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Systems/5-3 Defense/Nose Pinch
StuntBest for: Run down10U+ · Core

Nose Pinch

Pinches both tackles and the nose inside to flood the A and B gaps.

Concept: Interior three fire to inside shoulders to collapse the pocket and stuff dive plays.

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

Every position's job

NG

Fire to an inside shoulder of the center to collapse an A-gap and stuff the dive.

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

Pinch to the inside shoulder of the strong guard, flooding the strong A-gap.

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

Pinch to the inside shoulder of the weak guard, flooding the weak A-gap.

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

Hold the strong C-gap edge since the interior is pinching inside.

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

Hold the weak C-gap edge as contain.

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

Scrape over the top and fill the B-gap the pinch may leave; be ready for the bounce.

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

Play the strong edge/D-gap since interior pinch can bounce the run outside.

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

Play the weak edge/D-gap and cutback.

Coach it with
DL Shed and Block Destruction LB Read Keys and Shuffle LB Downhill Fill
CB (strong)

Cover your receiver and support the perimeter if the run bounces out.

CB (weak)

Cover your receiver and provide backside support.

Coach it with
Scoop / Cutoff Block
FS

Deep middle over the top, trigger to any bounced run.

How to teach it

  • 1The interior three fire to inside shoulders to collapse the A and B gaps and stuff dives.
  • 2Ends and backers must be ready for the run to bounce outside when the middle floods.
  • 3Pinch low and hard with inside hand and hip to win the interior.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !Interior pinching so hard the B-gaps open for a bounce; fix by having ends/backers set the edge.
  • !Rushers coming in high; fix with low-pad-level get-off reps.
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