Single Wing Defense

This is what we like:

-----------F
--C--W--------M---C
9------1--2--5--S----8
--X-G-C-G-T-T-Y
-------------Q-----W
--------H---F

Numbering gets confusing with the unbalanced line. Interior lineman should be shaded weak on center, head-up on strong OG, outside shade on strong OT. These men must know what they are to do if a lineman pulls in either direction (cross-face?, dip and rip?).

Corners are in man on the WB and weak TE, SLB aligned inside eye of strong TE, also in man.
IF THE WB RELEASES INSIDE THE MLB MUST TAKE HIM AND THE SCB MUST FILL OUTSIDE FB.
MLB should read the blocking back.
Send an LB or CB often with FS taking his man. When no one is going, FS must be ready to fill.
On occasion, send two. e.g. send SCB and SLB, MLB covers Y, FS covers WB and 8 peels off if a back comes out of the backfield that way.
WLB should be given a read based on your scouting to sniff out weak-side plays quickly.

IMO, you want to be in man because your guys will get a read off their man rather than looking into the backfield at all the spinning, fakes etc. Blitzing also helps to avoid being mesmorized by the misdirection.

If you feel this has any merit, e-mail me for more details: SOrndoff@adelphia.net

My primary concern is that you do not have enough bodies on the strong-side to stop the off-tackle play and sweep (try drawing out the fits). On either play, the WB will block inside (SLB or FS). You need to have a plan for that (if your SC runs with the WB he will take two men out of the play).

One other concern is that SS and WLB are playing off. I would be more inclined to get them across the LOS. If WLB does not have to be accounted for, the weak TE will "shoeshine" your weak DE and the weak OG will pull. This will only compound your trouble of being outnumbered at the POA. If the SS is playing off, he may struggle to keep contain and be logged by a back or pullling OG. If you are in man, the SC cannot be counted on to act as secondary force.

Is there something that you have learned from scouting that makes you keen to have two of your guys keying each TE?

I understand your concern about protecting the weak-side. I might put my best DL at the weak 1 tech. (in the alignment shown in my earlier post) to protect my WLB and to chase the weak OG (or cross C's face) if weak OG pulls.

Do you have any standout players (at any position)?

-Scott

PS If your SC or FS get nosey in run support, watch for delay routes and/or HB passes.

coach-
we use what you showed there in the 6 -2 look, we treat the Stg. G as the center. we play a version of man to it, trouble if you can't get to backs in flats or up the shoot. We empasis all week that no back gets through any gap without being blown up. Play games with SS and Stg E, or sometimes move E to 9 tech...mix up things to handle off tackle and stretch plays. END's HAVE TO BE CRASHING SOB, DT HAVE TO SQUASH THE TRAP! Good Luck

If end up doing something like what I first suggested, you may consider putting your SS at FS vs. the single-wing. The FS often is the unblocked "free-hitter" becasue they block the off-tackle play like this:
Q-EMLOS
Y-SLB
WB-MLB
FB-SC
If you have your contain-man turn the play in (right shoulder the Q) and your SC fit outside the FB (MLB covers WB when he cracks) the saftey is left to fill the alley. You want someone there who can tackle.

I would also put one of your good DEs at the weak 1 tech. They will stop pulling that WG if your 1 tech. can penetrate and cause some negative plays. This is crucial because if the WG can pull, he will block your saftey in the alley on the off-tackle play.

IMO, you must stop the strong-side off-tackle play and sweep. If they establish either (or both) a single-wing team is tough to stop.

Hope you won yesterday. Please let me know what you settle on for this week and how it works.

-Scott

Try the old WIDE TACKLE SIX vs Single Wing. In the "Single Wing Days" - it was the best defense going vs that offense.

If it is an unbalanced line - line up as if the Strong Guard was the Center (he will be in the middle of the 7 offensive linemen). This means one 2 technique is on the Inside Tackle & the other is on the Center (UNBALANCED LINE).

Here are the TECHNIQUES (these are from BEAR BRYANT):

GUARDS: 2 TECHNIQUE: Head on the offensive guard. The distance he lines up off the ball in a staggered stance will be determined by the tactical situation. On the snap of the ball he plays the guard with a hand shiver, and immediately locates the football. If it is a back-up pass and there is no man in a 0 or 1 technique, he will look for the draw play first, and then rush the passer. If it is a running play, he will look first toward the inside for a trap, and then pursue the football.

TACKLES: 7 TECHNIQUE: The 7 tehnique player line up splitting the inside foot of the offensive end. He is responsible for forcing the end to reduce his offensive split. We want him to line up with the outside foot staggered, and he must never be blocked out by the offensive end. He has 75% inside responsibility and 25% outside responsibility. When the ball is snapped, he uses a hand or forearm flipper charge on the offensive end and brings his back foot up even with his front foot. His main responsibility is to whip the offensive end, and to close the off-tackle play. If the play is a straight drop back pass, he is the outside rusher and he must not permit the quarterback to get outside of him. If the play goes away from him, he is to trail the ball carrier. He plays just like the trail or chase man on the 6 technique. He should be as deep as the deepest offensive backfield man so he can contain any reverse play coming back to his side of the line. He should not let such a play get outside of his position.

ENDS: 8 TECHNIQUE: When we speak of a man playing an 8 technique, we are speaking of a "true end," or a defensive end who lines up outside of the offensive end. The 8 man will be from one and one-half to three yards outside of the offensive end's normal position, with his inside foot forward, and his shoulders parallel with the line of scrimmage. If it is a straight back pass, the defensive end, without taking his eyes off the passer, will turn to his outside, and using a cross-over step will sprint to his outside trying to get width and depth to play the ball to his side. His depth should be 8-10 yards deep, similar to a linebacker's position covering the flat. He stops running when the quarterback stops to set up. When the ball is thrown, he sprints for the ball. If the play comes toward the 8 man, we want him to cross the line of scrimmage about two yards, getting set with his inside foot forward, shoulders parallel with the line of scrimmage, and playing the outside blocker. He is the outside contain man, and he must never permit the ball to get outside of him (force all runs tight inside with a "squeeze contain" technique). He never makes the quarterback pitch on option plays. If it is a running pass toward him, he is the outside contain and rush man. If the flow goes away from him, he must make sure it is not a reverse play back to his side before he takes the proper angle of pursuit, which is through the area where the defensive safety man lined up originally.

LINEBACKERS: Line up on the offensive tackles 2 1/2 yds deep (Strong Tackle & the Weak Guard in an unbalanced line). The BLOCKING BACK is a great key vs Single Wing, however, we taught the LBers as follows: react to the block of the man you line up on. There is one exception: if he blocks to your outside as you start to fill, be conscious of the O-Linemen on either side of him (if they are pulling away from the angle of his block, do not continue to shoot the gap but move with the flow of the pulling linemen). If he blocks inside, even though the adjacent linemen are pulling and moving to the outside, it is safe for you to shoot. You probably will be able to get through the gap cleanly and get to the ball carrier in the backfield.
If he pulls - follow him in pursuit behind your D-Line.


SECONDARY = Cover 3

NOTE: We used this defense when the ball was at or near midfield, OR, the srength of the formation was into the short field. If the ball is at or near the HASH, & the strength of the formation was into the wide field - you can OVERSHIFT the "six" one man over so that it comes out like a 5-2 MONSTER with the Weakside Guard playing NOSE on the strong O-Guard (middle of the formation). The strongside DE plays like a Monster; the strong DT & the weakside DE play 9 techniques. The strong Guard plays a 5 technique. The weak Guard plays the 0 technique. The weakside Tackle plays a 5 technique. The LBers align on the Inside Tackle strong & the Center on the weakside (same KEYS as the Wide Tackle 6).

PS: It is impossible to go over all the adjustments, "what if's", etc. If anyone is interested is diascussing this via PHONE (not email) - call me at 804-740-4479 (before 10 PM/EDT).

Congratulations.

What key(s) did you give your SLB?