How to Fill Gaps in a 5-3 Football Defense

The 5-3 defense's primary objective is to stop the running game of the opposing offense. This defense utilizes five defensive linemen to stop the run and force a team to pass the ball. One of the most important aspects of this run stopping is the ability to fill the gaps in 5-3 football defense.

Instructions

1. Have the defensive linemen hold their position and gap responsibility in 5-3 defense. Each defensive lineman is responsible for a gap in a 5-3 defense and if they do not maintain and fill them then the linebacker will have to fill two gaps and that is physically impossible.

2. Make each linebacker in the 5-3 defense responsible for a gap on either side of a defensive lineman. If the defensive lineman is responsible for the gap to his right then have the linebacker fill the gap to the lineman's left side.

3. Bring a safety down to the line and assign him a gap on a given play. Sometimes the linebacker will have to cover a tight end or running back who runs a pass route. When this happens, a safety can then come down from the defensive backfield and fill the gap that that linebacker normally would have.

4. Blitz either the right or left cornerback from the outside of the 5-3 defense. If you call a run blitz, the corner can fill an outside gap and then the safety will rotate over to cover the receiver that was the cornerback's responsibility.