Pee Wee Football’s 3-4 defense

The 3-4 defense has been used with great success, especially with the Steelers in the NFL. I have used the 3-4 with 5-year-old flag players and 14-year-old travel tackle players, as long as it has been modified for the level you are training.

Looking like the 5-4 defense, the 3-4 will confuse many coaches at the youth soccer level. A crucial component in setting up a tough defensive system, like the 3-4 defense, is making sure it’s adjusted to the level you’re training for. If you’re coaching a young team, you won’t need any of the fancy 3-4 lightning packs. Stunt, bank, blitz, and cornerback schemes come in many varieties in the 3-4 defense. Many of these will need to be largely omitted or modified if you want to use them at the pop warning level.

The incline used by the defensive line should be used at all age levels. This devastating technique will cause your defensive line to ruin your opponent’s blocking schemes and they won’t even realize you’re doing it.

With proper preparation, including a full scouting report of your next opponent, you should be able to use the incline to confuse your opponent’s blocking schemes. The beauty of the 3-4 defense is that you should be able to blast your opponents’ entire offensive line using just three players. Hopefully you’ve scouted your opponent and have a good idea of ​​the blocking styles he will try to use against your team. Using defensive line inclinations, you will be able to occupy your five offensive linemen with just your nose guard and two defensive tackles. You will be able to play most of the game with a two-man advantage. We show all the mods for defensive line inclines and stunts in our Youth 3-4 Defense Playbook.

For more than 20 years, the 3-4 defense has been my base defense. I have installed it with 14 year old travel grade equipment as well as 5 year old flag equipment and have enjoyed great success. I have trained in the smallest city in my conference and have rarely allowed more than two points in any game. In almost half of my games we have shut out our opposition and I have a winning percentage of over 80%. I believe in minimal blitzing, if there is one, and I like to use the defensive line lean to keep the opponent’s offensive linemen away from my line supporters. Unlocked line sponsors run free to make plays and I want my best athletes to run free.

In conclusion, 3-4 is a wonderful defense to use at all levels of football as long as the coaches use a modified version applicable to the level they are training.