Basics of the 3-5-3 Defense

The 3-5-3 Defense gives you a very powerful5. The Mike Backer lines up 5 yards deep directly
defensive scheme. Offering you 4 differentbehind the Nose Guard.
defensive fronts you will find it effective against6. The Free Safety lines up about 10 back behind
any offense you face, whether it's the Triplethe Nose Guard.
Option or the very popular Spread Offense.Disguising the Point of Attack
In the first two seasons the Georgia MilitaryThe 3-5-3 Defense requires a lot of movement.
College switched to the 3-5-3 Defense, they hadDisguising the point of attack begins with your
tremendous success, producing 8 All-Americanplayer alignment.
Defensive players and playing in two NJCAAYour 2 ends are lined up directly in-front of the
national title games.tackles and the Nose Guard over the center. This
In 2001, Georgia Military had a prefect season,prevents the quarterback from getting a read if
producing the Defensive Player of the Year. Whileyour point of attack is a straight ahead, strong
winning the NJCAA Championship, they held theirside or weak side rush.
opponents to a NJCAA record setting 61.7 yardsHave your ends place the inside hand as the
per game.down hand. You want the outside hand free
In this article we will discuss the first front: Basicswhether he is going inside or out.
Of 3-5-3 Defense.Ends using the same down hand every play
We will start with the alignments and positionprevents the tackles from reading your angle of
names.attack.
.........................End...............Nose Guard...............EndHaving the Mike, Dawgs and Bats lining up behind
...Corner.............................................................................Cornerthe ends and Nose Guard prevents the
.........................Left Dawg........................................Right Dawgquarterback from reading your defensive back
.........................Left Bat..............Mike................Left Batstrategies.
..................................................Free SafetyThe Basic 3-5-3 Defense gives you 4 different
The diagram above is the 3-5-3 Defensedefensive fronts and alignments you can use to
alignment in The Basic Front, featuring 3 downattack the offense and keep them on their heels.
rushers.Each of the four fronts and alignments gives you
1. The Nose Guard lines up square with thethe ability to do zone or man to man coverage.
center, either hand is down.You can run a cover 1 or a cover 3 defensive
2. Ends line up square with the tackles, inside handschemes, run stunts and blitzes.
down, keeping the outside arm free.The Four Fronts of the Basic 3_5-3 Defense:
3. The Dawgs (safeties) line up 3x3 behind the1. The Basic Front
ends.2. The Solid Front
4. The Bats (linebackers) line up behind the ends,3. The Under Front
5 yards deep, with their noses off the ends4.
outside hip.