1. Making the transition from the more traditional even fronts to the 3-5-3
Thomas Cousins
2. Thinking outside the box
• We have all been taught as football coaches that offense wins games, but defense wins championships.
• I honestly believe this statement is true, and because of the 3-5-3 defense I feel that football is becoming more
even in terms of matching up with today’s high-powered offenses. This defensive concept is not new.
• The 3-5-3 and all of its variations have been around for years, but because of a few coaches who were willing
to “think outside the box,” this defensive scheme has become, in my opinion, the great equalizer in terms of matching
up smaller, speed-type personnel with both wide-open and power offenses.
3. Thinking outside the box
• For you to be successful with this defense, I encourage you to be as open-minded as possible.
• Many of the techniques and schemes go against what you may have learned as “sound” football.
• Be creative and be willing to “think outside the box” and you will find that this defense is easy to run and fun for
your players.
• You cannot be bound by what you perceive as boundaries in defensive football.
• Sure, voiding zones all over the field and having a three-man front on the goal line are not normally
considered examples of sound judgment in football, but if you are willing to be a little different and be creative, this
defense will work for you as it has for us.
4. The box
5. Thinking outside the box
• Part of the reason we have had success with this defense is the way we approach practice.
• We are live everyday—no pads, no dummies, and no shorts—monday through thursday.
• We stress everything being full speed in defensive practice so that the players get accustomed to the speed of
the game from day 1.
• Another interesting fact is that we have never done pursuit drills in practice.
• We incorporate them into every drill our team uses in practice; whether it is in individual, inside, skelly, or team
drill.
• Because we are always stressing pursuit, we feel that our kids believe that no other acceptable way exists to
practice—only live and full speed.
6. Consider the following reasons for running the
3-5-3:
• You have few defensive linemen. Finding a 5’11”, 220-pound kid is much easier than finding a 6’3”, 280-pound
player every year.
• You have a bunch of linebacker/strong safety–type players. Every program seems to have an overabundance
of these kids.
• You want to get more speed on the field. The great equalizer is speed.
• You have trouble with contain. Contain in the 4-3 can be a bit problematic, but with the 3-5-3 you have
leverage players outside on every play.
• You want your players to have fewer coverages to learn. What is better, being 50 percent at 20 coverages or
being 100 percent at five or six?
• You want easier linebacker reads for your players. Having players only playing to the strongside or the
weakside reduces the amount of linebacker reads they must learn.
7. Consider the following reasons for running the
3-5-3:
• You want to be balanced on both sides of the ball so that adjustments are easy to make against multiple
formations. Because the defense is balanced on both sides, usually only one or two people need to adjust to
anything they see.
• You want to show an eight-man front, yet still be strong against the pass. The emergence of the spread
offense causes most defenses to remove linebackers from the box to cover receivers, which in turn causes a loss of
gap integrity.
• You want to find homes for players who in other systems would not have a place to play. Every player who
comes out for the team wants to play. Due to the fact that this defense allows for the use of smaller, speed-type
players, it can help you find homes for some players who would not otherwise have a spot.
8. The 3-5-3 defense has the following advantages:
• Not many coaches seem to know how to block or game plan for the 3-5-3, due to the fact that this defense is
not widely used and that most of the defensive reads and reactions are backwards from what offenses expect.
• It is extremely flexible. Nickel and dime substitutions can be made without disrupting the overall scheme. In fact,
with the right personnel, no substitutions need to be made at all.
• The defense is an eight-man front, yet five speed players are on the field for pass coverage. You get the best
of both worlds: pressure and pass defense. As you know, a big difference exists between a defensive end that runs
a 5.0 40-yard dash chasing the quarterback and an outside linebacker who runs a 4.5.
• It allows for the use of smaller, speed-type players.
• Offenses do not know where pressure is coming from.
• It is confusing to offensive linemen.
9. Perceived disadvantages of the 3-5-3
• Teams lining up and trying to mash your three defensive linemen
• Not covering the tight end
• Not having the ability to get into a coverage other than cover 3 or man
• Not giving multiple looks up front
10. Keys to success in the 3-5-3 defense
• Pressure—the use of many different pressures is the biggest key in this defense. You want to keep offenses
off-balance and wondering what the defense will do next. Sending pressure from different positions and from
different areas of the field will allow the defense to stay one step ahead of the offense. You cannot stay in the base
defense without sending someone and expect to be successful in this defense. Everything is predicated on causing
the disruption of offensive schemes through pressure.
• Surge—the defense will need a surge up the field by the defensive linemen while linebackers create a new line
of scrimmage one yard up the field.
• Game plans—take away what they do best. You want to dictate what the offense runs, not let them dictate
what you can and cannot do.
• Offensive coaches—make them waste valuable time in practice covering many blitzes and stunts.
11. Keys to success in the 3-5-3 defense
• Divide—keep receivers out of the middle of the field with the inside linebackers.
• Creativity—be willing to think “outside the box.” Do not be bound by what you have learned to be sound
football practices.
• The quarterback—force him to throw off-balance and in a hurry. Keep him guessing about where pressure will
be coming. Force the quarterback to lose confidence in his offensive linemen.
• Running backs—pursue relentlessly and wear them down by gang tackling. Make the running back not want to
carry the ball.
• Receivers—never let a receiver cross a defender’s face without being hit. Pretty soon, they will be more
worried about getting hit than catching the ball.
• Offensive linemen—keep them in a state of confusion. They never know where a stunt or blitz will be coming
from. Make all five offensive linemen have to account for your three defensive linemen.
12. Why the change?
• We had few defensive linemen
• We had a bunch of lb-ss type players
• We are able to get more speed on the field
• We had trouble in the 4-3 with contain
• Less coverages to learn
• Lb reads seem to be easier for our kids.
• Balanced on both sides so adjustment are easy to make against formations.
• We still wanted to show an 8 man front.
13. How successful was the change?
• 2004
• Record 3-7
• Averaged 221 total yards given up per game
• Opponents averaged 21.5 points per game
• 0 shut outs
• 2005
• Record 7-3
• Averaged 160 total yards given up per game
• Opponents averaged 10 points per game
• 4 shut outs in 10 games
• Enabled us to find homes for several kids who otherwise would not have played
14. Our defense
• Nose 6’2 210 4.9
• Tackle 6’4 180 5.1
• Tackle 6’0 190 4.9
• Stud 6’1 175 4.4
• Whip 5’10 180 4.6
• Sam 5’8 165 4.7
• Will 5’9 170 4.6
• Mike 5’9 180 5.0
• Corner 6’1 160 4.7
• Corner 6’0 160 4.6
• Free safety 6’0 170 4.7
15. Redundancy
• One of the strengths of this defensive scheme is that it has redundancy built in for almost every situation. More
than one person is usually assigned to do the same job. For example, if the primary force player, the stud, falls down
during the play, the corner is assigned secondary force so that the defense will still accomplish what it set out to do.
Examples of redundancy include the following:
• Having both the outside linebackers and the corners assigned to force
• Having both the outside linebacker and the corners assigned to pitch on the option
• Having refit reads for the inside linebackers
• Having the free safety assigned to run the alley for secondary run support
16. Personnel groupings
• Two schools of thought exist when dealing with personnel and personnel groupings.
• Either flip sides with your defense, creating a strongside and a weakside, or have a right side and a left side
that do not flip.
• For simplicity, this defense is designed to flip sides to keep the players from having to learn multiple reads.
17. Outside linebackers
• In the 3-5-3 system, the outside linebackers are called stud (strong) and whip (weak).
• As the keys to this defense, they are hybrids that cannot only defeat the block of the tight end or fullback, but
also cover man-to-man if needed.
• To be even more position-specific, the stud can be more of a true linebacker and the whip can be more of a
true defensive back.
• These two players will line up four yards deep and four yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage,
but they will have total freedom of movement anywhere in their areas of play, unless dictated to adjust by formations.
18. Inside linebackers
• The inside linebackers are called sam (strong) and will (weak).
• They line up behind the tackles three-and-a-half to four yards deep.
• They also have total freedom of movement anywhere in their areas of play.
• They need to move back and forth and side-to-side to confuse the offense about whether they are blitzing or
not.
• They do not need to be overly big players, but they must be able to run.
19. Middle linebacker
• The mike linebacker will line up behind the nose three-and-a-half to four yards deep.
• He also will have total freedom of movement anywhere in his area of play.
• He needs to move back and forth and side to side to confuse the offense about whether he is blitzing or not.
• He needs to be your toughest, most physical linebacker. He can be a step slower than the other two inside
linebackers.
20. Defensive line
• The defensive line consists of two tackles that typically line head up to the offensive tackles.
• Quickness, not strength, is most important. The defensive linemen are never asked to take on the player
across from them man-to-man, so they can be smaller than in other systems.
• The noseguard will line up head up to the center. He needs to be the best defensive lineman on the field and
he must command a double-team.
• The defensive linemen will line up as close to the ball as possible.
• It is paramount that the five offensive linemen are forced to account for the three defensive linemen.
21. Free safety
• The free safety must be able to run the alley and also be effective in the passing game.
• He will be counted on to be active in the running game, so he must be willing to come up and make a tackle.
• If you have a corner that is a good tackler but a step too slow to be an every-down cover guy, then he may be
able to play free safety.
22. Corners
• The corners are simply the best athletes on the field.
• They will be left on an island quite a bit, so they must be cover players with good instincts.
• In regards to the running game, the corners will be asked to provide secondary support and take the pitchback
late on the option
23. Gaps
• This defense uses a pretty standard gap numbering system.
• It is important that the players know and understand techniques and gaps as they relate to where everyone fits
in a particular play.
• Each individual gap starts at the nose of the inside man and extends to the nose of the next man to the outside
24. Gaps
25. Strength call
• The first thing that needs to be done once the huddle has been broken is to declare the strength side.
• The mike linebacker will have the responsibility to recognize and declare the strength side.
26. Strength call
• The strength is determined first by the tight end
• If no tight end is involved, then the call is made to the multiple-receiver side
• If the formation is balanced and on a hash, the strength call will be made to the field
• If the formation is balanced and in the middle of the field, the strength call will be made to the left (due to the
fact that most quarterbacks are right-handed)
• Through game-planning, times will arise when you may want to declare the strength always to the field or even
to the right or left as the offense’s tendencies
27. Strength call to tight end
28. Strength call to multiple receivers
29. Strength call made to the field
30. Strength call made to the left
1. 3-5-3 odd stack defense:
Base fronts, coverages and adjustments to formations.
Thomas Cousins
2. Pressure
• First and foremost, the success of this defensive scheme is predicated on the use of pressure to disrupt
blocking schemes and keep the offense in a state of confusion. Pressure can be achieved by either line slants or by
one, two, three, four or five man blitzes.
• Pressure is the great equalizer in terms of personnel mismatches in speed, size or a combination of both. In
order to achieve success with this defense, the concept of pressure is one that needs to be understood and
mastered.
3. Defensive theory
• The players in this system must be convinced that they are the playmakers on the field.
• The old saying “bend but don’t break” simply does not fit this defensive scheme.
• This is a big play defense; sacks, takeaways, tackles for loss, cause fumbles, and they all lead to change of
momentum.
• The job of the defense is to erode the confidence of the offense and make them start second-guessing their
scheme, game plan, coaches etc.
• When this happens the defense is dictating the tone of the game, and the offense is playing catch up.
• No matter what happens during the course of a game it is the defense that will dictate to the offense what can
or cannot be run.
4. Redundancy
• One of the strengths of this defensive scheme is the fact that it has redundancy built into it for almost every
situation. Usually more than one person is assigned to do the same job as another player. For example, if the
primary force player, the Stud, falls down during the play the corner is assigned secondary force so the defense will
still accomplish what it set out to do.
Examples of redundancy include:
• Having both the outside linebackers and the corners assigned to force.
• Having both the outside linebacker and the corners assigned to pitch on the option.
• Having refit reads for the inside linebackers.
• Having the free safety assigned to run the alley for secondary run support
5. Personnel
• There are two schools of thought dealing with personnel and personnel groupings. Either flip sides with your
defense, a strong side and a weak side, or have a right side and a left side that do not flip.
• For simplicity, this defense is designed to flip sides with the players to keep them from having to learn multiple
reads.
6. Outside Linebackers
• In this system, the outside linebackers are called Stud (strong) and Whip (weak).
• They are the key in this defense, they are hybrids that can not only defeat the block of the tight end or
fullback, but also cover man to man if needed.
• To be even more position specific, the Stud can be more of a true linebacker and the Whip can be more of a
true defensive back.
• They will line up four yards deep and four yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage, but they will
have total freedom of movement anywhere in their area of play, unless dictated to adjust otherwise by formations.
7. Inside Linebackers
• The inside linebackers are called Sam (strong) and Will (weak).
• They line up behind the tackles three and one half to four yards deep.
• They will have total freedom of movement anywhere in their area of play. They need to move back and forth
and side-to-side to confuse the offense as to whether they are blitzing or not.
• They need not be overly big players, but must be able to run.
8. Middle Linebacker
• The Mike linebacker will line up behind the nose three and one half to four yards deep.
• He will have total freedom of movement anywhere in his area of play. He needs to move back and forth and
side-to-side to confuse the offense as to whether he is blitzing or not.
• He needs to be your toughest, most physical linebacker.
• He can be a step slower than the other two inside linebackers.
9. Defensive Line
• The defensive line consists of two tackles that typically line head up to the offensive tackles.
• Quickness, not strength is most important here.
• They are never asked to take on the player across from them man to man, so they can smaller than they can
in other systems.
• The nose guard will line up head up to the center. He needs to be the best defensive lineman on the field and
he must command a double team.
• The defensive linemen will line up as close to the ball as possible.
• It is paramount that the five offensive linemen have to account for the three defensive linemen.
10. Defensive Backs
• The free safety must be able to run the alley and also be effective in the passing game.
• He will be counted on to be active in the running game so he must be willing to come up and make a tackle.
• If you have a corner that is a good tackler but a step to slow to be a every down cover guy, then he may be
able to play free safety.
• The corners are simply the best athletes on the field.
• They will be left on an island quite a bit so they must be cover players with good instincts.
• In regards to the running game, the corners will be asked to provide secondary support and take the pitch
back late on option.
11. Fronts and line calls
• This defense uses only four different fronts.
• The base front is a 3-man front, which will be used about 95% of the time.
• The other 3 fronts are very situation specific.
• Tuff is used to jam the tight end.
• Jett is used only in passing situations while paired with a prevent coverage
• Goal line is used in short yardage and goal line situations.
12. Base (no name )
• This front does not have a name; it is the base call in this defense.
• The nose is in a 0 technique, head up to the center and as close to the ball as possible.
• The tackles are in 4 I techniques, head up to the tackles and as close to the ball as possible.
• The Mike linebacker is in a 00 technique stacked behind the nose three and one half to four yards deep.
• Sam and Will are stacked behind the defensive tackles in 40 I techniques and three and one half to four yards
deep.
• The outside linebackers (Stud and Whip) are four yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage and
three and one half to four yards deep, unless dictated to align otherwise due to a formation adjustment.
• The defensive backs will be aligned as dictated by the coverage call.
13. Base (no name)
14. Base vs. double tight
15. Base vs. unbalanced
16. Base vs. overload
17. Tuff
• This front is called tuff; it is used to jam the tight end.
• The nose is in a 0 technique, head up to the center and as close to the ball as possible.
• The tackles are in 4 I techniques, head up to the tackles and as close to the ball as possible.
• The Mike linebacker is in a 00 technique over the center and three and one half to four yards deep.
• Sam and Will are stacked behind the defensive tackles in 40 I techniques and three and one half to four yards
deep.
• The Whip linebacker is four yards outside the end man on the line of scrimmage and three and one half to four
yards deep, unless dictated to align otherwise due to a formation adjustment.
• The Stud linebacker will walk up and play a loose 9 technique on the tight end. He will engage the tight end
only if the tight end blocks down or attempts to free release up the field. The Stud will jam the tight end and redirect
his path. The Stud will then run the tight end’s feet into the backfield looking for trap or kick out.
• The defensive backs will be aligned as dictated by the coverage call.
18. Tuff
19. Jett
• This front is called Jet; it is only used in obvious passing situations.
• The nose is in a 0 technique, head up to the center and as close to the ball as possible.
• The strong tackle is in a loose 9 technique outside the tight end and as close to the ball as possible.
• The weak tackle is in a loose 5 technique outside the offensive tackle and as close to the ball as possible.
• The Mike linebacker is in a 00 technique over the center and three and one half to four yards deep.
• Sam and Will are stacked behind the defensive tackles in 40 I techniques and three and one half to four yards
deep.
• The outside linebackers (Stud and Whip) are three and one half to four yards deep and four yards outside the
end man on the line of scrimmage, unless dictated to align otherwise due to a formation adjustment.
• The defensive backs will be aligned as dictated by the coverage call.
20. Jett
21. Goal line
• This front is called Goal line; it is used in short yardage and goal line situations.
• The nose is in a 0 technique, head up to the center and as close to the ball as possible.
• The tackles are in 4 techniques, inside shoulder of the offensive tackles and as close to the ball as possible.
• The Mike linebacker is in a 00 technique over the center and three and one half to four yards deep.
• Sam and Will are stacked behind the defensive tackles in 40 I techniques and three and one half to four yards
deep.
• The outside linebackers (Stud and Whip) are both walked up off the end man on the line of scrimmage. The
Whip will be in a loose 5 technique on the offensive tackle and the Stud in a loose 9 technique on the tight end. In
the case of a double tight end formation the Whip will bump to a loose 9 on the weak tight end.
• The defensive backs will be aligned as dictated by the coverage call
22. Goal line
23. Line calls
• On every defensive play they run, the defensive linemen will perform one of five line calls.
• The defensive linemen will be moving on every play.
• They will never be asked to take on an offensive lineman they are lined up over, so the defensive linemen can
be smaller than they would be in other defensive systems.
24. Slant strong
• The first line call this defense will use is slant strong.
• In slant strong, the defensive linemen will be slanting towards the strength call.
• The strong tackle will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the tight end to his side.
• The weak tackle will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the weak guard.
• The nose will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the strong guard.
25. Slant strong
26. Slant weak
• The next line call this defense will use is slant weak.
• In slant weak, the defensive linemen will be slanting away from the strength call.
• The strong tackle will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the strong guard.
• The weak tackle will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the tight end to his side (if no
tight end to the hip of an imaginary tight end).
• The nose will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the weak guard.
27. Slant weak
28. In
• The next line call used is In.
• In cases of an In call, the defensive tackles will be slanting to the hips of both guards.
• Both tackles will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the guard to his side.
• The nose will always slant to the strength call. He will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip
of the strong guard.
29. In
30. Out
• The next line call used is Out.
• In cases of an Out call, the defensive tackles will be slanting to the hips of either tight end (or an imaginary
tight end on the weak side).
• Both tackles will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the tight end to his side.
• The nose will always slant to the strength call. He will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip
of the strong guard.
31. Out
32. Pinch
• The last line call used is Pinch.
• In cases of a Pinch call, the defensive tackles will be slanting to the hips of both guards, just as they would with
an In call.
• Both tackles will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to the hip of the guard to his side.
• The nose will always slant away from the strength call. He will perform a crossover step, dip and rip and get to
the hip of the weak guard.
33. Pinch
34. Coverage package in the 3-5-3
• The base secondary schemes in this defense are comprised of pre- determined coverages that are
independent of our front calls.
• The coverage portion of this defense is actually rather simple.
• By design, this defense lends itself well to any type of man coverage if you have the athletes every year to run
it.
• On the other hand, cover 3 is better suited to this defense because of what is asked of the defensive backs
regarding the running game, and because of it being easier to run with lesser athletes.
35. Coverage basics
• This defense will use cover 3 80% of the time.
• It will use some aspect of man another 15% of the time
• Prevent will be run the other 5%.
• The coverage package is kept simple so the players don’t have to do much thinking.
• On occasion underneath zones will be voided when blitzes are used.
• Other times the underneath drops will sling to cover up a blitz.
• Except in cases of cover 4 or “cat” cover 4 the Mike linebacker will always rush on pass. He will pick an empty
hole and serve as secondary contain. If there is a time when you don’t want him to rush “spy” needs to called and
Mike will cover the middle zone.
• The motto of this defense is “There may be holes but you better throw it in a hurry.”
36. Divide
• The inside linebackers are used to divide the middle of the field.
• They will cut off any crossing routes that come across the middle of the field.
37. Divide
38. Sling
• Any time there is a roll or sprint out action from the quarterback, the underneath drop players will sling to cover
any holes there may be of a blitz.
• The sling is to the direction of the quarterback’s roll or sprint.
• In a straight drop back situation everything stays the same.
39. Roll Right
40. Roll Left
41. Cover 3
42. Cover 3 vs. twins
43. Cover 3 vs. trips
44. Cover 3 vs. double tight
45. Cover 3 Vs. Double Tight Unbalanced
46. Cover 3 Vs. Overload
47. Cover Man
48. Cover-Man Versus Twins
49. Cover-man versus trips
50. Cover-Man Adjustments/Motions
51. Pro to twins
52. Twins to pro
53. Cover 1 (Man free)
54. Cover 1 Adjustments/Motion
55. Cover 1 vs. trips
56. Cover 1 vs. double twins motion to trips open
57. Cover 1 vs. moose motion to trio
58. Cover 4
59. Cover 4 Adjustment vs. trips open
60. Cat Cover 4
61. Cat Cover 4 Versus Quads
62. Cat Cover 4 Versus Trips/Twins
63. Cover 3 Sky
• Sky tells the defense that they are going to show cover 3 and on the snap roll to cover 4 (quarters).
• The free safety will slide to the strong hash and play the deep strong middle quarter of the field.
• Whip will sprint to the weak hash and play the deep weak middle quarter of the field.
• Both corners are playing the deep outside quarters of the field.
• Mike will drop to hook/curl weak.
• The Will linebacker will cover the weak flats.
64. Cover 3 Sky
65. Defending Against the Bootleg
• What is important to remember about playing the bootleg is that pressure, not coverage, will stop this play.
• As soon as the outside linebacker sees split flow and the quarterback settling into his mesh, he will go to put
pressure in the quarterback’s face.
• The Will linebacker will fly across the field to help cover the weak flats.
• The other linebackers will sling in the direction of the quarterback’s roll.
66. Defending the bootleg
67. Coverage Facts
• You can take away the quick slant through alignment.
• Everyone will try the tight end pop pass.
• Teams will try and bootleg you to death.
• Teams will rely on play action, because the nature of the 3-5-3 defense is very aggressive.
• You can rush four and be successful, because your opponent will not know where the pressure is coming from.