4-3 Defense in High School Football

[ElMoldova]

Here's a little cheat sheet for you guys:

http://i.imgur.com/mPalYbK.png
Couldn't fit the image in the 500x500 format

5-3
Best defense for defending the option. You've got a 4 on 3 for the fullback dive, which is what the option team wants to get. Your ends play QB, and your OLBs play pitch.

7-1
Don Bailey runs this. I don't understand it at all. But it works. Ends are like OLBs, and it ends up running like a 5-3.

5-4
The corners play off at 8-10. They're locked on one. The OLBs are locked up on two. And the strong side MLB plays 3 man-to-man. This is what you want to play against D1 RBs.

5-2
This is the staple of high school defense. It requires some studs at LB and S positions.

4-4
The best defense you can play if you've got a good defensive line. Protects against the weakside run. Can play cover 3 or cover 1 pretty interchangeably.

4-3
The high school version of nickel. It allows you to lock up underneath with two free safeties.

[ElMoldova]

Here's some interesting statistics from the LHAC this season:

1. Teams who outrush their opponents by more than 25 yards win 96% of the time.
2. The winning team averages 253 yards per game.
3. The losing team average 110 yards per game.
4. Undefeated teams out-rush their opponents by 206 yards per game
5. 3-win teams outrush their opponents by 32.02 yards per game
6. 1-win teams are outrushed by their opponents by 120 yards per game
7. Teams with no wins are outrushed by their opponents by 176.47 yards per game
8. On average, the winning team has 142.64 more rushing yards than the losing team
9. Of the 24 LHAC games this year. Only 3 teams have rushed for more yards and lost.
10. Cambria Heights has outrushed their opponents twice in losses.


View the full data here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

[TAHS92Alum]

Personally I think your opponent also dictates your defense. If your going in to stop the run you better be able to stop it. Same with your passing game. In high school its all about the kids. What are their talents and what do they do well.

[pahntr]

This is an interesting discussion for sure. Some good statistics being thrown around that obviously someone put some work into, -----please keep those coming as the season goes on! I'd much rather read stats about our local kids/teams than the national recycled stories about college and pro teams! One point I think is worth making is that if you look at the top teams in the LHAC so far this season in terms of rushing yards allowed vs. rushing yards gained, I know for sure that 4 teams employ a 4-3 base defensive scheme- Johnstown, Somerset, Bedford and BG. So, with that being said, I think you really need to look at it from a Johnny and Joe stand point, not Xs and Os. Defenses don't make plays, players do. There is not one magic or perfect defense, if there was, everyone would run it. A team also cannot run a flavor of the week defense and change it up to defend each weeks opponent's offense. For the 4-3 to work well defending the run, you must have a solid Mike and a Nose that can protect him. The 4-3 is very versatile and can be adapted to defend almost any offensive attack from week to week- it's not just for defending great QBs. You just have to have the kids to run it, and give them time to learn the system so they all understand how the pieces fit together. Contrary to what most people believe, good defense is not all about kicking the crap out of the other man. A great defense is made up of players that all know where they are supposed to be and how they should react when they make their reads. If a defense has players that can do that and are physically talented at the same time, they can be scary good--i.e.: BG last year. Just my .02 cents.....

[Abaddon]

Someone better tell BG they can't stop the run! But seriously like someone else said it's more about the Johnny's and Joe's here. Whatever defense you run you still have to put your best 11 on the field. Besides the 4-3 quickly becomes a 5-2 or 4-4 by moving personnel. I do enjoy the statistical analysis though so keep it comming .

[dougkeklak]

I enjoy some of the new hybrid defenses like the 4-2-5 (TCU) and 3-3-5 (Arizona/WVU), however, I think those are really speed related and built to combat spread attacks. In a lot of parts of PA, HS football is still ground and pound and the more traditional sets rule.

[Hush1]

Personally, I prefer a 6-1 with the SS jumping in and out of the box depending on offensive alignment. Cover each lineman with your interior 4 eating up blocks and let your best athletes man the MLB & SS positions with a fast ball-hawking FS over the top. Press Man on the corners with tall, strong kids who can run if you have them to spare. Of course, like has been said, you have to have the right personnel. What I also like about this is you can easily throw in a sub-package of faster playmakers for the OLBs and you have an effective long-distance Dime package. 2 hogs in the middle, a pass rusher to each side, and your best 7 athletes on the field.

Yes, I do like 8 men on the line of scrimmage since, because, as these stats show, most of the time teams are running the dang football. Create immediate resistance at the LOS, disrupt receivers getting off of the line, fill all lanes and keep your playmakers clean to, you know, make plays.

There's no right or wrong to this argument, except for maybe being married to one system. You have to have a base defense that suits your personnel and your opponents but be able to quickly and simply (for your players' sake) adjust and change looks & personnel to adjust or give offenses fits.

In the end, keep it simple on defense, give the kids basic responsibilities and automatic adjustments, and let them play football.

[dougkeklak]

Personally, I prefer a 6-1 with the SS jumping in and out of the box depending on offensive alignment. Cover each lineman with your interior 4 eating up blocks and let your best athletes man the MLB & SS positions with a fast ball-hawking FS over the top. Press Man on the corners with tall, strong kids who can run if you have them to spare. Of course, like has been said, you have to have the right personnel. What I also like about this is you can easily throw in a sub-package of faster playmakers for the OLBs and you have an effective long-distance Dime package. 2 hogs in the middle, a pass rusher to each side, and your best 7 athletes on the field.

Yes, I do like 8 men on the line of scrimmage since, because, as these stats show, most of the time teams are running the dang football. Create immediate resistance at the LOS, disrupt receivers getting off of the line, fill all lanes and keep your playmakers clean to, you know, make plays.

There's no right or wrong to this argument, except for maybe being married to one system. You have to have a base defense that suits your personnel and your opponents but be able to quickly and simply (for your players' sake) adjust and change looks & personnel to adjust or give offenses fits.

In the end, keep it simple on defense, give the kids basic responsibilities and automatic adjustments, and let them play football.

If we could like posts like you can in facebook, I would like this one! Especially your last sentence!