Defending Unconventional Offenses Case 2: 2nd & 3rd Level Player Reads / Coverages
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikeKKuchar
Linebacker Reads in Defending the Wing T:
It is without question that second and third level post-snap reads need to be sharp when defending these offenses. One false step can equal one big play, which is why we wanted to devote an entire case study on how coaches are teaching their defenders to react to defend the run game of these teams. Regardless of the defensive scheme, we wanted to ask coaches what they were telling their box defenders to read post-snap. This could mean the three linebacker set in a 4-3, the two box linebackers in a 4-2-5 or the two box linebackers in an odd front. The perimeter players are not included in this section. For years, defensive coaches have been preaching to “read the guards” when defending these misdirection offenses and it seems that advice still holds validity today considering it was our number one response. Consider the percentages:
58 percent of coaches that defend the Wing T will tell their box linebackers to read the guard.
54 percent of coaches that defend Double Wing offenses will tell their box linebackers to read the guard.
45 percent of coaches that defend the Single Wing will tell their box linebackers to read the guard.
This is mainly due to coaches who will have box players read the sniffer back (fullback) which we will detail later.
Guard Read Protocols:
Jerry Gordon, one of the more experienced coaches we spoke with, and the0 Defensive Coordinator at Broad Run High School (VA) who wrote a book on his Under front which can be found here. Against Wing T offenses, he’ll have his Mac (Mike linebacker) and Will read the guards out of his Under front. The Mike is playing the bubble, so he’s got a clean vision. “We want them on the guards,” said Gordon. “Those guards will pull if it’s true Wing T. Many coaches talk it being difficult to get reads nowadays, but if it’s a good true Wing T teams those players are going to move. If they don’t move they are not a true good Wing T team. It’s a better read than cross-keying.”
To see cutups of Coach Gordon’s box linebackers defending the Wing T run scheme, click on the video below:
>> X&O Labs Members: Login here to continue reading
Join X&O Labs to Continue Reading…
Plus, get 4 FREE books!
When you join X&O Labs, you’ll get instant access to the full-length version of this report — including access to everything in The LAB and Film Room. That’s over 4,000 reports and videos. Plus, if you join with a Staff Membership, you’ll also receive 4 FREE books mailed directly to your home or office!
For over 20 years, the inside zone and outside zone have been the primary run plays used in our offenses. One problem with zone based offensive teams is that they often have significant run tendencies based on specific formations, strength, or direction. Over the course of my career, I have found that one of the great ways to break tendencies is to use misdirection pass to keep defenses off balance. One of our favorites is the naked bootleg concept. Over the past four years, our naked bootleg package has accounted for 50% of our play action passes and nearly 30% of our total passing yards. The beauty of this concept is that it works against any coverage at anytime from anywhere on the field. Here is a look into what makes this play work so well.
Over the past few years, McMurry University has lived on its Inside Zone concept averaging 5.48 yards per carry and consistently moving the chains. A big part of that success comes from how we teach that concept. In this clinic report, I will break down our installation process, how we identify fronts, and how our count system allows us to seamlessly block various fronts. In addition, this report will outline what and how I teach zone to my offensive line and our RB reads and entry points. 
How many times have you heard, “I’d hate to be a defensive coach with all the dynamic offenses out there”? To say it’s a challenge would be an accurate statement, but it would be wrong to say it is impossible. We have found that the teams who do the best job containing and stopping these offenses teams must be sound and simply get each player to buy in to his assignment. That is why our staff at Steele High School believes that the two most important components to defensive success are being aligned correctly and knowing and executing your assignment. If the players can execute those components, then the coaches can focus on the details of the scheme as a whole (ensuring that coverages match fronts, controlling gaps or wrinkling with blitzes and stunts). We ultimately play under the rule of controlling gaps and zones so we are not out-flanked trying to match man for man.
Like any spread offense, we believe in making the defense defend the entire field. We use our quick passing game in particular to try to create width in a defense’s structure and complete high percentage throws. Ideally, we’ll throw eight to 12 quick passes and gain 50-100 yards per game, which forces the linebackers and safeties to cover up our slots. This, in turn, creates vertical running lanes in the box and creates an advantage in the ground game.
At Kennedy, our overall defensive philosophy is simple, “Less is More.” This is not a new philosophy and, for sure, it is not something dynamic. To put in more descriptive terms, we are a defense that is 4-2-5 in personnel, but a mix of College 4-3, Stack 4-4, and Split 4-4 in concepts. Below are a few basics in the set-up of our defense. 
