Pressure out of the 3-5

The best part about the 3-5 is the pressure package out of it.  There are a variety of options to send pressure out of it.  In all actuality, there are 100's of ways to confuse the offense and bring 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 man pressure.  

OFFENSIVE LINE COACHES

Today I plan to focus on the inside pressure out of the 3-5.  The focus will be on bringing 5 man pressure out of the 3-5.  The basic philosophy of bringing 5 man pressure out of the 3-5 is to slant the front 3 and bring two LBs.  By bringing 5, the defensive is still able to play their base cover 3, with three across and three deep.  The question becomes, how do you play zone with only 6 zone men?

There are simple rules to run Cover 3 with 6 zone men:

#1  Players have to be taught how to read route combinations. If the Free Safety is keying the #2 receiver, and he goes on an Arrow route, chances are the #1 receiver will be coming into the Free Safety's zone.  

#2  Players must be taught the concept of playing man in your zone.  A great example of this is how basketball players have their zone, but as a man enters it, that man becomes theirs.  

Here are some common 3-5 5 man blitzes, for terminology, I have used how Air Force has tagged them in the past:

BEAR

Bear alters the Sam and Will that they will be blitzing the B-Gap, while the DE's have outside contain and the Nose bullrushes the Center for penetration.

TIGER
Tiger alerts the Mike that he will shoot the strongside A gap, allowing the nose to slant into the weak A gap.  Tiger plays the same as Bear for the DE's and Sam.  The difference is that the Will must not cover the middle zone of the field in passing situations.  

SHOOT

Shoot alerts the Mike that he will shoot the weak A gap, allowing the nose to slant into the strong A gap.  Shoot plays the same as Bear for the DE's and Will.  The difference is that the Sam must not cover the middle zone of the field in passing situations.  

These are traditional 5 man blitzes vs. Pro teams.  With the evolution of the spread, 3-5 teams have been able to continue to play 5 man blitzing games no matter the formations offenses throw at them.  Below are some popular 3-5  5 man blitzes vs. Spread formations


THUNDER
3-5 teams love using Thunder (Some teams call it Longstick) to attack teams that slide their protection.  It is basically an overload blitz, putting 4 blitzers vs. 3 O-Linemen.  The key is to use the athletic ability and speed of your players.  The DE must get down the line and into the A gap.  This opens up the line for the LBs to come blitzing through.

TIGHT


Tight is the same idea as Thunder, but to the strong side of the formation.  

3-5 teams rely on putting the pressure on offensives, and bringing defenders from all over the field.  They want that QB to feel like he is in a pressure cooker, with the steam about to blow that lid off.  These simple blitzes are used to confuse and frustrate the offense, helping the 3-5 become one of the most popular defense out there.  

Coming up...... Pressure Package part 2

As always, check out www.chiefpigskin.com for the best football coverage on the web!  For those schools that get a chance to have summer camp, enjoy your time with your players, and coach them up!  Coach Hjorth