How to Run a Football Defense: 6-2

Video Transcript

"Hey, it's Coach Rudy, Big Ten alumni. Listen, there's a lot of different defensive schemes out there. Some are a little bit older. This is one of those: 6-2; good for a younger team. Good for a team that doesn't have a defined star. Good for a team that plays well together, flies to the ball, works hard on getting to their responsibilities. Another gap defense. Good for a team that likes to get outside, that likes to run the option, teams that have a very good tailback. They run the option or a type of the veer, and they get a lot of action off the tackle. So what it does is it allows you to stunt. What you do is you put guys in the gaps, all of the gaps up front. And then what you do is you run the outside guy in through the gap, this guy out so they can't reach him. That way if it's a dive, these guys go forward. If it's a dive, they clog it up. If it's the option, it's not so clear they can't get through. The quarterback has to make a decision. The "Mike" linebacker, which we talked about last time, always goes with the strong side. He's not really flying. He's reading now, because he might have to trickle and come off and make a play here, might have to make a play here. Or, for some reason, the stunt doesn't work, where you criss-cross these guys. He might have to make a play here. In the secondary, we're cover 3, which means everyone has a deep third, right. So 6-2 means You're watching your guy for pass, you're watching for the option. So it's definitely not the cornerback's favorite defense, because you know that the offensive guy could be possibly running the option. Which means you'd have to provide run support. So you've got to battle this guy, make sure he doesn't get deep. And then go through him and make the quarterback stay between you and the sideline. And that's on both sides. So if you're going to play a team that runs the option, 6-2 is the best way to go. Free safety is always the deepest guy on the field. He's always looking to help in all three of those directions. The "Will" linebacker, same thing. He's reading here. He might have to go here. He might have to fly that way. Option or a team that runs well off tackle, 6-2 will present problems for them. That's the way you want to go. Make sure you get it done. You'll be able to have success with a young team. I'd recommend something else for a little older team , but younger teams, very good basic defense. Traditional situations, sort of third and medium yards, right. Second and long, third and medium is q good defense for 6-2. That's when you run it."