Hawaii's 3-4 Slide Flex

by: Don Lindsey
Asst. Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, University of Hawaii
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I am not one to believe that schemes or alignments, in and of themselves, win games. They are tools with which, after thorough and concise evaluation of talent, we fit personnel into. And the players, if competitors, can best utilize their talents in to make plays.

We want to make full use of their strengths and, at the same time, have a means whereby we can cover for their weaknesses. We do not want that possible "weak link" to become an excuse for not being productive as a unit.

Placing eight players on or near the line of scrimmage for the purposes of defending the run has become necessary at the college level. There are not enough defensive linemen who can "two-gap" as it is. Throw in varied offensive developments and the cut-back abilities prevalent in today's running backs, and you have a need for each gap in the defense to have a defender.

We feel our talent lends itself to the use of the 3-4 defensive alignment. The flexibility four standup players, with greater mobility and vision, afford give us multiple opportunities for adjustment in the front seven and a constant change in ratio of rush/cover personnel. We operate from the extremes of having the ability to drop eight defenders into a myriad of coverages as well present multiple combinations of rushes from four, five or six different people.

Our stunt or rush package includes each defender with various schemes. Our maximum blitz allows us to not have to change or substitute from our pressure packages. We can drop either safety into slots that may have been vacated by a stunting linebacker or one who has adjusted to a backfield set. Let's take a look at our base setup (see Diagram 1).

Diagram 1.

Our defensive linemen (E, N, T) align in a "mirror" or nose-on-nose alignment. We feel we have obvious advantages in this position. We also utilize shade and gap.

Inside linebackers (B, M) align in a "mirror" or nose alignment 3 to 4.5 yards from the line of scrimmage.

Outside linebackers (S, A) align in a "foot" or wide-nine. This is to insure containment, quicker access to penetration and our desire to concentrate our eyes on the: ball, line keys, and quarterback or backs. From this position, we can also "feel" the tight end.

Defensive backs (C, F, R, C) align, pre-snap, in a four-across or "blitz" disguise, usually 8-10 yards in depth and to the receiver's inside eye or according to split, etc.
Diagram 2. Diagram 3.

By replacing our inside linebackers (B, M) with our safeties and "pattern-reading" routes, we utilize the "rob" or robber principles (see Diagrams 2, 3 and 4).

Given robber principles, we can turn our inside linebackers "loose" on a multiple variation of stunts and charges to attack the run game, formations, and protections. Utilization of popular zone-blitz schemes and the dropping of active safeties into inside areas of run game and pass schemes is made possible by quick and active outside linebackers - two of our better athletes on the team.

Diagram 4.

A successful front we utilized some last year was our "slide-flex" in which we could adjust our 3-4 to compensate for size, and hopefully "outnumber" the opponent at the point of attack versus an inside run game. We want to "stem" or move late into this front or show it early hoping to get a checkoff and then move into a more base or conventional look (see Diagrams 5 and 6).
Diagram 5. Diagram 6.

Base Responsbilities of the Slide-Flex

F/T: Align inside foot on outside foot of the offensive tackle. Step on the snap to a 7-technique with the outside foot. We must not be hooked. We must be prepared to "cross-face" the down block of the tight end. Our responsibility includes delayed contain pass, rush, reverse, bootleg, etc.

Nose: Align in a shade or tip of the pad (cocked if comfortable) on the center. Attack! Force the cutback deeper in the backfield. As a change up, we will tighten to a shade and have the nose grab the center and prevent entry to the second level or scooping.

B/M: To the called side, or "flexed position." Align on the shade of offensive guard or in B gap two feet-to-two yards from the line of scrimmage. This position wants to be unpredictable. He has no pass coverage responsibility and a free rush inside because there are a slide linebacker and a "dropping" down safety who will fill where needed between the tackles. He is in a two-point stance and can stem around his A-B gap area. He can attack on the snap.

B/M: Away from called side or "slide position." Align in normal depth anywhere from stacked over the nose to off-A gap. He is an inside-out player between the onside-A gap and the backside-B gap. He must stay behind the ball and his responsibility includes normal hook zone on the pass.

S/A: Call side. Align in base. Cannot allow the ball outside. He has pitchman, curl to flat, and he must turn all runs inside.

S/A: Away from the call side. Align the nose on the offensive tackle, four yards deep. We must not allow the offensive tackle to hook or cut us off on a play to our side. Other responsibilities include curl and taking care of the first running threat on the option.

Corners: Both have normal alignments and responsibilities for deep outside one-third. Versus twin formation, we can play half coverage, giving us the flat.

R/F: Base or normal alignment. According to the backfield set, tight end trade, twins, or hashmark, one of the two safeties will drop into the middle area, not to extend past the offensive tackles. It is important to fill "where needed" staying inside-out to the ball. After the ball is snapped and based on the run-pass key, our depth from the line of scrimmage will be determined.
Diagram 7. Diagram 8.

We want to keep our disguise as long as possible. The safeties must remain in constant communication during the shifting, motions, etc. We use both verbal and hand-signal directions. The "drop down" safety pattern reads the No. 2 receiver's release and the opposite safety goes to the middle one-third. Sometimes by game plan we will "drop down" the safety toward flow of the best run key­a back or ball flow­rather than a predetermined safety (see Diagrams 7 and 8).

When our players move after the snap, you can see our alignment merely becomes the conventional eight-man front (see Diagram 9).

Diagram 9.

We will slide our front to create the conventional look (see Diagram 10).

Diagram 10.

It is important to move into and out of this alignment and to have variations and stunts from it. It has been a consistent help to us when facing two-back offenses. With our present personnel, the 3-4 has been a fun defense to shape and utilize because of its flexibility. Active, aggressive linebackers enjoy playing the changing, attacking style its multiplicity allows.

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