Defending the Double-Wing

Coach,

I have posted on this subject before. We have a scheme we run that I feel very confident in, and we have had success with. In the end, it really comes down to the techniques you use up front. Here is generally what we believe...(we run a 50 front)

Keys to defending the DW Offense:

1. FORGET keying motion. The motion in a DW offense is not necessary for them to run their plays...it is only more convienient. If the DW offensive cooridinator catches you keying motion in any way...they have a thousand ways of making you pay. (Trust me, I have had it done to me)

2. Defeating the BLOCKING scheme on the line of scrimmage is crucial. 99% of the DW schemes are designed to combo your DT's to your LB's. You MUST keep the LB's free if you have any hope of stopping the base attack. So, your DT's must be trained to feel the pressure of the combo block and force the "chip" man to stay on the double team.

3. Read the guards. Practice a session every day with your LB's going against a seven-man line. No backs, no QB, no motion. Just learning to instantly react at DOWNHILL angles to the different steps of the guards, while getting UNDERNEATH the down blocks that are sure to come. The key to this is to resist the urge to walk your LB's up, because they will lose their angles and get caught up in traffic trying to go too laterally. They should play at 4 1/2 yards.

4. Your defensive ends are the most critical component to the whole thing. We line our DE's up in 9 techniques and come down THROUGH the TE, driving through the outside hip with a violent blow. He must look to crush the TE into the C gap, while taking an angle (it ends up being about 45 degrees) to go from the 9 tech position and end up 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage directly behind the outside hip of the offensive tackle's original position. This will challenge any kick-out blocks as violently and quickly as possible (and the off-tackle kick out block is the essense of their scheme).

This action will also bury a TE trying to release for a pass, and gives the end on the backside the perfect angle and disposition to chase down a play from the backside if the frontside DE has done his job and created an unholy mess in the off-tackle hole (forcing the runner to bounce).

Go get em, coach... !

In the 50 do you "eagle down" to the weakside when there is a split end or do you always leave both guards uncovered?"

Also on the strong side, do you ever take the 9-tech off the TE and move him out over the wing, or does he leave him in that position where he can be blocked down on by the Wing and count
mainly on the CB for outside contain.

Any details you can email: CoachTruscello@aol.com