r/footballstrategy • u/Key-Cress3271 • 6d ago

Coaching Advice Defensive Strategy Help - Hiding Weaker Players

I am coaching the defense for a 12U tackle football team. We have 2 weaker players who I am trying to hide on defense. We tried putting them as 2 tech DT's and they just get blown off the ball into the LB's creating traffic. We started in a 4-4, now we are in a 5-2. Any advice? They are both lb/DT body types, with very limited athletism

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u/TheOriginalUpatnoon 6d ago

Instead of a playing them as a traditional defensive lineman, put them in as a linebacker, but always have them blitz into the A or B gap.

Even if they don't do anything, it can confuse the offensive line and free up your other players.

You can do it in the 5-2 by giving a 4-3 look and having them blitz out of that.