Wide Tackle Six
Base 6-2 with tackles aligned wide over the offensive tackles to force runs inside.
Concept: Tackles play 5-techniques on the offensive tackles' outside shoulders to set a hard edge and spill runs in.
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.
- 6UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
- 8UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
- 10UAdd pressure: Layer in the called blitz — one timed gap-shooter on the snap.
- 12UFull call: Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Every position's job
Wide Tackle — head-up (or an optional 5-tech shade on) the strong offensive tackle: own the C gap, squeeze down blocks, and force runs back inside.
Wide Tackle — head-up (or optional 5-tech shade on) the weak offensive tackle: own the C gap, squeeze down blocks, force runs inside.
Edge — head-up the strong TE or force point outside the EMOL: own the strong D gap and outside contain, keep your outside arm and leg free, force the ball back inside, check reverse.
Edge — head-up the weak end man / force point: own the weak D gap and outside contain, keep your outside arm and leg free, force the ball back inside, check reverse.
Defensive Guard — head-up the strong offensive guard (2-tech): attack the inside half of the guard, own the strong A gap to the center, keep your inside arm and leg free; rush the A gap on pass.
Defensive Guard — head-up the weak offensive guard (2-tech): attack the inside half of the guard, own the weak A gap to the center, keep your inside arm and leg free; rush the A gap on pass.
Inside LB (B-gap depth): key guard→near back; fit the strong B gap on flow to you; slow-scrape and protect the cutback on flow away; stay inside-out to the edge.
Inside LB (B-gap depth): key guard→near back; fit the weak B gap on flow to you; slow-scrape and protect the cutback on flow away; stay inside-out to the edge.
Cover the strong receiver / deep per the coverage call and support the edge on run.
Cover the weak receiver / deep per the coverage call and support the edge on run.
Play 8–10 yds over the ball as the single free safety and fill the alley on run.
How to teach it
- 1The tell of the Wide-Tackle 6: the tackles align head-up the offensive tackles (C-gap) with the edges outside them — drill the C-gap set and the down-block squeeze.
- 2Wide tackles keep C-gap leverage and spill nothing outside; the edges hold the D gap and contain.
- 3Backers fill the B gaps behind the front on flow to them.
Common mistakes to fix
- !A wide tackle chases up the field and loses the C gap; fix by teaching him to step to and own the gap first.
- !Backers don't fit the B gaps as the front squeezes; fix by drilling the read-and-fit.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.