3-5-3 Made Simple - 8-Man Football

Coach Albaugh's 5 video series on the Simplest 3-5-3 is now available on CoachTube
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After getting this question several times I decided to make a quick overview on how I would adapt this defense to the 8 man game. Here are my thoughts.

[@dalemyers9045]

I coached 8 man some years ago. I initially kept a six man box and brought pressure. Then we ran into a team that could just throw it up there and go get it. we then switched to more of a 3-2 for more safety help. Next game, we went back to what worked for us. Had a couple of good years and I moved on but they did win an eight man championship with it..

[@boblowe8369]

Hi Coach, I am the Def. Coach for a Northern Ca. 8-man team. You're spot on in your Def. sets for 8-man, except for the accounting of the QB! We have found that most 8-man teams put there best runner at QB. It is a must to stop him first. We have found a lot of success in moving the Mike up and dedicating him to the QB! We will also drop him back in long yardage situation or if a team has a large deficit to make up. Coach Lowe

[@CoachAlbaughChiefpigskin]

That's a great point, Coach. A great runner at QB always screws everything up!

[@coreywebster8104]

I'd love more information on this. I'm a traditional 11 man coach that will be coaching 8 man this year. Anymore information from you would be awesome as I don't know much about 8 man. I have been a defensive coordinator for 15 years and ran a lot of 3-3-5. Thanks

[@CoachSmith_]

This is basically the scheme we run but I always leave 3 down for the pass rush consistency. To make up for the lack of a deep player I just ask the mike to drop back deeper cause you usually don't have the time for those complex deep routes

[@reganstevenson9444]

8 man football defense is totally different than 11 man. All you can do is 3 DL and have 2 corners and then the other 3 cover the box and they have to go out and cover any receiver...... You can never have gap control defense or run a proper defense with deep safety. Its impossible. There are weaknesses all over. Its best to blitz every play and at times even send 2 extras

[@blackie_chan00]

Appreciate the tips for defensive schemes. Do you still coach in Champaign?

[@kielweiss3606]

As an idea, could you just turn the odds into evens? (11man being a 35 1hi, 8man becoming a 24 2hi). Put the DEs over the guards using the same DE techniques as 11man, the Dogs stacked behind the Ends using the same techniques as 11man. Your two best players become the Monsters on the edge. Finally you have two DBs which play a Corner/Safety hybrid position depending on the offense's formation.

[@CoachAlbaughChiefpigskin]

You sure could! Do you coach 8-man? This basically ends up being a 2-3 defense.

[@gagesmith5168]

As a 8 man linebacker I must say it is hard, you have to be both the middle and outside linebacker if you have a team on offense running doubles on both sides you need to be moving, when it comes to the slot if he runs a out route you gotta get there

[@reganstevenson9444]

correct.

[@blitzir]

Yeah its tough transition from 11 to 8 tough because of the lack of extra coverage help. I still sometimes forget there isn’t 11 guys out there and the 11 man stuff floats back.

[@alrischel]

Hey coach, I like this concept quite a bit and this is exactly what I was looking for per our conversation. Thanks for posting this! Quick question, what are your thoughts about keeping the Mike down against a single tight end look, and making him strong side A-Gap responsible? Play everything else the same so that the Center and Guard do not have a free release to block the Mike three yards down the field. The down side would be that you would lose your Mike's ability to read and flow which would put more pressure on the Safety.

[@CoachAlbaughChiefpigskin]

It's not a bad idea, Coach. Maybe play it by down and distance?

[@clarencewendelliii5374]

What windows did u use for making plays plays

[@marksherman6633]

Can you a copy of this PowerPoint

[@reganstevenson9444]

8 man football defense is totally different than 11 man. All you can do is 3 DL and have 2 corners and then the other 3 cover the box and they have to go out and cover any receiver...... You can never have gap control defense or run a proper defense with deep safety. Its impossible. There are weaknesses all over. Its best to blitz every play and at times even send 2 extras

[@seafish5980]

Why make a video about something you don’t know ?? You must Be getting ready to coach in the 🇨🇦 league . FYI they play 12 man up there