Defending No Backs

A good GENERAL rule is to bring 6 (1 more than they can block)! VA TECH did this for YEARS & really hurt "EMPTY" teams! You must do this from YOUR defensive package!

We play cover 2 to the trips side and lock up man-to-man on the slot side. Our free safety will play deep middle while our strong safety will play deep third.

If you are going to run double option--absolutely. I will admit that it is a pain in the neck to have a team align in an empty set and then arc motion to a one-back set. You have to develop an interior running game though to complement it, and that will be your challenge. I wish you luck.

Coach,

I run a 5 wide 3 x 2 spread for close to 20 years now. If they show the ability to bring six and then bring 5 we feel as though we are home free, because we then have the ability to put a hat on all five of them and the QB will have loads of time to deal on that particular play. If they send all six, then our QB has to depend on his legs to run himself out of trouble and away from the free runner. If it turns out to be one of those nights where they have JOE DYNAMO at an end spot and he can really play, we make adjustments for that, but admittedly that causes problems at times. If I were DEFENDING A 5 WIDE EMPTY GUN, I WOULD SEND THE HOUSE ON THE FIRST PLAY TO SEE IF THEY CAN REALLY PLAY AND KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO BLOCK YOU. If they are mediocre and can't pick up a full blitz, blitz them to death until they make the right adjustments. But, if they can play, don't fall into the trap that a lot of DC's make in thinking that they will blitz on every play! If they do that to us, we pray for that because our QB's know they will have at least two and sometimes 3 receivers wide open! Sit back at the second level and read, read, read before commiting. Now, I am not saying don't be agressive, but rather be SMART.

Coach Easton