Perimeter Triangle for the Youth Double Wing:

Power Side

Jack Gregory© 2011 All Rights Reserved

Introducing the Perimeter Triangle

• The “perimeter triangle” is a term I started using to describe the three most common players defending the perimeter - typically in contain, force and alley

• Every defense must have these three assignments covered or risk the possibility of having the exposed perimeter exploited by the offense.

• The perimeter triangle is typically manned by the: – defensive end (DE), – cornerback (CB) – outside linebacker (OLB). (sometimes a Safety)

• I wanted a simple method of determining what these defenders were doing on the perimeter as this would determine how I would attack the defense from play to play.

• Power Side and Counter (back) Side

Topics of Discussion

• develop an understanding of the function of the perimeter triangle in the defense,

• develop an ability to read the perimeter triangle as a means of deciphering the defensive scheme,

• develop an ability to optimize play calling based on the perimeter triangle read, and

• develop an ability to use formations, motions, and play-calling to manipulate the perimeter triangle and expose vulnerabilities in the defense.

Introducing the Perimeter Triangle

Perimeter Triangle – The defensive end, cornerback, and outside linebacker typically comprise an entity that I define as the Perimeter Triangle.

Outside hip of OT

Why Use The Perimeter Triangle• I wanted a simple method of determining what these defenders were

doing on the perimeter as this would determine how I would attack the defense. Remember our base play is POWER!

• It is very important that the offensive coordinator be able to quickly adapt to the defense, to attack and counterattack.

• Often as youth coaches we need to be able to do it from the sideline as we are not likely to have scouting assistance from an elevated position. This is specifically why I developed the concept of the perimeter triangle.

• Helps to quickly identify a neutral, heavy or light perimeter so that you immediately know how to attack that side.

• In developing an understanding of the perimeter triangle, one can effectively read the defense and make informed play calling decisions that have the highest likelihood of success.

2-3-4 Rule

• 2 or less defenders outside of OT: ATTACK PERIMETER• 3 defenders outside of OT: ATTACK EDGE• 4 or more defenders outside of OT: ATTACK INSIDE or

AWAY or PASS (safety filling)• If 4 locate where they came from: safety support?,

shifted backers?, shifted line?, cowboy corner?• Count perimeters, locate safety(s), gives you the

defenders remaining that are protecting the interior.

Elements of the Perimeter Triangle

• Contain – This is the defender who has the job of keeping the ball inside and/or behind the line of scrimmage. He must keep the ball on his inside shoulder and not allow it to get past him at any time.

• Force – The force defender’s job is to turn the ball back inside (squeeze) or deep outside and towards the line of scrimmage (spill).

• Alley – This responsibility may be assumed by an interior linebacker, or possibly a safety playing near the LOS and the perimeter; but it is more than likely the responsibility of an outside linebacker. The alley defender’s main role on the perimeter is to maintain a mirrored relationship with the ball.

Variations in the Elements

Three basic defensive perimeter schemes:– Spill: Force defender inside of Contain defender.

More aggressive (attack) scheme.– Squeeze: Contain defender inside of Force

defender. More of a read and contain scheme.– Box: Contain defender inside of Force defender.

Contain works vertically up field to seal off sweep. More of a contain and read scheme.

Know The Perimeter Scheme

• Most youth teams play a squeeze perimeter or a box scheme. (CONTAIN/FORCE). – This means they are often neutral (3) or heavy (4);

due to line shift or secondary run support.• Aggressive DE play (crash, pinch, hunt) are

playing a spill scheme. (FORCE/CONTAIN)– This means they are often light (2) or neutral (3);

due to line shift or secondary run support.

Game Film Review

Understanding the Perimeter Triangle

• Regardless of the defensive alignment, every legitimate defense has a ‘contain’, ‘force’, and ‘alley' defender on each side of the ball. The arrangement of those defenders often determines how the defense will play the perimeter, edge and pass.

• There are occasions when defenses will swap these players around such that the defensive end is the force player and the corner is the contain player; or alternatively, the outside linebacker will swap with the defensive end, etc.

• Regardless of the scheme, these three elements are always in place – contain, force and alley.

Understanding the Points of Attack

LWB (20) QB (10)/BB (30) RWB (40)

Interior EdgeEdgePerimeter Perimeter

‘Perimeter’ extends from the outside hip of the tight end (or EMLOS) to the sideline. Any play that we use that aims for the outside hip of the tight end (EMLOS) will be a ‘perimeter’ play.

The ‘edge’, which is the primary point of attack for this offense, extends from the outside hip of the guard to the outside hip of the tight end.

Anything within the inside hip of the guard is considered an ‘interior’ play.

That is really all you need to know about how we target the attack of the defense on each side, as far as the running game goes.

Understanding the Points of AttackCont’d

Interior EdgeEdgePerimeter Perimeter

Vertical Out Vertical Middle Vertical Out

Most common point of attack is the perimeter (also called the flat)

Followed by the vertical outs (from the outside hip of the tight end to the boundary)

Vertical middle (from the inside of the tight end’s outside hip on each side).

Reading The Perimeter Triangle• Power side: power/power sweep/power pass is being ran to.

– WB/QB SEAL (power)– WB WIDE/MS (power sweep)– Power Pass (WB PP) (power pass)

• Counter side (backside): side counter/counter trap/reverse (backside audibles) being ran to.– WB KICK– WB WIDE REVERSE

• Interior: wedge and counter trap– BB/QB WEDGE– BB KICK

• Initially: Pre-snap read (basic read)• Developing: Post-snap read (advance read)

Reading the Perimeter Triangle Cont’d

• The concept of the perimeter triangle provides a foundation wherein we can read each side of the defense and resolve play calling decisions based on how many players are in the respective perimeter triangles.

• You really don’t need to know specifically who is playing what technique. All you really need to do is simply count the defenders that are in the perimeter pre-snap and eventually post-snap.

Tight Rip 26 Seal Right

Counter Side Symmetrical backfield Power side

Shift Rip 26 Seal

Counter Side Asymmetrical backfield Power side

3 On the Edge

123

123

SHIFT RIP

4 & 2 on Edge

12

3

4 5

2

1

SHIFT RIP

Applying Stress to the Perimeter Triangle

• It is not sound to sit in one formation and expect the defense to not adapt to your method of play calling and play execution.

• Human beings are creatures of adaption and athletes are the best example of creatures of instantaneous adaption.

• Edge tags are a very simple away of changing the perimeter appearance of a formation while the base play structure stays sound. (pre-snap)

• Formation tags are another simple method of changing the backfield appearance so that a formation is no longer symmetrical (tight) and it offers a LOF (line of force) advantage to the offense and specifically the play. (pre-snap)

• Play tags are a final example of placing post-snap stress on a perimeter by movement. (post-snap)

Applying Stress to the Perimeter Triangle Cont’d

• There a two ways to attack a perimeter triangle.• First is to isolate the perimeter triangle away from the interior

defenders. The use of ON, OVER, and NASTY edge tags is a great way of accomplishing this pre-snap.

• Second is to expand the triangle so that you isolate the defenders within the perimeter triangle away from each other. The use of SPLIT, FLANKER, NASTY, LOOSE, TRIPS, and BUNCH edge tags is a great way of accomplishing this pre-snap.

• The 1st level defender is always the primary defender we must account for. If we don’t open the 1st level the play will not work!

Applying Stress to the Perimeter

• Edge Tags: the means to remove defenders– OVER: BST over, unbalanced line, overloaded TKO wall.– NASTY: WB & TE exchange positions. Extends DE out or places

him inside of TE.– LOOSE: WB and TE become SLOT and SE. Removes the CB and

OLB from the edge.– SPLIT: TE becomes SE removes CB.– FLANK: WB becomes FLANKER removes CB.– TRIPS: TE becomes SE, PSWB becomes outside slot, BSWB

becomes inside slot.– BUNCH: TE becomes SE (#2/middle receiver), PSWB becomes

outside bunch slot (#1). BSWB becomes inside bunch slot (#3).

Applying Stress to the Perimeter

• Backfield Alignments– TIGHT: classic DW – never actually call it.– STACK: stack I, BB-BSWB-PSWB– PRO: pro set, PSWB, and BB on play side in front of BB– WISH: wishbone: BSWB-BB-PSWB– BEAR/BULL: strong I, BB offset, WB, BSWB at I.– SHIFT: direct snap – STAR: direct snap (double WB)– NOVA: direct snap (variation of Hugh Wyatt Wild Cat)– COMET: direct snap Yale/Beast

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

OVER

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Nasty

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Loose

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Flanker

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Split

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Trips

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Bunch

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Tight Formation tag

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

StackFormation tag

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

ProFormation tag

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

WishFormation tag

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

BearFormation tag

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

BullFormation tag

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Shift Formation tag

BB, QB, BSWB, PSWB

Star Formation tag

BB, QB, BSWB, PSWB

Comet Formation tag

BSWB, QB, BB, PSWB

Nova Formation tag

Game Film Review

Game Film Review

Questions/Comments?