5-3 for 8 and 9 yr olds

Coach,

If I were going to run a 53 this is how I would run it at your level. with and 8 & 9 year old team the SWEEP, BLAST, DIVE, and QB KEEPs are going to be big plays along with a reverse or some kind of counter (kittens chase the string as DC's says all the time). Passing is going to be probably to a TE on a dump style pass or to a WR on a screen/quick pass.

I would not use a 43 style DE they are waste. That is a read and rush/run DE.

Here is what I would use. 53 with Cover 3 behind it.

Now some are going to say why not man well man basically puts him in primary pass with the ability of the receiver to run him off. In zone he can play run support a lot faster which is going to be 75% to 100% of what you see. So if you beat that percentage chances are good you will win.

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In this front the DE would play a 46 style DE. Meaning he lines up in 8 tech so that he is wide enough to not be blocked by the EMLOS. He targets the NEAR/TAIL BACK's hip and rushes to that point every time. Bearing in mind that hip will move so he locks on and moves with it. HIGH PRESSURE END. ONE RULE he never lets an offensive player cross his face. That makes him the outside contain guy. Nothing gets outside of the D gap.

DT - plays in the B gap and is responsible for not allowing anything in that gap. He must close down the gap by squeezing him and the penetrate up field to the play. You could use a tilted DT which I highly recommend.

NT - is responsible for either one of the A gaps. I recommend he take the snapping hand gap and attack to that gap. That puts pressure on teh Center and near guard to double him since the center is at a disadvantage on that side. That gives the DT on that side a chance to make a play when he squeezes down.

Mike is responsible for the other A gap. He takes his read step to that gap and attacks through the A gap. You can blitz Mike on that gap or have the NT and MIKE stunt by having the NT cross the center's face so that the center turn's his hip on the snapping arm side leaving a gap for MIKE to blitz. Easiest inside blitz to execute. Train mike to read the near guard's block as well. If he drives the ball is coming at him. If he reaches the ball is going that way. If he angle blocks the ball is going behind him. IF he pulls he attacks to the near hip and squeezes down on the pull (takes him right to the runner). If he backs up it is pass (pass read). These are actually very easy to teach. This also gets him away from reading the backfield...at that age that can be a big problem. If pass he reads the passer's face mask where it points the ball goes.

Strong Backer (SAM)

READS the OT same way. READ STEP is with inside foot and he always sheds with the inside shoulder forearm. He must protect the C gap outside - in as his support is to the inside of him.

Weak Backer (WILL)

READS the OT same way (if pro formation he reads guard). He must protect the C gap outside-in the same way as the SAM.

If the read pass the zone drop or if you like man have them man up. I like to simply have them zone drop. MIKE takes middle zone and OLBs take hook/curl.

The line up 4 yards deep (not 3 as they can get caught in the wash). If run the attack and scrape down hill at the runner. If sweep playside back attacks down hill at the hip inside out. The backside backers attack mirror the depth of the runner until the get an angle and then attack. If he gets outside they must take a good up field angle to cut him off.

If pass the drop the depth of the passer into their zone. They drop fast and keep their eyes on the passer and as soon as they see the face mask point they flow. LB's often don't make a lot of interceptions but their placement on the field can cause a lot of interception. If teams like to throw the TE dump the LB's get a lot of intercepts this way as long as they read their Line keys.

You can have WILL and SAM calls that have them blitz into their gaps as well. SO if you want and all out blitz just call MIKE/SAM/WILL or WILL blitz on the short side of the field just call WILL.

OLB splits the difference on a slot reciever. He still must take his run step at his gap. He simply is in a better position to jump a slant or hitch to that zone receiver. FRED should also slide to the slot side.

FS is 12 yard deep and lines up over the QB. He takes read drop back wards. He reads the QB and drops until he sees the runner or passer. He never lets a receiver get behind him PERIOD. He sinks until he knows it is not pass.

You can do a lot with FRED as well by having a FRED call that has him crash and the end squeeze down you or have FRED squeeze down as the DE crashes you can really put some outside pressure on one side.

CB lines up on the outside shoulder eyeing the hip of the receiver and looking through him to the backfield. He mirrors depth. He jams any wide out and then sinks into coverage. He keep sinking until he reads run. He plays the deepest man by trailing him on his inside hip as he goes up field. If run he squeezes down to the LOS.

This is not the norm with the CB as most will say put him on the inside shoulder but my logic is that if it is pass most at this age or either quick screen style passes or slants or hitches. If the LB's drop into zone the slant is gone. If not the CB can play to the ball. He has help inside by the LBs and FS. Zone is simply so they can support the run better. You could teach MAN as well so they can man up with ZONE underneath. Nothing complex simple teach. If he mans he goes on the inside shoulder and presses. That is nice change up.

Couger blitz (CB blitz) he crashes and the DE squeezes the LOS.

On short yardage FS comes up into a ILB position on the weakside. 10 yards to goal line.

Remember your on a shortened field and inside plays are big threat.

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FRED now has that A gap just like MIKE. MIKE has his gap. they come up to two yards. They must not give up yardage that is more important then getting caught in the wash now. They play through the gap into the backfield. READ LINE KEY.

NICK goes through the CENTER by ripping into his snapping arm and chest. 4 pt stance.

DT's are in a 4pt vice 3 pt and fire off low towards the guard's hip and intot he backfield.

SAM and WILL are 2 yards deep as well. Same read.

CB's play in tighter and on the LOS or if a receiver is present they remain the same.

ONE NOTE - DE can be pinched near the goal line if you think BLAST/ISO/DIVE is coming. SImply have him crash aiming for point one yard behind the QB or direct snap/shotgun right at the QB's near hip. That makes him the pressure guy and forces the offense to bounce the play wide. When they do that the OLB has D gap contain and not C gap. THey read step to the D gap and move up to the LOS and play outside in stringin any outside play out right to the CB or let the FS/MIKE clean up.

That is what I would do with a 53.

Jack