The 3-3-5 Defense

[Big R]

There have been so many discussions on the Board over the last several years about the 3-3-5 defense, I thought I’d do a little investigating in order to learn more about it.
There is a lot of detail in these articles, including strengths and weaknesses, with some having additional links to more information and/or videos, so you can go down quite a rabbit hole if you desire. I haven’t done that (yet), but in skimming some of the articles, there seem to be some common threads.
- The 3-3-5 was designed in response to the Spead Offense
- It is a good defense for teams with smaller, faster, athletic players
- it makes it easy to disguise your actual defense until the snap
- A good-sized nose tackle is almost a necessity for it to be most effective

https://throwdeeppublishing.com/blogs/f ... IJfM5UdGLK

https://www.footballtimes.org/blog/3-3-5-defense

https://firstdown.playbooktech.com/coac ... e-football

https://youtu.be/zAnXMzEUZVI?si=xSjNHNPGxSgug4qt

https://theprideofodu.com/blogs/news/fo ... NZ0sjJyrj8

https://dailyorange.com/2020/08/syracus ... explained/

https://grantland.com/features/an-excer ... 5-defense/

https://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-b ... gin_t.html

[72 Hen]

Over the past few years I have been of the opinion that our 3-3-5 defense has been beat by teams that have a good OL. We have not been able to defend the run up the middle and we have not been able to cover long passes. I much rather run a pressure defense rather than a bend but don't break defense.

This is the basis of my opinion.

Tough to Get at the Quarterback - Having only three down linemen frees up more offensive linemen at the snap of the ball to have vision downfield. This allows them to recognize and potentially pick up a blitz or a stunting defender before they have a chance to put pressure on the quarterback.

More Space for Offensive Linemen - A bigger, more athletic offensive line might be able to get off the line of scrimmage better as they’re not faced with an opposing down linemen opposite them at the start of the play.

More Time to Throw - Defensive pressure from a 3-3-5 defense takes longer, as linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks are further from the line of scrimmage and face more free blockers to avoid since there are fewer down linemen at the line of scrimmage.

Basically, the 3-3-5 is a high risk defense. Give me 4 studs on the DL with one being our best pass rusher. Pressure baby! By the way we do have the experienced big boys to form a very good DT rotation.

[HENJOHN]

I like it 72!!

[Section J]

- It is a good defense for teams with smaller, faster, athletic players

- A good-sized nose tackle is almost a necessity for it to be most effective

I think the first bullet here is the controlling variable in the decision to maintain this defence. I would suggest that they are trying to match the defense to the kind of athletes they can successfully recruit—too much competition for the big, strong, fast defensive linemen, who are required for 4-man fronts.

Nichols ate some serious blocks.

[Henny]

I don't see a reason why we can't have some packages that have four down linemen. A big reason for the 3-3-5 was the 63 ships. Now we have 22 more and I'd allocate a few more to DL and go with a "multiple" D.

[Big R]

I don't see a reason why we can't have some packages that have four down linemen. A big reason for the 3-3-5 was the 63 ships. Now we have 22 more and I'd allocate a few more to DL and go with a "multiple" D.

Ii believe we did this at times last year.

[72 Hen]

I didn't have a seat in the stadium. I had to watch on Flo Sports. I seem to remember we would go to a four man front when offenses were running through our 3 man DL. I think the fourth D Lineman was often a LB that moved up and not a true DE. Hard to tell on the Flo link. However, I think the 3-3-5 was our base and much of the time we just shifted positions with guys that were on the field in our base.

Guys, I don't want to argue. I just gave my opinion. I think Rojas is a good coach. I just don't care for his base defense. I like pressure on the QB and forcing mistakes, rather than trying to cover multiple WR's and giving up easy rushing yards.

I am also of the opinion that if we played a 4 man front it would be easier to recruit DL players.

[Chicken of War]

Vulnerability to the seam routes didn't hurt us terribly this past year, but tightend seam routes killed us two years ago.

[BlueHenBill]

I didn't have a seat in the stadium. I had to watch on Flo Sports. I seem to remember we would go to a four man front when offenses were running through our 3 man DL. I think the fourth D Lineman was often a LB that moved up and not a true DE. Hard to tell on the Flo link. However, I think the 3-3-5 was our base and much of the time we just shifted positions with guys that were on the field in our base.

Guys, I don't want to argue. I just gave my opinion. I think Rojas is a good coach. I just don't care for his base defense. I like pressure on the QB and forcing mistakes, rather than trying to cover multiple WR's and giving up easy rushing yards.

I am also of the opinion that if we played a 4 man front it would be easier to recruit DL players.

+1