Installing the 3-3-5 Defense

for Youth Football

Presented by Phillip Blackwell

Asst. Coach Overlea High
Baltimore, Maryland
 Why the 3-3-5?
• Personnel – lack of size in defensive linemen
• Have more LB types than DL types
• Have more DBs / skilled athletes than DL or LB
types
• Opponent Offenses – multiple Spread or
misdirection (Wing-T) offenses
• Like to apply PRESSURE!!!!!!!!!
 Base 3-3-5 Personnel
• 3 Defensive Linemen
– DT and DE align head-up on the GUARDS
– Nose Guard align head-up on the CENTER
• 3 Linebackers (Will, Mike & Sam)
– LBs stacked 3 yards behind the DLs
• 5 Defensive Backs (2 CBs and 3 Safeties)
– 2 Cornerbacks
• Align according to the coverage call (ex. Cov. 1, 2, 3, etc.)
– 2 Strong Safeties (Bandit/Gator or Bandit/Spur)
• Align anywhere from on the line of scrimmage to 5-yards deep,
and 2-3 yards outside the tight end or the tackle on an open end
side.
– 1 Free Safety
• Align 10-12 yards from the line of scrimmage over the WEAK
SIDE A GAP.
 Strong Safeties (Spurs)
• Play the PASS first
• Responsible for the #2 WR/TE on that
side of the field
• No #2 WR/TE = BLITZ!!!!!!!! w/ SCREEN
and SWEEP responsibility
• Name the Spurs the same for YOUTH
LEAGUE (Bandit/Spur or Bandit/Gator)
Base 3-3-5
Alignment
 Base 3-3-5 GAP Responsibility
• NOSE GUARD attacks the Strong Side A Gap
• Defensive Tackle attacks the B Gap
• Defensive End attacks the C Gap
• Weak side Strong Safety has C Gap with a Blitz
mentality
• SLB has the Strong Side B Gap
• MLB has the Weak Side A Gap
• WLB has “Clean-up”
Base 3-3-5 GAP
Responsibility

“Rover”
 Single Back Set
• All responsibilities stay the same EXCEPT
for WLB and Weak Side Strong Safety
• WLB has C Gap with BLITZ mentality
• Weak Side Strong Safety has #2 WR/TE
Single Back
Set
 Base 3-3-5 Zone Coverage
• Both Strong Safeties (Bandit & Gator) have the
FLATS [0-7 yards]
• MLB, SLB & WLB have Hook/Curl zones [5-7
yards]
• Cornerbacks have DEEP 1/3 (Hash Mark to
Sidelines) outside zones [7 yards to End zone]
• Free Safety has the DEEP 1/3 (Hash Mark to
Hash Mark) middle zone [7 yards to End zone]
Base 3-3-5 Zone
Coverage
 Base 3-3-5 Zone Blitz (WLB)
• All responsibilities stay the same EXCEPT
WLB Blitz from the C Gap
• WLB Hook/curl zone will be open for
the SLANT or DIG routes!!!!
Base 3-3-5 Zone
Blitz (WLB)
 Base 3-3-5 Zone Blitz (Spur)
• All responsibilities stay the same EXCEPT
the Weak Side Strong Safety Blitz and
WLB has Curl/Flat zone
Base 3-3-5 Zone
Blitz (Spur)
 Base 3-3-5 vs Shotgun Spread

• Both Cornerbacks and Strong Safeties (Spurs) play

Man to Man Coverage on the WRs/TEs
• Free Safety plays Man to Man Coverage on the RB
• Defensive Linemen have the same Gap
responsibility
• SLB & WLB blitz from the outside C Gaps
• MLB blitz the opposite A Gap (Nose Guard signals
his option) and Mirror the QB
• ALL OUT BLITZ!!!!!!!!!
 Base 3-3-5 vs
Shotgun Spread
Try other looks….
Any Questions?????
Thank You and Good Luck on your
upcoming season!