3-5-3 (Odd Stack)

Crowds all five backers on the line for a jam-packed goal-line front.

Key: Linemen and backers fill every gap low and hard to stop the ball short of the goal.

Rushes three and drops eight into deep zones at the end of a half.

Key: Three deep defenders and the backers keep all routes in front and tackle in bounds.

Pinches the line and crowds backers to stop fourth-and-short runs.

Key: Linemen crash inside gaps while stacked backers plug every remaining gap at the line.

Aligns three linemen, five linebackers, and three deep defenders in an odd stack.

Key: Nose two-gaps the center and ends align in 4i or 5-techniques with backers stacked behind.

Stacks the three inside backers directly behind the down linemen to disguise gaps.

Key: Backers stack over the nose and ends so blockers cannot identify the rusher pre-snap.

Aligns the ends in 4i inside shades to wall off the B-gaps.

Key: Ends play inside shoulders of the tackles while the nose two-gaps and backers scrape free.

Widens the ends to 5-techniques to defend the edges against spread sets.

Key: Ends control the C-gaps outside the tackles while stacked backers handle the interior.

Puts the nose in a shade and ends in 4i to defend a single tight end.

Key: Nose shades away from the tight end while both ends squeeze the B-gaps inside.

Rolls the stack toward the field to outnumber the offense on the wide side.

Key: Two backers stack strong to threaten play-side gaps against wide formations.

Sends the middle stacked backer straight through an A-gap.

Key: Mike shoots the open A-gap on the snap while the nose occupies the center.

Sends the two inside stacked backers through both A-gaps.

Key: Both inside backers fire the A-gaps to overload the center and guards inside.

Sends the strong outside stacked backer off the edge.

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

Sends the weak outside stacked backer off the backside edge.

Key: Will attacks the weak C-gap as backside contain while a safety rotates over the top.

Blitzes five to the strong side while dropping an end into coverage.

Key: Two backers and the strong end rush while the weak end drops to the strong hook zone behind a three-deep three-under.

Blitzes five to the weak side while dropping a lineman into a zone.

Key: Weak backers and end rush as the strong end drops to a hook zone in a three-deep three-under shell.

Sends both inside backers on a crossing double-A-gap pressure.

Key: The two inside backers crisscross through opposite A-gaps to free one clean rusher.

Slants both ends toward the field to disrupt zone runs to the wide side.

Key: Ends cross into the field-side gaps while backers scrape to fill behind them.

Slants the nose to one A-gap to create movement in the middle.

Key: Nose fires the called A-gap while a stacked backer fills the opposite A behind him.

Pinches all three linemen inside to funnel runs to the free backers.

Key: Ends and nose crash inside gaps while stacked backers flow over the top to the ball.

Loops an end from a 4i around to the C-gap after engaging.

Key: The end jabs inside then loops outside while a backer fires the vacated B-gap.

Twists the nose and an end so one penetrates and the other loops.

Key: End crashes the A-gap first, then the nose loops behind to the B-gap for a clean rush.

Slants ends inside while the nose loops outside for a full-line movement.

Key: Ends knife into B-gaps and the nose works to an A-gap to scramble blocking rules.

Plays three deep and three under zones behind the odd stack.

Key: Corners and free safety take deep thirds while three backers cover hook and flat zones.

Plays man with a free safety deep and a backer robbing the middle.

Key: Corners lock man while a stacked backer sinks under crossers as the safety plays deep.

Splits two deep safeties with corners funneling receivers inside.

Key: Corners sink to the flats while three backers wall the middle hook zones.

Plays all man with no deep help to send an extra stacked backer.

Key: Every receiver is manned so the free safety and a backer can both blitz.

Plays quarters and matches verticals against spread passing sets.

Key: Corners and safeties pattern-match the deep routes while backers carry the underneath.

Plays man underneath with three deep zone defenders over the top.

Key: Backers and corners match receivers while three deep players bracket vertical threats.