The Battle Oreo Shell: 3 High Safety Secrets to Defend 5 Wide Spread Offense - Will Christian

Looking for a way to improve how you defend 5 wide spread? Coach Will Christian of Lebanon High School (MO), has developed a system that allows them to keep the ball in front of them, play outside WRs physically, and be sound in the screen game.

The video below is a portion of how Lebanon defends 5 wide spread with a team that has a quarterback who is a running threat.

It comes from Coach Christian's Glazier Drive video: Using 3 High Safety Concepts to Defend the 5 Wide Spread Offense out of a 3-4 Defense, Part 2

He has another Drive video that details how they defend 5 wide when the quarterback is not a threat to hurt you on the ground: Using 3 High Safety Concepts to Defend the 5 Wide Spread Offense out of a 3-4 Defense, Part 1

Why / Purpose for Lebanon

1. Not a Man coverage program (not a good fit).
   
   
2. Allows us to keep the deep ball in front of us.
   
   
3. Allows us to play the outside WR's physically.
   
   
4. Allows us to play the screen game soundly.
   
   
5. Allows us a lot of stemming ability to mix up looks and attempt to confuse both the pre snap and post snap read.
   
   
6. We are capable of running 4-7 looks from this concept.
   
   
7. We want to make the windows as small as possible but commit one extra hat to the QB.
   
   
8. We will commit 5 to the box and spill vs QB run scheme 3×2.

Practice Keys

1. Install and practice beginning in June (don't wait until game week).
   
   
2. Break down into pods (Run fits / Pass Rush / Coverage).
   
   
3. Incorporate half field for route execution.
   
   
4. Daily work on scramble drill (adding a hat from the box into coverage).
   
   
5. Prepare using tempo.
   
   
6. Tackling drills should simulate fits from this scheme.
   
   
7. Perimeter fit drills.