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How to teach and coach youngsters American football defensive formations
This page is dedicated to football defensive formations. The defenses
explained on this site are basic. The philosophy is to aim for simplicity in
teaching. The systems, that follow, should make it easy for the defensive
players to adjust to multiple offensive fronts. These defenses handle most any
need for youngsters.
| 5-3-2-1 Inside Defense |
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Strength of 5-3-2-1 Inside Defense
- Strong down the middle
- Good for deep pass coverage
- Good protection against flat and short middle passes
- Excellent for stunting linemen and linebackers
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Weakness of 5-3-2-1 Inside Defense
- Weak at the flanks - defense is not spread out wide
- Does not contain equal strength to strong side of Single
Wing or Wing T formation
- Offers many gaps along line of scrimmage
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5-4 Defense |
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Strength of 5-4 Defense
- Good inside secondary strength
- Strong pass coverage to the flat and short across the middle
- Excellent for stunting linebackers
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Weakness of 5-4 Defense
- Possible issues with 3 deep pass patterns
- Weak to the flanks on end sweeps
- Weak on long pass over middle
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| 6-2 Defense |
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Strength of 6-2 Defense
- Strong to tackle and end areas
- Strong to flanks, outside the ends
- Safety provides good protection against long pass or run
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Weakness of 6-2 Defense
- Weak against short pass over the middle, no middle lnebacker
- Weak against quick dives up the middle, no middle line
backer
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| 6-3 Defense |
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Strength of 6-3 Defense
- Line backers provide great run support
- Over-shift to strong side makes it difficult to run
- Excellent for stunting line backers
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Weakness of 6-3 Defense
- Weak against the deep pass, only 2 DB's
- Weak against weak side if over-shift is on
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| 7 Diamond Defense |
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Strength of 7 Diamond Defense
- Provides strong deep pass coverage
- Safety provides assurance against long pass or run
- Front line provides strength against the run
- Front line able to provide pass rush
- Line backers able to provide extra pressure by stunting and
blitzing
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Weakness of 7 Diamond Defense
- Need strong player to play Middle Line Backer
- Weak against off tackle plays
- Front line tends to pair of against O Line, offering man to
man blocking for offense
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| 7-2 Box Defense |
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Strength of 7-2 Box Defense
- Good against short yardage situations
- Strong up the middle
- Provides good short side strength
- Provides good pass rush
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Weakness of 7-2 Box Defense
- Weak against deep pass
- Weak against 'hook' zone passes
- No safety offers potential for long pass or run
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