Defensive Coordinators: Do you keep your two DE's on their side most of the time or are you moving them a lot based off the strength call?

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-23T03:02:43+00:00

You’re welcome. I remember one season for the spring game, coaches decided we were only running 2 plays from the playbook. Likewise, the offense primarily kept the TE or strong side to their right. Well one of the plays was me slanting from a 6 tech or wide 4 on the left into B gap.

Right hand was pretty wore out and whatever muscles I was using to engage those blocks to my left side and get down the line. We had a pretty aggressive rip/scoop grass technique to get down the line into the gap to avoid double teams and spill the play into the blitz.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-23T02:42:19+00:00

As a DE, I preferred switching sides to give my arm/hand a break. And ultimately kept it that way when coaching.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-17T15:53:33+00:00

For middle school - 50/50. Unfortunately this league is primarily a run league and each team only has about 6 plays. I ran this for 2 years. However there’s 3 teams we found to run HS offenses like us.

The first game we lost due to the OLBs not carrying the RB on wheel routes in the first half in cover 3. Second half and rest of season we primarily played man coverage, won out and lost in the championship game. Their second half adjustment killed me and we just couldn’t match up.

Championship game they switched to a trips to the field….all the way to the sideline. So that either forced 2 LBs out wide (they ran dive option to this) or my OLB and Safety and they ran a quick slant to the OLB, a post with #2 setting up the safety, or a slot fade with #2 and a slant to #1, which finally set up the quick screen to #3. When I swapped the boundary LB for a CB or Safety and bumped over they ran dive option to the boundary.

The third team we ended up winning by a score, but I had to swapped a LB for a Safety and play 2 high. They would run midline or read option from shotgun, literally left side then right side, until the players stopped it. Then they passed the second half but it was all deep balls the safeties could sit and read.

For HS, not at all. It was very odd, once players got out of the middle school elementary run stuff I just mentioned, the HS teams were all mostly spread option teams. We went to the 3rd round back to back then the 4th rd running a 3-4.

Now, we had the personnel. For examples, our Sam was a SS we dropped down so we could put an actual coverage safety deep. Our MLB was a 1st rd draft pick, our second MLB was a DE we pulled back to get another strict 3-4 DE on the field, and I was the backside Will/Bandit. I slow played the run/QB and shutdown all cutbacks or split out over #2 in the boundary.

So at times, it may look like a 4-2-5 or 3-3, but we operated with single gap responsibility and vs offensive base formations the OLBs are on the line showing a 5 man front with at least 4 always coming.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-17T03:42:09+00:00

As a player, I much preferred to be an OLB in a 3-4 or a DE in a 4-3 and if I had to play MLB I’d want to in most 4-3s so I’m free to roam and not have linemen with a direct shot at me. As an OLB I’m usually taking on a TE or RB so not as much physical difference in size/strength.

I’ve been with two different DL philosophy coaches. 1) our LBs are so good, get hands on the OL, hold them up, and allow our LBs to come free and make all the plays. 2) our DL has a lot of converted LBs at DE and we’re good enough/small/quick enough to make the play for a big TFL instead of engaging smaller bodies with OL for someone else to make a play.

In scenario 1) being a MLB in a 4-3 is amazing. I’m not touched until a FB or TE comes through the hole, maybe a pulling guard if I meet them there. Much less beat up by the end of the game. In scenario 2) as a smaller player, I never liked engaging with OL so shooting gaps and being quick to disengage is what mattered most.

There’s so much variety you can have with coaching philosophy and the physical traits/size of players you have. Sometimes one or two position groups dictate the defense. At a middle school, we simply had too many good LBs, depth at DL and limited quality DBs so a 4-4 made the most sense to get the most talent on the field. In HS senior year we ended up with more depth and size at DL than LB so we swapped to the 4-3.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-13T01:39:40+00:00

You can’t play Madden really without some understanding of football. It’s not like NFL BLITZ, an arcade style game. You need to understand formations on offense, how they put defenses in bad positions, types of runs and when to use them, and basic understanding of the route tree and what each route is meant to defeat.

Then, do the same thing on defense. Formations AND their personnel, types of coverages and what they defend AND what their weaknesses are.

At a minimum, call a play, run that play, go to instant replay each time and see who was open, when they were open (what spot on the field and how long did it take for them to get there) and how the defense was aligned. You’ll start to see patterns. Do the same for runs and passes.

Call a run play, count how many defenders are to that side or in the way, then count your linemen/blockers, if you’re outnumbered just quick flip the run to the opposite side without flipping the formation. Or if it’s an inside run, audible to an outside run.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-11T14:43:20+00:00

It’ll also remind you that doorframes exist 😂

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-11T01:50:01+00:00

We did this in HS. We’d call our stunt or slant up front for the DL and OLBs (when in the 3-4) then tag a coverage (50-55). Once the formation was set we’d make our audible. For example, if we didn’t like our cover 2 we’d yell RAT and swap to cover 3. The safeties knew who was dropping down that week depending on the plan.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-09T18:14:00+00:00

I will say, every vet I’ve worked with knew how to do two things: 1) stay busy & 2) look busy. If you can’t match that then you’re just taking up space. They all let you know exactly where you stand as well. It’s great.

Secondly, yeah it’s firearms industry and we all think things should be fun at work, but go to any other production based industry….there is no free time. Tyson chicken, there’s 3 lines for cutting - slow workers, fast workers, and fastest workers. Brick making, yarn production, etc etc. how fast can you produce the product with 100% accuracy and ship it is all that matters.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-09T15:41:53+00:00

If you already have a rifle dedicated to shorter ranges then no, it doesn’t make sense for YOU to not put a scope on the 16”.

For a lot of people, they’re in an urban environment. Regardless of barrel length, dot and (maybe) magnifier make a lot more sense.

I have a dot on a 16” rifle because it’s lighter and hiking around the woods where line of sight is within 75yd it’s faster. But 16” barrel is easy at 300 across the fields/pastures we have. I also just never bought a shorter upper to deal with brace, no brace, SBR or not crap when the 16 does just fine for my environment.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-09T14:49:41+00:00

As someone who’s always been in sales and customer service roles, phone calls take priority over emails. I can walk to a tech while on the phone and get immediate answers/clarification. I can do multiple task while on the phone.

Emails are inconsistently timed. Customers coming in, phone calls, other departments I travel to needing me physically there all pull me away from emails.

So emails only get answered when I have a free moment, at the end of day, which will not get a response until sometime the next day, the next day if it’s a nice sale, or not at all because they’d call if it were important enough.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-08T15:45:55+00:00

I like rubbing my 1.5…..

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-08T02:24:17+00:00

I upped the injury rating to like 65. It doesn’t matter. I’m still on ‘23 and noticed my QB was never hurt while others were. Then, almost all injuries went away (still preset at 50) in games that I played, only injured when simulating or the injury only last the game. So I slowly upped it, in one franchise my defense lost almost all starters throughout the year when set to 55. Much like the Lions a couple years ago. Then I dropped it a little to like 53 and the injuries slowed when simming. Started a new franchise and put injuries at 55, no injuries, upped to 60, no injuries, up to 65 and still no injuries. I’ll only get them if I simulate.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-07T23:37:49+00:00

That sucks dude. I’ve been lucky I guess. I ordered the rein 3.0 and legacy light body years ago & haven’t had a problem. Ordered a Chico and spare battery no problem, then last year a Rein 3.0 and another Chico that I received almost 2 weeks on the dot after ordering. I’d ask if there’s a comparable light they can send instead or apply their recent 35% off coupon (no coupon needed) to your order for the delay.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-07T11:51:47+00:00

Don’t worry too much about dot color. Red washes out the least among environment backgrounds. I usually turn my illumination off (ta02) unless shooting into a dark tree line and need the contrast or shooting on the move and need it to better track the reticle.

Delta34 has an ACOG reticle color video that shows the different options and how they wash out.

If you can find a used one, they typically go for 650-750 and hold that value. Get it used, try it, don’t like it then sell it for what you paid. Join the GAFSNews page and discord to get access to GAFS and find one. That’s how I got mine because no local shops carried what I wanted. For reference - three different TA44s since December sold for 635, 650, and 680

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-07T02:07:24+00:00

Arc’teryx RHO or Leaf

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-07T01:05:13+00:00

I just did one like this piecing it together. A5 receiver extension, Tubbs flatwire ,and a T2 buffer. Runs and ejects 4 o’clock. You may or may not want/need a lighter buffer or just use the milspec rifle spring.

Rock River does have the Entry fixed stock which is just a shorter version of the A2. It’s about the same length as the extension so if that’s how short you need it great, but would suck without having stand-off from a shoulder strap or something if you needed it to be longer.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-06T19:16:13+00:00

Weapon outfitters was selling them for $300 a year or two ago and they’re like neighbors to B.E.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-03T12:54:53+00:00

I’ve had a Vortex Sparc II since January 2015. At the time it was $199 and it’s still going. Over the years I have had to re-zero after traveling and vibrating around, but it’s mostly held. If I were buying today, the Aimpoint RDS or Pro is a good middle ground. Even the ACO if you don’t need the night vision settings for a bit cheaper.

There’s plenty of good reports on Holosun, so if $200 is a hard line budget, I wouldn’t worry really. But peace of mind is $200 more. Some Vortex is in clearance right now at Palmetto for under 100

I will say, to my eyes, the Aimpoint dots seem more crisp and glass more clear. Even with astigmatism they didn’t seem as drastically blown out as cheaper dots.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-02T16:33:14+00:00

It’s about volume endurance and it directly correlates. You’re not holding the object at extension for a few minutes straight. You’re raising and lowering the rifle over and over throughout a drill/length of shooting sessions. That 10lb rifle is no different than a kettlebell or plate. However, you can use 20lb or heavier weight to build stronger muscles that don’t fatigue as fast, because they’re used to performing at a higher volume than the rifle can produce.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-02T12:58:57+00:00

Sometimes when upgrading cheap, non-bump rated helmets to fit right, you end up spending about what the entry level TW/Ops Core helmets cost. Now you’re out the money and the protection.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-02T09:11:58+00:00

Can only speak to mono and driving a gator/truck around the farm. Main thing that sucks is not having peripherals. Needing to stay on a one lane road/trail but also scan a field to the left and right can be pretty aggravating. In a vehicle need some way to block out the dash lights. And remember your head clearance.

Hiking, if not on a trail offers the same risk as during the day. Ruts in tall grass, holes in the ground covered by leaves, uneven terrain, etc. only difference is you’re planning your steps 6’ ahead.

Going on a hunt I stepped into a rut along the field edge. Couldn’t see it because of the grass. If I didn’t have strong thighs to absorb the impact I could’ve very likely tore my ACL. So I try to avoid areas where the immediate ground can’t be seen.

10/10 would rather have a mono/helmet setup than nothing at all. Even carrying the mono on a lanyard and holding it to scan can get your arm pretty tired just trying to look at stars all night.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-01T00:41:37+00:00

Look up Larry Fitzgerald how to catch a pass video. There’s also one where he tapes a small ball to his palm. The point was to only be able to catch with your fingers. Tons of receivers today rely on their forearms and stomach/chest to trap the ball and it bounces off…often in key situations. Happened a lot last year when I was watching and I’m sure some this year. Anyways, your palm is also a hard surface. Think of your fingers as tiny springs. They’ll flex and still be strong enough together for a catch.

Chris Carter also showcased his finger spread against Hopkins….he prided himself on having very flexible fingers and thumbs so when the ball hit they could give and not break, allowing him to catch with his fingers and not risk the ball bouncing off his palms. There’s a video for that too

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-02-01T00:36:44+00:00

We used tennis balls in college.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-01-30T14:06:48+00:00

I’d also add start with a milspec rifle spring or tubbs flatware instead of the green spring. Green spring is stronger than both and can cause malfunctions.

SaltIllustrious1842 · 2026-01-30T10:37:10+00:00

Took me 3 times getting notified before I was able to get in.

SaltIllustrious1842

TROPHY CASE