I coach as a D Coordinator at the youth level in So Cal and we are 6-0 right now going into our 7th of 8 games. So far we have 3 shutouts holding opponents to zero running a 4-4 spread. This defense is solid because of our speed and athleticism at linebacker. We have 4 studs that have a nose for the ball. The team we are playing runs the wishbone and stacks their line so they go without any WR's. 7 on the line the QB, FB and two RB's is how they run it. In my opinion I think I should switch to a 5-3 moving one of my backers over the ball on the line and position each down linemen so that they can shoot gaps, keep my backers 2 yards behind the line and have them police their normal gaps with the safety lining up a little off to the strong side in back. Since they crowd the line I am thinking about bringing both of my CB's in and positioning them behind my DE so essentially it looks like a 5-5. Anyone have any good info or knowledge on this subject? I appreciate it.

A 5-3 defense would probably work or a 46. This sound like the offense Oklahoma and Nebraska ran in the 70's and 80's. Teams that beat them were usually faster on defense and seemed to react to the option as opposed to trying to blitz. If I remember the teams that beat them stacked the box, but usually kept a safety back because the best receiver on these teams was usually the tight end.

that's not bad, the only suggestion i would make is, i wouldn't have the down linemen shoot the gaps, i would prefer they hold the gaps close off those running lanes and let the athletic linebackers make plays. with that said we ran a run oriented wing t and the team we played in the state champ. beat us with a similar defense to what you are describing, but their athletes were on the line not the backers.


but this all depends on whether they focus on speed with the option or pounding it up the middle with the fullback

Go to a 3-4, with all those guys running around the other team wont know what to do. You ever watch a 3-4? Its hard to see what the heck is going on.