defending the spread offense with the 3-5-3

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Defending the spread offense with the 3-5-3/3-3-5

Thomas Cousins


What teams running the spread try to do.

• Get us to remove linebackers from the box and lose gap integrity.

• Rub or mesh our DBS when we are in man.

• Find holes in our zone coverage.

• Get us thinking pass and bust us with the run.

• Pick up our blitzes and give their QB time to throw.

• Reduce outside pressure by making our OLBS cover receivers.


What we try to do to teams running the spread.

• Force the QB to throw under distress.

• Maintain gap integrity.

• Confuse the QB by disguising and changing coverages.

• Force the QB to try and find the holes in our zone coverage.

• Shut down the run by maintaining gap integrity, and in turn making the offense one dimensional.


Our beliefs:• We feel that we can dictate to the offense what they

can and cannot run.

• We do not want to be counter punchers, we want the offense to stay off balance.

• We want the offense waiting to see what we are going to do next.

• We want to send as much pressure as possible.

• We will void zones in zone coverage.


Vocabulary• Sky- tells us that we are showing cover 3, but rolling to cover 4 with the whip and free

safety. Will ILB has hook/curl/flats weak

• Banjo- when an OLB is called on to blitz but is responsible for a player in man coverage. The OLB will call “banjo” to either tell the free safety to take his man or banjo the blitz to the inside linebacker to perform.

• Cover 1- man free coverage. We are man underneath and our free safety is playing centerfield.

• Cover 4- true quarters coverage.

• Cover 3- three deep zone coverage

• Man- true man to man coverage.

• Cat- tells the will linebacker to slide out to 4x4

• Sam and Will- our two inside linebackers

• Stud and Whip- our two outside linebackers


Coverages

1. Cover 3

2. Cover Man

3. Cover 1

4. Cover 3 sky

5. Cover 4


Cover 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Cover Man

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

Corners have #1Whip has # 2 Free has #2 strong, #3 weakStud has #3 strong


Cover 1 (man free)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

Corners have #1Whip has # 2 Free has #3 either wayStud has #2 strong


Cover 3 (sky)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

“Sky” tell us that we are going to show cover three and on the snap roll to cover 4 (quarters)Free safety will slide to the strong hashWhip will sprint to the weak hash.


Cover 4 (Quarters)

T N T

W M S ST

C WP FS C

In cover 4 Mike will not rush, he will settle in the middle of the field. Whip will move back as a true safety. Will will play weak hook/ curl to flats.


“Cat” Cover 4

T N T

W M S ST

C WP FS C

Cat will tell the will to line up 4x4. It will be the only time we remove a ILB from the box. Mike will not go.


Formation adjustments against the spread.


Shotgun spread W/TE option 1.- stay in 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread W/TE option 2.- check to 1(man free)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

Free safety cover 1 rules: # 3 either side- #2 if banjo


Shotgun spread W/TE option 3.- check to man

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

Free safety man rules: #2 strong, #3 weak.


Shotgun spread W/TE option 4.- roll to 4 (sky)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

“Sky” tells us that we are showing cover 3, but rolling to cover 4 with the whip and free safety. Will ILB has hook/curl/flats weak.


Shotgun spread W/TE option 5.- check to “cat” cover

4

T N T

W M S ST

C WP FS C

“Cat” tells the will linebacker to slide out to 4x4


Shotgun spread trips W/TE option 1.- stay in 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread trips W/TE option 2.- check man

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread trio W/TE option 1.- stay 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread trio W/TE option 2.- roll to sky(4)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread trio W/TE option 3.- 1 (man free)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread trips open option 1.- stay in 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread trips open option 2.- roll to sky (4)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread trips open option 3.- 1 (man free)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread double twinsoption 1.- stay in 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread double twinsoption 2.- check 1 (man free)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread double twins option 3.- check to “cat” cover 4

T N T

W M S ST

C WP FS C


Defending empty sets


Shotgun spread empty pro trips option 1.- check to “cat” cover 4

T N T

W M S ST

C WP FS C


Shotgun spread empty trips twins option 1.- check to “cat” cover 4

T N T

W M S ST

C WP FS C


Shotgun spread empty quads option 1.- check to “cat” cover 4

T N T

W M S ST

C WP FS C

We will bump our coverage to the quads to even out our numbers


Shotgun spread moose option 1.- stay in 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread moose option 2.- check cover 1(man free)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

In cover 1- the OLBS will tighten up to 1x4 off the TE


Shotgun spread moose-trio option 1.- stay in 3

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C


Shotgun spread moose-triooption 2.- check cover 1(man free)

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

In cover 1- the OLBS will tighten up to 1x4 off the TE


Motion adjustments

• When in doubt, check to cover 3 and play football.

• Cover 4(quarters) is our “oh crap” coverage.


Defending the run

• Zone

• Sweep

• Trap

• Lead

• Power


Defending the zone

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS CWill- Read- scoop/flow away- Fit- backside a gap Mike- Read- base/double team- flow strong- Fit under chip by tackle if possible- playside a gapSam- Read- base/ double team- flow inside- Fit- step to outside of double team- refit under because of flow. Stud- Read- down- flow to- Fit- run feet of TE d gap. Force play inside. Whip- Read- scoop- flow away- Fit- hold and fold.


Defending the sweep

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

Will- Read- scoop/flow away- Fit- backside a gap Mike- Read- reach- flow strong- Fit- under pulling guard playside b gap - Sam- Reach- flow outside- Fit- playside c gap- under pulling guard- down by TE.Stud- Read- fan- flow to- Fit- beat te up the field . Force play inside. Whip- Read- scoop- flow away- Fit- hold and fold.


Defending the trap

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

Will- Read- scoop/flow away- Fit- backside a gap Mike- Read- base/double team- flow strong- Fit under chip by tackle if possible- playside b gapSam- Read- down- flow inside- Fit- rip under down block by TE- Stud- Read- down- flow to- Fit- run feet of TE d gap. Force play inside. Whip- Read- scoop- flow away- Fit- hold and fold.


Defending the lead

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS CWill- Read- scoop/flow away- Fit- backside a gap Mike- Read- base/double team- flow strong- Fit under chip by tackle if possible- playside b gapSam- Read- fan- flow inside- Fit- fill open window now. Take on fullback with outside arm and make ball bounce Stud- Read- fan- flow to- Fit- beat TE upfield. Force play inside. Whip- Read- scoop- flow away- Fit- hold and fold.


Defending the power

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS CWill- Read- scoop/flow away- Fit- backside a gap Mike- Read- base/double team- flow strong- Fit under chip by tackle if possible- playside b gapSam- Read- base/ double team- flow outside- Fit- rip under chip by tackle-playside c gap Stud- Read- down- flow to- Fit- run feet of TE d gap. Force play inside. Whip- Read- scoop- flow away- Fit- hold and fold.


Blitzes we like to use3 to the weak side

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

•Slant strong dog weak



T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

•Slant weak dog weak



T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

•Slant strong will A whip fire



T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

• out dog weak


Blitzes we like to use3 to the strong side

T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

•Pinch dog strong



T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

• slant weak mike go stud fire



T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

•Pinch dog strong stud fire



T N T

WP W M S ST

C FS C

• slant strong sam go stud fire


Closing

• We work very hard on not getting outflanked by formations.

• We work formation adjustments, motion adjustment, and checks everyday.

• As you can see, our adjustments are very simple usually only one or two people move.

defending the spread offense with the 3-5-3

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