How to Create New Fronts in the 33 Stack Defense

One of the biggest advantages of the 33 Stack Defense is the ability to ‘create’ the defensive front you want, while still showing the same pre-snap look every down.

There’s a myth that the 33 Stack (or 3-5-3 Defense) is not a good run defense. That’s just wrong, because you can turn it into any defense that you want.

If you think you don’t have enough Defensive Linemen on the field, spend some time talking to other coaches. You’ll find a lot of guys that simply don’t have many true defensive linemen.

Coaching Your 33 Stack Defensive Front for Flexibility

Instead of trying to play guys who aren’t equipped, 33 Stack coaches can use combinations of blitzes and line stunts to create the 4-man and 5-man defensive fronts they want.

To get the most out of this strategy, you’ll need your players to understand situations. Know whether it’s a run down or a passing down.

Let’s take a look at some good run down stunts for the 33 Stack Defense. You’ll want your defenders to engage the outside half of the offensive linemen as they attack their assigned gaps on slants and blitzes.

They’ll be reading the man and reacting, rather than trying to run up the field and avoid contact (as you should do on a passing stunt).

You’re asking your blitzing linebackers to become defensive linemen. One of the biggest mistakes Linebacker coaches in the 33 Stack can make is to let those blitzing linebackers run up the field on run downs. They become an easy trap block or down block for the run blocking Offensive Line.

Creating an Over Front

I’m using the terminology from our 33 Stack Defensive System, included as part of a JDFB Insider subscription. The terminology is not universal, of course.

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In Figure 1 you have a weak slant by the defensive line (Aim) and bring the Strong Safety off the edge with a Smoke Strong. This creates the same Over Front you’d have in a base 4-3 Over Defensive Front.

The coverage call is Cover 3, but you’ll want the Sam Backer to adjust his alignment pre-snap to get in better position to cover the flats. Not a problem since he is only responsible for  C Gap.

Attacking with the Under Front

Next, put together an Under Front using the call in Figure 2. This is my favorite front for trying to stop the Wing-T.

It’s a slant strong (Toro), with the same Smoke Strong from the first call. To get the weak side 5-tech, you add the Bullets Weak, bringing the weak side Inside Linebacker.

That’s a pretty wordy call. You’d probably prefer to give it a one-word name (at least a name to bring the Strong Safety and Will Backer like Wasp or Swim). Use either Cover 0 or a 3-under, 3-deep Fire Zone behind this 5-man front.

Expanding Your Coverage Package

You’ve probably already figured out that there are multiple ways to create these fronts. That’s another great advantage. Not only can you create multiple fronts, but you can install multiple ways to create those fronts.

Of course, you can get as fancy as you want (or need). Use the 33 Stack with pre-snap movement to create 2-high Safety coverages.

In Figure 3, the call is a strong slant (Toro) with the weak linebacker blitz (Bullets Weak) and a Quarters Coverage (Cover 4) behind it.

This look ends up being similar to the 4-2-5 Defense with TCU’s 2-Blue Coverage call. You’re not limited in the front by what coverage you use. The biggest concern is your weak side force. For consistency and simplicity, I like to keep the Weak Safety as the force defender.

Keeping it Simple in The 33 Stack Defense

The 33 Stack Defense gives you a ton of flexibility to create the defensive fronts you want to run, without tipping your hand to the offense pre-snap. Just be sure to limit the number of calls you make to what you actually need and what your players can handle.

In The 33 Stack Defensive System, I go in depth on how to use the different slants and stunts to create the right defensive fronts to stop any opponent. To get instant access to The 33 Stack Defensive System, click here to start a 30 Day Trial with JDFB Insider now.