3 Blitzes to Stop the Zone Read with the 3-3 Stack

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The 3-3 Stack has long been criticized, wrongly so, for being weak against the run. The truth is, you should never be using a 3 man front on a run down. Instead, you want to create 4 and 5 man fronts using a variety of well planned blitzes.

Most teams are in the 3-3-5 Defense because you have to defend the spread offense, so you need more speed on the field. And if you are defending the spread offense very often, then you have to stop the Zone Read.So let’s take a look at 3 blitzes that should be on your call sheet when the opponent tendencies signal you that the Zone Read is coming. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 3-5 Defense, Defending the Spread

How to Run Quarters Coverage in the 3-3-5 Defense

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We have been looking at incorporating an Odd Front into our 4-3 Defense playbook this upcoming season, but wanted to be able to use Quarters Coverage (our base coverage) with the Odd alignment. Many of you have read my thoughts about 7-man fronts and 8-man fronts, and I figured we would have to run a 3-4 Defense in order to use a 2-high safety coverage with an odd front.I had the opportunity to talk with Shap Boyd, who I have credited many times as the man I stole my Quarters Coverage from. Coach Boyd has been using his coverage package for several years with the 4-3 Defense, and also using an odd front. But not a 3-4. After talking to him about how to incorporate the 3-3-5 Defense with Quarters Coverage, I’m sold. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 3-5 Defense, Quarters Coverage

The Complete Guide to Defending the Spread Offense

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Every coach who has seen it has had nightmares. We lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about it. It may have been days, weeks, months, or years since it last happened.

The speed. The space. The missed tackles, blown assignments, chaos and confusion. The juggernaut your team just could not stop.That helpless feeling you had on the sidelines. It became the frustration you felt when you sat down to watch the film. Even today, when you look back on it… You are not sure if you will be ready when it comes back around. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 3-4 Defense, 3-5 Defense, 4-2-5 Defense, 4-3 Defense, Defending the Spread

The Top 10 Reasons to Run the 3-5 Defense

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The 3-5 Defense has been consistently growing each year. We do polls pretty often on this site and through our subscriber newsletter asking what people are running, and the 3-5 Defense seems to grow in popularity every year.

Why would you want to change your team over to the 3-5 Defense? There are a lot of good reasons you for you to consider it. I put together a pretty extensive list of reasons for the change, as we once again evaluate our defensive philosophy this off-season. I doubt we will consider going away from the 4-3 Defense as a base, but there is always room for window shopping!The most important reason to change is if the defense is the right fit for your kids, your coaches, and your schedule. If that is the case, then you need to run it. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 3-5 Defense

Stop the Screen Pass and Save Your Sanity

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The title to this article is a little misleading. It probably implies that I have managed to save my sanity. Let me clarify, what is on paper does not always happen on the field. Screen passes have had me tearing my hair out for years!

Between defending the run, and stopping the pass, from multiple fronts and coverages, it is easy to run out of time to teach defending the screen pass. But you have to! If you can read it, you can stop it, and get back to defending all the things you designed your defense for.Screen to the ReceiverHere we have a pretty basic screen. The Quarterback is faking a Sprint Pass to the right, with the sprint side receivers running typical flood routes. This gets the Linebackers flowing, and the free safety as well. Of course, your Defensive Line is also pinning their ears back to get to the QB out there. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 3-5 Defense, Coverage, Defensive Line, Linebackers, Pass Rush, Secondary