Installing the 3-3-5 Defense for Youth Football

Presented by Phillip BlackwellPresented by Phillip Blackwell

Asst. Coach Overlea HighAsst. Coach Overlea High

Baltimore, MarylandBaltimore, Maryland

Why the 3-3-5?

• Personnel – lack of size in defensive linemen• Have more LB types than DL types• Have more DBs / skilled athletes than DL or LB

types

• Opponent Offenses – multiple Spread or misdirection (Wing-T) offenses

• Like to apply PRESSURE!!!!!!!!!

Base 3-3-5 Personnel• 3 Defensive Linemen

– DT and DE align head-up on the GUARDS– Nose Guard align head-up on the CENTER

• 3 Linebackers (Will, Mike & Sam)– LBs stacked 3 yards behind the DLs

• 5 Defensive Backs (2 CBs and 3 Safeties)– 2 Cornerbacks

• Align according to the coverage call (ex. Cov. 1, 2, 3, etc.)

– 2 Strong Safeties (Bandit/Gator or Bandit/Spur)• Align anywhere from on the line of scrimmage to 5-yards deep,

and 2-3 yards outside the tight end or the tackle on an open end side.

– 1 Free Safety• Align 10-12 yards from the line of scrimmage over the WEAK

SIDE A GAP.

Strong Safeties (Spurs)

• Play the PASS first

• Responsible for the #2 WR/TE on that side of the field

• No #2 WR/TE = BLITZ!!!!!!!! w/ SCREEN and SWEEP responsibility

• Name the Spurs the same for YOUTH LEAGUE (Bandit/Spur or Bandit/Gator)

Base 3-3-5 Alignment

Base 3-3-5 GAP Responsibility

• NOSE GUARD attacks the Strong Side A Gap• Defensive Tackle attacks the B Gap• Defensive End attacks the C Gap• Weak side Strong Safety has C Gap with a Blitz

mentality• SLB has the Strong Side B Gap• MLB has the Weak Side A Gap• WLB has “Clean-up”

Base 3-3-5 GAP Responsibility

“Rover”

Single Back Set

• All responsibilities stay the same EXCEPT for WLB and Weak Side Strong Safety

• WLB has C Gap with BLITZ mentality

• Weak Side Strong Safety has #2 WR/TE

Single Back Set

Base 3-3-5 Zone Coverage

• Both Strong Safeties (Bandit & Gator) have the FLATS [0-7 yards]

• MLB, SLB & WLB have Hook/Curl zones [5-7 yards]

• Cornerbacks have DEEP 1/3 (Hash Mark to Sidelines) outside zones [7 yards to End zone]

• Free Safety has the DEEP 1/3 (Hash Mark to Hash Mark) middle zone [7 yards to End zone]

Base 3-3-5 Zone Coverage

Base 3-3-5 Zone Blitz (WLB)

• All responsibilities stay the same EXCEPT WLB Blitz from the C Gap

• WLB Hook/curl zone will be open for the SLANT or DIG routes!!!!

Base 3-3-5 Zone Blitz (WLB)

Base 3-3-5 Zone Blitz (Spur)

• All responsibilities stay the same EXCEPT the Weak Side Strong Safety Blitz and WLB has Curl/Flat zone

Base 3-3-5 Zone Blitz (Spur)

Base 3-3-5 vs Shotgun Spread

• Both Cornerbacks and Strong Safeties (Spurs) play Man to Man Coverage on the WRs/TEs

• Free Safety plays Man to Man Coverage on the RB• Defensive Linemen have the same Gap

responsibility• SLB & WLB blitz from the outside C Gaps• MLB blitz the opposite A Gap (Nose Guard signals

his option) and Mirror the QB• ALL OUT BLITZ!!!!!!!!!

Base 3-3-5 vs Shotgun Spread

Try other looks….

Any Questions?????

Thank You and Good Luck on your upcoming season!