3-4 Defense Football Coaching Guide (Includes Images)

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There was a time in football where defenses would run a “base” formation on most plays, with wrinkles on the base system mostly performed in the secondary.

Almost all defenses would have a base formation that included either:

a. Four down linemen and three linebackers.

b. Five down linemen and two linebackers (on obvious running situations).

The wrinkles would occur with how the secondary would cover opposing receivers.

However, sometime in the 1990s and 2000s, that base system got flipped on its head.

More defenses began running a base defense known as the 3-4 defense, with three down linemen and four linebackers to go with the traditional four defensive backs.

They did this to confuse opposing offenses and keep them guessing at all times.

With only three down linemen, a defense could switch who the fourth rushing defender was on each down. Either one of the outside linebackers or one of the inside linebackers could rush the line of scrimmage on any play.

It was a new base defensive alignment that was created and one that’s stuck around because of its effectiveness.

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Who Should Use the 3-4 Defense?

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