ATTACKING 6-1 or 6-2 DEFENSES
Recently we received the following emails from some coaches:
Coach Freeb, Do you have any experience with the Wide-tackle six? I am going to face this defense for the first time in September. Just from looking at it, I can tell it is going to be real difficult to go outsideon. Should I stick to mostly off-tackle (sprint draw type) runs?
Coach, I had some real problems last year with a 6-1 defense. The only plays that worked for us was the tight end dump (quick pop) and wham up inside. We are primarily an I-team. Is there anything that you recommend trying against this defense?
In attacking the 6-1 defense, we are assuming that they will be in a 6-1-4, cover 2 type look. Remember we base everything from the unbalanced line with the offset I formation. This makes everything look and play different ffor the defense. We would use our regular offense to attack the 6-1. It really gives us the same problems that any other defense gives us. There are really only two choices for the defense: are they going to play 6-1 "man-on" or are they going to play 6-1 "Gap." The play below has the defense lined up in man-on. Most of the plays in our regular playbook have things lined up in a gap look. If the defense were to align in a gap look, we would make some adjustment with the blocking at the POA and the FB would probably veer to the outside after the handoff as in the playbook.
The Second play we would run against this formation would be the dive option 48 or the veer 34. On the option the WB would be responsible for blocking the SS and we would let the DE go unblocked and option him.
We would also run our Power set against this defense and run blast 34 at the open area on the LOS and we would run our mid line option at the same area from the same formation:
The fake of the FB up the middle "freezes" the MLB'er as well as pulling the DG's also to the FB. The tackles both block out in a "Fan" technique. The QB knows from his Pre-snap read of the defense that he will most likely not give the ball to the FB because both guards are covered. He executes a ball fake to the FB and steps around him into the B gap, hits that running lane and accelerates behind the block of the SE on the FS. The SS must respect the pitch route of the Flanker which give the QB a step ahead in the outside running lane.
These are the plays that would form the basis of our attack against a 61-62 defense which is really our basic offensive thinking. We would add the sweep into the attack when the DE steps inside the SE on the wide tackle 6-2. This gives us great blocking angles to seal off the inside. Against a 6-1 the DE would probably already align inside and we would be running some sweep earlier. The five yard split of the SE really places the DE on an island because if he aligns inside the SE he is easy prey for the sweep and the wider he gets makes him an easier read for the option. It really is difficult for them from this formation.
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