1. Planning and Running a 3-5-3 Defensive Practice
Thomas Cousins
www.coachcousins.com
2. What do we want to accomplish in practice
• Formation recognition.
• Us getting better at what we do.
• Improving tackling every week.
• Improving takeaway skills every week.
• Us working on eliminating what our upcoming opponent does best.
• Improve conditioning.
• Cover as much material as we can.
3. Our defensive philosophy
• We are live Monday-Thursday there are no pads, no shields, no dummies and no half speed work.
• We do this so our kids are used to the speed of the game from day one.
• We cut down on the amount of contact we do by quick whistling plays, and by having our defensive players
wrap up the running backs quickly.
• We do not do pursuit drills alone. We incorporate them into everything we do. Individual, group, skelly and
team are all just one big pursuit drill.
4. How we approach practice
• Talk in meetings not on the field. (no standing around)
• The transition from one facet of practice to another must be quick so there is no wasted time.
• The pace of practice must be fast, that way less conditioning is needed at the end and the players are always
engaged.
• Cover what we need to cover and get out of there. Practicing just to practice is not productive.
• There is no goofing around on the sidelines. Everyone needs to pay attention and know what is going on.
• We break practice down in these segments.
– Individual positions (defensive line, Inside linebackers, etc.)
– Groups (defensive line and inside linebackers, outside linebackers and defensive backs, etc.)
– Unit (entire defense)
5. Why we script everything
• So that there is no down time in practice.
• So all coaches are on the same page at the same time.
• To ensure we utilize the time we have efficiently.
• To ensure that practice flows smoothly.
• To cover as much material as possible.
6. Individual positions
• Inside linebackers
• Outside linebackers
• Defensive line
• Defensive backs
7. First, Have an overall practice plan
8. Skills we stress everyday as a unit
• Pursuit
• Tackling
• Takeaways
• Formation recognition (not getting outflanked)
• Formation adjustments
• Working as one unit
9. Sample defensive unit practice schedule
10.
11. Next, break each component of practice down.
12. Sample inside period script
13. Sample outside period script
14. Sample skelly period script
15. Sample goal line-short yardage period script
16. Sample option period script
17. Sample team period script
18.
19. Sample defensive special teams script
20.
21. Skills we stress everyday with the defensive special teams
• Blocking kicks
• Lining up onside
• Not roughing the kicker
• Staying in the proper lanes
• Covering fakes
22. Next, break practice down into group sections
23. Examples of groups
• Inside and outside linebackers
• Inside linebackers and defensive line
• Inside and outside linebackers and defensive line
• Outside linebackers and defensive backs
• Inside/ outside linebackers and defensive backs
• Whip outside linebacker and defensive backs
• Stud outside linebacker and inside linebackers
24. Sample group schedule
(Defensive backs and outside linebackers)
25. Next, break practice down into Individual sections
26. Skills we stress every day with the Inside linebackers
• Pursuit
• Tackling
• Takeaways
• Reads
• Angles
• Proper blitzing techniques
• Press release
• Change of direction
• Pass drops
• Blow delivery
• Taking the proper steps
• Declaring a strength call
• Formation recognition
27. Sample Inside linebackers practice schedule
28. Inside Linebacker drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
• Press release
29. Inside Linebacker drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
Read fill drill
30. Inside Linebacker drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
Blitz tackle drill
31. Inside Linebacker drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
Divide the field drill
32. Skills we stress everyday with the outside linebackers
• Pursuit
• Tackling
• Takeaways
• Reads
• Angles
• Proper blitzing techniques
• Press release
• Change of direction
• Pass drops
• Man to man coverage skills
• Formation recognition
• Blow delivery
• Taking the proper steps
33. Sample outside linebackers practice schedule
34. Outside Linebacker drills that are specific to
the 3-5-3
• Press Drops Interception
35. Outside Linebacker drills that are specific to
the 3-5-3
• Instinct Drill
36. Outside Linebacker drills that are specific to
the 3-5-3
• Instinct Drill-Toss Sweep
37. Outside Linebacker drills that are specific to the
3-5-3
• Instinct Drill-Drop back pass
38. Outside Linebacker drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
• Instinct Drill-Roll out pass
39. Outside Linebacker drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
• Instinct Drill-Bootleg action
40. Skills we stress everyday with the defensive backs
• Pursuit
• Tackling
• Takeaways
• Zone coverage skills
• Man to man skills
• Formation recognition (not getting outflanked)
• Formation adjustments
• Run reads (being involved in the run game)
41. Sample defensive backs practice schedule
42. Defensive back drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
• Flip hips and break on in and out routes drill
43. Defensive back drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
• Stance and backpedal drill
44. Skills we stress every day with the defensive line
• Pursuit
• Tackling
• Takeaways
• Not getting washed (fighting pressure with pressure)
• Not getting to far up the field
• Coming off unblocked (turn to the center)
• Getting flat to the line of scrimmage and running.
• Pass rush
• Taking the proper steps
• Slants
45. Sample defensive line practice schedule
46. Defensive line drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
• Flow Drill
47. Defensive line drills that are specific to the 3-5-3
• Backdoor Drill
48. How we prepare for an offense
• Remember, in just one week, you cannot cover everything. Start with what your opponent does best and work
down.
• In order of importance:
– Best run plays 1-5
– Best pass plays 1-5
– “go-to” plays 1-5
– Trick plays 1-5
– Best series plays (iso, iso, fake iso pass)
– Goal line- short yardage plays1-5
– Anything else you can cover
49. Script cards
• Draw everything!
• The easiest way I have found to do it. Is to have a 3 ring binder with clear plastic covers for the play sheets.
• Draw the plays on regular paper by hand, or with a computer for neatness.
• I like to preprint hundreds of cards with the offensive front 5 and the defensive front 6.
• That way all I have to do is add the backs and receivers, the defensive backs and outside linebackers and
draw in the blocking and play.
• Takes about 1 minute a card if done this way.
50. Sample Script card
51. Advice to help you as a staff work more efficiently
• Plan every aspect of practice- Remember you can never be over prepared.
• Have common terminology (spend time before the season learning a common set of terms)
• Everyone on the staff should have a hand in formulating the defensive game plan every week.
• Draw script cards for everything. (time is wasted when trying to tell people who they should block. Show them a
card and make them give the defense a good look.)
• Everyone should share the load of drawing script cards. (ex. The defensive backs coach can draw the skelly
cards, the defensive line coach can draw the goal line cards etc.)
• Reward the scout team player of the week. (this encourages them to give a good look)