youth football offensive formations diagrams

#Youth football offensive formations diagrams how to

However, the 5-3 defense also allows for the possibility of stunts and curls along the line of scrimmage. On base plays, the tackles will be responsible for the B gap while the ends will be responsible for the C gap and outside containment. While the nose tackle has almost the same responsibility on every play (either one of the A gaps), the defensive tackles and ends could have varying responsibilities. This player will be a tight end on both sides of the field if the offense is running a jumbo package, or it could be an offensive tackle if the offense has one tight end, a running back, and a fullback on the field. The two defensive ends in a 5-3 defense will line up in what’s known as a wide 9 technique, meaning on the outside shoulder of the last man on the line of scrimmage. The defensive tackles will either have responsibility to fill the B gap on base defensive plays, or they could even stunt out wide to the C gap on blitzing plays (more on this later).

The other two defensive tackles will most often line up over the offensive guards’ head or outside shoulder. To attack either A gap and clog up as much space as possible in the middle of the field. The nose tackle in this defense will line up in three possible positions:Įither directly over the head of the center or shaded toward his left or right shoulder.Īnd the nose tackle has one primary responsibility… The line will consist of a big-bodied nose tackle, two defensive tackles, and two defensive ends. The defensive line in a 5-3 defense is stacked up front.

#Youth football offensive formations diagrams how to

How to Run the 5-3 Defense Stage 1: The Defensive Line Secondary Needs Discipline - It’s essential that the secondary plays disciplined and sticks to their responsibilities, especially with one fewer defender at that level. That could allow the offense to take advantage by sticking to simple routes for receivers and runs toward the outside. Simplifies Things for the Offense, Too - While there are wrinkles you can run in your 5-3 defense, it’s often tough to disguise blitzes from the quarterback. This alignment requires bigger bodies up front more than anything, otherwise your defenders could get pushed around. Hard to Run If Undersized - If your team doesn’t have a lot of big bodies to play along the line of scrimmage, then the 5-3 defense might not be good for you. That’s because with one fewer defender in the secondary, there is a lot of room outside the hash marks for speedier receivers to take advantage of.

Susceptible to Short Passes - Offenses will often try to attack a 5-3 defense with short passing routes. Reduces Reaction Time - Quarterbacks and running backs have less time to make a play against the 5-3 defense because there are so many defenders close to the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball. Great Against the Run - Having eight defenders in the box makes it very hard to establish a consistent running game on offense, as there isn’t a lot of room for running backs to go with the football even if the offensive line does a good job blocking.Ĭan Also be Good Against the Pass - The three linebackers can provide coverage against receivers over the middle of the field, and one of the defensive ends can even drop back in coverage, since there’s a glut of linemen in this formation. Stacks the Line - The 5-3 defense utilizes five down linemen at the snap of the ball, making it hard for offensive linemen to have vision downfield.Įxtra Pressure at Point of Attack - This clogging at the line of scrimmage allows linebackers to stay hidden behind the defensive linemen, providing opportunities to create pressure with a blitz. It’s a great option for stopping the run, by making it harder for the offensive line to block all the defenders who are lined up near the ball.Īnd it’s also good for zone coverage in the passing game and for applying pressure to the quarterback. It’s often used against “jumbo” offense packages that utilize at least two tight ends and maybe even a fullback. The 5-3 defense is focused primarily on stacking the line of scrimmage with a lot of bodies, exchanging a defender in the secondary for another defender up front. It’s also an alignment that can be used as players get older and are more experienced, because it provides flexibility and adaptability in look, coverage and pressure. It’s a great defense to teach containment, gap coverage, and primary duties on the field.īut the 5-3 defense isn’t just for the young, inexperienced team of football newbies… The 5-3 defensive formation is great for youth football teams because it’s a simplified defense that doesn’t require any player to have too many responsibilities.