3-4 Attack Defense

vs.
Shotgun Spread Offense
Base Defense Against Run and Pass

Jason Bornn
Saugus High School, CA
jbornn@hartdistrict.org
 Coaching Background
•Graduate of Village Christian H.S. (’89)
•USMC Reserves (’89 to ’95)/L.A. Valley J.C./CSUN
•Began coaching at Village Christian (’90 to ’95)
•John Muir H.S. in Pasadena (’96 to ’00)
•Canyon H.S. (2001)
•Occidental College (2002)
•Saugus H.S. (2003 to present)
General thoughts/ideas/suggestions
to improve your Program
•Film the end zone of your games
•Film your practices and watch with your players
•Make video cut-ups for your players/coaches
Your game, opponents, & practices
•Hire an outside consultant for growth
•Contact/visit colleges who do what you do
•Practice plays from the hash
 3-4 Defense Philosophy
Why do we use this scheme?
•Gets more “athletes” on the field (4 LB’s, 4 DB’s)
•Cover 2 Shell allows us to use multiple coverage’s
•Balanced defensive front vs. multiple offenses
•Easy to identify breakdowns
•Allows for multiple blitzing schemes
•It’s a defense I don’t like to see vs. our offense
Base Front
 Base Alignment “44”

S E N T R
M W
C Strong Left C
$ F/S

Position--- Alignment Key Flow Strong Flow Weak

End 4 Ball to feet of OL Fill Trail & pursue

Nose 0 Ball to feet of OL Trail & pursue Trail & pursue

Tackle 4 Ball to feet of OL Trail & pursue Fill

SAM Split OT & #2 OT to RB path Primary force Cutback
MIKE 30 OG to RB path Fill Cutback
WILL 30 OG to RB path Cutback Fill
RUSH Split OT & #2 OT to RB path Cutback Primary Force

LEFT Corner 8x1 outside #1receiver QB Secondary Force Last Man

Strong Safety 10 x 1 inside #2 receiver OT to QB Fill Alley

Free Safety 10 x 1 inside #2 receiver OT to QB Alley Fill

8 x 1 outside #1
RIGHT Corner QB Last Man Secondary Force
receiver
 Alignments by #
D C B A A B C D

9 8 7 5 4 4i 3 2 1 0str 0 0wk 1 2 3 4i 4 5 7 8 9

Run Support/Pursuit Responsibilities

Primary Force, Fill, Trail & Pursue, Cutback, Secondary Force, Alley, Last Man

S E Fill N Trail & Pursue

T R
Force
Cutback
M W Last Man
C Fill Cutback
C

Secondary Force $ F/S

Fill Alley
 Gap Responsibility Slant Strong
Strong Left

S E N T R
C M W C
$ F/S

Position Strong Gap Responsibility Weak Gap Responsibility

Sam Primary Force/Fold to B Back side C
End Play side C Back side B
Nose- Play side A Back side A
Tackle Back side B Play side C
Rush Back side C Primary Force/Fold to B
Mike Play side B Back side A
Will Back side A Play side B
Strong Safety Fit Support -
Free Safety - Fit Support
 Gap Responsibility Slant Weak
Strong Left Weak

S E N T R
C M W C
$ F/S

Position Shark Gap Responsibility Whale Gap Responsibility

Sam Primary Force/Fold to B Back side C
End Play side C Back side B
Nose- Play side A Back side A
Tackle Back side B Play side C
Rush Back side C Primary Force/Fold to B
Mike Play side B Backside A
Will Back side A Play side B
Strong Safety Fit Support -
Free Safety - Fit Support
 DL Slants
Strong
Strong Left

E N T

Weak

E N T
Inc

E N T

Orc

E N T
Strong Rail Weak Rail

E N T E N T
Pass Coverage
 Cover 4 vs. Dubs Quick Set

S R
M W
C C
2 1 1 2

$ FS

•OLB - Once quick set is read, flatten to # 1

•ILB – Open to side, read quick set, flatten to # 2

•CB - Play over throw on slant by # 1 – React back to out by # 2

•$/FS - Slant/Pop by # 2 to slant by # 1-Read QB’s intentions
 Cover 4 vs. Dubs Deep Set - Linebackers

S R
M W
C C
$ F/S

•OLB – Wall #2 & get in a trail position (come off on #1 coming in, “showing #’s”)
•If #2 goes out or in at -5 yds. = drop to curl
•If #2 tries to come in at 10-12 yds. = wall off and make him go around; level off at 12 yds
•If #2 breaks out at 10-12 yds. = break underneath into passing lane
•If #2 goes vertical = level off at 12 yds. Look to help on dig from #1 or crossing pattern from other
side
•ILB – Open to side, help with inside routes
•RB goes out = go with him
•QB breaks contain = go get him
 Cover 4 vs. Dubs Deep Set - Secondary

S R
M W
C C
$ F/S

•CB’s – Play on top of #1

•If #1 hitches under 10 yds. = sink to the hole to play corner route (react to palm off of QB)
•If #1 runs a 10+ hitch or out = jump it right now
•If #1 pushes to 10+ yds. (i.e.. fly, post, dig) = lock on
•SAFETIES – Play on top of #2
•If #2 goes in or out under 10 yds. = rob the curl under #1
•If #2 pushes to 10+ yds. (i.e.. fly, post, corner, dig, out) = lock on
 Slant Strong Cover 4 vs. Dubs

S E N T R
M W
C C
$ F/S

Slant Strong Max Cover 4 vs. Dubs

S E N T R
M W
C C
$ F/S
 Cover 4 vs. Trips

S R
M W
C
C
$ F/S

Play side CB – Strong Safety - SAM

•These three players all play Cover 4 rules on the #1 and #2 receivers, just like in Dubs
•The only exception is SAM who cover any out by #3
 Cover 4 vs. Trips

S R
M W
C
C
$ F/S

MIKE and WILL

•M – drop to #3; if he goes vertical, level off at 12 yds.; if he comes in collision him
•If #3 goes out = continue on to #2
•W – combo the RB to #3 with M
•If RB goes out crossing #3 = M comes off #3 to RB and W goes to #3
•If RUSH is coming for a 4-man rush = drop under #1 to weak side
 Cover 4 vs. Trips

S R
M W
C
C
$ F/S

Backside CB, RUSH and FS

•Backside C – plays Cover 4 rules on top of #1 (basically, he is in man to man)
•RUSH – Drop underneath #1
•F/S – play over play side OG and Cover 4 rules on #3
•If #3 disappears in or out under 10 yds. = look to help on backside post or dig
•If #3 pushes to 10+ yds. = lock on him man to man
 Slant Strong Cover 4 vs. Trips

S E N T R
M W
C
C
$ F/S

Slant Strong Max Cover 4 vs. Trips

S E N T R
M W
C
C
$ F/S
Run Fits
Shotgun Run Plays: Inside Zone

S E N T R

M W

$ F/S
Shotgun Run Plays: Midline

S E N T R

M W

$ F/S
Shotgun Run Plays: Stretch

S E N T R

M W

$ F/S
Shotgun Run Plays: Speed Option

S E N T R

M W

$ F/S
Shotgun Run Plays: Tackle Wrap

S E N T R

M W

$ F/S
Shotgun Run Plays: Counter

S E N T R

M W

$ F/S
ROLL FILM