Youth Football vs. 4-4 and 5-3 Defenses

eaglecoach,

Thanks for being the first customer here in the youth forum! Most teams in our league when playing a 4-4 will only play 6 defenders in the box with inverts on both sides. Defending the outside run is pretty much everyone's top priority as I guess it is in most youth leagues. With only 6 in the box there are obvious bubbles to attack. Out of an offset I, ISO is our most effective inside run against either defense. The ability to double at the point of attack and having hopefully one of our best athletes (FB) throwing the lead block usually makes this play a good one. Against a 4-4 you'll see most likely a 2 or 3 technique on the tightside and a 4 or 5 technique against a 5-3. I try to teach my backs that their initial step must be towards the called hole but that when running an ISO that they must follow their FB. Against a 5-3 the hole will be inside the double team so the back must adjust his path after the snap. Most of my kids at TB always want to bounce the play outside but usually a couple of bad experiences (after leaving their FB inside) will convince them otherwise!

Another good way to attack these fronts would be to trap them but I have not been able to really put in a solid inside trap play that works consistently because of too much penetration inside. About the only pulling my guards will do is when running Counter G and on bootlegs. It would be very effective I would think if your kids can handle it.

Since my team basically plays a 5-3 (we play a 5-2 monster with the SS up at LB depth on the tightside), I can tell you that one big weakness is to run away from their strength by running ISO, counters and inside veer to the openside. The key I think is to have kids on that side of your o-line capable of making the blocks necessary. Left tackle in particular is usually not a very strong position for us. You can also use short motion by your flanker (Z), or TE in a slot to chip the EMLOS or wall off or crack an inside defender as well. This will work well if they plan man coverage consistently and you have the ability to get outside on a toss using the same motion.

Coach, I'd be happy to send you some .pdfs of some of these plays if you'd like. Just e-mail me at dhartman@cox-internet.com. Thanks again for the post and I look forward to a continuing dialogue on the wonderful world of youth football!!!

David Hartman
CYFL Coach

Thanks for the post coach. Although most youth defenses are vulnerable to a good inside running game, the fact is that most team's inside running games are underdeveloped at that age so it's not the glaring weakness it would become later at the hs level. We play Cover 3 about 90% of the time as well and you're very right coach when saying that the "go" route way outside is definitely what any youth defense will see the most. Our ends (outside lbs) also have contain responsibilities with the corners playing force on outside runs to their side. The awayside corner and free safety are taught to rotate with flow looking for possible receivers downfield. Finding a free safety that will play pass first consistently is certainly a challenge though!