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Installing the Wedge

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SocalDoubleWing
(@socaldoublewing)
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I had to change my name due to login issues but I'm the coach who ran double wing for the first time last season. Tomorrow is our 1st workout and I want to get to installing wedge blocking asap. Our inside run game wasn't what it could have been, so wedge is a priority for our 10u team this season. 

I am looking for any tips regarding installing wedge. I have read a few different ways of teaching wedge and I want to make sure I get it right. Thanks for the help!


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CoachDP
(@coachdp)
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Are you looking to wedge on a defensive lineman or your Center?

--Dave

 

"The Greater the Teacher, the More Powerful the Player."

The Mission Statement: "I want to show any young man that he is far tougher than he thinks, that he can accomplish more than what he dreamed and that his work ethic will take him wherever he wants to go."

#BattleReady newhope


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SocalDoubleWing
(@socaldoublewing)
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Posted by: @coachdp

Are you looking to wedge on a defensive lineman or your Center?

--Dave

 

Wedge on center.


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CoachDP
(@coachdp)
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Posted by: @socaldoublewing

Our inside run game wasn't what it could have been, so wedge is a priority for our 10u team this season. 

I am looking for any tips regarding installing wedge. I have read a few different ways of teaching wedge and I want to make sure I get it right. Thanks for the help!

I don't believe that Wedge blocking has anything to do with an inside run game, unless you're Wedge blocking for all your run plays from Tackle to Tackle.  Wedge blocking has only to do with Wedge.  It won't help you with Trap, Iso, Power or Counter blocking, so if your "inside run game wasn't what it could have been" you might look at the best way to block those other four plays.  That being said, Wedge has a lot of time-consuming working parts so if you'd like my take on it, you're welcome to call me.  BTW, Wedge is my favorite play and what we do best.

--Dave

"The Greater the Teacher, the More Powerful the Player."

The Mission Statement: "I want to show any young man that he is far tougher than he thinks, that he can accomplish more than what he dreamed and that his work ethic will take him wherever he wants to go."

#BattleReady newhope


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bignose
(@bignose)
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I have found that Steve Calande's wedge video on YouTube: "Clips from Coach Calande's 2006 DW Clinic" does a real good explanation of how to install and teach the wedge.

I prefer his techniques to others I have seen.

You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles!


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CoachDP
(@coachdp)
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Spoke with "SocalDoubleWing" for a couple hours today on Wedge.  We covered types of Fullbacks, misdirection, off-setting the Fullback, Wedge from 2-point stance and blocking the Wedge.  And how you teach it.  He had really good questions.  I hope it helps.

--Dave

"The Greater the Teacher, the More Powerful the Player."

The Mission Statement: "I want to show any young man that he is far tougher than he thinks, that he can accomplish more than what he dreamed and that his work ethic will take him wherever he wants to go."

#BattleReady newhope


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SocalDoubleWing
(@socaldoublewing)
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Posted by: @coachdp

Spoke with "SocalDoubleWing" for a couple hours today on Wedge.  We covered types of Fullbacks, misdirection, off-setting the Fullback, Wedge from 2-point stance and blocking the Wedge.  And how you teach it.  He had really good questions.  I hope it helps.

--Dave

I can't thank you enough Dave, I learned a wealth of information, wedge related and double wing in general. I can't wait to put this stuff into action. Your help is greatly appreciated.


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CoachDP
(@coachdp)
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Posted by: @socaldoublewing
Posted by: @coachdp

Spoke with "SocalDoubleWing" for a couple hours today on Wedge.  We covered types of Fullbacks, misdirection, off-setting the Fullback, Wedge from 2-point stance and blocking the Wedge.  And how you teach it.  He had really good questions.  I hope it helps.

--Dave

I can't thank you enough Dave, I learned a wealth of information, wedge related and double wing in general. I can't wait to put this stuff into action. Your help is greatly appreciated.

You're welcome.  Anytime, Daniel.

--Dave

"The Greater the Teacher, the More Powerful the Player."

The Mission Statement: "I want to show any young man that he is far tougher than he thinks, that he can accomplish more than what he dreamed and that his work ethic will take him wherever he wants to go."

#BattleReady newhope


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DoubleWingCoach
(@doublewingcoach)
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I have also found that the Calande way of install and "FIT" is the best... Start with just your center and two guards. Establish their fit onto the center first.  Legs bent, backs and eyes up, feet chopping. Outside hand goes to thigh pad of man to your inside, inside flipper goes up on back.  Learn to move as a THREE man unit. Eyes up all the time.... Knees up.... Don't get submarined...

 

Once they can move add the tackles. Teach them to narrow their stance slightly which FURTHER compresses the line, allowing the lateral wedge fit to just seamlessly slide into place. 

 

One they can move as a FIVE man unit i'll ensure their fit and movement is perfect before adding the TE's and ANY resistance... Don't have them blocking versus pads BEFORE they can move WITH ZERO RESISTANCE.  The Fit is where the power comes from... Not haphazardly blocking random kids as it moves like chewed up bubble gum... When the TE's are added and they can move as SEVEN men. I will add a nose tackle.  And then we start driving.....

It's at this point that kids come to realize (they can't stop this if we do it right)... And it becomes a TEAM favorite....


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SocalDoubleWing
(@socaldoublewing)
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Posted by: @doublewingcoach

I have also found that the Calande way of install and "FIT" is the best... Start with just your center and two guards. Establish their fit onto the center first.  Legs bent, backs and eyes up, feet chopping. Outside hand goes to thigh pad of man to your inside, inside flipper goes up on back.  Learn to move as a THREE man unit. Eyes up all the time.... Knees up.... Don't get submarined...

 

Once they can move add the tackles. Teach them to narrow their stance slightly which FURTHER compresses the line, allowing the lateral wedge fit to just seamlessly slide into place. 

 

One they can move as a FIVE man unit i'll ensure their fit and movement is perfect before adding the TE's and ANY resistance... Don't have them blocking versus pads BEFORE they can move WITH ZERO RESISTANCE.  The Fit is where the power comes from... Not haphazardly blocking random kids as it moves like chewed up bubble gum... When the TE's are added and they can move as SEVEN men. I will add a nose tackle.  And then we start driving.....

It's at this point that kids come to realize (they can't stop this if we do it right)... And it becomes a TEAM favorite....

Thanks for the info. We meet up this Sunday and I will introduce wedge to the team, starting with center and guards. Your Bengals dtdw videos are what started me on the double wing, I watched them religiously on YouTube. 2nd year as OC with this team and I'm looking forward to taking it to another level this year.


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Wing-n-It
(@robert)
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If there is a NT in front of the center he is to engage the man in front of him at the snap. If there is no man in front of the center of the wedge, he is to wait for the push.
I have them in the fit position first, I actually use all 5 but DWcoach is awesome so go with what he does, but I fit them first then work backwards as to how to get to the wedge fit.

2 Things my offense will always have is a Wing and a Wedge


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Boug
 Boug
(@boug)
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I always taught the wedge backwards and it was 10 times better for the kids. We started with the OG fitting into the Center, inside hand in the middle of the Centers back and helmets pinching the side of the center.  The OT's would fit next, their inside hand in the middle of the OG back and helmet on the side of the OG.  The TE's then formed doing the same as above to the OT's.  From there we had them move forward as one staying glued to the man in front of them. 

Once they had this down we would line them up as they would in a game but in 2 pt stances and just have them form the wedge to get the feeling of where to place their hands, head etc and get that feeling of how far they have to move to get to their spot, once they have done this we have them move the wedge.  We then proceed to put them in their 3 pt stance and have them form the wedge again, once they have figured that out then they proceed to move the wedge and hopefully there off.

Once they can move the wedge on air we then put players in front of them and have them move the wedge with resistance.  Here we will just have them form the wedge and then close their eyes and push forward against their team mates with their eyes closed.  They need to feel the pressure and stay on the man in front of them so no creases open up.

The best advice I give the kids is that they are NOT blocking a defensive player on Wedge, they are blocking their team mate in front of them and they are to stay blocking their team mate until the wedge falls apart.


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Bob Goodman
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Posted by: @robert

If there is a NT in front of the center he is to engage the man in front of him at the snap. If there is no man in front of the center of the wedge, he is to wait for the push.

I had an uncovered apex player, after taking 2 steps forward, sit back on the shoulders of the players behind him.  That's from my rugby experience.


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jcarbon2
(@jcarbon2)
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Anybody want to expand on alignment and in particular foot placement? 

Expert in "BRAIN DEAD DEFENSE" and the "CAVEMAN SPREAD"


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CoachDP
(@coachdp)
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Posted by: @jcarbon2

Anybody want to expand on alignment and in particular foot placement? 

Alignment of....hands, bodies, helmet?

Foot placement--The inside foot splits the ankles of the player to their inside; i.e., inside foot = directly underneath the butt crack of the player inside of them. We want to give our player's feet the most room possible to avoid getting tripped up.  For example, if the Right End's left foot is too close inside to the right ankle or the left ankle of the Right Tackle, they risk getting making contact with each other's feet.  By having the Right End get his left foot dead center between both of the Right Tackle's feet, it gives both players the most amount of foot room possible.

--Dave

"The Greater the Teacher, the More Powerful the Player."

The Mission Statement: "I want to show any young man that he is far tougher than he thinks, that he can accomplish more than what he dreamed and that his work ethic will take him wherever he wants to go."

#BattleReady newhope


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