Meshing the 4-4, 4-3, 3-4, 5-2, 5-3 and 3-5 from the 3-5 Base Defense
By Rob Manchester • Defensive Coordinator • Georgia Military College
The Base 3-5
Our Base Defense is the 3-5 - We base out of the 3-5 defense and start by teaching the 3-5 alignment, the gap-control scheme and run fits, and have basic cover-3 coverage behind it.
Why Base out of the 3-5? – It allows us to teach everything else we do on our defense – all the alignments and variations – as simple adjustments out of our base defense. We start by teaching the 3-5 and the gap-control scheme against the run game from the 3-5. We teach our basic coverages (starting with cover-3) out of the 3-5 defense. From there, we install our basic slants and stunts (including our slant-strong and our slant-weak). In our slant scheme, the defensive linemen slant to the call, and the linebackers fill in behind the slants.
When we teach the “Bump” concept, it is in complete accord with our slant scheme. Our defensive linemen “bump” over a shade (or a gap) to the call, and the linebackers align to fill in behind the linemen’s bump. Basing out of the 3-5 allows us to “bump” into a 4-4, a 4-3 and a 4-3 under without having to change any personnel or any concepts of our defense. We maintain the same gap-control, we keep the same personnel, we keep the same contain-defenders (so that we do not have to teach anyone else how to play contain in addition to their original role and responsibility), and we are able to play all our coverages. We are able to do all this with a very simple defensive call, while creating the appearance that we are playing six or seven different defenses. In reality, while we look like we are in completely different alignments at various times, all we are doing – as far as our players are concerned – is making different calls from our original base defense.
The Basic Cable Analogy – Our base defense is like the set of basic cable channels. While the channels start with the low numbers (Channels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 for CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, etc.), we hardly ever watch any one of those channels. Our television is usually tuned to one of the regular cable channels: ESPN, CNN, the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, etc. Similarly, while our base defense is the 3-5, we use it sparingly. It really is our third or fourth most prominent alignment. We usually are in our base 3-5 only part of the time. The majority of the time, we are in our 4-3 and 4-4 defensive alignments. This is something that depends on the opponent and our week-to-week game plans. However, we are never really more than one step – or one gap – away from being in any of the defenses we play.
We also can adjust and check in and out of all our defenses, based on different formations, and also without having to change personnel. This is extremely important when facing opponents who run the no-huddle offense. We also can change our coverage calls and our blitz calls in a moment’s time. All these factors give us great flexibility, great versatility, and great unpredictability. Equally as important, they allow us to create many complex alignments and coverages in a very simple and executable manner. After all, what matters is not how much we know as coaches, it is how much our players can learn and effectively execute. All the aspects of our defensive approach allow us to create problems for opposing offenses, because they create the opportunity to put our players in positions to be successful – both literally and figuratively.
22 Advantages of Shifting to a 4-Man Front
• It allows us to play a variety of defensive fronts and alignments, including a 4-4, 4-3 and 4-3 Under defenses
• It allows us to play all our coverages. It allows us to play any coverage we want.
• It allows us to stay with our same gap-control scheme.
• It allows us to use the same personnel (This is crucial against no-huddle offenses).
• It creates unpredictability against both the run and pass games of the opponent.
• It gives us versatility and flexibility, very similar to the way the multiple offense system gives an offense the ability to adjust and attack different alignments and exploit various weaknesses.
• It allows us to keep our stud and whip as the contain defenders. We do not need to teach other players to contain and force run plays back to the inside. We can put our best contain-players in a position to make plays, while not adding any extra roles or responsibilities to other players.
• It takes away the edge quicker, and forces the run back inside more quickly by virtue of the closer alignment to the line of scrimmage by the stud and whip.
• It takes away the edges vs. stretches and sweeps, and it will force everything back inside more quickly.
• It creates a more natural pass rush from our stud and whip defenders.
• It allows us to check in and out of our 4-man front alignments quickly and easily (This is very important when facing no-huddle offenses).
• If we see a formation that we don’t like the way we align to it, we can check to our base 3-5 (check base, slant-strong/weak).
• If we see a formation that we don’t like the way our coverage is set up for, we can check to a different coverage quickly and easily (cover 3, 2, 4, man, bracket, etc.)
• We can run all our calls and blitzes from this alignment.
• We can run the 4-man front as much or as little as we want.
• We can run the 4-man front as our main defense if we want, or not at all if we like.
• It allows us to take away any holes that may exist in our base 3-5 alignment, by eliminating various holes in the passing zones and various openings and lanes in the run game.
• It allows us to eliminate our weaknesses and the weak areas in our 3-5 alignment.
• It enables us to take away what the offense will try to do to us.
• It gives us stronger and better alignments in goal-line and short-yardage situations, and it gives us tougher alignments against heavy formations (double-tight, power-I, etc.)
• It allows us to be a complete defense.
• It makes us a better defense.
The Coverages We Can Play In Our 4-Man Front
The “bump” concept allows us to play all the coverages we have. It gives us the ability to line up in and to play any and every coverage that we want. From this alignment, we are able to play the following coverages:
• Cover 2, Cover 2-Man Under, and Cover 4.
• Cover 3, Cover 1, and Cover 0 (Man all across the board).
• Bracket Coverage (Cover-2 to one half of the field, Cover-4 on the other half).
• Robber Coverage.
Adjusting to Trips and TE-Trips In Our Base 3-5 Alignment
All we do to adjust to trips is shift our alignment to more of a true 3-4 alignment.
Adjusting to Spread and Two-TE Formations In
Our Base 3-5 Alignment
We align to spread and two-tight end, single-back sets by aligning in our base 3-5 defense. We play our base alignment, and from this, we can run all our slants and stunts.
Shifting to a 4-Man Front
Bumping to the 4-4 - “Bump Weak”
To get into a 4-4 alignment, we make a “44 Bump Weak” call.
This tells our defensive linemen to “bump” over one shade or gap, to the “weak” side. Our linebackers align one shade or gap behind the linemen, just the way they would fill in our regular slant scheme. The defensive linemen would move toward the direction of the call, while the linebackers would fill in behind them in order to maintain gap integrity. We can run all our blitzes, defensive line games (twists and exchanges), and employ all our coverages from this alignment. We leave the Whip walked down as an outside linebacker in a 4-4 alignment.
Bumping to the 4-3 - “Bump Weak”
To get into a 4-3 alignment, we make a “Bump Weak” call.
This tells our defensive linemen to “bump” over one shade or gap, to the “weak” side. Our linebackers align one shade or gap behind the linemen, just the way they would fill in our regular slant scheme. The defensive linemen would move toward the direction of the call, while the linebackers would fill in behind them in order to maintain gap integrity. We can run all our blitzes, defensive line games (twists and exchanges) and employ all our coverages from this alignment. We can walk the Whip around as a “Rover” or “Assassin” and let him make plays as he sees fit. We can also drop the Whip back as a strong safety and play a variety of coverages out of this alignment, including cover-2 and cover-4.
We communicate the alignment of the Whip with a tag. The tag name “Rover” tells the Whip that he is a Rover. If there is no tag, it means that we are in a 4-4 alignment. If we call some form of 2-deep-safety coverage (cover-2 and cover-4), then it means the Whip is aligned as the strong safety. We can play games with his alignment in this look and tell him that he can play anywhere within 6-12 yards of depth, depending on the down-and-distance, the formation, and the game situation, and so long as he is able to get to his area and execute his responsibility effectively.
Bumping to the 4-3 Under - “Bump Strong”
To get into a 4-3 Under alignment, we make a “Bump Strong” call.
This tells our defensive linemen to “bump” over one shade or gap, to the “strong” side. Our Linebackers align one shade or gap behind the linemen, just the way they would fill in our regular slant scheme. The defensive linemen would move toward the direction of the call while the linebackers would fill in behind them in order to maintain gap integrity. We can run all our blitzes, defensive line games (twists and exchanges) and employ all our coverages from this alignment. We also can drop the Whip back as a strong safety and play a variety of coverages out of this alignment, including cover-2 and cover-4.
Personnel Considerations
Involving the “Whip” Position
(Weakside Outside Linebacker)
The “Whip” can be your absolute best overall athlete on defense. He can be someone who is strong enough to stop the run (to be able to come up and tackle to play the run), someone who is quick enough to rush the quarterback off the edge (especially from that weakside, where he likely will have a l-on-1 match-up or be going against a tight end or running back), someone who is athletic enough to cover a zone or man to the wide side of the field against the spread or against a slot receiver or wingback, and someone who is fast and athletic enough to drop back as a safety in cover-2 and cover-4. This will also be someone who can play man-coverage on a tight end, running back out of the backfield, or a slot receiver. He can also drop to safety and be the robber in robber coverage, or play safety in a bracket coverage (cover-2 + cover-4). He will also be someone who is able to tackle quickly and efficiently in the open field.
Personnel Adjustments
You can change personnel in different situations, in order to put your best players in specific situations on the field in order to maximize their talent and to maximize the effectiveness of your defense.
The “Whip” can be replaced by a defensive end (5-technique), who can be a true pass rusher, can put his hand down or play from a stand-up position, and who can rush the quarterback. He can be a true 5-technique, or he can be an outside rush linebacker (just like in a 3-4 scheme). The Whip can be replaced by your best pure pass rusher in passing situations.
The Multiple Defense Approach:
The Blindfolded Boxer Analogy
Having to play against the multiple defensive scheme is like forcing a boxer to fight with a blindfold on. Imagine stepping in to the ring for a heavyweight fight, and then having to fight your opponent with a blindfold on – or in the dark. You don’t know where to throw your punches, and you don’t know where the other fighter’s punches are going to come from. This allows us to prevent our opponent’s offense from putting their players in positions to be successful, and it gives us the ability to not only defend the opponent, but attack the opponent as well. It enables us to dictate the game from the defensive side of the football.
About the author: Rob Manchester is the Defensive Coordinator at Georgia Military College. He also serves as both defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator for GMC.