Defending the Wing-T

From my 2021 Defensive Notebook:

PREPARING THE DEFENSE FOR ANY STYLE OFFENSE “IN-SEASON”

Since a team usually has only one week of practice, to make the transition from their base defense taught to the defense against the next opponent's offense (Wishbone, Split-Back Veer, Flex-Bone, Wing-T, Run & Shoot, ETC.), we follow this thinking: In this short space of practice time we believe it is difficult to change, to any great degree, the basic concept and fundamental moves of the defense. If too many adjustments are tried they probably will not be well executed because there is simply not enough time in a week's practice to learn many radically different moves and reactions. In addition, a PSYCHOLOGICAL LOSS occurs if the players in trying to learn too many new things develop a tendency to lose confidence in their ability to cope with the new attack. When this happens they feel inadequately prepared for the game.

An important part of playing successful defense is the confidence on the part of each man that thy can STOP the offense. If the week's practice practice in preparation for a particular offense has been devoted to making tremendous adjustments in stance, charge, keys, and other basic elements of defense, it is possible that the team will feel the new attack is too tricky and difficult to stop. This will cause them to lose the confidence necessary to play effectively on defense.

Actually, it is best not to “panic” in any sense in preparing for a different type offense. The BEST approach is to adjust a defense that the team already knows. If any attempt is made radically to alter the defense during the week of the game, the team probably will not be able to learn to execute it well. If they do not learn well, the lack of confidence described above may result.

Our coaching staff believes that in facing any opponent, we would play them, in all fundamental respects, exactly as we have taught in our base defense. We simply adjust one or two of the defenses which our team knows and believes in. When we do this, our players seem to regain their defensive confidence.

In order to play any defense well the fundamentals should be learned during the spring and fall pre-season practice. These fundamentals should not be altered during the season. There is NEVER enough practice time available from game to game to learn radically different assignments. Therefore, we believe it best to use techniques already learned and mastered.

billmountjoy@yahoo.com