5-3 Swarm

Top 3 Keys to Defense:
1) Great Tackling
2) Proper Pursuit (Smart Swarm)
3) Gap Responsibility/Integrity
Main Plays to Stop in Youth Football
1) Sweep
2) Off-tackle
3) Boot/Counter/Reverse
4) Half-back or PA Pass
5) Wedge (SW/DW teams)
Defense Fronts
5-3:
Base Defense
Coverage: Cover 3
5-2-4:
Pass defense (3rd/4th and long) or vs. spread formations
Coverage's: Cover 2, cover 3 sky, or cover 3 cloud
5-4-2
Goal Line or short yardage defense
Coverage: Man
DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT (GAPS OR TECHNIQUE)

6
4
6i
9
D
GAP
4i
TE
C
GAP
2i
LT
0
1
B
GAP
2i
1
C
LG
A
GAP
4i
RG
6i
TE
RT
A
GAP
B
GAP
C
GAP
D
GAP
Linebackers add a 0 to the end
5-3-3 Base Defense vs. Balanced (Double Tight)

S
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
4
TE
NT
1
G
3-4 yards
DT
3-4 yards
4-5 yards
DE
3-4 yards
OLB
0
C
1
G
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
Base Alignment:
NG: Head up on Center (0 Tech) or shade (1 Tech)
DT: Head up Tackle (4 Tech) Alternate: 3 or 5 Tech
DE: Outside Shoulder of TE (9 Tech)
OLB: C Gap, 3-4 yards from LOS
MLB: Stack NT, 3-4 yards from LOS
CB: 3x5 or wide as WR
S: 9-11 yards
Primary Run Gap Responsibility:
A Gap: NT
B Gap: DTs
A Gap MLB
C Gap: OLBs
D Gap/Force: DE and CB
Base Left Gap

Responsibilities
S
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
DE
DT
4
T
TE
OLB
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
Base Right Gap

Responsibilities
S
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
DE
DT
4
TE
OLB
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
Slant Right Gap

Responsibilities
S
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
DE
DT
4
T
TE
OLB
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
Slant Left Gap

Responsibilities
S
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
DE
DT
4
TE
OLB
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
X Right Gap
Responsibilities
S
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
DE
DT
4
T
TE
OLB
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
DE Crashes
OLB Has Force
FB
RB
X Left Gap
Responsibilities
S
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
DE
DT
4
TE
OLB
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
DE Crashes
OLB Has Force
Twist Left
S
CB
CB
MLB
DE
DT
4
T
TE
Blitz
OLB
OLB
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
MLB Blitz
FB
RB
Twist Right
CB
CB
OLB
MLB
OLB
Bli
tz
DE
DT
4
TE
NT
DT
DE
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
MLB Blitz
Aligning Defense vs. Unbalanced

No Shift to Unbalanced Look
Defense 5 Left
Defense 5 Right
CB
CB
LB
LB
DE
DT
LB
DT
NT
DE
C
TE
TE
T
BB
QB
WB
FB
Offense 3 Left
Offense 7 Right
Shift to Unbalanced Look

Defense 4 Left
Defense 7 Right
S
CB
LB
CB
LB
LB
DE
DT
NT
DT
DE
C
TE
TE
BB
QB
Offense 3 Left
WB
FB
Offense 7 Right
Aligning the Defense to an unbalanced formation:

1) Draw Line through the Center
2) Count number of people to left/right of line (on the line is right and left)
3) Count number of defender on the right and left of the line
4) Difference on either side should be no more than +/- 1 defender (ideally +/- )
Cover 3
Deep 1/3
Middle 1/3
Deep 1/3
CB
Middle/Underneath
Curl/Flat
CB
Curl/Flat
MLB
OLB
OLB
DE
DT
TE
NT
DE
DT
TE
WR
QB
RB
WR

6
4
6i
9
TE
2
4i
5
LT
D
GAP
C
GAP
0
2i
1
C
LG
B
GAP
A
GAP
2
2i
4i
3
RG
6
5
6i
TE
RT
A
GAP
B
GAP
C
GAP
D
GAP
5-2-4 Base Defense vs. 2x2

FS
SS
CB
LB
CB
LB
4-5 yards
DE
DE
5
T
WR
DT
NT
0
G
WR
DT
3
G
QB
RB
Base Alignment:
NG: Head up on Center (0 Tech) Alternate: shade (1 Tech)
DT:B Gap (3 Tech)
DE: Outside Shoulder of end man, slightly off the ball
LB: Stack DT, 3-4 yards from LOS
CB: Widest WR 5 yards
SS/FS: 11 yards, split distance between inside WR and T
A Gaps: NT
B Gap: DTs
C Gap: OLBs
Straight Line to QB: DE
Alleys: FS/SS
WR
WR
Cover 2
Deep 1/2
Righ
tH
Dee alf
p
Deep 1/2
SS
lf
Left Ha
Deep
FS
Middle
Flat/Curl
LB
DE
DE
CB
5
T
WR
WR
Flat/Curl
LB
DT
NT
DT
QB
RB
CB
5
WR
WR
Cover 3 Sky
third
Middle
FS
SS
Right Third
Left Third
Right Flat
lat
ft F
Le
CB
M
Und iddle
ern
eat
h
LB
CB
LB
DE
DE
DT
NT
DT
WR
WR
5
WR
WR
QB
RB
Cover 3 Cloud
le th
Midd
FS
SS
ird
Left Third
Right Third
M
Und iddle
erne
ath
CB
Right Flat
LB
CB
LB
Left Flat
DE
DE
5
T
WR
WR
DT
NT
0
G
QB
RB
DT
3
G
5
WR
WR

6
4
6i
9
D
GAP
4i
TE
2
2i
LT
0
1
C
GAP
B
GAP
2i
1
C
LG
A
GAP
4i
RG
6i
TE
RT
A
GAP
B
GAP
C
GAP
D
GAP
5-4-2 Goal Line Defense vs. Balanced (Double

Tight)
60
20
20
60
CB
CB
LB
LB
5
TE
NT
1
T
0
C
LB
3-4 yards
DT
3-4 yards
4-5 yards
DE
4-5 yards
LB
1
G
DT
DE
9
TE
WR
QB
FB
RB
Base Alignment:
NG: Head up on Center (0 Tech) Alternate: shade to strong or wide side (1 Tech)
DT: C Gap/Off- tackle (5 Tech)
DE: Outside Shoulder of TE (9 Tech)
OLB: Head up on TE (60 Tech), 3-4 yards from LOS
ILB: Head up on G (20 Tech), 3-4 yards from LOS
CB: Lined up head up on widest man (WR) or outside (5 x 5)
A Gaps: NT
C Gap: DTs
A,B, & C: ILBs
C&D Gap: OLBs
D Gap: DE and CB
Man Coverage
Vs. Pro Set
CB man to man on #1
(farthest outside
eligible receiver )
ILB man to
man on RBs
OLB man to
man on #2
CB
ILB
OLB
DE
DT
TE
OLB man to
man on #2
ILB
OLB
NT
CB
DE
DT
CB man to man on #1
(farthest outside
eligible receiver)
TE
WR
WR
QB
RB
RB
Vs. Trips
OLB man to
man on #2
CB man
ILB man to
to man
man on #3
on #1
CB
OLB
ILB
ILB
DE
WR
NT
DT
CB
OLB
QB
WR
CB man to man on #1
(farthest outside
eligible receiver)
OLB man to
man on RB
WR
RB
DE
DT
TE
5-4-2 PURSUIT DRILL- SWEEP RIGHT
BACKSIDE CB
ANGLE TO CENTER WITH
EYES IN BACKFIELD
WATCH FOR BOOT,
COUNTER, REVERSE
BACKSIDE LB
EYES IN BACKFIELD
WATCH FOR BOOT,
COUNTER, REVERSE &
CUTBACK
PLAY SIDE LBs

ATTACK DOWNHILL
STAY ON INSIDE HIP OF RB
PRESS THE HIP
CB
PLAY SIDE CB
ATTACK OUTSIDE-IN
TWO STEP READ DROP CHECK
FOR PASS THEN ATTCK RUN
CB
LB
LB
BACKSIDE DE
WATCH FOR BOOT, DE
COUNTER REVERSE
D
NT
DT
C
LB
LB
Q
B
DT
A
R
B
DT & NT
PENETRATE 1 YARD THROUGH GAP
FIND THE BALL AND PURSUE
DE
D
PLAY SIDE DE
SET THE EDGE
PENETRATE ON STRAIGHT LINE
DEEP AS DEEPEST BACK
ADJUST DEPTH FOR OFF
TACKLE
PLAY SIDE DE
SET THE EDGE
PENETRATE ON STRAIGHT LINE
DEEP AS DEEPEST BACK
ADJUST DEPTH FOR OFF
TACKLE
CB
PLAY SIDE CB
ATTACK OUTSIDE-IN
TWO STEP READ DROP TO CHECK
FOR PASS THEN ATTACK RUN
DE
D
LB
DT
C
A
R
B
Q
B
NT
A
LB
DT
D
LB
DE
BACKSIDE LB
EYES IN BACKFIELD
WATCH FOR BOOT,
COUNTER, REVERSE &
CUTBACK
DT & NT
PENETRATE 1 YARD THROUGH GAP
FIND THE BALL AND PURSUE
PLAY SIDE LBs

ATTACK DOWNHILL
STAY ON INSIDE HIP OF RB
PRESS THE HIP
CB
BACKSIDE CB
EYES IN BACKFIELD
WATCH FOR BOOT,
COUNTER, REVERSE
BACKSIDE DE
WATCH FOR BOOT,
COUNTER REVERSE
5-4-2 PURSUIT DRILL- SWEEP LEFT

5-3 Swarm

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5-3 Swarm

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Top 3 Keys to Defense:

DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT (GAPS OR TECHNIQUE)

Linebackers add a 0 to the end

5-3-3 Base Defense vs. Balanced (Double Tight)

Base Left Gap

Base Right Gap

Slant Right Gap

Slant Left Gap

Aligning Defense vs. Unbalanced

Shift to Unbalanced Look

Aligning the Defense to an unbalanced formation:

DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT (GAPS OR TECHNIQUE)

Linebackers add a 0 to the end

5-2-4 Base Defense vs. 2x2

DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT (GAPS OR TECHNIQUE)

Linebackers add a 0 to the end

5-4-2 Goal Line Defense vs. Balanced (Double

5-4-2 PURSUIT DRILL- SWEEP RIGHT

PLAY SIDE LBs

PLAY SIDE LBs

5-4-2 PURSUIT DRILL- SWEEP LEFT

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