5-2 monster

My school is switching to a 5-2 monster this year from a 4-4 that we have been runnign the past couple of years. We feel that it fits the small school program better because it is a better run stopper when you don't have great athletes. In a 4-4, you need 4 good linebackers, and at the small school level they are difficult to find. We are looking for some info. on installing this defense, so if anybody has any info. on it it would greatly be appreciated.

CUI,

We run this defense and have the same problems with the OL just pushing us where we wanted to go and the backs reading the blocks. We are considering countering this by attacking a man and maintaining the gap responsibility. We don't see a lot of passing, so pass rush is very situational. We have tried a lot of different stuff related to coverages and reads and I would like to talk about this more also.

CUI,

We start our nose in a 0 also. He is 175 lbs and very quick. It causes a double team probably about 80% of the time. We start our DT's in a 5, but before the snap they could be anywhere from a 2 to 6. We play our DE's in a 9 and are strong believers in chase and contain. We play a cover two look vs. most sets, but it is a man coverage.

We use a couple options when playing cover 3: First, we use the weak side LB and play a 3 deep 3 under coverage. We coach the LB to look for a threat to that zone before we react. In our conference it is most likely a RB. We teach our weak corner that he is essentially man until he reaches the free safety level. We feel we are more effective when we keep our weak side DT in a 5 and speed rush the end forcing the hot read. We bring that DT hard through the B gap to slow that OG down on the help to the outside. Teams counter our rush by keeping the RB in to pass block. This limits who they can send to the flat. Our philosphy goes back to chase/contain when it is double tights. We teach our DE's to get to the back arm of the QB on a very tight arc and it has helped to maintain our aggressiveness. We also run a nice stunt with the DE inside and DT in chase/ contain.

We are also looking at using the DE in the flat giving us a 3 deep 4 under, but consistency has been a problem. I agree that leaving that weakside flat unprotected is a little scary. We have just tried to minimize their options there with our rush and other combo coverages.

In your cover two, how do you handle the vertical routes by the TE? The reason we have gone away from the cover two to man were these routes. Our safeties key the TE looking for run block or pass release.

Do you know of any good sources for playbooks for the 33/35 defense? I don't have much to trade and the offers for free playbooks regarding the 33/35 defenses never materialized.

Coach,

We have been running what some teams call an eagle front. It is a combination odd-even defense. Our nose plays a 1 tech to the offensive strength. We are looking into the 3-3 as a defense for us to use this season. I have our defense on file which I could send you with all the information on our defense if you could send me your information on the 3-3. Let me know what you think as it can help both of us evaluate where we want to go.

CoachTruscello@aol.com

Coach,

MG@CI is absolutely correct regarding DE play in this defensive scheme; in fact, outside containment is one of the first things we teach our DE's.

I agree the weakside flat presents a weakness with cover 3. We have experimented with what you are talking about but decided to vacate that zone sometimes and use a LB with a 3 deep 3 under coverage other times. We rely on a lot of pressure from the weakside DE. We are in a very run oriented conference.

Thanks guys, I am designing a coverage scheme for a new DC. We run mostly Cover 1 out of a cover 3 shell. I wanted something for third and long using a cover 3 concept to stop the TE post so I appreciate your input.

I have a basic 5-2 monster question: How do you line up against one back, two wides, double tights?