3-4 Defense

Loads six down linemen and two backers to stuff runs inside the five.

Key: Linemen fire low into every gap while backers scrape over the top to plug cutbacks.

Drops extra defenders deep to prevent a big play at the end of a half.

Key: Rush three, drop everyone into deep zones, and keep all receivers in front of the deepest defender.

Uses the Bear front with backers crowding the line on third-and-short.

Key: All interior gaps are covered and backers press the line to win the initial surge low and hard.

Standard 3-4 alignment with a nose over center and two ends in 5-techniques plus four linebackers.

Key: Nose two-gaps the A-gaps, ends control the B/C gaps, and inside backers fill the open A-gaps.

Shifts the line to the weak side so the nose slides to a shade and the strong end widens.

Key: Weak-side nose plays a 1-technique shade while the strong end anchors the C-gap outside the tight end.

Shifts the line strength toward the tight end to load the strong side gaps.

Key: Strong end moves to a 3-technique B-gap while the nose shades away from strength.

Puts both ends in 4i inside shades to squeeze the tackles and free the linebackers.

Key: Ends play the B-gaps head-up inside the tackle so inside backers scrape clean to the ball.

Covers both guards and the center to jam every interior gap on short yardage.

Key: Nose on the center with ends in 3-techniques covers all three interior linemen for a goal-line push.

Rotates a linebacker down to the line to create a five-man front against heavy sets.

Key: The strong inside backer walks up into the strong B-gap to add a run defender to the box.

Sends the strong-side outside backer off the edge over the tight end.

Key: Sam rushes the strong C-gap outside contain while the end squeezes inside him.

Sends the weak-side outside backer off the backside edge.

Key: Will attacks the weak C-gap as the backside contain rusher with the end pinching inside.

Sends an inside backer straight through the strong A-gap.

Key: Mike times the snap and shoots the strong A-gap while the other inside backer covers the middle.

Sends both inside backers through the A-gaps to overload the center.

Key: Both inside backers fire the A-gaps forcing the center to pick one, leaving the other free.

Crosses the two inside backers through opposite A-gaps to confuse interior blockers.

Key: Mike and Will crisscross so each attacks the far A-gap behind the other's fake.

Brings both outside backers on a crossing double-edge pressure.

Key: Outside backers rush contain from each edge while inside backers replace them in coverage.

Sends a defensive back off the slot edge on a corner blitz.

Key: The slot defender times the snap and rushes off-edge while a safety rotates to cover the vacated flat.

Slants all three down linemen one gap toward the tight-end side at the snap.

Key: Each lineman crosses the face of his blocker into the next strong-side gap to disrupt down blocks.

Slants the front one gap away from the tight end to defend backside runs.

Key: Linemen fire into the weak-side gap while backers fold over the top to fill vacated gaps.

Pinches both ends inside to close the B-gaps against inside runs.

Key: Ends step hard to the inside shoulder of the tackle while outside backers set the edge.

Loops the nose from the center toward the strong A-gap after engaging.

Key: Nose jabs the center then works to the strong-side A-gap while the strong backer fills opposite.

Crashes both ends flat down the line to spill outside runs to the linebackers.

Key: Ends wrong-arm kickout blocks and spill the ball wide where scrape backers clean up.

Runs an end-nose twist with the end crashing inside and nose looping outside.

Key: Strong end penetrates the B-gap first, then the nose loops around behind him to the C-gap.

Plays three deep zones with the strong safety rolling down to the flat.

Key: Corners and free safety split the deep thirds while the strong safety takes the strong flat curl.

Splits the deep field into two halves with corners jamming the flats.

Key: Both safeties play deep halves while corners funnel receivers inside and sink to the sideline.

Divides the deep field into four quarters with corners and safeties matching verticals.

Key: Each deep defender takes a vertical of any receiver in his quarter and helps on run afterward.

Plays man across the board with a single free safety over the top.

Key: Corners and backers lock man-to-man while the free safety patrols deep middle as help.

Plays pure man with no deep safety to add an extra rusher.

Key: Every eligible receiver is manned up so the free safety can blitz off the edge.

Combines quarters to the field and Cover 2 to the boundary.

Key: Field side plays quarters while the boundary corner and safety split two deep halves.