Installing the Air Force

Base 3-4 Defense

Tim DeRuyter
Air Force Academy
 • Advantages of Basing out of a 3-4
• Personnel
– * Get Better Athletes on Field
– * Easier to Recruit LB’s than DL’s

• Multiplicity of Fronts, Coverages, Pressures

– * Any of 4 LB’S Can easily be in rush
– * Offenses must prepare to block all or none of them
– * Easy to Disguise

• Different
– * Offenses have 1 week to prepare
– * Where is Shade/ 3 Tech?
– * Simplified Gameplans
2
 • Installing a Base 3-4
• First Questions:

– * Who / Where is 4th Rusher?

– * How does the coverage tie in?

3
 • Installing a Base 3-4
• Where Can we Set 4th Rusher:

–* OPEN 63 / CLOSED 36
–* BENCH PURPLE / FIELD RED
–* MIKE / WILL BLUE
–* STRONG RED / WEAK PURPLE
–* TILT

4
 • Installing a Base 3-4
• OPEN 63

– * 4TH Rusher from “Open” Side

– * Coverage is “Double Digit” (Could play man)
– - ¼, ¼, ½ vs PRO Sets (Cover 6)
– - Cover 3 vs SLOT Sets
– - Change of Strength Motion Changes Coverage
- Front does not Change

5
VS PRO OPEN 63 "RIP"
"PURPLE LEFT"

Z
Y X

S E NG E B
9 5 Rip 4i 6
BUZZ M W
SC WC
Basic Scrape
Lock Squat
Spill Squeeze
MR H/C
SS FS
ROBBER
"I'm Here" 1/2

VS SLOT OPEN 63 "RIP"

"RED RIGHT"

S E NG E
9 5 RIP 4i
FLAT B
M W 6
Basic Scrape
Spill Squeeze C
C H/C H/C
1/3
1/3 FS
"I'm Here" M/3 SS
C/F 6
 "LIZ"
VS ZAC - OPEN 63 "RED LEFT"

DBLS to TREY "CHECK PURPLE

"ZONE IT"

E N E S
B 4i RIP 5 9
6 Curl/flat //
W M 1/4'S DROP
SC SCRAPE BASIC WC
1/3 // H/C // H/C //
SQUAT VH MR 1/3 //
SS 1/4
SKY // FS
1/2 M/3 //
1/4

"RIP"
VS ZAC - Trey OPEN 63 "PURPLE LEFT"
to DBLS "CHECK RED"

E N E B
5 RIP 4i 6
S
9 M W
SC 1/4'S //
1/4 // BASIC SCRAPE WC
C/F
1/3 MR // VH // SQUAT //
H/C H/C 1/3

SS FS
1/4 //
M/3 1/2 //
C/F 7
 • Installing a Base 3-4
• CLOSED 36

– * 4TH Rusher from “Closed” Side

– * Coverage is “Double Digit” (Could play man)
– - Cover 3 vs PRO Sets
– - Cover 6 vs SLOT Sets
– - Change of Strength Motion Changes Coverage
- Front does not Change

8
VS PRO CLOSED 36 "LIZ"
"RED LEFT"
TB

FB

Z
Y X

S E N E B
6 4i Rip 5 9
M W C/F
C C
SCRAPE BASIC
1/3 SPILL SQUEEZE 1/3
H/C H/C
SS FS
SKY
C/F
M/3

"LIZ"
VS SLOT CLOSED 36 "PURPLE RIGHT"
"SOCKS"
"ZONE IT"

TB

FB

Z
Y X

S E N E
6 // 4i RIP 5
9 flat B
C M W
SCRAPE BASIC 9
Squat // Spill SQUEEZE 1/4'S C
"Socks" H/C MR 1/4
FS
SS
1/2 1/4
"Zone it"

9
 "RIP"
vs ZAC - CLOSED 36 "PURPLE LEFT"
Dbls to TREY
TB "CHECK RED RIGHT"

S Z

X Y

E NG E S
B 6
9
1/4'S // W M
SC
C/F Basic Scrape WC
1/4 // MRP // VH // Squat //
1/3 H/C H/C 1/3
SS
FS
1/4
"ZONE IT" // 1/2 //
M/3 SKY

vs ZAC - Trey CLOSED 36

"LIZ"
"RED LEFT"
to DBLS
"CHECK PURPLE RIGHT"
TB

Z S

Y X

E NG E
B
S
6 M W 9
WC
SC Scrape BASIC Curl/flat //
1/3 // H/C // H/C // 1/4 1/3 //
SQUAT VH MRP 1/4
"ZONE IT"
SS
SKY // FS
M/3 // 10
1/2
1/4
"ZONE IT"
 • Installing a Base 3-4
• BENCH PURPLE

– * 4TH Rusher from the Boundary

– * Coverage is ¼, ¼, ½ to the FIELD
– * Coverage is “Single Digit”
• - NO CHANGE of Coverage with Motion

11
VS PRO BENCH PURPLE RIP
PURPLE LEFT

FIELD

Z
Y X

S E N E B
9
Buzz M W
C BASIC
C
Scrape
Lock Spill Squeeze
MRP VH Squat
SS FS
Robber 1/2

RIP
VS SLOT PURPLE LEFT
"Socks"

FIELD

X Y

E N E S C
6 //
B 9 flat Socks
W M
C 9
1/4 BASIC SCRAPE
1/4 Squeeze Spill
MRP VH
SS
Zone It FS
1/4 1/2

12
V S D EN VER "RIP"
BENCH PURPLE "ZONE IT"

A
FIELD

S
Z
X Y

E N E S
B
C QTRS W M C
BASIC SCRAPE SQUAT
1/4 MRP VH
SS
"ZONE IT" 1/4 FS
1/2

VS. TEXA S "RIP"

BENCH PURPLE "STRESS"

FIELD A

Z S
Y X

E NG E B
C S
W C
1/4 // QTRS // M SQUAT
1/3 C/F
Basic Scrape
MRP VH
SS
1/4 //
M/3 FS 1/2

VS GU N FA R TAHOE
BENCH PURPLE "RIP"
"ZONE IT"
(Possible Solo or Clamp)
FIELD
A QB

S Z
X Y

E N E S C
B W
Qtrs Basic
M
C MRP
Scrape "SOCKS"
1/4 VH

"ZONE It" SS FS 13
1/4 1/2
 BENCH PURPLE

VS. Texas SAC to RIP

DENVER PURPLE LEFT
(stay purple left)

FIELD A

Z S
Y X

E NG E B
C S
QTRS M W C
1/4 SQUAT
Basic Scrape 1/2
"Stress" // MR
SSS VH
Lock tress //
Robber FS 1/2
VS. Denver SAC to RIP
TEXAS PURPLE LEFT
(stay purple left)
FIELD A

Z S
Y X

S E NG E B
C
QTRS M W C
Lock // SQUAT
1/4 Basic Scrape
SS MR VH
Robber //
1/4 "Stress" FS 1/2 14
 • Installing a Base 3-4
• FIELD RED

– * 4TH Rusher from the Field

– * Coverage is 4 under, 3 Deep Rotating Safety to Field
– * Coverage is “Single Digit”
• - NO CHANGE of Coverage with Motion

15
 FIELD FIELD RED FORMATION ADJUSTMENTS
VS I PRO TB

FB
Z

Y X

S E N E B
C CF C
1/3 M W C/F
Force HC HC
SQUEEZE
SS
FS
1/3
M/3

VS I SLOT TB

FB
Z
X Y

B E N E S
C/F
W M
C C/F HC HC
1/3 Squeeze SPILL C
1/3
SS "I'M HERE"
FS
M/3

TB
VS I TRIO
FB

Z X

S E N E B
M W
C CF HC C/F C
HC
1/3
SS FS
1/3
1/3
16
 FIELD RED - CHANGE OF STRENGTH MOTION
VS PRO to SLOT: FIELD
TB RED LEFT
FB
Z

Y X

S E N E B
C CF
M W C
1/3 Force C/F
HC HC
SQUEEZE
SS
FS
1/3

VS SLOT to PRO:
TB
RED LEFT
FB

X
Y

E N E S
B
C/F
W M
C HC
C/F HC
1/3 Squeeze SPILL C
1/3
SS "I'M HERE"
FS

17
 • Installing a Base 3-4
• MIKE or WILL RUSH

– * 4TH Rusher is Closed Side Inside Linebacker (Mike)

– * Or OPEN SIDE INSIDE LINEBACKER (WILL)
– * Not a “blitz”, ILB is a DELAYED RUSH
– * Balanced Coverage – No change of Coverage with
Change of Strength Motion

18
 MIKE GAP GREEN FORMATION ADJUSTMENTS

VS PRO
LIZ TB
GREEN LEFT
FB

Y X

S E N E B
1/4 C
M W
C MH 1/4 Lock
Lock
SS FS
Robber
Robber

VS SLOT TB
RIP
GREEN LEFT FB

X Y

E N E S
B W M
1/4
C
1/4 MH
C Lock
Lock
SS FS
Robber Robber

19
 MIKE GAP GREEN FORMATION ADJUSTMENTS

VS PRO
LIZ TB
GREEN LEFT
CHK GREEN RIGHT FB

Y X

S E N E B
1/4 C
M W
C MH 1/4 Lock
Lock
SS FS
Robber
Robber

VS SLOT TB
RIP
GREEN LEFT FB
CHK GREEN RIGHT
Z

X Y

E N E S
B W M
1/4
C
1/4 MH
C Lock
Lock
SS FS
Robber Robber

20
 MIKE GAP GREEN FORMATION ADJUSTMENTS

VS DENVER TB
"RIP"
"GREEN LEFT"

S Z
X Y

E N E S
1/4
W M
B MH
C
Lock
C 1/4
Lock
SS FS
Robber Robber

VS TEXAS "RIP"
TB
"GREEN RIGHT"

S Z

X Y

E N E
B S
W M 1/4
C
1/4 MH Lock
C
Lock SS
FS Robber
Robber
3 X

VS TAHOE TB "RIP"
"GREEN LEFT"

Z
S
X Y

E N E S C
B W M 1/4 Lock
C 1/4 MH
Lock

SS FS
Robber Robber 21
 WILL TITE BLUE FORMATION ADJUSTMENTS
VS PRO
RIP
BLUE LEFT TB

FB

Y X

S E N E B
1/4 1/4
C M W
Lock Scrap e Scrap e C
SS 3
FS
Robber Lock
Robber

VS SLOT
LIZ
BLUE LEFT TB

FB

X Y

E N E S
B 1/4
W M C
C zone it
Scrape
Scrape
1/4 3 Lock //
zone it CLOUD
1/4
FS
SS zone it Robber
"I'M HERE"

VS TRIO
RIP
BLUE LEFT TB

FB

X X

E N E B
S
C Zone it M W C
Scrap e Scrape 1/4
Zone it 3 Lock
SS FS
Zone it ROBBER
22
 WILL TITE BLUE FORMATION ADJUSTMENTS

VS DENVER TB
"LIZ"
"BLUE LEFT"
S Z
X Y

E N E S
B W M 1/4
C ZONE IT CONTAIN MH C
1/4 LOCK
SS FS
1/4
ROBBER

VS TEXAS TB
"LIZ"
"BLUE RIGHT"

Wide S Z

X Y

B E N E
BUZZ S
W M ZONE IT
CONTAIN MH C
C ZONE IT
LOCK SS
FS ZONE IT
ROBBER
3 x

VS TAHOE TB
"LIZ"
(Possible "Clamp")
Z
S
X Y

E N E S
B W M FLAT
ZONE IT chk MH C
C Change?
1/4 LOCK
SS FS
1/4 ROBBER 23