiver. He will be a little wider than normal.

Weak safety. Back 7-10 yards close to the middle, maybe 3-5 yards wide.