Applying Pressure from the 3-3

JOHN RICE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
CANYON SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
MORENO VALLEY, CA
(951) 537-9902
zacoach102@aol.com
 Why Pressure?
• To augment your normal pass rush numbers

• To create a big play and change momentum

• To attack an offensive tendency

• To force a short throw (sight adjustment) in a

third and long situation

• To attack a weakness in protection scheme or personnel

• To break a defensive tendency (as a change up)

 Principles for Applying Pressure
• Disguise your intentions if at all possible
• Use more than one disguise per blitz
• Know the protection scheme you are attacking
• Know the opponent’s hot reads and sight adjustments
(may be able to force a certain throw favorable to you)

• Ensure your defense is gap sound

• Assign proper run force
• In man schemes, every potential receiver is accounted for
• Don’t allow offense to create a mismatch
• Create mismatches that favor the defense-attack weakness
 Principles for Maximizing
Effectiveness of Pressure Scheme
• Pressure Calls MUST be scripted.
• Blitz Period /7 on 7/Team
– Practice the four looks (show, half, time, depth)
– Show unusual formations/motion
– Force checks to prevent unfavorable situations
– Emphasize blitzing defenders redirect to the ball if
play is a run
 3 Shell Pressure
• All pressure in this category will give a Cover 3
Look or a 1 Free Look

E N E
S B
L M R C
C

F
 4 man pressure

• Blitzer going
through
D ChisB A A B C
normal gap
of
responsibility
•Blitzer going through his
normal gap of responsibility
 4 man pressure

• Usually with Cover 3

• Example:
• “3 Ram” or “3 Lion”
• “3 Spur” or “3 Bandit”
• “3 Torpedo” or “3 Anchor”
 4 man pressure
• “Coverage-Blitz”
• Examples:
– “3 Ram” (cover 3 with Ram going)
– “3 Lion” (cover 3 with Lion going)
– “3 Spur” (cover 3 with Spur going)
– “3 Torpedo” (cover 3 with Ram going
C gap, End pinching to B gap)
– “3 Mike Left” (cover 3, line slanting
left, Ram going C gap)
 4 man pressure

We Blitz from 4 positions

Depth (ex: 3 Ram)
2 yards (ex: 3 Ram half)
LOS (ex: 3 Ram show)
Time (ex: 3 Ram time)
3 Torpedo
3 Anchor
3 Linda
3 Rita
3 Spur
3 Bandit
 5 man pressure
• “Coverage-Blitz”
• Examples:
– “3 Ox Show” (cover 3 with Mike & Ram going)
– “3 Tiger Half” (cover 3 Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Sting Time” (cover 0 with Spur and Bandit
going)
– “0 Smoke Show” (cover 0, line slanting weak,
Spur, Ram going outside End)
3 OX
3 Tiger
0 Smoke
0 Torch
3 Jacks Red
3 Jacks Red
5 man pressure
from Dime
 Dime 1Free Rules:

E N E
B
C S $ M R C
Hole

F Deep Middle
Dime ($) in for Lion; will align according to blitz called. Man up with #3 in empty
We are playing man coverage with Spur and Bandit on #2’s (over vs. trips)
We will always send at least 1 linebacker; the other will be a hole defender.
If we send both inside backers, Dime will be hole defender unless covering #3 in empty.
Free Safety is playing deep middle. We can also use him to bracket a receiver & play 0.
Hole defender will abandon responsibility if R releases. In that case, man up on R.
 Dime Crossfire Cover 1Free

S E N E
$ B
C M R C
Hole

F
Deep Middle
 Dime “Mable” Cover 1 Free

E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole

F
Deep Middle
 Dime “ Mable Switch” Cover 1 Free

E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole

F
Deep Middle
 Dime “Spice” Cover 1 Free

E N E
C $ B
M R C
S Hole

F
Deep Middle
 Dime “Sugar” Cover 1 Free

E N E
$ B
C M R C
S Hole

Deep Middle
 Dime Axe Cover 1Free
To field

E N E
$ B
C S M R C
Hole

F
Nose slants to field (blitz) Deep Middle
 6 Man Pressure
from Base Front
 6 Man Pressure from Base Front
• “Coverage-Blitz”
• Examples:
– “ 0 Zoo Time” (cover 0 with Lion Mike,Ram
going)
– “3 Zoo” (cover 3 Lion,Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Tiger Bandit half” (cover 0 with Lion, Mike &
Bandit going)
– “0 Ox Spur” (cover 0, line slanting weak, Spur,
Ram going outside End)
 “0” Shamrock Fire
Or (Nose 2 Middle Fire)
C #3 to either side C
F
#2 your side
L M
B #2 your side
S
E R N E
Zoo
Zoo Right, Zoo Weak
7 Man Pressure
 3-3 Fire Zone Pressure
Cover 33: 3 deep, 3 under, rush 5

E N E B
S
C L M R C
Seam/curl/flat hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Cover 33 Rules:
We are sending 5 (3 linemen and usually 2 linebackers)
The remaining linebacker is a hole defender
We will cover both seams, not allow vertical releases by #2’s
 Thunder Cover 33
Field

E N E B
C L M R C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole
S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
 Hurricane Cover 33
Field

S E N E
C L M R C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F B

Thirds Thirds Thirds

 Lamb Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
 Rambo Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
 Rex Cover 33

E N E R
C S L M B C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
 Lex Cover 33

L E N E
C S M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
 Laser Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
 Male Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat

F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
 Mare Cover 33

E N E
C S L M R B C
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
More Pressure
from Dime
Dime Field Slam
Dime Lightening
Dime Win
Dime Nitro
Dime Double Plug Robber
Dime Tornado
3-2-6 Dime Zone Blitz
 Dime 4 Idaho

E N E
S B
C $ L M F C

1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

 Dime 4 “Oregon”

E N E
S B
C $ L M F C

1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

3-2-6 Dime Man Pressure from 2 Shell Look

E N E
C $ M R B
C

S F
Spur and FS are adjusters for blitzing Spur and/or Bandit
 Dime “Boa” Cover 0

E N E
C $ B
M R C

S F
 Dime “Python” Cover 0

E N E
B
C M R C
$
S F
 Dime “Python Under” Cover 0

E N E
$ $
C M R C

S F
 Appendix
• Sample Blitz Period Script
• Sample Defensive Game Call Sheet
• 3-3 Coaching Resources
 Sample Blitz Period Script
C O UG AR F O O TB ALL
"BLITZ PERIOD" DEFENSIVE PRACTICE wed 9/ 28
SCRIPT
Emphasis: QB Run Game, Screen, Draw

P l a y C a rd D/ D F O R MATIO N P LAY F RO N T S TU N T/ B LITZ COV N O TES

1 a 1st 10 see card 4 Verticals Base Crazy 3 Adjust to motion

2 b 3rd 7 see card Draw Base Zoo 3

3 c 3rd 10 see card QB counter Dime Smoke 0 Adjust to empty
4 d 2nd 10 see card QB Trap Dime Crazy Lock 0
5 e 2nd 6 see card Boot Base Strong Spur 3 Adjust to shift

6 f 1st 10 see card Dart Base Ox 3

7 g 4th 7 see card GT counter Base Crazy 3 Adjust to Bunch

8 h 3rd 6 see card Screen Base Zoo 3

9 b 3rd 10 see card Draw Dime Oregon Zblitz Adjust to empty

10 c 3rd 4 see card QB Counter Dime Idaho Zblitz

11 a 2nd 10 see card 4 Verticals Base Zoo Strong 3
12 h 2nd 7 see card Screen Base Crazy 3
13 b 2nd 7 see card Draw Base Jacks Red 3
SAMPLE DEFENSIVE GAME CALL
SHEET
 3-3 Coaching Resources
A partial list of coaches who either run the 3-3 now or have experience running it

•Joe Lee Dunn, Def. Coor. U of Memphis Contact: : 901-678-2341

•Charlie Strong, Asst Head Coach, Florida Contact: 352-375-4683 x4100
•Todd Graham, Head Coach, Rice University Contact: 713 348-6900
•Bronco Mendenhall, Head Coach, BYU Contact: 801-422-2916
•Dean Campbell, DB Coach, Air Force Contact: Dean.Campbell.ctr@usafa.af.mil
•Rocky Long, Head Coach, New Mexico Contact: 505-925-5700
•Vic Shealy, Defensive Coordinator, UNLV Contact: vic.shealy@unlv.edu
•Jeff Casteel, Defensive Coordinator, WVU Contact:  (304) 293-5621
•Dave Doeren, Defensive Coordinator, Kansas Contact: ddoeren@ku.edu
•Taylor Burks, Def. Coor, Georgia Military Contact: (478) 445-2690
•Richard Bell, Def.Coor., Air Force Academy Contact: Richard.Bell.ctr@usafa.af.mil
•Brad Lambert, Linebacker Coach, Wake Forest Contact: lamberbl@wfu.edu
•Ron Roberts, Def. Coor., Delta State U (MS) Contact: rroberts@deltastate.edu
•Paul Golla, Head Coach, Bakersfield HS, Bakersfield, CA Contact (661) 324-9841
•John Rice, Def Coor.,Canyon Springs HS, Moreno Valley CA Contact: zacoach102@aol.com
•Jerry Campbell, HC, Victoria Memorial HS, Victoria, Texas jerry.campbell@visd.com.
•George Contreras, Def Coor, Rio Mesa HS, Oxnard, CA gcontre@ouhsd.k12.ca.us
 3-3 Media Resources

Video by Buck
DVDs by Vic Shealy, formerly of Air
DVD by Jeff Casteel, Roggeman (Pacific
Force Academy Series of eight videos
WVU Grove High School
(CA) By Georgia Military staff
http://www.championshipp http://www.championshipproductions.com/
coacheschoice.com http://www.championship
/
roductions.com productions.com/

All seven John Rice 3-3 defense video

programs on one DVD. Includes 3-3 Defense: 30-Stack videos by Todd
Understanding the Basics, 3-3 Defense:
Applying Pressure, 3-3 Defense vs. The I Graham, Head Coach,
formation, 3-3 Defense vs. Spread Rice University (formerly
Formations, 3-3 Defense vs. Empty
Formation 3-3 Defense vs. Two-tight End of Tulsa). Call (918) 595-
Formations, and 3-3 Defense vs. Defending 7945 ASK FOR PENNY
Special Formations and Plays.
GRAHAM.
Also available individually on VHS
www.coacheschoice.com
 
 Websites books, & articles about or with content dealing with the 3-3 defense

Coaching Nickel & Dime Defenses

Manual by Jerry Defending the Spread Offense Coaching Football’s 3-3-5 Defense
By Leo Hand and Rick Molina
Campbell
*Both have sections on the 3-3 defense
101 3-5 Stunts
http://www.jcfb.com/
Books by John Rice By Leo Hand
http://www.coacheschoice.com http://www.coacheschoice.com

30 Stack Forum (Coach Jerry Campbell Website)

Articles online: www.jcfb.com
Georgia Military College’s Devastating 3-5 Defense
By Bert Williams, Head Football Coach MULTIPLE 3-3-5 DEFENSE
http://www.americanfootballmonthly.com/Arena/NS_Magazine/Current/GMC.html ...HARDING UNIVERSITY STYLE
By Ronnie Huckeba,
SHARKS IN THE WATER Defensive Coordinator/Defensive line, Harding University
COACHING LINEBACKERS TO ATTACK IN THE 3-3 DEFENSE
By Ron Roberts
http://americanfootballmonthly.com/Subaccess/Magazine/2005/mar/delta.html http://americanfootballmonthly.com/Subacces
s/Magazine/2004/feb/multiple_335_defense.h
Command of the Line tml
Georgia Military College’s Applications of the
3-5-3 Defense By Taylor Burks Defensive Coordinator, Georgia Military
College http://americanfootballmonthly.com