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[Coach J Hemi]

1. Lack of pursue to the ball. When you are committing 6 players on the line of scrimmage there is no pursuit to the ball. If the running back breaks through the first level of the defense, there is going to be a large gain, or even 6 points.

2. Weak against outside plays, because of only 2 linebackers. If the Defensive end gets cracked or sealed, your in trouble. Jet, Rocket, Fly Sweep all day long against both the 62 or the wide tackle 62 defense.

3. Cannot adjust to unbalanced offensive lines easily. The whole defense has to adjust to the strong side. In most other youth football defenses it takes minimal player movement to adjust to the strong side of the offense.

4. Counter and trap plays. Getting the two linebackers bitting one way on trap, counter or reverses is a 62 defense killer. The only two free players are running themselves out of position. You better have disciplined gap control from defensive linemen. In youth football children bite on misdirection easily, cheating out of their gap assignment often...so good luck.

5. Pass coverage. Play action passing is a nightmare; if the two inside linebackers bite on run they are completely out of position to play the pass. Flooding an area of the defense. With the 62 having 6 down linemen, you only have two linebackers to play coverage. Combination routes are a killer because you only have 3 players in coverage (2 corners and 1 safety). Let me ask you something...How is your linebackers going to cover a tight-end after bitting on play action, while the split end is running off your corner-back? He not going to be able to.

What happens when they go twins or trips to one side? How do you adjust the defense?

Those are my reasons why I would never run the 62 defense. On the other hand I can give about a few good reasons why the 62 is okay in youth football. Lets make clear- if your players get off block and tackle well, any defense should work.

I'm open to debate...