5-3 Defense

[c-mart 0]

I will be the defensive coordinator for a group 9 & 10 year olds in Tomball, Texas (suburb of Houston). My main defense will be the 5-3. I'll also be using the 4-4 formation on opponents with wide/outside running games. When trying to put bodies into positions, what type of skill sets should I be looking for in the following defensive positions?

1. Nose Guard

2. Right and Left Tackles

3. Right and Left Ends

4. Right and Left Outside Linebackers

5. Middle Linebackers

6. Right and Left Cornerbacks

7. Strong Safety

Thanks

[jag1872 0]

Coach,

What type of 53 are you going to run?

ARe you running an aggressive (blitzing/attack) style defense or a read and react style 53? My preference is to always be aggressive and attack the offense. The more pressure you apply the less the offense can do (ie misdirection/playaction pass). They then must count on straight forward plays to defeat you. Sweeps, power off tackle, dives, and quickpass.

Are you running an eagle front (meaning a TNT front 2-0-2 tech) over the center and guards or a okie front with the tackles over the OT's and the NG on the center (4-0-4 or 5-0-5 tech). This places your LBers in different positions as well.

Normally in a 5-3 these players must be studs -

NG (aggressive, can fight off a double team, can drive a center back or penetrate into a gap, quick, fight through a block).

Mike (as above but more mobile, better hands, can cover a receiver - good at pursuing)

Safety (flows to ball well and pursues well. Can read the ball and make a play on it. Great tackler and open field tackler) IF A ROVER - can penetrate and has a quick step, fight through a block.

These players must be good athletes and follow directions.

DE's - must be able to fight off a kickout, fight through a reach block, pursue the ball. Not allow a runner outside of his containment, tackle well. Quick step and penetrate.

CB - good coverage skills, can catch, mentally tough, can come up and play the run. (if you blitz your corners then they must have good quickness and be able to penetrate).

These players need to be good athletes -

OLB - need to be able to read near back and cross read a far back. Need to be able to cover a slot receiver. Can catch. Aggressive, good tacklers, fight through a block, penetrate. Will put his nose in the hole to clog the run. Pursues and takes a good angle.

These players can be average players -

DT - need to have either size or strength (both prefered) to fight off double teams and hold gap (or gaps if two gapping). If a DT is quick and can penetrate into the backfield and is a good tackler and will fight through blocks then your defense becomes even better.

Hope this helps a bit.

I coach in Dallas, Texas. Actually Grand Prairie.

Jack

[c-mart 0]

Hey Jack,

Thanks for the timely response. Your advice will be very helpful!!! I will be running a basic 5-3 defense, with a couple of Blitz packages from time to time. I'm expecting to have a very aggressive/attacking defense.

Thanks again for your advice.

c-mart