Middle LB Reads/Keys vs the I

We have tried FB to guard, but like you said, it is tough, especially if your guys play 2 ways and can't get the reps in practice. I think the straight guard read is the way to go. That should get them going in the right direction, then we let them play football.

We do a good job reading the guards against the Wing-T. The problem is the I. When you refer to the cross-key you cross-key the opposite guard?

This topic is very simple to me. GUARDS, GUARDS, GUARDS!!!

JOHN,

GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK MAN! You have seen my posts on the guards being the windows to their soul many times, I'm sure. I still believe that! HOWEVER, in this day of false keys I teach read THRU THE GUARDS TO THE BACKS. If you read only the guards you are setting yourself up for a counter gap, etc.
In todays football, it is imperative, IMO, that you read it as I described above. Just my opinion as always.

Coach Easton

quote:

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Originally posted by: TIGER ONE
JOHN,

GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK MAN! You have seen my posts on the guards being the windows to their soul many times, I'm sure. I still believe that! HOWEVER, in this day of false keys I teach read THRU THE GUARDS TO THE BACKS. If you read only the guards you are setting yourself up for a counter gap, etc.
In todays football, it is imperative, IMO, that you read it as I described above. Just my opinion as always.

Coach Easton

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Jerry,
With the kids I am coaching we must keep it as simple as possible. We have enough trouble with kids reading the backfield but I do understand what you are saying.

Hey guys, why not read backfield flow against the I?

We teach four types of flows: Fast, slow, divided and option. That pretty much covers what you have to defend against the I and also helps LB's have a pre-read on the flow against One back teams that use two tight ends or TE-Hback combinations.

Just a thought.

"The road to Easy Street goes through the sewer." John Madden

Coach, that would take up a lot of space in one answer, but maybe in several posts if you're interested I can describe how we do it against the I.

I'm talking about a 4-3 defense since in the original post the coach did not specify what defense he uses. It can apply to any other defense though.

Fast flow indicates both backs are going in the same direction aiming outside the offensive tackle, like in a toss sweep. All lb's need to fast flow to the next available hole, cutback hole also moves for the backside LB.

Slow flow indicates both backs are going in the same direction inside the offensive tackle, like in a power or ISO. If power, all backers should attack the LOS NOW and wrong arm any block they encounter. If ISO, we fill ISO hole with two LB's each "ripping" a different shoulder of the FB.

Divided flow indicates we see the backs go different ways, such as in quick trap, counter, inside zone, etc. In this case, backside LB needs to shuffle and slow down his pursuit, as does backside DE if unblocked since both need to be alert to naked pass and cutback; there is one more hole to fill on their side.

Option flow is a world of it's own. We practice this hard if the teams we will face have option as their core offense. Option need lots of repetition not only defensively, but offensively too. In general, this flow indicates both runners going in the same direction but with different angles (of course freeze option and other plays change this).

All this rules change if we're doing line stunts vs run which are excellent against power teams.

I believe I did indicate in the first post that the 5-2 was the base. Coach marquez, I am a little confused on your reads for divided flow, which to me is the biggest pain in the ass for the kids to read. How do you determine backside on divided flow??? Oneback film study does help with FB or TB taking you toward the play, but I have faced offensive coaches who pick up who the backers are reading and change their tendencies in game. I know you can adjust your reads, but I do not prefer changing in game which brings confusion. The only real problem is divided flow. How do you guys deal with divided flow.

JKEEPERMAN: No key has ever been invented that cannot be broken!!!!!

First of all - your keys should depend on your PASS COVERAGE (which you never mentioned). In M/M - your LBers are FORCED to key BACKS. In ZONE - they can underkey the Guards to the ball (preferably) OR near back!!!!! Keys MUST CHANGE WITH COVERAGES!!!!!

Always take into consideration what PASS COVERAGE you are playing when determing LBer keys or reads!!!!!

Teams that run the ball 85% end up BEATING you on a pass you least expected - PARTICULARLY play action (AFTER you have "stuffed the run").

In MAN - you CANNOT lose sight of the MAN you are covering coming out of the backfield, PERIOD! In ZONE - key thru the Guards to the ball! I ran the 5-2 for 24 years (as well as playing in it in High School for 4 years, & 1 year in College). The reads above were the best we ever used.

Bill,

We won many a game at Raines with that exact philosophy!!! We were a true option team, throwing only 10-12 times a night. But, after you get them sucked in expecting an ISV or some complimentary play, then we would hit them with play action and lots of times we would really catch them with their pants down for the home run!

Coach Easton