3-5-3Defending the Spread

Mike CristAmherst County High School

mcrist@amherst.k12.va.us

WHY WE PLAY THE 3-5-3?

• DEFENSE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AGGRESSIVE BY NATURE

• DOESN’T TIE US DOWN• ALLOWS OUR PLAYERS TO PLAY FAST• IT’S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE• A HIGH SCHOOL DEFENSE MUST BE

FLEXIBLE

HOW FLEXIBLE?FIRST FIVE OF 2010

• TRADITIONAL WING-T• SPLIT BACK VEER• MULTIPLE SPREAD – ZONE ORIENTED• STACK – I• ONE BACK MULTIPLE – TRAP

ORIENTED, SINGLE WING, WING-T, SPREAD

6 Principals of the 3-5-3

• PURSUIT• AGGRESSIVENESS• SIMPLICITY• ADAPTABILITY• ATTITUDE

•FUN

ACHS LANCER SWARM CREED

“A defensive players commitment to his teammates can be measured by the distance from the ball at the end of each play.”

Matt OrtegaYork HS, PA

WANTED: RUNNERS AND HITTERS

Base Fronts and Alignments:

The 3-5-3 Swarm Defense

T T

MS W$ WhC C

N

F

SWARM STACKBase Defense

Base Alignments

Tackles: 4 technique, head up on offensive tackle

Nose: 0 technique, head up on offensive center

Mike: shade half-man to strength call

Will: shade half-man to strength call

Sam: shade half-man to strength call

Whip: Freedom to roam; 4x4 off the end man on the LOS

Stud: Freedom to roam; 3x3 off the end man on the LOS

Additional Notes• Dawgs/Backers should work to show different

alignment each down to disguise and confuse offense (prowl)

• Strength is designated by the tight end. If no tight end, multiple receiver side. If balanced formation, strength will be determined by the field.

• Game Planning – when we get a balanced formation we can call the strength. to the QB’s throwing arm or our defensive left (most teams right handed)

• We will move our front 99% of the time and coordinate our blitz package based on that movement .

T T

MS W$Wh

F BN

P

SWARM STACKBase Defense

“Pinch” Stunt• DT’S will attack inside gap, Nose will attack WEAK

side gap

T T

MS W$Wh

F BN

P

SWARM STACKBase Defense

“Punch” Stunt• DT’S will attack inside gap, Nose will attack STRONG

side gap

T T

MS W$Wh

F BN

P

SWARM STACKBase Defense

“Strong” Stunt• DT’S and Nose will spark into strong side gaps

T T

MS W$Wh

F BN

P

SWARM STACKBase Defense

“Weak” Stunt• DT’S, and Nose will spark into weak side gap

T T

MS W$Wh

F BN

P

SWARM STACKBase Defense

“JACKS” Stunt• DT’S will spark to their outside gap and engage in in

up field pass rush

4-Man Blitz Package

20 Total Blitzes

T T

MS W$Wh

F BN

P

SWARM STACKBase Defense

“M” StuntMike-Strong side A gap

5-Man Blitz Package

24 Total Blitzes

T T

MS W$Wh

F BN

P

SWARM STACKBase Defense

“WAM” Stunt• Automatic Jacks for D-Line

• Mike-weak A Gap

• Will-weak B gap

Defending the Spread

OUR DEFINITION OF “SPREAD”

• “10” PERSONNEL

• “11” PERSONNEL – GUN PASS ORIENTED

• “12” PERSONNEL - GUN PASS ORIENTED

• “30” PERSONNEL

WHAT SPREAD TEAMS ATTEMPT TO DO

• EXPAND THE FRONT TO CREATE RUNNING LANES

• RUB OR MESH DB’S IN MAN COV.• FIND HOLES IN ZONE COV.• PICK UP PRESSURE/ USE PLAY ACTION

TO ALLOW QB TIME• REDUCE OUTSIDE PRESSURES BY

PUTTING OUT DAWGS IN COV.

WHAT WE ATTEMPT TO DO TO SPREAD TEAMS

• COMPRESS THE RUNNING LANES• CONFUSE QB BY DISGUISING

MULTIPLE COVERAGES• FORCE QB TO RUSH/ PANIC WITH

ENDLESS PRESSURES• SHUT DOWN RUN GAME BY

MAINTAINING GAP INTEGRITY

THE AMHERST WAY

• BELIEF IN THE SYSTEM• SEND AS MUCH PRESSURE AS

POSSIBLE• WE WILL VOID ZONES IN ZONE COV.• 22 EYEBALLS TO THE FOOTBALL• WANTED:

– RUNNERS & HITTERS

PRACTICE PLANNING

SETTING TIME PARAMETERS• FIX OUR PROBLEMS FIRST• WHAT DO THEY DO BEST?• IS IT NEW?• REP ONE SECTION OF BINDER

DURING A SPECIFIC PERIOD MON/ TUES. – ex. 2 CONTINUOUS periods of only screens

4 SECTIONS TO OUR SCOUT BINDER

1. PASSING GAME

2. TRAP/ POWER

3. ZONE/ OPTION

4. SCREEN GAME

ADJUSTING TO “SPREAD”

• ARE YOU GOING TO BREAK THE stack?

• WHO IS YOUR ADJUST ATHLETE?– LB POSITION DOESN’T MATTER– WHERE ARE YOU MOVING HIM– PLAYS AT LEAST PART TIME IN THE

SECONDARY DURING PRE-SEASON

ADJUSTING TO “SPREAD”

• 2008 – WHIP– KIRBY ANDERSON – 5’10”/ 140 SOPH.

• 2009 – WHIP– ANTHONY ROSE– 6’3”/ 190 SR. - jmu

• 2010 – SAM– KIRBY ANDERSON – 5’10”/ 165 SR. - lu

THE ADJUSTER

• BEST DEFENSIVE ATHLETE

• SMART – ALIGNMENT/ RESPONSIBILITY CHANGES

WEEK TO WEEK

• PLAY HIM EVERYWHERE – PUT HIM IN POSITION TO MAKE PLAYS

ADJUSTING TO THE SPREAD

3 ALIGNMENTS

SLIDE, SLIDE W/ STAR, STINGER

BREAKING THE STACK“SLIDE” VS. “10” 2X2

N TT

WM

F

C C

WHST

S

BREAKING THE STACK“SLIDE w/ STAR” VS. “10” 2X2

N TT

W

M

F

C C

WHST

S

KEEPING THE STACK“STINGER” VS. “10” 2X2

N TT

W

M

F

C C

WHST

S

BREAKING DOWN THE OFFENSIVE PRINCIPLES

• ALL STARTS WITH THE QB– CAN HE RUN?– WHAT ROUTES CAN HE THROW?– WHAT DOES HIS FOOTWORK REVEAL?

BREAKING DOWN THE PASSING GAME

• WHAT ROUTES WILL BEAT YOU?• WHAT RECEIVERS ARE GAME

BREAKERS?• IS THE BACK INVOLVED?• FORMATION TENDANCIES• PASS PROTECTION• SCREEN GAME

“11” PERSONNELMiami (X)

N TT

W

M

SF

C

C

WH ST

VOCABULARY• COVER ZERO – STRAIGHT MAN• COVER ONE – MAN FREE• GOLD – UNDETERMINED FORMATION

– CAN BECOME COVER 3, 0, 1, CLOUD OR SHARK• COVER 4 – QUARTERS• CLOUD – CORNER DEEP ½• SKY – SAFETY DEEP 1/2• READ COVERAGES

– RED– CAT– LANCER

VOCABULARY

• COLLEGES– STACK BACKER EDGE PRESSURES

• ANIMALS– STACK BACKER IN COVERAGE

MOTION ADJUSTMENTS

• WHEN IN DOUBT CHECK COV. 3

• SHOULD ALWAYS PUT THEM IN A FORMATION WE ARE PREPARED FOR

• “SLIDE” 4 IS ALWAYS SAFE

BREAKING THE BOX“SLIDE” VS. “10” 2X2

RED COVERAGE

N TT

WM

F

C C

WHST

S

BREAKING THE BOX“STINGER” VS. “10” 2X2

RED COVERAGE

N TT

W

M

F

C CWHST

S

BREAKING THE BOX“SLIDE” VS. “10” 3X1

cat

N TT

WM

SF

C

C

WHST

BREAKING THE BOX“SLIDE” VS. “10” 3X1

LANCER

N TT

WM

S

F

C C

WHST

BREAKING THE BOX“STINGER” VS. “10” 3X1

N TT

WM

SF

C C

WHST

“11” PERSONNELRED/ TIGER/ ZERO

N TT

WM

SF

C

C

WHST

“11” PERSONNELRED/ TIGER/ ZERO

N TT

W MS

F

C

C

WH ST

“11” PERSONNELCLOUD/ WHALE/ ZERO

N TT

WM S

F

C

C

WH ST

“12” PERSONNELSLIDE/ TIGER/ ZERO

N TT

W M

SF

C

C

WHST

“12” PERSONNELSTACK/ TIGER/ ZERO

N TT

W M

SF

C

C

WHST

“12” PERSONNELCOVER 4

N TT

W M

SF

C

C

WHST

“30” PERSONNELCOVER 0/ COVER 4

N TT

W M

SF

C

C

WHST

“30” PERSONNELUNDETERMINED GOLDCOVER ONE TO ZERO

W/ MOTION

N TT

WMS

F

C

C

WHST

“30” PERSONNELDETERMINED GOLD

COVER ONE TO ZEROW/ MOTION

N TT

WMS

F

C

C

WHST

“30” PERSONNELUNDETERMINED GOLD

COVER 3 TO ONE

N TT

WMS

F

C

C

WHST

“30” PERSONNELDETERMINED GOLD

COVER ONE TO ZEROW/ MOTION

N TT

WMS

F

C

C

WHST

BREAKING DOWN THE RUN GAME

• IDENTIFY THE GAME BREAKERS• TRAP VS. ZONE• IS THERE A READ INVOLVED?• DO THEY MOTION TO “20/ 21” FOR

OPTION?• FORMATION TENDANCIES

DEFENDING THE RUN

• TRAP

• ZONE

• QB ISO

TRAP

N TT

WMS F

C C

WHST

STUD: EYES ON BACK – NO PRESSURE FROM T – QB RESPONSIBLEBST: VISUAL KEY AWAY – FLAT DOWN LOS – HIP POCKETN: VISUAL KEY TO – PRESSURE KEY DOUBLE TEAM – HIPS INTO PSGPST: VISUAL KEY INSIDE – NO PRESSURE – FLAT DOWN LOS – WRONG SHOULDERWHIP: No Pressure from t – Play flat down the lineMIKE: time Step–back goes away – Backside AWILL: Time Step– Back flows to – downhill to back BSC: FACE OF QB THRU #2 – PASS FIRST – OUTSIDE-IN LEVERAGESAM: FACE OF QB TO #2 – ALLEY – QB RESPONSIBLE – FIT OVER TOP ONCE SIFTED FS: FACE OF QB TO #2 – ALLEY PLAYERPSC: FACE OF QB THRU #2 – PASS FIRST – OUTSIDE-IN LEVERAGE

ZONE

N TT

W M SFC C

WH ST

STUD: FLAT – SQUEEZE FLAT DOWN LOS – SPILL IF POSSIBLEBST: VISUAL KEY RELEASE – FLAT DOWN LOS – N: VISUAL KEY TO – PRESSURE KEY DOUBLE TEAM – HIPS INTO PSGPST: VISUAL KEY INSIDE – NO PRESSURE – FLAT DOWN LOS – WRONG SHOULDERWHIP: EYES ON BACK – BCR TO FLATMIKE: TIME STEP – BACK FLOW – PLAY OFF G COMBO DOWNHILLWILL: BACK FLOW AWAY – BACKSIDE APSC: FACE OF QB THRU TE– GAIN DEPTH – OUTSIDE-IN LEVERAGESAM: BACK THRU PSG – INSIDE SHOULDER LEVERAGE FS: TE TO FLOW – INSIDE LEVERAGE FITBSC: FACE OF QB THRU #2 – PASS FIRST – BCR - PURSUIT

QB ISO

N TT

W M SFC C

WH ST

STUD: FLAT – SQUEEZE FLAT DOWN LOS – SPILL IF POSSIBLEBST: VISUAL KEY RELEASE – FLAT DOWN LOS – N: VISUAL KEY TO – PRESSURE KEY DOUBLE TEAM – HIPS INTO PSGPST: VISUAL KEY INSIDE – NO PRESSURE – FLAT DOWN LOS – WRONG SHOULDERWHIP: EYES ON BACK – BCR TO FLATMIKE: TIME STEP – BACK FLOW – PLAY OFF G COMBO DOWNHILLWILL: BACK FLOW AWAY – BACKSIDE APSC: FACE OF QB THRU TE– GAIN DEPTH – OUTSIDE-IN LEVERAGESAM: BACK THRU PSG – INSIDE SHOULDER LEVERAGE FS: TE TO FLOW – INSIDE LEVERAGE FITBSC: FACE OF QB THRU #2 – PASS FIRST – BCR - PURSUIT

CLOSING REMARKS• Keep an open mind and be willing

to think “outside the box.”• Use your creativity.• Gap Control – secure all gaps• It’s our job to put the players in

the best possible position to succeed…ultimately though, players make plays. Get your playmakers on the field.

MID-ATLANTIC

COACHES STRENGTH CLINIC

APRIL 30, 2011AMHERST CO. HIGH SCHOOL

TOMMY BUZZO – LIBERTY-BEALTONJASON DAWSON – BROAD RUN H.S.

NOEL DURFEY – DUKEJARRETT FERGUSON – VA. TECHETHAN REEVE – WAKE FOREST

GREG WERNER - JMU