Cathedral High School Football

3-3 Stack Against the Run

Rick Streiff Head Coach
Adam Barth DC
 CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
FIGHTING IRISH DEFENSE

Keys to Success:
Staff continuity.
Have a system and philosophy that each coach
understands and believes in.
Keep things simple and consistent.
Players must understand and believe in what we
are doing.
Players must give great effort in everything that
they do.
 Why 3-3 Stack?
Originally 4-3 Team
Lack of DL, Lack of efficient Safeties
Allowed us to get more athletes on the field
and utilize the speed we had.
 Position Names
Nose
Anchor End (Strong Side)
Blood End (Weak Side)
Mike (Middle ILB)
Sam (Strong Side ILB)
Will (Weak Side ILB)
Snake (Strong Side OLB)
Bear (Weak Side OLB)
Corners
Free Safety
 Defensive Line

9 6 7 5 4 3 2 2i 1 0 1 2i 2 3 4 5

Nose
Alignment = 0 Technique
Key = BALL
Technique = 1) Slant to A gap given by the MIKE
2) Attack Center to keep him off the
MIKE
 Defensive Line

9 6 7 5 4 3 2 2i 1 0 1 2i 2 3 4 5

Ends
Alignment = 5 Technique
Anchor goes TO call side = Tight or Wide
Blood goes AWAY from call side = Open or Short
Key = BALL
Base technique = Attack outside shoulder of the
OT and defend the C gap react to the block of
the OT
 DL Technique
Mike Linebacker will give Rip Right slant or
Liz call Left slant
*Mike LB will give call based on game plan (to
strength, away or to RB)
Gun Set Rules can change based on game
plan
1 Back slant to the back or use read
tech
2 Back read tech
 Nose Read Technique
Nose Controlling block of center/reading
center;
Do not allow Center up on Mike LB; used vs.
Zone schemes
 Inside Linebackers
MIKE
Alignment = 4 yards deep stacked behind NOSE
Key = varies; based on formation, game plan
Assignment =
Run: A gap to C gap. Mike has the A gap
opposite of the A gap of the Nose slant if his
key goes to that side. Fill A gap hard and
bend pursuit to the ball. Check for crossers.
If Mikes key goes away from the assigned A
gap -- fill the C gap to flow. Check for
crossers
 Inside Linebackers
SAM/WILL
Alignment = 50 Technique on the heels of DEs
Key = varies; based on formation, game plan
Assignment =
Run:
BACK KEY TO YOU =
-Fill assigned gap--B or C depending where Def End is
--Fill like a blitz but only to depth of one yard
-Use Clear/Cloudy Fit off the Def End
-Iso Technique: take on blocks with outside arm
keep inside arm free
spill all plays outside to fit players (F/S or Mike)
 Inside Linebackers
BACK KEY AWAY =
-Shuffle in and check for Crossers pulling OL
or backs coming back across from opposite
direction
If there is a crosser (counter): attack gap
assignment (B or C) as if run was at you and
use Clear/Cloudy Fit off the DE
(If a stunt has placed a Def. Lineman in either
the B or C gap the LB has the opposite gap)
 Inside Linebacker Play
No Crosser: Take on block of OG or OT with
hat and hands and play cut back B gap
if OT blocks Sam/Will the LB has C Gap
if OG blocks Sam/Will the LB has B Gap alone
The A gap cutback is taken by the FS
D Gap cutback is taken by the OLB
(Snake/Bear)
**NOTE we may give the Sam/Will the A gap
cutback and the FS the B gap cutback if the FS
has trouble getting inside for the A gap.
 Outside LB/Bear-Snake
Alignment: begin on #1 facing inside to ball with butt to
the sideline
Read: Key OT/OG for run pass read.
-Look mainly for High Hat (Pass) or Low Hat (Run)
from the OT/OG
Run Reaction
If OLB gets run read by OT -- look at running backs
-Run to: Contain take on kick out blockers but
never get deeper than LOS
Technique: take on blocks with inside shoulder and
turn everything inside to pursuit
-Run Away: CRCB Counter / Reverse / Cut
back C/D gap / Boot-take the back out of the
backfield in the flat or any shallow receiver in the flat
 Corners
Alignment:
*Cover 4 -Split #1 and #2 (does not have to be
halfway in between) at depth of 7 yards. If Corner
has FS help to his side he can align wider. (5 yards
inside #1, 7 yds deep; no more than 4-5 yards inside
of the hash in a tight #1 alignment)

Read: Key QB to backfield action.

-Backpedal and play pass first stay deeper
than the deepest.
-Roll coverage with sprint out or boot away
 Corners
Inside Run To: Slow to fill to make sure no play
action pass. Find #1 WR to see if they are
cracking the OLB, coming to block you, or running
a route. Crack Replace the OLB if Crack Block
Late contain or fit inside OLB-scratch where it
itches.
Outside Run To: Find #1 WR; if cracking, replace
and become contain player. If blocking corner,
defeat/avoid block and pursue by chasing heels of
ball. Will be late coming up; be aware of HB Pass by
#1; corners not expected to make tackle at LOS.
Run Away: TD saver deep pursuit angle.
 Special Adjustment for Corners
v. Tight Wing or Trips Bunch
Bunch Side technique
Corner -
Pass- Outside Vertical on pass
Run to Bunch side - Fit the C Gap

v. single Tight End (as in Twins Formation)

Corner -
Pass- #1 Vertical
Run to TE side - Fit the C gap
 Free Safety
1. Alignment 8-10 yards deep over C/G gap to 2/3 receiver
side
If 2/3 rec. side is to boundary go to wide side (based on game
plan)
2. Reads:
Key: OG to 2/3 rec. side (high hat/low hat for run/pass read)

3. After initial key shows RUN the FS next keys the backfield
action.
a. Run to the 2/3 rec. side:
-FS inside out path to the ball chase the heels
-FS takes on block with outside arm and bounce to
Bear or $nake
b. Run away from 2/3 rec. side:
-FS inside out path to the ball chase the heels
 PRO Cover 4

A N B

$ S W B
Contain/CRCB B Gap M B Gap Contain / CRCB
A/Fit C
C FS C
Flow inside out
 Tight Wing-Nub TE Cover 4

Bunch look

A N B
$ S W B
Contain/CRCB B Gap M B Gap Contain /CRCB
A to Fit C

C FS C
Fit C Flow inside out Fit C key TE
Key Wing
 Twin Cover 4
WIN Cover 4

B N A
B W S $
Contain B Gap M B Gap Contain
CRCB A to Fit C CRCB
C FS C
Fit C-key TE Flow inside out
 Twin
WIN (with a wide #2) --
with wide #2
Possible Outlaw call by ILB

B N A
B W S $
Contain B Gap M C Gap Contain
CRCB A to Fit C CRCB
C FS C
Fit C-key TE Flow inside out
DOUBLE SLOT 2x2 Cover 4

B N A
$ S W B
Contain/CRCB C Gap M C Gap Contain/CRCB
A to Fit C
C FS C
Flow inside out

Possible Outlaw call by ILBs

Possible Outlaw call by ILB
Trips 3x1 Cover 4

A N B
$ S W B
Contain C Gap B Gap Contain
CRCB Outlaw call M CRCB
A to Fit C
C FS C
Flow inside out
 CONTACT INFORMATION
RICK STREIFF
CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL
5225 E. 56TH STREET INDIANAPOLIS IN 46226
317-542-1481 EXT 384
rstreiff@gocathedral.com