Agree. I never believed in using DT's as merely space eaters or double team magnets. I'd much rather have stunts and blitzes going on to confuse the O line and get my DTs in better position to penetrate.

Exactly, why anyone would ever run a 4-3 in youth is beyond me. It doesnt work and constantly puts undisciplined/young LB's in bad situations.

@@Myway215 Agreed, at that level no kid understands the game well enough for most of this. The top team in our league just sent the house every play. No ones offense has pressure/blitz beaters in the playbook at this age. Even if they have a screen the qb will throw it no matter whos there so good luck with that.

@nallen1006 I run a 4-4 defense. Gives me more options and creativity as well as assurance vs less say a 5-3. I also go 5-4 no safety sometimes

@@Myway215 Same here, give me the 4-4 all day. Puts the linebackers in much better positions and if theyre not running trips you can blitz all day.

Try it. But don't force it if you don't have the right MB Or SS

I suppose it would have to do with if there are also double tight ends with the wings or just tackles with the wings. If there are double tight ends with wing players, that usually means there’s no wide receivers and then the corners will come play more run support just to the outside and the outside linebackers can play two gaps. If there were no wide outs, and everything was stacked inside the box, I would bring the safeties up tighter as that would lend itself more to the run game.

@@Icoachfootballonlinedo you have an email I can reach you at?

We are running it, no games yet but the kids understand it easily. Have to have the right kids in the right position.

​@1madrs637 how did u make out? This seems like a lot of pressure on lbs (especially with your #1 and #2 player plating at de)

You're not alone. Some places the coaches assume the fathers know American football, and that isn't always so. There are lots of places where the demographics say the older generation may know baseball or soccer, but not American football, but that's what their kids want to play. In some ways it's a blessing to coach in such an environment, because then fewer parents will be back-seat driving -- the bane of youth sports! Linebacker is a position on defense only, and applies when the other team is scrimmaging (snapping) the ball. They "back up the line" -- they're the second level of the defense. On plays from scrimmage, the linemen (line players) are about as far forward as they're allowed to play awaiting the ball's being put into play. They are relatively constrained in both their choices and their responsibilities once the ball is live (in play), because the defensive line is right up against the offensive line. So for the most part, at the snap the opposing lines charge into each other, while the linebackers look for where a ballcarrier may be coming thru an opening -- or for a potential receiver of a forward pass they have to cover (guard/mark). Are there any ball and field sports you're familiar with? Sometimes there are similarities that can help your understanding if someone who knows both can explain the one you're not familiar with in terms of one you are.

Nobody made you watch it crybaby.