3-3-5 Defense

14 formations across 6 groupings.

The 3-3-5 defense playbook in College Football 27 has 14 formations across 6 families: 3-4 (2), 3-3-5 (4), Nickel (4), Dime (1), Prevent (1), Goal Line (2). Together they run 185 plays (103 unique). 3-3-5 is the largest group with 4 formations. Click any formation to see its plays with play art, switch to Diagrams for pre-snap alignments, and use the shift viewer to watch same-personnel formations morph into each other.

Every play in the 3-3-5 Defense playbook

3-4 — 2 formations, 23 plays

3-4 Grizzly (8 plays)

1 Edge Pinch, 3 Edge Pinch, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 3 Drop, Mike Blitz 0, Mike Hot Blitz 3, Mike Sim 2, Tampa 2 Show 3

3-4 Tite (15 plays)

Cover 1 Hole, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Drop, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover G, Field Blitz 3, Hot Blitz 3, Saw Blitz 0, Saw Blitz 1, Saw Blitz 2, Saw Blitz 3, Ss 2 Trap, Tampa 2, Trio Sky Zone

3-3-5 — 4 formations, 60 plays

3-3-5 3 High (12 plays)

3 Double Buzz, 3 Double Cloud, Corner Blitz 2, Cover 4 Drop, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Edge Blitz 2, Edge Blitz 3, Hot Blitz 3, Saw Blitz 1, Saw Blitz 3, Tampa 2

3-3-5 Odd Ghost (15 plays)

Cover 1 Dbl Hook, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 2 Tampa, Cover 2 Tampa Drop, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 3 Sky Drop, Cover 6, Hot Blitz 3, LB Blitz 0, Mid Blitz 1, Mike Will 3, Saw Blitz 1, Tampa Sim Pressure

3-3-5 Over Flex (18 plays)

1 Double Wr1, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 1 Ss Blitz, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz Match, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Drop Field, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 9, Edge Blitz 0, Hot Blitz 3, Nickel Sim 3, Over 3 Sting, Tampa 2

3-3-5 Stack (15 plays)

Cover 3, Cover 3 Drop, Cover 3 Match, Hot Blitz 3, LB Blitz 0, Mid Blitz 1, Mike Sam 3, Mike Will 2, Mike Will 3, Saw Blitz 1, Saw Blitz 3, Ss Blitz 0, Ss Hot Blitz 3, Tampa Sim Pressure, Will Sam 3

Nickel — 4 formations, 66 plays

Nickel 2-4 Single Mug (15 plays)

1 LB Dog, Blitz Tex 3 Sim 3, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Press, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 9, DT Mike Loop 3, Nickel Blitz 3, Tampa 2

Nickel 3-3 Load Mug (15 plays)

Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 6, Cover 6 Willie, Hot Blitz 3, LB Blitz 0, LB DE Twist 3, Nickel Blitz 0, Nickel Blitz 1, Nickel Blitz 2, Nickel Blitz 3, Tampa 2

Nickel 3-3 Mint (18 plays)

Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz Mable, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Drop, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 6 Willie, Cover 9, Double Bracket, LB Cross 3 Show 2, Overload 3 Sky Press, Pinch 0, Sam Mike 3 Press, Tampa 2, Tampa Sim Pressure

Nickel 3-3 Over Jack (18 plays)

Cover 1 Contain, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 1 Robber, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Drop Field, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6 Willie, Cover G, Dbl Safety Blitz, Nickel Sim 2, Over Storm Brave, Overload 3 Seam, Tampa 2

Dime — 1 formation, 21 plays

Prevent — 1 formation, 3 plays

Prevent 3 Deep (3 plays)

Cover 3, Man 3 Deep, Prevent

Goal Line — 2 formations, 12 plays

Goal Line 5-3 (6 plays)

Gaps Ab, Gaps All, Gaps All LB, Gaps B, Gl Man, Mlb Gap A

Goal Line 6-2 (6 plays)

60 Base, 60 Half Out, 60 Out, 60 Out Jacks, 60 Pinch, Guts

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