Multiple 5-3 Fronts

We have run the 5-3 since 2000 - it has been a good fit for us. Our base front is: Nose in a 0 and reads the centers head, Tackles are in 4i's and have B gap - can play head up if they are good enough - Keep the tackle off the MLB, DE's are in 9's and squeeze all down blocks and force plays to bounce. MLB is stacked behind the nose and can offset a little to see the FB if needed. OLB's are in 60i( inside eye of the TE/SB). We play a form of 1/4's coverage in the secondary - Front adjustment are pretty basic - we will eagle(reduce) vs twins and walk out the OLB. We get into a Bear look with the tackles in 3's, We have experimented with our ends aligned wide and cocked down- crashing flat through the hip of the guard. Our goalline is a 6-3 - we take out a DB an put in another nose. We also run a reduced 5-2 look with the TE side Tackle in a 5 and the Sam LB playing in a 30. We really stay pretty basic with our front and try to be sound with technique and responsibility. Biggest concern about different fronts is to be sure your option responsibilities and contain are solid.

Watch out when running the 5-3 though. I went against a team that ran it, I ran twins (which I did not show the week before) and they took their OLB out to the twins side and did not slide to a 5-2. I crushed the twins side with an ISO (up the BGap where the OLB used to be). My RB had 300 yards exactly.

Good luck

To run 5-3 from a 5-2 is simple as far as alignment - DT's play 4 or 4i, DE's stay the same, the major adjustment is who is going to play the Will LB. Usually the SS. The OLB have different reads and keys than in the 5-2. I think a simple adjusment would to play a 9, 4i on the weak side and a 1 shade, 5, 9 on the strong side. Play your ILB's in a 10 weak and a 40 Strong and Play the SS in a 60i on the weak side. The LB's keys and repsonsibilities would be the same on the strong side and on the weak side teach your SS to read the C gap window - Window closes you scrape to D, Window stays open you fill C, Pass you have curl to flat.

The only time I allow my DE (Strong End) to go inside is when I have an outside SS blitz on. The SS aiming point is the deepest back and the RB/QB CANNOT get outside of him.

How does the 5-3 adapt to the option and to 4 and 5 receiver sets?

Coach Varley, I have 2 questions.

1. What do your LB'ers key?

2. Do you have a rush DE and and drop DE or do they play the same responsibilities?

Thanks is advance.

Its been awhile since I've checked the board - Our LB's read backfield flow to flow side Guard. The mike read the FB for his 1st stepa and the flow side guard for clean or cluttered flow - if the guard is coming off he fills palyside A gap and expands to B-C palying inside out. The OLB's (Sam - Will) read the TB for flow and the flow side linemen for counter or reverse - Our base rule is flow to - fill C gap and scrape to D if you window closes. Flow away sit sit sit and then play to backside A gap - We have to work hard on the delay arrow route by the TE/SB on boot action - TB is away and QB shows boot action back toward. The OLB needs to get vision of the tight receiver. We rush 5 and drop 6 so both end play the same and both rush. This keeps is simple and gets a great pass rush. We have some holes underneath but our number one priority is to stop the run and force the pass.