5-3 Defense

If this is youth football question, trap, trap, trap,

we see five man fronts all day and spread the db's with a twins or double twins and trap the interior linemen. This allows us to get up to the lb's and we don't have to worry about being out numberd inside of the tackles. As mentioned the option works well, however, running option against a five man d line puts you in a position to "miss" your hole of choice depending on the d line alignment. Example, if we want inside veer, we often see a nose and two d tackles lined up on the g-c-g and still have to contend with the option end, therefore, I would recommend you go to a double option if going outside and tell your playside guard to outside release to the lb. Again, I like the trap, I will often beat on a tackle with iso and power and then counter the opposite direction, this allows for a good trap and will keep the d line honest after they get burned a few times.

Keeping the d line honset is the biggest part of success. Forcing them to play assignment football and keeping them on guard against a trap, will allow you to "open up" your play book a bit and dictate to the Defense...