3-4-1 DEFENSE

The 3-4-1 is the defense of choice if your team has great speed. It is a defense that can look like any
defense depending on the blitz package.
BASE FORMATION

O
O
OL

O
O
X
N

IL

IL

OL

S
DT-1)Shoot the gap between the end and gaurd.
2)Play dive man on options
NG-1)Jack up center and get to ball
2)Keep center from blocking linebackers.
IL-1)Key backs. Play run then pass.
2)Play QB on option to his side.
3)Play dive man on options to other side.
OL-1)Play contain.
2)Take pitch manon option to his side.
3)Key is end. Play end man to man.
S- 1)Cover tight end on side of wide reciver.
2)On running plays swarm to ball.
3)On pass plays drop back and support on long pass coverage.

3-2-3 INVERT DEFENSE

This is my defense. It is a 3-4-1 defense with a invert on the safety. I monster the safety in two back
situations. This defense is for teams that need extra pass coverage or lack talent in the defensive
backfield.
Base Formation

O
O
O

O
N

O
X O
E
S

O
C

F
SDE-1)Lines up heads up on tight end.
2)Responsible for jacking up tight end before release and must close "b"
gap if threatend.
3)If the play is outside then he must contain from yhe outside in.
4)Key is QB on option
WDE-1)Lines up on outside shoulder of offensive gaurd or heads up on offensive
end.
2)Plays just like SDE in two tight end formations.
3)If the WDE lines up on outside shoulder of offensive gaurd, he must
first take step toward gaurd to close the "a" gap then release into
the backfield and contain.
4)Key is QB onoption
NOSE-1)Lines up either "a" gaps and strikes the center jacking him up
then getting to ball.
2)If the offense lines up wiyh two tight ends then the nose lines up
heads up on center.
WLB-1)Lines up 4 yards in front of offensive gaurd.(behind end if safety
is monster)
2)Must read gaurd
3)Key is backs
SLB-1)Lines up 4 yards in front of offensive gaurd.(behind end if safety
is monster)

2)Must read gaurd

3)Key is backs. (picks up tight end in one back situations)
DBS-1)Responsible for outside recivers
2)Line up 7-10 yards from recivers or tight ends.
3)Take pitch man on option.
SAFETY-1)Lines up 5-10 yards from line of scrimage. Lines up infront
of offensive gaurd on strong side or in front of center on balanced
line.
2)In two back situations will line up 5 yards from line of scrimage
and at snap will drop 2 yards. Plays pass then run.
3)In one back situations will line up 10 yards deep in front of
offensive gaurd, at snap drops 2 yards. Plays pass then run.
4)Must read the play.
NOTESCovers include:
COVER-1 SAFETY:safety takes TE.
COVER-1 STRONG:strong linebacker covers TE and safety is free.
COVER-1 STRONG DE SDE covers TE and safety and corner are free
specialy for blitz.

Other Formations

3-2-3 vs 1WR/1TE/2backs

O
C

O
O
O
O
N

E
W

X
S

O
C

3-2-3 vs. 2TE/2Backs

O
E
C

O
S

O
O
O
X
N

O
W

O
E

3-4-1 Stunts and Blitzes

We do not blitz very often and do not have a complicated blitzing system.
When we run the 3-4, we have an inside unit and two outside units. Our inside
unit is our two middle linebackers and our noseguard. Wue use 4 stunts with
this unit Dog (left or right), Slant (left or right), Scrape (left or right) and cross.

Dog-We are going to shoot the gap to the left or right with the middle
linebacker and noseguard to the side the blitz is called. The linebacker
away from the blitz will read the guard and look for cutback.
Slant-The linebacker and the noseguard are going to shoot the gap to the
side the blitz is called
Scrape-The linebacker and noseguard to the side of the blitz call will
trade responsibilities. Offside linebacker will read the guard and play
normal.
Cross-Noseguard plays normal and the middle linebackers trade
responsibilities.

Our two outside units are our defensive end and corner to each side.
In our normal alignment our corners have contain and our defensive
ends head up responsibilities. We stress to the corners that they
can let the offence know they are blitzing. We have two stunts for
these units Dog (left or right) and C-GO (left or right).

Dog-The corner and the end change responsibilities and we will go

into a man to man coverage on pass.
C-Go-The corner will take an outside rush and the end will shoot the
gap. Man to man coverage on pass

4-2-2 Stunts and Blitzes

I believe in "shoot and redirect". I also believe that a defensive line man will
always take on half of the man never the whole man.
Here are my terms for the 4-2

FIST IN= Both defensive tackles in "a" gap(have "a" gap responsibility).

FIST OUT= Both defensive tackles in "b" gap(have "b" gap responsibility).

HEAD UP= Both defensive tackles head up with offensive gaurds.

FLEX= Both tackles in "b" gaps, at snap push both offensive gaurds into
center and die in the hole( the idea is to shut down the "a"gaps).

LION= Tackles head up and shoot left gap, LB have right gap.

RAM= Tackles head up and shoot right gap, LB have left gap.

FOX= DE shoot "b" gap, DT has outside containment.

KNIFE= DE shoot outside to QB.

SLAM= DE stand up OE and stop him from going out for pass.