Choosing a Defense That is Right for My Program

I think in that situation I would research the 3-3-5 defense and see if you think it matches your philosophies on defense...It would give you 8 athletes on the field at one time...you might not have the biggest defense, but you should be really quick on that side of the ball(assuming you have the depth to put 8 quality kids out there)

Hey Lou, I coach with Rick Pennypacker a little ways down the Northeast Extension from you at Pottsgrove H.S. We run a multiple 50 defense that would have some similarities with the 3-3. We'll jump from a 50 shade, to a slanting base 50, to 5-3. I am the off. coor. and defensive line coach. Our lineman are typically very small and quick. e.g. Left tackle 5'10" 175, NG 5'10 160, right tackle 5'8" 180 lbs. I do my best to make them playmakers, using Coach Golla's def. line videos, but the reality is they're "pluggers". Meaning their job is to clog their gap, don't get blown off the ball, then pursue like crazy. It's worked well for us for the most part, except against Strath Haven of course. I think the main drawback to our defense would be adjustments to shifts and motions. I think a 4-3 with either cover two or quarters coverage may be a little better at handling adjustments, but you're also a lot more predictable as well. Good luck, hope your season is going well.

Falcon2, I've seen Coach speak on the 50 shade. We run a 3-4 (basically a 50) right now, and I hate it, b/c you do need to be somewhat physical to play. I don't have any physical ability in my program. We'll get everything we can out of the kids, but we're only going to get so far at this school. However, I do have athletes. The 3-3 sounds like it might be the way to go. Coach, I hope all is going well with you. We're 1-6 right now, but considering I have 21 kids (I haven't suited up more than 19 all season) we're doing allright. Last year we were 0-10, so at least we're improving. We only have two seniors on the team, so vast improvement in 2005 is expected. Good luck down at Pottsgrove and send my best to Rich. Thanks Coach.

Coach, I have coached for 21 years and tried many defenses. We are at a small school and we have bastardized the 44 into many different fronts without losing the integrity of our system. I would be glad to talk with you and give you what I have (tapes and/or playbooks). Email me anicolino@mapleshade.org

More than anything, I'd be very aggressive. Blitz, blitz, blitz, and blitz some more. Send anyone at anytime in any situation. 4-2-5 gives you some flexibility to do this, but the 3-3-5 would give you that also. I'm not extremely versed in either defense, but with the number of guys off the ball, it allows you to do a little more. I'm a 4-3 guy mostly, but any defense can be an attack style. Send corners, safeties, linebackers, same side, opposite sides, drop a lineman from time to time. Do just about anything, but be aggressive. Use your speed and play making ability to its utmost. Extremely aggressive teams can get high schoolers facing them flustered. Plus it is also a lot of fun to play on a defense like that. I hope that helps a little bit.

Hey Lou,

Saw your post and felt as though you have analyzed your personnel situation in a very astute manner. One of the main reasons the 30 looks got so popular is because of the very dilemma in which you find yourself, it is very difficult to find good defensive linemen. Yet, on the other hand, it is much easier to locate good linebackers! Thus the birth of the 3-4, 3-5 etc. Not trying to dispute other coaches opinions, but in this particular matter of your defense (which is super critical to your future success) I think it is absolutely essential that you pick the RIGHT defense to install. There are two things, imo, that cannot be substituted for on a football field ; 1. TALENT 2. SPEED Every successful defense, and offense as well, is based on those two elements, again imo. You say you have some decent athletes in the secondary and that is a real plus for sure! Do you have LB's who can play? Are they agressive, tough, good tacklers? The reason I ask objectively, Lou, are you certain in your appraisal of your situation that your D line is the REAL culprit? If you find yourself 1-6, there has to be other areas of your defense that are letting you down. Are they beating you with the running game, or are they throwing successfully against you? Or is it a combination of both? If they are beating you by running the ball, then the line cannot possibly be the only guys at fault. If they are consistently beating you at level one, that is only part of the problem that has to be addressed as there is the second level and the secondary that should have the ability to plug the gaps of a pourous D line, agreed? Lots of times, Lou, we all tend to zero in on one area when we really need to step back and get a clear view of the ENTIRE problem. My recommendation is that you not make a hasty decision, you will have plenty of time between now and Spring practice to think it through in it's entirety before deciding. One question: why do you think it is an ongoing problem that your line is always a scource of consternation to you, year in and year out? What have you tried to do about developing a system to get potential linemen started early, and correctly, in your town? I know you are hamstrung by having low numbers, but those corn fed country kids are out there and need to be found and developed. Do you have a feeder system of any kind, i.e. Pop Warner, etc. that may be improved with your help? Do you have a middle school that you encourage by spending time with each year and letting them know how bad you need their help in getting some linemen ready to play when they reach you at the HS? Being a Catholic HS, do you have any Catholic youth football leagues in your area? Excuse the long post, Lou, just trying to help you with what must be a really frustrating problem. Keep us posted with your progress.

JC