Defending the
Wing “T”.
Starting Points on
Defending the Wing “T”
It’s not mystical. It’s an offense created by a man with a PE
degree.
Most People who run the system do not understand it’s potential
and provide great offensive tendencies.
Think in terms of series:



Base Play
Counter Play
Play action Pass
Take away the B.S. Quick Scores:

Never get out flanked by formation, motion, or trades.

Bounce strength of LB’s:
Formation
Motion
Stems


Sit on Reverse, Counters, and Gadget crap.
Stop the play action home run.
Understanding the Wing “T”
Components of the Wing “T”.
Formation Recognition.
Stemming Recognition
Motion Recognition.
Components of the Wing “T”
Series Attack.
Interrelated Blocking Scheme.
Great Variation of formation.
Flanks are similar
 TE
Unbalanced TE
 Wing
Unbalanced Wing
 Slot
Unbalanced Slot
Great Play Action.
Variety may lead to tendencies:



Formation = Series and Plays.
Motion = Series and Plays.
Trade = Series and Plays.
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Formation Recognition)
FS
C
C
B
B
T
Open Edge Attack
N
Internal
Wing Formation: No Motion

Open Edge - Sally and Boot.

Internal - Trap, Gut, and Tackle Trap.

TE Edge - Down, Down Option, Sweep.
B
T
B
SS
TE Edge Attack
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Formation Recognition)
FS
C
C
B
B
T
Open Edge Attack
N
Internal
B
T
B
SS
TE Edge Attack
Wing Formation: Motion ( Three Step or Flat)

Open Edge - Belly, Belly Option, Wham and Keep Pass.

Internal - Trap Weak, and Tackle Trap

TE Edge Down Counter and TE Screen.
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Formation Recognition)
FS
C
C
B
B
T
Open Edge Attack
N
Internal
B
T
B
SS
TE Edge Attack
Red and Blue Formation: Flat Motion to Slot Edge.

Open Edge - Jet Sweep, Jet Belly, and Jet Flood.

Internal - Jet Trap

TE Edge - Jet CXX and Jet Boot.
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Formation Recognition)
FS
C
C
B
B
T
Open Edge Attack
N
Internal
B
T
B
SS
TE Edge Attack
Red and Blue Formation: Flat Motion to TE Edge.

Open Edge - Jet CXX and Jet Boot.

Internal - Jet Trap.

TE Edge -Jet Sweep and Jet Down.
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Formation Recognition)
FS
C
C
B
B
T
Open Edge Attack
N
Internal
B
T
B
SS
TE Edge Attack
Unbalanced.

Open Edge - Belly No Motion, and Reverse.

Internal - Trap.

TE Edge - Down, Down Option and Sweep.
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Formation Recognition)
FS
C
C
B
B
T
TE Edge Attack
N
Internal
32 Personnel .

Internal - Trap.

TE Edge - Down and Sweep
B
T
B
SS
TE Edge Attack
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Formation Recognition)
FS
C
C
B
B
T
Open Edge Attack
30 Personnel .

Internal - Trap.

SE Edge - Belly,
N
Internal
B
T
B
SS
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Stemming Recognition)
RHB
LHB
TE
 Trade
- Wing to Unbalanced
Understanding the Wing “T”
(Stemming Recognition)
RHB
LHB
SE
 Slide
- Wing to Wing
TE
Defensive Game Plan
Overview
Attacking the base offense.
Individual technique and drills for attacking Wing “T”.
Group drills for attacking Wing “T”.
Overview of the game plan.
Alignment and Assignment vs. all formation, motion, trades and
slides.

Identify, Call, Align - Get aligned and play with speed. .
Teach to defend by:

Formation ( motion or stems)



Base Play
Counter
Play action
Special Adjustments:




Stud 8 Technique.
Backers on a String.
3 on 2 - TE and Wing read.
Overload the attack side. Sit on the counter and reverse.
Organize Practice by opponent scheme.
Special Adjustments vs. Wing T
Alignment
Stud – Eight Technique.
Challenge the power side of the balanced
formation.
Sit easy on the backside.
Special Adjustments
Power side
Driver call to the
Stud.
Stud Sparks into
the “C” gap.
Counter Boot
Be
T
$
W
T
B
M
Wo
CB
CB
FS
Power side
Counter Boot
$
Be
T
W
T
B
Wo
M
Backers bounce to motion.
CB
FS
CB
Stud in an Eight Technique and LB’s on a String.
Passing
Strength.
Special Adjustments
1 Back – Red and Blue
Wo
W
T
M
$
T
Be
B
C
FS
C
•We will play red and blue as a one back set until motion
occurs.
•FS will align to the slot so the Backer can rob the TE.
Special Adjustments Red and Blue
Motion to the wing flank.
Wo
W
T
M
$
T
Be
B
C
FS
Motion, Motion,
Bonus, Bonus.
My Rob, My Rob
C
On FS’s call the LB will leave
the TE rob and Cross pull to
near back.
Special Adjustments Red and Blue
Motion to the wing flank.
Wo
W
T
M
M
$
T
Be
Be
B
B
C
FS
C
Motion, Motion, Bounce, Bounce, Bounce. Bear Stacks the “D”
Gap and plays read support. Backer bounces to a foot alignment, and Mike
bounces to a “C” split. Everyone reads back to original keys.
Special Adjustments
QB
Be
C
C
T
$
T
M
B
FS
Corners over verses unbalanced.
W
Wo
One Back – No TE.
Motion to the Robber.
W T
M
C
T
$
Be
B
Wo
Wo
FS
C
FS
You may have to play it as a
Field Defense if the offensive
passing game is good.
Spur aligns at eight yards over #2
with inside leverage.
Play like ¼’s until motion.
Motion play Cover 5.
One Back – No TE.
Motion away from the robber.
W T
C
Wo
M
T
$
Be
B
Wo
FS
C
FS
You may have to play it as a
Field Defense if the offensive
passing game is good.
Spur aligns at eight yards over #2
with inside leverage.
Play like ¼’s until motion.
Motion play Cover 5.
Stopping the Base Plays
Example - Belly, Sweep, and Jet.
Stop the Buck Sweep
Stop the direction of the ball.
Spur (Outside LB) reads down block of Wing.


Attacks lead guard - use outside shoulder.
Stop the down hill path forcing the sweep to bounce
Front the ball and push the ball to your help.
Backer and Mike fill inside out..
Corner and Free play bounce.
Pursuit with reckless discipline.
Defensive Line purses down the LOS to eliminate cut back .
Free Safety must fit inside the corner.
Corner in 3 on 2
Read and LB play
plays the Spill and
fronts the ball.
Pursuit comes from DL, FS and
Backside Backer.
Buck Sweep is a
“D” Gap play.
The Spur job is to
Change the intended
direction of the ball.
Force it wide.
Stop the Belly
Stop the direction of the ball.
Mike plays isolation by spilling the ball.
Deny the wind back..
Front the ball and push the ball to your help.
Five technique and wolf.
Over lap the radical bounce.
Pursuit with reckless discipline.
Backer defeats the block of center.
FS runs ally.
Weak side LB has cut back all the way to his alignment.
The Belly is a “B” Gap play
that is most dangerous
when it winds back.
Pursuit comes
from DL, FS and
Backside Backer.
The ball is fronted by the Five
Technique and Free hitting spur.
The Mikes job is to
Change the intended direction
of the ball. Force it wide.
Stop the Jet Sweep
Stop the direction of the ball.
Outside LB will defeat the reach block.
Stop the ball from getting to the sideline
Front the ball and push the ball to your help.
Mike and Free - get in the crease.
Will - get off reach block create space.
Pursuit with reckless discipline.
Backside must make the difference in the cut back
Reckless pursuit comes from the
DL and backside backer.
The ball will be fronted by the
Mike and Free Safety.
The Jet Sweep is
designed to get
the ball to the
numbers.
The Spur Keys the
Slot for the arc block. When the Arc
block occurs the spur will establish a
point. The ball can not cross your face.
Individual Techniques
by position
Defensive Tackles
Defensive Ends
Inside Linebackers
Outside Linebackers
Back Three
Defensive Tackles
Alignment:

Heavy alignment, favor the man before gap.

Three Technique to the three man surface.

One Technique to the two man surface.
Assignment:

Deny all traps.

Play gap responsibility
Hips in gap
Shoulders square
Keys

Screws of the Guards
Down bend.
Open pull bend.
Reach - Gap responsibility.
Defensive Individual
(Defensive Tackles)
One on One



Reach - Hips in Gap.
Veer - Bend and Go.
Open Pull - Bend and Go.
3 on 2 - Box of Hell



Trap
Influence Trap
Reach
One on One
T
3 on 2 - Box of Hell
6 on 4 - Box of Hell






Trap
Influence Trap
Reach
Down
Belly
Counter
QB
T
T
6 on 4 - Box of Hell
QB
$
T
T
W
Defensive Ends
Alignment:



Heavy alignment, favor the man before gap.
Eight Technique to the three man surface.
Five Technique to the two man surface.
Assignment:


Deny all traps.
Play gap responsibility
Hips in gap
Shoulders square
Keys

Man on
Down bend.
Reach - Gap responsibility.
Defensive Individual
(Defensive Ends)
One on One


Reach - Hips in Gap.
Veer - Bend and Go.
3 on 2 - Box of Hell



One on One
Down
Belly
Reach
$
W
3 on 2 - Box of Hell
6 on 4 - Box of Hell






Trap
Influence Trap
Reach
Down
Belly
Counter
T
T
W
$
6 on 4 - Box of Hell
QB
$
T
T
W
Defensive Individual
(Inside Linebackers)


Alignment:
 Backer “C” Split - Plus or minus v. formation strength.
 Mike “A” Split - Plus or minus v. formation strength.
Assignment:
 Backer - 91 Technique
a.
b.

Mike - 31 Technique
a.
b.

Ball Outside - “D” gap.
Ball Inside - Strong “A” gap.
Ball Outside - “B” gap.
Ball Inside - Strong “A” gap.
Keys
 Cross pull to near back.
a.
b.
Slot
Window Open Window Closed
Defensive Individual
(Inside Linebackers)
Fullback / Dive Back Backfield
Fullback / Wing Backfield
NB
NB
NB
CP
CP
NB
T
T
CP
M
B
T
B
Full back / Slot Backfield
NB
NB
CP
T
B
CP
T
M
CP
T
M
Inside LB Alignments
Mike
“A” Stack Alignment.
Away from Backer.
Backer
“C” Split Alignment to
Passing Strength unless
2 x 2.
Defensive Individual - OLB



Alignment:

Wing Back Alignment - 1 yard outside the WB on the L.O.S.

HB Alignment - Stack.
Assignment:
– Wing Kill Technique.
– Down block on End. Attack lead with outside shoulder.
– Reach. Create point ball must not cross your face.
– Wing away - Fold for the home run.
Perimeter Drills
 Squeeze and Fold.
 Buck Drill - Sweep, Boot and Reverse.
 Jet Drill - Jet, Jet Keep, and Jet CXX.
Defensive Individual - DB’s
DB Skill Work.
 Man Progression.
 Play action technique.
 Three on two read.

– Down, Down Option, Down Keep, and Keep Pass.
– Sweep, Boot, and Keep.
Group Drills
6 on 6
Squeeze and Fold
1/2 Field Drills
Perimeter Run and Play Action Pass
Defensive Group Drills
6 on 6 Drill
All internal run.
Squeeze and Fold Drill.
All perimeter run
All play action.
1/2 Field

Wing Formation.

Red and Blue.
9 on 7 Drill
 All Run
 All Trade.
 All Motion
Perimeter Run and
Pass Skeleton
Box of Hell - Six on six.
QB
$
T
T
B
Internal Run
Trap and Influence Trap
Tackle Trap
Off Tackle
Belly and Down
M
W
Squeeze and Fold
( Cross buck series)
QB
QB
Be
Be
Wo
Wo
QB
Be
Wo
Sweep, Trap, and Waggle

Base and Blitz Calls
Squeeze and Fold
Jet Series ( Wing and Slot Flank)
QB
Be
Wo
Be
Jet and Jet Boot
May add CXX if needed
Wo
1/2 Field Drill - Sweep and Boot
Thre e on Two Rea d
Thre e on Two Rea d
QB
Be
$
QB
Be
C
$
C
FS
FS
1/2 Field Drill
Jet and Jet Flood
QB
QB
Be
T
$
B
T
W
Be
Wo
M
B
C
C
T
$
FS
T
W
Wo
M
C
C
FS
Perimeter and Play Action
QB
Wo
Be
B
M
C
C
FS
Buck Series - Sweep, Waggle, and Reverse
Jet Series - Jet, Jet Flood, and Jet CXX
Belly Series - Keep, Belly,and QB Roll
Down Series - Down, Down Option, Down Counter
Inside Run - 9 on 9
QB
Be
$
T
B
T
M
FS
All run verses all calls.
W
Wo
Wing “T”
Defensive Pressures
Zone Pressures
Three Deep – Three Under
Torpedo and Blade
Torpedo Cover 3 Hot.
W T
Wo
C
M
T
$
B
FS
Torpedo Cover 3 Hot.



Be
Backer utilizes an edge stunt.
The defensive front works away from the stunt.
Secondary plays three deep - three under.
C
Blade - Cover 3 Hot.
Wo
C
W
M
FS
Blade Cover 3 Hot.


Stud works down to a five technique.
Backer stunts the edge.
Down block - spill.
Zone - Rip.
T
T
B
$
Be
C
Wing “T”
Defensive Pressures
Man Pressures
Psycho and Falcon
Psycho C1 v. Red or Blue
Wo
C
W T
M
FS
T
$
Be
B
C
Psycho C1 v. Wing
Wo
C
W T
M
T
$
B
FS
Be
C
Falcon C1
QB
C
W
Wo
T
M
$
Be
B
C
NB
FS