1. Applying Pressure from the 3-3Applying Pressure from the 3-3
JOHN RICEJOHN RICE
HEAD COACHHEAD COACH
J.W. NORTH HIGH SCHOOLJ.W. NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
RIVERSIDE, CARIVERSIDE, CA
(951) 537-7697(951) 537-7697
jrice@rusd.k12.ca.usjrice@rusd.k12.ca.us

2. • To attack a weakness in protection scheme or personnelTo attack a weakness in protection scheme or personnel
Why Pressure?Why Pressure?
• To break a defensive tendency (as a change up)To break a defensive tendency (as a change up)
• To force a short throw (sight adjustment) in aTo force a short throw (sight adjustment) in a
third and long situationthird and long situation
• To augment your normal pass rush numbersTo augment your normal pass rush numbers
• To create a big play and change momentumTo create a big play and change momentum
• To attack an offensive tendencyTo attack an offensive tendency

3. Principles for Applying PressurePrinciples for Applying Pressure
• Use more than one disguise per blitzUse more than one disguise per blitz
• Know the protection scheme you are attackingKnow the protection scheme you are attacking
• Know the opponentKnow the opponent’’s hot reads and sight adjustmentss hot reads and sight adjustments
(may be able to force a certain throw favorable to you)(may be able to force a certain throw favorable to you)
• Ensure your defense is gap soundEnsure your defense is gap sound
• Assign proper run forceAssign proper run force
• In man schemes, every potential receiver is accounted forIn man schemes, every potential receiver is accounted for
• DonDon’’t allow offense to create a mismatcht allow offense to create a mismatch
• Create mismatches that favor the defense-attack weaknessCreate mismatches that favor the defense-attack weakness
• Disguise your intentions if at all possibleDisguise your intentions if at all possible

4. Principles for MaximizingPrinciples for Maximizing
Effectiveness of Pressure SchemeEffectiveness of Pressure Scheme
• Pressure Calls MUST be scripted.Pressure Calls MUST be scripted.
• Blitz Period /7 on 7/TeamBlitz Period /7 on 7/Team
– Practice the four looks (show, half, time, depth)Practice the four looks (show, half, time, depth)
– Show unusual formations/motionShow unusual formations/motion
– Force checks to prevent unfavorable situationsForce checks to prevent unfavorable situations
– Emphasize blitzing defenders redirect to the ball ifEmphasize blitzing defenders redirect to the ball if
play is a runplay is a run

5. 3 Shell Pressure3 Shell Pressure
• All pressure in this category will give a Cover 3
Look or a 1 Free Look
E EN
L M R
B
C
C
S
F

6. 4 man pressure4 man pressure
• Blitzer goingBlitzer going
through histhrough his
normal gapnormal gap
ofof
responsibilityresponsibility
DD CC CCBBAA AABB
•Blitzer going through hisBlitzer going through his
normal gap of responsibilitynormal gap of responsibility

7. 4 man pressure4 man pressure
• Usually with Cover 3Usually with Cover 3
• Example:Example:
• ““3 Ram3 Ram”” oror ““3 Lion3 Lion””
• ““3 Spur3 Spur”” oror ““3 Bandit3 Bandit””
• ““3 Torpedo3 Torpedo”” oror ““33 AnchorAnchor””

8. 4 man pressure4 man pressure
• ““Coverage-BlitzCoverage-Blitz””
• Examples:Examples:
–““3 Ram3 Ram”” (cover 3 with Ram going)(cover 3 with Ram going)
–““3 Lion3 Lion”” (cover 3 with Lion going)(cover 3 with Lion going)
–““3 Spur3 Spur”” (cover 3 with Spur going)(cover 3 with Spur going)
–““3 Torpedo3 Torpedo”” (cover 3 with Ram going(cover 3 with Ram going
C gap, End pinching to B gap)C gap, End pinching to B gap)
–““3 Mike Left3 Mike Left”” (cover 3, line slanting(cover 3, line slanting
left, Ram going C gap)left, Ram going C gap)

9. 4 man pressure4 man pressure
We Blitz from 4 positionsWe Blitz from 4 positions
Depth (ex: 3 Ram)Depth (ex: 3 Ram)
2 yards (ex: 3 Ram2 yards (ex: 3 Ram halfhalf))
LOS (ex: 3 RamLOS (ex: 3 Ram showshow))
Time (ex: 3 RamTime (ex: 3 Ram timetime))

10. 3 Torpedo3 Torpedo

11. 3 Anchor3 Anchor

12. 3 Linda3 Linda

13. 3 Rita3 Rita

14. 3 Spur3 Spur

15. 3 Bandit3 Bandit

16. 5 man pressure5 man pressure
• ““Coverage-BlitzCoverage-Blitz””
• Examples:Examples:
– ““3 Ox Show3 Ox Show”” (cover 3 with Mike & Ram going)(cover 3 with Mike & Ram going)
– ““3 Tiger Half3 Tiger Half”” (cover 3 Mike and Ram going)(cover 3 Mike and Ram going)
– ““0 Sting Time0 Sting Time”” (cover 0 with Spur and Bandit(cover 0 with Spur and Bandit
going)going)
– ““0 Smoke Show0 Smoke Show”” (cover 0, line slanting weak,(cover 0, line slanting weak,
Spur, Ram going outside End)Spur, Ram going outside End)

17. 3 OX3 OX

18. 3 Tiger3 Tiger

19. 0 Smoke0 Smoke

20. 0 Torch0 Torch

21. 3 Jacks Red3 Jacks Red

22. 3 Jacks Red3 Jacks Red

23. 5 man pressure5 man pressure
from Dimefrom Dime

24. Dime 1Free Rules:
E EN
$ M R
B
CC S
F Deep Middle
Hole
Dime ($) in for Lion; will align according to blitz called. Man up with #3 in empty
We are playing man coverage with Spur and Bandit on #2’s (over vs. trips)
We will always send at least 1 linebacker; the other will be a hole defender.
If we send both inside backers, Dime will be hole defender unless covering #3 in empty.
Free Safety is playing deep middle. We can also use him to bracket a receiver & play 0.
Hole defender will abandon responsibility if R releases. In that case, man up on R.

25. Dime Crossfire Cover 1Free
E EN
$
M R
B
CC
S
F
Hole
Deep Middle

26. Dime “Mable” Cover 1 Free
E EN
$
M R
B
C
C S
F
Deep Middle
Hole

27. Dime “ Mable Switch” Cover 1 Free
E EN
$
M R
B
C
C S
F
Deep Middle
Hole

28. Dime “Spice” Cover 1 Free
E EN
$
M R B
C
C
S
F
Deep Middle
Hole

29. Dime “Sugar” Cover 1 Free
E EN
$
M R
B
C
C
S
F
Deep Middle
Hole

30. Dime Axe Cover 1Free
E EN
$
M R
B
CC S
F
Nose slants to field (blitz)
To field
Deep Middle
Hole

31. 6 Man Pressure
from Base Front

32. 6 Man Pressure from Base Front6 Man Pressure from Base Front
• ““Coverage-BlitzCoverage-Blitz””
• Examples:Examples:
– ““ 0 Zoo Time0 Zoo Time”” (cover 0 with Lion Mike,Ram(cover 0 with Lion Mike,Ram
going)going)
– ““3 Zoo3 Zoo”” (cover 3 Lion,Mike and Ram going)(cover 3 Lion,Mike and Ram going)
– ““0 Tiger Bandit half0 Tiger Bandit half”” (cover 0 with Lion, Mike &(cover 0 with Lion, Mike &
Bandit going)Bandit going)
– ““0 Ox Spur0 Ox Spur”” (cover 0, line slanting weak, Spur,(cover 0, line slanting weak, Spur,
Ram going outside End)Ram going outside End)

33. C
N EE
ML
R
B
C
F
“0” Shamrock Fire
Or (Nose 2 Middle Fire)
S
#2 your side
#2 your side
#3 to either side

34. Zoo

35. Zoo Right, Zoo Weak

37. 7 Man Pressure7 Man Pressure

38. 3-3 Fire Zone Pressure
E EN
L M R
B
C
C
S
F
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Cover 33 Rules:
We are sending 5 (3 linemen and usually 2 linebackers)
The remaining linebacker is a hole defender
We will cover both seams, not allow vertical releases by #2’s
Cover 33: 3 deep, 3 under, rush 5
hole

39. Thunder Cover 33
E EN
L M R
B
C
C
S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Field
Hole
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat

40. Hurricane Cover 33
E EN
L M R
B
C
C
S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Field
HoleSeam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat

41. Lamb Cover 33
E EN
L M R B C
C S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

42. Rambo Cover 33
E EN
L M R B C
C S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flatHole

43. Rex Cover 33
E EN
L M
R
B C
C S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flatHole

44. Lex Cover 33
E ENL
M R B C
C S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

45. Laser Cover 33
E EN
L M R B C
C S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

46. Male Cover 33
E EN
L M R B C
C S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flatHole

47. Mare Cover 33
E EN
L M R B C
C S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat
Hole

48. More Pressure
from Dime

49. Dime Field Slam

50. Dime Lightening

51. Dime Win

52. Dime Nitro

53. Dime Double Plug Robber

54. Dime Tornado

55. 3-2-6 Dime Zone Blitz

56. E EN
L M
BS
CC $ F
1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
Dime 4 Idaho

57. E EN
L M
BS
CC $ F
1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
Dime 4 “Oregon”

58. 3-2-6 Dime Man Pressure from 2 Shell Look
E EN
BM R$
C
C
S F
Spur and FS are adjusters for blitzing Spur and/or Bandit

59. Dime “Boa” Cover 0
E EN
M R C
C
S F
B$

60. Dime “Python” Cover 0
E EN
M R C
C
S F
B
$

61. Dime “Python Under” Cover 0
E EN
M R
$
C
C
S F
$

62. Appendix
• Sample Blitz Period Script
• Sample Defensive Game Call Sheet
• 3-3 Coaching Resources

63. Sample Blitz Period Script

64. SAMPLE DEFENSIVE GAME CALLSAMPLE DEFENSIVE GAME CALL
SHEETSHEET

67. 3-3 Coaching Resources
A partial list of coaches who either run the 3-3 now or have experience running it
•Joe Lee Dunn, Def. Coor. U of Memphis Contact: : 901-678-2341
•Charlie Strong, Asst Head Coach, Florida Contact: 352-375-4683 x4100
•Todd Graham, Head Coach, Rice University Contact: 713 348-6900
•Bronco Mendenhall, Head Coach, BYU Contact: 801-422-2916
•Dean Campbell, DB Coach, Air Force Contact: Dean.Campbell.ctr@usafa.af.mil
•Rocky Long, Head Coach, New Mexico Contact: 505-925-5700
•Vic Shealy, Defensive Coordinator, UNLV Contact: vic.shealy@unlv.edu
•Jeff Casteel, Defensive Coordinator, WVU Contact: (304) 293-5621
•Dave Doeren, Defensive Coordinator, Kansas Contact: ddoeren@ku.edu
•Taylor Burks, Def. Coor, Georgia Military Contact: (478) 445-2690
•Richard Bell, Def.Coor., Air Force Academy Contact: Richard.Bell.ctr@usafa.af.mil
•Brad Lambert, Linebacker Coach, Wake Forest Contact: lamberbl@wfu.edu
•Ron Roberts, Def. Coor., Delta State U (MS) Contact: rroberts@deltastate.edu
•Paul Golla, Head Coach, Bakersfield HS, Bakersfield, CA Contact (661) 324-9841
•John Rice, Def Coor.,Canyon Springs HS, Moreno Valley CA Contact: zacoach102@aol.com
•Jerry Campbell, HC, Victoria Memorial HS, Victoria, Texas jerry.campbell@visd.com.
•George Contreras, Def Coor, Rio Mesa HS, Oxnard, CA gcontre@ouhsd.k12.ca.us

68. 3-3 Media Resources
Series of eight videos
By Georgia Military staff
http://www.championship
productions.com/
DVD by Jeff Casteel,
WVU
http://www.championshipp
roductions.com/
DVDs by Vic Shealy, formerly of Air
Force Academy
http://www.championshipproductions.com/
Video by Buck
Roggeman (Pacific
Grove High School
(CA)
coacheschoice.com
All seven John Rice 3-3 defense video
programs on one DVD. Includes 3-3 Defense:
Understanding the Basics, 3-3 Defense:
Applying Pressure, 3-3 Defense vs. The I
formation, 3-3 Defense vs. Spread
Formations, 3-3 Defense vs. Empty
Formation 3-3 Defense vs. Two-tight End
Formations, and 3-3 Defense vs. Defending
Special Formations and Plays.
Also available individually on VHS
www.coacheschoice.com
30-Stack videos by Todd
Graham, Head Coach,
Rice University (formerly
of Tulsa). Call (918) 595-
7945 ASK FOR PENNY
GRAHAM.

69. Websites books, & articles about or with content dealing with the 3-3 defense
Coaching Football’s 3-3-5 Defense
By Leo Hand and Rick Molina
101 3-5 Stunts
By Leo Hand
http://www.coacheschoice.com
Manual by Jerry
Campbell
http://www.jcfb.com/
Articles online:
Georgia Military College’s Devastating 3-5 Defense
By Bert Williams, Head Football Coach
http://www.americanfootballmonthly.com/Arena/NS_Magazine/Current/GMC.html
SHARKS IN THE WATER
COACHING LINEBACKERS TO ATTACK IN THE 3-3 DEFENSE
By Ron Roberts
http://americanfootballmonthly.com/Subaccess/Magazine/2005/mar/delta.html
Command of the Line
Georgia Military College’s Applications of the
3-5-3 Defense By Taylor Burks Defensive Coordinator, Georgia Military
College http://americanfootballmonthly.com
Coaching Nickel & Dime Defenses
Defending the Spread Offense
*Both have sections on the 3-3 defense
Books by John Rice
http://www.coacheschoice.com
30 Stack Forum (Coach Jerry Campbell Website)
www.jcfb.com
MULTIPLE 3-3-5 DEFENSE
...HARDING UNIVERSITY STYLE
By Ronnie Huckeba,
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive line, Harding University
http://americanfootballmonthly.com/Subacces
s/Magazine/2004/feb/multiple_335_defense.h
tml