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Systems/3-5-3 (Odd Stack)/Mint Front
FrontBest for: Base down6U+ · Basic

Mint Front

Puts the nose in a shade and ends in 4i to defend a single tight end.

Concept: Nose shades away from the tight end while both ends squeeze the B-gaps inside.

Age version
ENEBBBBBCSC
RushBlitzDrop to coverage
14U — Full call: Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Play movement — schematic, not to scale

Grows with your players

Same play, more layers as they age up — teach it once and build on it every season for a consistent program.

  1. 6UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
  2. 8UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
  3. 10UAdd movement: Add the line stunt/twist to beat the offense's blocking rules.
  4. 12UAdd coverage: Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass.
  5. 14UFull call: Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.

Every position's job

NG

Shade away from the tight end and control the A-gap on the shade side.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
DE (strong)

Align in a 4i to squeeze the strong B-gap inside against the tight-end side.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
DE (weak)

Align in a 4i to squeeze the weak B-gap inside.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
Mike

Stack behind the front, fill the A-gap and mirror the ball.

Coach it with
LB Downhill Fill Scrape & Fill Over the Top Team Inside Run Period
Sam

Play the strong (tight-end side) C/D-gap and set the edge.

Coach it with
DL Shed and Block Destruction LB Read Keys and Shuffle LB Downhill Fill
Will

Play the weak B/C-gap and scrape to the ball.

Coach it with
Scrape & Fill Over the Top DL Shed and Block Destruction LB Read Keys and Shuffle
Star

Hybrid to the tight-end side, set the D-gap or cover the tight end.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
Spur

Hybrid to the weak edge, set the D-gap or cover the flat.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
CB (strong)

Cover the strong receiver, man or deep third.

CB (weak)

Cover the weak receiver, man or deep third.

FS

Single-high deep middle over the top.

How to teach it

  • 1Nose shades away from the tight end while both ends play 4i to squeeze the B-gaps.
  • 2The front is built to defend a single tight end — the Star handles the TE edge.
  • 3Ends squeeze inside so the edges are set by the hybrids and backers.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !Nose shading the wrong way relative to the tight end; fix by reading the TE alignment pre-snap.
  • !The tight-end-side edge left soft; fix by getting the Star aligned to set that D-gap.
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