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Systems/5-3 Defense/Base 5-3
FrontBest for: Base down6U+ · Basic

Base 5-3

Aligns five down linemen with a nose, two tackles, two ends, and three linebackers.

Concept: Nose covers the center, tackles play the B-gaps in 3-techniques, and ends set the C-gap edges.

Age version
ETNTEBMBCSC
RushBlitzDrop to coverage
12U — 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 coverage: Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass.
  4. 12UFull call: Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.

Every position's job

NG

Head up on the center in a 0-technique, two-gap the center and control both A-gaps, don't get washed either way.

Coach it with
DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read LB Downhill Fill
DT (strong)

Line up in a 3-technique on the strong guard's outside shoulder and own the strong B-gap.

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

Line up in a 3-technique on the weak guard's outside shoulder and own the weak B-gap.

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

Set the strong C-gap edge with outside leverage, keep your shoulders square and turn everything back inside.

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

Set the weak C-gap edge, be the contain man, never let a runner get outside your outside shoulder.

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

Stack behind the nose, read the guards/back and fill the first open interior gap downhill.

Coach it with
LB Read Keys and Shuffle LB Downhill Fill Scrape & Fill Over the Top
Sam

Align over the strong tackle/tight end, fill the strong D-gap on run and drop to strong hook on pass.

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

Align over the weak tackle, fill the weak alley on run and drop to weak hook/curl on pass.

Coach it with
Team Inside Run Period LB Downhill Fill DB Tackle in Space
CB (strong)

Cover the widest strong receiver man-to-man or take the deep third depending on the coverage called.

Coach it with
DB Backpedal Technique DB Man Coverage Mirror DB Zone Coverage and Break
CB (weak)

Cover the widest weak receiver and provide backside contain/cutback support on runs away.

Coach it with
Scoop / Cutoff Block
FS

Play centerfield over the top, key the quarterback and rotate to the ball as the last line of defense.

How to teach it

  • 1Down linemen key the near lineman's helmet and hands to feel the block and stay in their gap.
  • 2Linebackers read backfield flow and 'downhill in the gap' rather than running sideline to sideline.
  • 3Get off on the ball, not the sound of a hard count; movement is the snap key.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !Ends getting hooked and losing contain, letting runs bounce outside; fix by keeping the outside arm free and shoulders square to the sideline.
  • !Linebackers over-running the play; fix by teaching them to stay square and take on blocks with the inside shoulder.
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