help with blocking a 62 gap defense

Coach:

How about down, down, kick out power. maybe a g-scheme with the tackle and tight end coming down and the fullback and psg attacking the 9 technique

Guys,

I agree that all the plays everyone listed would be great ways to beat this defense. But I am looking for advice on ways to block this defense when running between the tackles. Now I do realize that if your offense went to the line and saw this defense that they would probably audible to a play that would easily burn this defense but I will be coaching at the middle school level next season, so we probably won't be calling to many audibles.

If you like beating your head against a brick wall, then keep trying to run inside on this alignment. You have to take what they give you. The perimeter is there so take it. You have great angles blocking down inside. If you don't like option try toss sweep. Put the FB on the PSLB. Run it until they widen to take away the toss then go off tackle.

The defense dictates your play calling unless you have better kids then it doesn't matter.

Good Luck!

Coach, I'll play along.

If I were forced to run inside I guess I'd look at this...

How many yards do you need?
1. Short yardage- Wedge on the A gap defender.

2. 4 yards or more? Tough- I would try to get the best angles on the DL that I could.

Don't know if what I'm going to say is sound or not but I this is what I'm throwing out here.

Are we talking one back or two backs?

3. One back I'd have very wide splits (create a lane for your back- can't have a pile) and try to trap the defender in the 4 hole. down block with your PSG, Center and pull your your off guard. Get to the LB with your play side Tackle, Have TE try to get in the way of the C gap player and hope to hell that your OL didn't allow any penetration! Back hitting the hole right off the pulling guards butt. Tough to do I guess.

4. Two backs- (kick out power!!) but since we're talking inside- ISO - big splits to create those running lanes and not a big pile- down with PSG - leave B gap defender- kick out C gap with OT, TE under OT to LB. Lead on the DT with FB. Again looks tough.

5. Put TE off the line- same thing as last time but wing (TE) blocks down on B Gap defender (no penetration!!) and Iso LB with full back.

Kinda fun to chalk up and got me thinking.

Thanks!

Have seen a team run this defense except the DE's were in 9's and the ILB were wider. Vs this look the play to run in B gaps I think would be a counter dive with the backside guard trapping the b gap player - TE down to LB, PST out to DE, PSG inside on A gap defender. BST and BSTE would zone playside gap - FB fill for BSG and fake inside veer to hold BSLB. I imagine that the team that runs this defense knows its strengths and weaknesses and invites the offense to run into areas and has a scheme to stop the offtackle and outside game. I might narrow the line splits to make it easier to down block and zone on the backside. We would attack off tackle and not worry about anything inside.

Coach Nicholson,

What type of formation are you talking about? 2te? 2RB? Without us knowing what your formation is it is hard to draw it up and create some ideas.

Coaches,

Here is the deal. I will have no control over what our OC calls. It is a good possibility that he could call an ISO not knowing that the other team is going to line up in this defense. Its not like we get an in depth scouting report on every team we play at the middle school level. We see teams line up in all sorts of crazy defenses. Many times because they are lined up incorrectly. Last season I had my guard and tackle come off the field and tell me they had DL in both A and B gaps. Not necessarly a gap 62 they just had two DL lined up in A and B. We had an ISO called when this happened. This is why I asked this question. I told them if this happened again for the guard to block down on A gap player and Tackle cut off B gap player. Center go to backside LB and fullback ISO on playside LB.

Coach Nicholson,

I understand that being at the middle school level presents a very different situation that many here may be very unfamiliar with. Usually coaches at the middle school level are teachers that coach and don't leave their school because of coaching. Working with what you have (athletes and coaches) can be more out of your control than at the high school/college level.
You just need to work on this situation in practice. I don't know what your athletes mental/ physical abilties are but maybe you could practice just this situation. What we do if faced with this situation (in highschool) is that when the linemen see all the gaps loaded they have a call for all down blocks. The fullback sees this also and kicks out (or logs) the DE/LB (whoever is the end man on the LOS) and the TB follows his lead.
If the Iso is called not knowing what the front will be you have to practice the adjustment. It seems like this is enough of a concern that you should devote some time to practicing the adjustment with your line and running backs.

Good luck coach.

Coach Nicholson,

Have you thought about talking w/your O.C. about pairing plays. For example, and you would need to practice this so that your QB's will recognize the fronts, you could pair Iso & Speed/Load Option. Your QB comes to the LOS with more firepower.

I love the ISO myself, but the Speed/Load Option is also the best play for this scenario IMO. If your O.C. continues to call plays that do not fit the defense, that of course is a problem. I would suggest that you take the time to talk to your O.C., in private. Do not make it a confontation, but a suggestion. Keep in mind that we all coach for the same reason, we want to give our guys the best opportunity to be successful.

Pairing plays is simple and makes your offense alot more dynamic. And I am not suggesting that you are doing this, but don't doubt young players just because they are young. And this is to everyone, kids will surprise you in their ability to learn, young or old. Just keep it simple. When we pair plays, we simply give the formation and two different plays. Simple. QB chooses at the LOS, makes the call. Communicates this through a Number/Color/Word system.

In the end Coach Nicholson, if your O.C. is not open to suggestions or can not explain his methods, then the team will struggle. Keep coaching your players as positivley as you can.

I can echo Go verticals thoughts. Most of the time I have to ask my spotter what we have going on. We did take the time to teach them a system to communicate to the coaches what is alinged on them. We kept it really simple and told them to say "gap, shade i/s, shade o/s, or head-up". We thought about using the technique numbers but with some of my guys that got way to confusing "coach why is this called a 9tech when there is no 8 tech?" I guess what what we do works for us. But anyway we have to make most of our adjustments during a time out, halftime, or occationally get our center who plays MLB off the field on D and go though adjustments quick with him. He's smart and a good fast communicator so this works.