Georgia Military College’s 3-5-3 Defensive Package
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Georgia Military College’s, 3-5-3 defensive package, is
an extremely easy package to implement on any level. We as a defensive
staff, feel that this package gives us the greatest advantage of
being successful against our opponent’s offense. While running
the 3-5-3 defense, GMC is continually one of the statistical leaders
in the NJCAA in total defense, run defense, and pass defense. Since
the implementation of the 3-5-3 defense during the 2001 season,
GMC has lead the nation in total defense twice, third once, won
the NJCAA National Championship in 2001, and finished runner up
in 2002. We are firm believers that the 3-5-3 defensive system
works. Throughout the following text I will explore how our 3-5-3
defensive coverages are executed.
At GMC we are very fortunate to have great athletes. In order to run the 3-5-3
defensive package you have to have the personnel to execute the defenses that
are called. The key to executing this defense is to have the Corners, Safeties,
and Dogs that can play man coverage. Because of our defensive calls, our coverage
package requires us to play man coverage about 95% of the time. The other five
percent of the time we are playing either a three deep zone or zero coverage.
Our defensive package is one that consists of applying constant pressure to our
opponent’s offense. With our blitz package, we have several options in
regards to how many people we can blitz. We will blitz between four to six individuals
per call. Depending on who is blitzing will determine what coverage we will execute.
As stated, we are a man coverage defense. We will always have a player covering
the #1, #2, and #3 receivers. Our coverage package consists of a number and color
coding system that alerts our players as to who is blitzing and who is covering
the offense’s receivers. For example, Green (zero) coverage, alerts our
players that all three middle linebackers are blitzing. Green also alerts our
players that the Corners have the #1 receivers, the Dogs the #2 receivers, the
Free Safety the #3 receiver, etc. GMC’s 3-5-3 defense only has five different
coverages, but our system allows us to blitz from all types of angles and areas.
The five different coverages that we run are 1, 3, Green, Blue, and Red. All
five of these coverages alert us as to who is blitzing. In the following diagrams,
I will give an example of each of our blitzes and the coverage that goes with
them.
Cover 1: Five man pressure, man free concept with the Free Safety, and it alerts
the two inside linebackers to blitz. (See Diagram 1.)
Diagram 1. Cover 1
Diagram 2. Cover 3
Diagram 3. Cover Green
Diagram 4. Cover Blue
Diagram 5. Cover Red
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Corner: Both have the #1 receivers
Dog: Both have the #2 receivers
Free Safety: Man free helping the Dog to the split #2 receiver
side
Bat Strong: Has the back, #3 receiver
Bat Weak: Blitz “B” gap weak
Mike: Blitz “A” gap weak
Cover 3: Five man pressure, fire zone concept, and it alerts the
players that the two inside linebackers are blitzing with 3 deep
coverage behind it. (See
Diagram 2.)
Corner: Both have deep outside 1/3
Dog: Both have the curl to flat to their side
Free Safety: Has the deep middle 1/3, but will shade to the split #2 receiver
side to help the dog if necessary
Bat Strong: Blitz “B” gap strong
Bat Weak: Has the middle hook area
Mike: Blitz “A” gap strong
Cover Green: Six man pressure, zero coverage, and it alerts the players that
all three middle linebackers are blitzing. (See Diagram 3.)
Corner: Both have the #1 receivers
Dog: Both have the #2 receivers
Free Safety: Has the back, #3 receiver
Bat Strong: Blitz “B” gap strong
Bat Weak: Blitz “B” gap weak
Mike: Blitz “A” gap weak
Cover Blue: Five man pressure, and it alerts the players that the two Dogs are
blitzing. (See Diagram 4.)
Corner: Both have the #1 receivers
Dog: Both are contain blitzers
Free Safety: Has the #2 receiver to the strong side of the formation
Bat Strong: Has first threat, or the #3 receiver to his side
Bat Weak: Has first threat, or the #2 receiver to his side
Mike: Watch for leakage in “A” gap weak, and then become a low hole
player
Cover Red: Five man pressure, and it alerts the players that the Dog and Bat
to the called side will blitz. (See Diagram 5.)
Corner: Both have the #1 receivers
Dog: The Dog to the blitz side blitzes, and the Dog away has the #2 receiver
man
Free Safety: Has the #2 receiver to the blitz side
Bat: The Bat to the blitz side blitzes, and the Bat away has the #3 receiver
man
Mike: Watch for leakage in “A” gap strong, and then become a low
hole player
In conclusion, our 3-5-3 defensive package allows us to have a pre-snap alignment
that looks the same to our opponent’s quarterback every time he comes to
the line of scrimmage. This consistent, pre-snap look enables us to bring pressure
from many various angles. In turn, we have five different players that can blitz
at any time using several different combinations. These combinations present
our opponent’s offense with an element of surprise as to which one of our
players is blitzing. I believe that the 3-5-3 defense is a highly effective defense
given the fact that it causes problems and mismatches for our opponents. Also,
I believe the way the coverage package is organized makes the defense even easier
to learn and execute. With our color and numbering scheme, it leaves no room
for error in relation to who has the #1, #2, and #3 receivers. Lastly, if you
have the athletes that can play man coverage on a play-by-play basis, this defense
can be extremely effective. I hope that this article has given you an insight
as to how we execute our coverage package at GMC. I would like to thank American
Football Monthly for giving me the opportunity to write this article and give
you some insight into our program and its defense.
About the author
Rob Manchester
This fall Rob Manchester enters his second year as defensive backs coach at
Georgia Military College. Over the last three years, GMC has lead the nation
in defense twice. He received both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s
Degree from the University of Kentucky. You can reach him at rmchester00@yahoo.com