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Goal Line Defense: Lenape Valley’s 6-5 Scheme

by: Don Smolyn
Head Coach Lenape Valley High School (NJ)
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When introducing our Goal Line Defense to our team, we stress from day one that we must stop the run at all cost – “We are fighting for inches not yards”. As a staff, three principles must be kept in mind at all times:

1. Instill in our players the mindset that “they cannot score by running the football on us – they must pass to score”. Also, attitude is as important as schemes and techniques.

2. Have a limited number of adjustments to formations and motions.

3. Install and be able to execute a limited number of stunts.

Base Alignment and Responsibilities
(Diagram 1)

We have developed specific assignments for our entire defensive personnel to increase our chances of success.

Defensive Guards are aligned in a four-point stance with their inside foot slightly outside of the center’s foot. The shoulders are at the shin level of the offensive linemen. They are as tight to the line of scrimmage as possible, and the charge is for penetration trying to get one yard deep in the backfield. We emphasize stepping with the inside foot and ripping the inside arm through to stop the “reach” block by the center.

Defensive Tackles are aligned slightly outside of the head-up position, tight to the line of scrimmage in a low four-point stance. The defensive tackles will execute a low penetrating charge straight through the offensive tackles, being careful not to be turned out and opening the “B” gap. This would create too large of an area for the MLB to fill.

Defensive Ends are aligned with their inside foot slightly inside the outside foot of the tight end with their outside foot back in a low two-point stance. Their initial charge is through the tight end. If the tight end blocks down, the defensive end must close tight to the defensive tackle. Under no circumstances should the offense be able to run the football between the defensive tackle and the defensive end. On flow away, the defensive end is responsible for the bootleg by the quarterback. The defensive end has the quarterback on option.

Middle Linebacker is aligned head up on the center, deep enough that he can fill downhill into the “B” gap. One common mistake by the middle linebacker is that he aligns too tight to the line of scrimmage and his force angle is lateral and not downhill into the “B” gap. His pass drop is off of the number three receiver and vs. play action he looks for the crossing or drag receiver. If the quarterback breaks contain, he will now become the contain player.

Outside Linebackers align with their outside foot in the crotch of the number two receiver, half the distance that the offense needs for a touchdown. Versus a tight end, the outside linebacker will key the initial movement of the tight end. If the tight end blocks down, the outside linebacker fills tight off of the hip of the defensive end who is closing down to the defensive tackle. If the tight end turns out on the defensive end, the outside linebacker fills straight ahead in the “C” gap. On flow away, the outside linebacker closes and is responsible for the “B” gap. Versus a pass release, the outside linebacker maintains an inside attitude on the receiver. If the receiver breaks out to the flat, the outside linebacker will maintain an inside attitude on the number one receiver who is now coming inside. Versus option, the outside linebacker plays quarterback to pitch.

Defensive Halfbacks align three yards outside the tight end and no more than half the distance the offense needs for a touchdown. Versus a wide receiver, they will align slightly outside until they feel threatened by the “slant” route and maintain an inside attitude on the wide receiver. Versus a tight end, they are keying through the tight end to the near back. The near back will give them his run /pass read. Halfbacks must be coached not to align too tight width-wise off of the tight end. The halfback will then “set the edge” on run plays toward them and if they align too tight, they will have a limited force angle. On flow away, they must be aware of the waggle to the onside end or the drag route on the throwback pass to the opposite receiver. The halfback has the pitch man on option.

Basic Adjustments

This will include bringing the away outside linebacker over on a trips alignment (See Diagram 2).The MLB maintains his normal position and allows the outside linebacker to run back on all motions. Versus a “Power I” alignment, we will slide the MLB to the onside “B” gap and backside linebacker to the backside “B” gap (See Diagram 3). We must make a “tight” call to the defensive guards. This will tighten their alignment down to where they have their inside foot slightly inside the center’s foot and will take away the quarterback sneak.

Team Stunts

“Blitz” will have the defensive tackle charging through the “C” gap and the outside linebackers blitzing the “B” gap (See Diagram 4).

“Fire” will have the defensive tackle attacking the “B” gap and the outside linebacker blitzing the “C” gap (See Diagram 5).
“Pinch” will have the tackle attacking the “B” gap, the defensive end attacking the “C” gap, and the outside linebacker scrapping to the “D” gap (See Diagram 6).

On all stunts the players must be coached to step with the foot to the gap they are going and use a low aggressive charge ripping the backside arm through.

Selection of Goal Line Personnel

A total of 15 players would comprise the first goal line defensive unit: the 11 starters plus one backup halfback, one backup outside linebacker, one backup middle linebacker, and one backup lineman for both the guards and tackles. At our level of competition, it would be difficult to find game worthy backups for all 11 positions.

Practicing the Goal Line Defense

Before deciding on how often and how much the goal line defense will be practiced, it is important that the staff conduct a two-three year self film study to gauge how often and how many times per season the team is actually in a goal line defensive situation. Many times we have gone three-four games in a row without the need for our goal line defense. Regarding practice set up, we have used two methods: first, we have treated it as a “special team” and it would be practiced and installed twice a week similar to our punt, punt return and kick off team, etc. The second method of practice that we have used would be to work in two-three “run” reps during our team defensive period on Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and three-four “pass” reps during our team defensive period on Thursday.

The “6-5 Goal Line Defense” is a package that we feel can be implemented into any defensive scheme. The 6-5 defense is very good vs. the run and sound against the option and pass.

About the Author: Don Smolyn has been the head football coach at Lenape Valley High School for the past 35 years. His teams have won seven state championships and eight conference championships during that period. Smolyn’s overall record was 273 wins and 109 losses through the 2010 season. Two years ago Smolyn was selected to the New Jersey Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He attended Adams State College in Colorado where he received his Bachelor’s Degree and received a Master’s Degree from Kean University.


















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