3-5-3 DEFENSE: OVERVIEW, INSTALLATION, & IDEAS

1. 3-5-3 DEFENSE: OVERVIEW, INSTALLATION, & IDEAS Tim Racki – Head Football Coach Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, IL tracki@nazarethacademy.com 708-354-0061 x166

2. 3-5 OUTLINE • SESSION #1 – IMPLEMENTING THE 3-5 • EVOLUTION & POPULARITY OF THE 3-5 • PHILOSOPHY / STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES • COACHING POINTS • PERSONNEL DECISIONS • INSTALLATION SCHEDULE

3. 3-5 OUTLINE SESSION #2 – RESPONSIBILITIES / FRONTS / STUNTS • ALIGNMENTS • GAPS • BASE FRONTS • D-LINE CALLS • LB ALIGNMENTS • CUT TAPE

4. 3-5 OUTLINE SESSION #3 – BLITZ / COVERAGE / DEFENDING OFFENSIVE SETS • BLITZ SYSTEM • BLITZ TECHNIQUE CALLS • ZONE / MAN COVERAGES • DEFENDING SPREAD • PROBLEM FORMATIONS • CUT TAPE • EXTRA TIME?? • INDIVIDUAL POSITION DRILLS • PRESSED FOR TIME?? • SESSION #1 TOPIC WILL MOST LIKELY SPILL INTO SESSION #2 TOPIC (MOST INFORMATION)

5. EVOLUTION OF THE 3-5 • SCHOOLED IN THE 4-4 DEFENSE • FORCED TO RUN THE 4-3 • SAW THE 3-5 AS A WRINKLE IN A TEXAS A&M BOOK BY JERRY CAMPBELL IN 1996 • IMPLEMENTED THE 3-5 IN 1999 AS A ONE FRONT WRINKLE • CALLED IT THE “X” DEFENSE • SPAWNED THE REST OF OUR 3-4 AND 4-3 LOOKS

6. THE ORIGINAL “X” DEFENSE THIS IS THE ORIGINAL 2 PAGES OF THE 3-5 LOOK FROM THE TEXAS A&M BOOK BY JERRY CAMPBELL THE X LINEBACKER GAVE ME THE NAME OF THE DEFENSE ORIGINALLY IT HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY SINCE 1999 TO WHAT IT IS TODAY

7. EVOLUTION OF THE 3-5 • WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS? • ENCOURAGE YOU TO “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” • DON’T BE BOUND TO ONE PHILOSOPHY • ADAPT THE CONCEPTS / IDEAS TO YOUR TERMINOLOGY • THIS CAN BE ADAPTED TO AND INSERTED INTO ANY DEFENSE • THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS

8. ATTACKING – PRESSURE, PURSUIT FLEXIBLE – ADAPTABLE SIMPLE – EASY TO LEARN AND EXECUTE UNPREDICTABLE – ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES ADAPT TO YOUR PERSONNEL FUN!! PHILOSOPHY OF THE 3-5

9. PHILOSOPHY OF THE 3-5 • STRENGTHS • WITH SUBTLE CHANGES, IT CAN DEFEND POWER OFFENSES, OPTION OFFENSES, AND SPREAD OFFENSES • MULTIPLE LOOKS, BLITZES, AND COVERAGES • WEAKNESSES • RISKY • LIVE & DIE WITH THE BLITZ • 2 TE & JUMBO FORMATIONS

10. COACHING POINTS IN THE 3-5 • WHAT WILL YOU STRESS AS A WHOLE?? • PURSUIT, PRESSURE, ATTACK, SWARM • TACKLE • TAKE CARE OF YOUR JOB / RESPONSIBILITY • TURNOVERS / STRIP / INTERCEPTIONS • ATTITUDE, IDENTITY, INTENSITY • COMMUNICATION • MENTAL TOUGHNESS, CONFIDENCE, EFFORT

11. PERSONNEL OF 3-5 DEFENSE • THERE IS A LACK OF DEFENSIVE LINEMAN AT EVERY LEVEL OF FOOTBALL • THIS DEFENSE PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON SPEED OVER SIZE • WE ALWAYS HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF DB’S AND LB’S • GIVES US THE ABILITY TO HAVE MULTIPLE PERSONNEL GROUPINGS FOR VARIOUS DEFENSIVE PACKAGES

12. DEFENSIVE LINEMAN • NOSE – Either a large body, 2 gap player that demands a double team or a small, quick wrestling type kid who can shoot a gap on the center and command a double team • END – More of a prototypical defensive lineman. Will play on the strong side of the line against Tackles and Tight Ends mostly • TACKLE – Better pass rusher than the END because he will be in more 1 on 1 situations with a Tackle on the weak side

13. LINEBACKERS • OLB (Stud/Will) – These are the in-between players. They need to be sure tacklers that can take on lead blocks, but also able to stay with receivers in coverage. Strong Safety Types • ILB (Mac/Mike) – These are the bigger, prototypical linebackers. Able to take on ISO leads and pulling lineman. They will also reduce on the LOS. • X Linebacker – This is your best scraper and best tackler. A lot of times in the schemes he is unblocked so he will need to scrape and make sure tackles.

14. SECONDARY • JET (Weak Corner) – This should be your best coverage player. Against certain formations and in certain coverages he will be alone “on an island” against a receiver. • LASER (Strong Corner) – This should be a better tackler than your Jet corner. He will usually be bigger and stronger than the Jet also. Usually has more help in coverage than the Jet. • FIRE (Free Safety) – This should be your smartest player who is a good tackler and a good coverage player. There are a lot of times when he will be needed in run support and other times when he will be needed in coverage.

15. DEFENSIVE INSTALLATION • SUMMER CALENDAR – “THE BIG PICTURE” • OFFENSE / DEFENSE DAYS (2 PLATOON?) • CLASSROOM TIME / FIELD TIME • DEPTH CHARTS • DRILLS WITH AND WITHOUT PADS • 7 ON 7 OR PASSING LEAGUE DATES

16. SUMMER NO PAD DAYS SHELLS DAYS MINI-CAMP – FULL PADS SEASON 3 DAYS WITH HELMETS FULL PADS DOUBLES GAME WEEK PRACTICE SCHEDULES

17. JUNE CALENDER – 2005

18. JUNE 13 - MONDAY • OVERVIEW • WHAT OUR DEFENSE IS ABOUT • DEFENSIVE BASICS • TERMINOLOGY, GAPS, ALIGNMENTS, COLORS (FORMATIONS) • ½ TIME IN THE CLASS ROOM • ½ TIME ON THE FIELD (DAILY MUST DRILLS) • HANDOUTS • TERMINOLOGY, GAPS, ALIGNMENTS, COLORS (FORMATIONS)

19. JUNE 16 - THURSDAY • TEST • TERMINOLOGY, GAPS, ALIGNMENTS, COLORS (FORMATIONS) • 50 FRONTS • BASE, TIGHT, GAP, HEAD, WIDE • COVERAGES • COVER 3, COVER R2 • BLITZ • INTRODUCE WITH HOT ZONES • INDY DRILLS • 30 MINUTES IN CLASSROOM • 30 MINUTES INDY • 30 MINUTES ON FIELD TEACHING

20. JUNE 23 - THURSDAY • TEST • TERMINOLOGY, GAPS, ALIGNMENTS, COLORS, FRONTS, BLITZES • WALK-THROUGH REVIEW OF 50 FRONTS AND COVERAGES • LB ALIGNMENTS • M, SAW, MIKE/MAC, STUD/WILL • COVERAGES • COVER 2, DUECE • BLITZES / DL STUNTS • TEAM SCRIPTS VS VARIOUS FORMATIONS / OPTION

21. JUNE 27 - MONDAY • TEST (TOTAL REVIEW) • OTHER FRONTS • 30, 40 • COVERAGES • COVER 1 • BLITZES / STUNTS • TEAM SCRIPTS VS FORMATIONS / OPTION • PURSUIT DRILL, 7 ON 7, 9 ON 7, TEAM

22. JUNE 30 - THURSDAY • TEST (TOTAL REVIEW) • OTHER FRONTS • 30, 40 • COVERAGES • R2 STRONG / R2 WEAK • BLITZES / STUNTS • TEAM SCRIPTS VS FORMATIONS / OPTION • PURSUIT DRILL, 7 ON 7, 9 ON 7, TEAM

23. JULY CALENDER – 2005

24. JULY INSTALLATION • AFTER THE LONG 4TH OF JULY BREAK, WE WILL REVIEW THE FRONTS, COVERAGES, BLITZES, ETC. FROM JUNE • THE REST OF JULY WILL BE USED TO INSTALL OUR OTHER FRONTS INCLUDING A GOAL LINE DEFENSE AND A NICKLE DEFENSE • DURING OUR FULL PAD MINI CAMP AT THE END OF JULY, WE WILL REVIEW ALL OF OUR FRONTS AND KEEP REPPING THEM OVER AND OVER

25. TEST EXAMPLE

26. TEST EXAMPLE

27. ALIGNMENTS • WE USE A NUMBERING SYSTEM SIMILAR TO MOST DEFENSES FOR OUR ALIGNMENTS • ALIGNMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: DL – SINGLE DIGIT, LB – DOUBLE DIGIT, START WITH A “2”, DB – DOUBLE DIGIT, START WITH A “3”

28. GAPS • WE USE A GAP LETTERING SYSTEM SIMILAR TO MOST DEFENSES • GAPS BETWEEN: • CENTER & GUARD = A GAP • GUARD & TACKLE = B GAP • TACKLE & TIGHT END = C GAP • OUTSIDE TIGHT END/ALLEY = D GAP

29. BASE 50 E N T S W MK X MC L J F

30. 50 GAP E N T S W MK X MC L J F

31. 50 HEAD E N T S W MK X MC L J F

32. 50 HEAD • IT IS THE MOST COMMON LOOK BY PEOPLE WHO RUN THE 3-3-5 STACK • WE CAN PLAY A LOT OF GAMES OUT OF 50 HEAD BECAUSE OF THE ALIGNMENTS • THE STACKED LOOK OF OUR LB’S ALLOWS US TO EXCHANGE GAP RESPONSIBILITES WITH THE DL • WE CAN PINCH OUR LINE INTO THE B-GAPS AND ALLOW OUR LB’S TO TAKE THE C-GAPS • WE CAN BLITZ OUR LB’S TO MORE GAPS BECAUSE OF THE ALIGNMENTS

33. 50 WIDE E N T S W MK X MC L J F

34. STEMMING FRONTS • WE CAN STEM FROM ONE FRONT TO ANOTHER VERY EASILY • THIS CAN GREATLY EFFECT AN OFFENSIVE LINE’S BLOCKING RULES AND CALLS • WE HAVE USED IT A LOT AGAINST PASSING TEAMS IN ORDER TO SET UP OUR BLITZES – YOU WILL SEE THIS IN THE CUT UPS • EXAMPLE – M 55 HEAD • IN THIS EXAMPLE, WE WOULD SHOW OUR “50 M” FRONT AND ON THE FIRST SOUND, WE WOULD SHIFT INTO A “50 HEAD” FRONT • IF WE GET CAUGHT IN A SHIFT, WE TELL OUR PLAYERS TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND TO GET TO THE GAP THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO

35. DL CALLS • WE USE VARIOUS CALLS THAT ALLOW US TO CHANGE THE WAY OUR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN PLAY THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES • A LOT OF THE CALLS WE LIKE TO USE ARE IN OUR 50 HEAD FRONT • THIS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE BLOCKING FOR THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN WITHOUT ACTUALLY CHANGING THE FRONT WE ARE IN

36. DL CALLS - Pinch • PINCH IS USUALLY USED IN SHORT YARDAGE SITUATIONS, OR WHEN WE SEND A BLITZ THROUGH THE C-GAP • THE CALL SENDS ALL OF THE DL INTO THEIR INSIDE GAP • THE AIMING POINT FOR THE DL IS THE OUTSIDE HIP OF THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN INSIDE OF THEM • THEY MUST KEEP THEIR SHOULDERS SQUARE!! E N T BULL

37. DL CALLS - Bull • BULL IS USALLY USED WHEN WE WANT THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THE DL. THIS ALLOWS OUR LB’s TO SCRAPE FREE • THIS CALL TELLS THE DL TO “BULL” RUSH THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OVER THEM AND THEN RIP TO THE BALL E N T

38. DL CALLS • WE WILL ALSO CALL SLANT OR ANGLE WHICH WILL TELL OUR LINEMAN TO MOVE A GAP OVER IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY • SLANT TELLS OUR LINEMAN TO OCCUPY THE GAP TO THE STRONG SIDE • ANGLE TELLS OUR LINEMAN TO OCCUPY THE GAP TO THE WEAK SIDE

39. LB ALIGNMENTS • WE CAN REDUCE OUR LINEBACKERS ON THE LOS WITH VARIOUS CALLS • THIS ALLOWS US TO BE IN OUR BASE 50 LOOK, BUT TO THE OFFENSE IT LOOKS LIKE A 5-3, 4-4, ETC • THE CALLS STAY UNIVERSAL THROUGHOUT OUR DEFENSE • ALLOWS US TO CALL MULTIPLE FRONTS, BUT THE KIDS HAVE LESS TO LEARN

40. M&M ALIGNMENT WE WOULD JUST CALL “M” THE MIKE AND MAC LINEBACKERS REDUCE ON THE LOS. THEY FOLLOW THE TE RULE (IF THERE IS A TE OR WING, THEY ARE IN A 6 TECH, OTHERWISE THEY ARE IN A 5 TECH). THEY MUST HOLD THE LOS AND THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME GAP RESPONSIBILITY. THE STUD AND WILL STACK BEHIND THEM IF THERE IS NO SLOT RECEIVERS. MIKE - Will reduce the Mike with the Stud stacked behind and the Mac & Will in Regular alignments MAC - Will reduce the Mac with the Will stacked behind and the Mike & Stud in Regular alignments MK E N T MC S X W

41. SAW ALIGNMENT THIS CALL TELLS THE STUD AND WILL TO REDUCE ON THE LOS. THEY WILL STILL HAVE THEIR REGULAR D-GAP RESPONSIBILITY, SO THEY WILL LINE UP IN A 7 TECH AGAINST A TIGHT END OR WING, AND IN A GHOST 6 TECH WITHOUT A TIGHT END OR WING. S E N T W STUD – Reduces the Stud on the LOS, while the Will is in a regular alignment WILL – Reduces the Will on the LOS while the Stud is in a regular alignment MK X MC

42. BLITZES • OUR BLITZES ARE CALLED USING A NUMBERING SYSTEM. EACH LINEBACKER IS DESIGNATED WITH A NUMBER THAT IDENTIFIES HIM NO MATTER WHAT FRONT WE ARE IN. WE USE THE LB NUMBER TOGETHER WITH A GAP CALL IN ORDER TO BLITZ THE LINEBACKER IN THE GAP WE WANT TO. • IF A LB BLITZ IS CALLED TO A GAP THAT A DL IS SUPPOSED TO OCCUPY, THE DL WILL AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH RESPONSIBILITES WITH THE LB AND COVER HIS GAP

43. BLITZES

44. BLITZES

45. BLITZES • AS YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF BLITZES ARE ENDLESS WITH THE SIMPLE WAY WE CAN CALL THEM • THE CROSS BLITZES ARE GOOD AGAINST SPREAD PASSING TEAMS THAT BLOCK BIG ON BIG • THEY CAN ALLOW YOU TO GET YOUR FAST LINEBACKERS THROUGH THE GAP BEFORE THE LINEMAN WILL BE ABLE TO REACT

46. BLITZES • WE CAN HAVE OUR LINEBACKERS FAKE A BLITZ BY CALLING “RATTLE”. • THE RATTLE IS CALLED THE SAME WAY AS THE BLITZ IS, BUT WITH “RATTLE” INCLUDED IN THE CALL. • EXAMPLE – 50 Rattle 24 B • THE MIKE AND THE MAC WILL BOTH SHOW BLITZ IN THE B GAPS, BUT THEY WILL NOT BLITZ • WE CAN ALSO HAVE OUR LINEBACKERS SHOW THEIR BLITZ BY MOVING UP TO THE LOS BY CALLING “ATTACK” • WE DID NOT BLITZ OUR SECONDARY MUCH, BUT WE CAN SEND THEM ON A BLITZ BY CALLING THEIR NAME AND A GAP. EXAMPLE – 50 TIGHT FIRE-B (It would send the Fire to the Strong B-Gap)

47. COVERAGES

48. COVERAGES

49. COVERAGES

50. COVERAGES