Disadvantages of the Flex Defense

Are you referring to the double eagle flex ("Desert Swarm") that Arizona used to run ?

People say that it is vulnerable against the option & wide open attacks. I don't necessarily agree. However, no one argues that, in general, it's a great run-stopper. One DC in the Big Ten (who visited Arizona a few years back & coached the defense at the I-AA level) told me that it's the best run-stopping front in football. I plan on using it next year.

Can anyone out there give me a quick synopsis on what the "Desert Swarm" is and what is looks like?

If you have a copy of that San Jose State Flex playbook I will take a copy. I met with a coach in WI who runs it. He put it in 6 years ago and has never looked back. By making the area vrom tackle to tackle a "cluster" you can allow the LBs to fast flow outside. The DL is supposed to allow no run to go vertical, everything must spill laterally which allows the pursuit to run it down. I think this is a big advantage for us because our Lbs have good speed and can tackle in the open field. The scheme is very aggressive. IN our old 5-3 we always made our DEs contain, which I think my its nature is a more "passive" action. In the flex really no one has contain, the DL forces everything outside to the LBs, and FS has cutback. The CB would still need to force everything back in to the LB if he does not make the tackle himself. The flex DT causes problems for the OL by his alignment, and his keys. The kid we might play there was an ILB in the 4-4. the scheme allows us to play with smaller fast kids. I still want to know what its pitfalls are because there are some veteren coaches in our league and if they can find a weakness they will exploit it. Let me know if you find that playbook.

38,
Food for thought: Some teams now play the flex with 3-3 personnel. They play with TWO flex players, which might help alleviate some of the problems presented by a spread team... plus, a few more stunt/blitz possibilities.
Groundchuck,
The only thing I've worried about is this. With that "cluster" in the middle, the LBs BETTER make the play on the perimeter. In other words, maybe not enough people at the point of attack for some people. That's part of the reason I plan on playing a lot of Robber coverage, to get the FS in quick run support in the alley.

5 man, double eagle front with one 3 technique playing flexed - at the heels of the D-line. They cancel A,B & C gaps on both sides, spilling everything, where LBs are playing force. The nose is a two-gapper. Lbs are the adjusters vs. various sets, but they always have force, no matter where they align.

What are the exact linemen number techniques on the line? Also, where do the LB's start?