field defense

Unless through scouting, film, etc. I have noted an opponent's tendency that would indicate this would be a smart move, I never do it. If there strength is into the boundary, so is mine.

Coach Easton

the reason that i ask, is that we have three really good players on defense: a safety, LB, and DE. most big plays are to the wide side and most teams that we play will be wide side oriented. i want to put my best players based on scouting, where the tendency shows. also, may only have one good corner, so i am thinking about using him like this also.
what do offenses try to do if you see a defense call the strength to the wide side?

Coach we run a field defense as our base because our players are lined up before the offense breaks the huddle and we are a balanced defense. There is a benefit to not having to move around after the offense comes to the LOS, especially for younger kids. It allows them to be more aggressive.

Center,

I run a Dallas 42 base (4-2-5) and you can't get anymore balanced than that, coach, as you have 5 to the rip side, 5 to the liz side and the FS keeps it all balanced by being in the COF. Unless you are coaching youth level, I can't see any benefit of having your team aligned prior to the offense breaking the huddle and making the PSL a snap for their QB, other than you do a lot of stemming. Most well coached teams, when I coached HS ball, were doing their best to give the opposing QB a fuzzy read by moving around and not showing their real intent. We defeated that technique by going on a quick count or using motion to get the defense to tip their hand, just as we do today. Could you please explain your theory that being in a preset defense allows for more aggressiveness? To me that could only mean employing an anticipation verses a reading philosophy that would allow them to fly to a spot rather than the ball, and that is just not sound, imo. What level do you coach? The only reason I ask that, is because the things that you do on the youth level are limited because the little guys are just getting started and I have always offered the advice of teaching them HOW AND WHERE TO ALIGN AND WHO TO BLOCK BEFORE TEACHING THEM HOW TO BLOCK, FOR EXAMPLE. PLEASE DO NOT THINK FOR ONE MOMENT THAT I AM "TALKING DOWN" TO YOU OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, AS I CERTAINLY AM NOT, COACH. Just trying to understand y'alls perspective on this topic. Looking forward to your reply and thanking you in advance for it.

Coach Easton
allows them to be more agressive

Tiger,

Thanks for the reply. I must start off by saying that we package our sides, as do a lot of people. One of my (SS) is a little different that the other. I have on SS that is more similar to a OLB and one SS that has more of a secondary build. I have one MLB that is more of a ISO filler and one that is more of a runner. I package them and they typically see the same type of blocking schemes and plays run at them. We do not have the luxury of having great athletes but we do have a good system in making them fullfill their potential.

I GUESS THIS IS THE REAL POINT.....
With that all aside. We are just playing a game with tendencies and so forth by making a field call. We might only run our call 5-6 times a game, but it fits the tendency, and that is the most important thing.

6D,

Totally agree with 100% of your last post. It all boils down to a personnel thing, be it you package it as you describe above(which IMO, is very good) or you are reading tendencies. We are both saying, essentially, the same thing. You have guys on both side who are accustomed to seeing what they will see most often and that will enable them to be better defenders of those types of plays. When you are attacking tendencies, you handle it the same way. I'm with that school of thought fully! Best of luck as we get ready for a brand new season ( my 41st ) with my first preseason game only 19 days away!

Coach Easton

6D,

Winng the lottery wouldn't make me a bit happier than I am right now, it is the greatest feeling in the world to me, to be working full time in football at my age! (be 64 in 21 days, just lost my twin brother on March 28th). Best of luck with the Spring! Where are you located?

Coach Easton

Beautiful state! Played a team from Knoxville in our playoffs in 2002 and they were tough! They led at the half and came right out and scored early in the 3rd quarter. I finally found the chink in the armour I was looking for in their defense and my 5 wide empty gun started to roll offensively. Got the D right finally and we caught them on the score board half way through the 4th. Scored with about 6 minutes to go in the game to win. It was a great football game, well played and played hard by both teams. They earned my respect for sure.

Coach Easton

Hey Center,

Appreciate your response and your explanation.

Coach Easton

Good philosophy in my book, coach.

Coach Easton