Hey Everyone, I just wanted to attach a couple interesting videos here from the Coordinator Project youtube. It is a great channel with a lot of really great and interesting videos. I wanted to drop these specific 3-3-5 videos to watch, just because of the on-going discussion we have had this season on our fronts.
I see a lot of frustration any time OU has 3 DL on the field and I see a lot of discussion about not being able to stop the run/get a pass rush, or that we do not have the personnel to be able to run this defense, specifically on the Defensive Line. However, we learn in the first video, the original strategy around this defense was basically when you didn't have the necessary talent/size/depth along the defensive line. The 3-3-5 was designed to be able to play a kind of modified bear front, but instead of playing it with monster space eaters up front, you're playing it with smaller/faster players and you're using competitive/defensive depth. In other words, coaches would determine that they do not have the necessary size/talent/depth on the defensive line, so instead of running out an additional mediocre big guy, let's replace them with another small fast guy and let's make the large OL have to chase/catch them. Also, with an extra fast guy on the field, not only are you in a better position to defend the pass, but also your LB's and DB's can be a little more aggressive committing to their run fits, because there's an extra fast guy on the field to help/protect them against the pass.
Moral of the story is we just shouldn't freak out every time we have only 3 DL on the field. It doesn't inherently make your run defense or pass rush worse. I also don't think the 'we don't have the personnel to do that' argument is very valid, when you dig into the origins and even the current application of the strategy. A LB or a DB has less of a chance to blow up an OL than a DL does, but they have a better chance of getting underneath or around a blocker. There's all kinds of pluses/minuses/give/take/strengths/weaknesses in any defensive personnel/alignment/play.
3-3-5 Origins and Current Syracuse Defense.
Iowa State's (John Heacock) 3-3-5
I see a lot of frustration any time OU has 3 DL on the field and I see a lot of discussion about not being able to stop the run/get a pass rush, or that we do not have the personnel to be able to run this defense, specifically on the Defensive Line. However, we learn in the first video, the original strategy around this defense was basically when you didn't have the necessary talent/size/depth along the defensive line. The 3-3-5 was designed to be able to play a kind of modified bear front, but instead of playing it with monster space eaters up front, you're playing it with smaller/faster players and you're using competitive/defensive depth. In other words, coaches would determine that they do not have the necessary size/talent/depth on the defensive line, so instead of running out an additional mediocre big guy, let's replace them with another small fast guy and let's make the large OL have to chase/catch them. Also, with an extra fast guy on the field, not only are you in a better position to defend the pass, but also your LB's and DB's can be a little more aggressive committing to their run fits, because there's an extra fast guy on the field to help/protect them against the pass.
Moral of the story is we just shouldn't freak out every time we have only 3 DL on the field. It doesn't inherently make your run defense or pass rush worse. I also don't think the 'we don't have the personnel to do that' argument is very valid, when you dig into the origins and even the current application of the strategy. A LB or a DB has less of a chance to blow up an OL than a DL does, but they have a better chance of getting underneath or around a blocker. There's all kinds of pluses/minuses/give/take/strengths/weaknesses in any defensive personnel/alignment/play.
3-3-5 Origins and Current Syracuse Defense.
Iowa State's (John Heacock) 3-3-5
