3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

[DarthRambo]

I started as OC at Ball State (live in Indiana and been there a few times). So I want to make it as sim as I can so I'm only choosing my offensive scheme and whatever the DC has is what we run. And of course this guy runs a scheme I know very little about.

I did a bit of research on it but for this game particularly, what type of defensive players should I recruit to fit the scheme? I read the defense usually relies on speed of what would be considered undersized players. So for D-line do I want speed rushers? And what type of LBs and DBs?

Sent from my Pixel 8a using Tapatalk

[BoiseBronco2024]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

I started as OC at Ball State (live in Indiana and been there a few times). So I want to make it as sim as I can so I'm only choosing my offensive scheme and whatever the DC has is what we run. And of course this guy runs a scheme I know very little about.

I did a bit of research on it but for this game particularly, what type of defensive players should I recruit to fit the scheme? I read the defense usually relies on speed of what would be considered undersized players. So for D-line do I want speed rushers? And what type of LBs and DBs?

Sent from my Pixel 8a using Tapatalk

Below is a great write-up on the 3-3-5.

https://throwdeeppublishing.com/blogs/football-glossary/the-3-3-5-defense-an-in-depth-guide

[Haze88]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

I started as OC at Ball State (live in Indiana and been there a few times). So I want to make it as sim as I can so I'm only choosing my offensive scheme and whatever the DC has is what we run. And of course this guy runs a scheme I know very little about.

I did a bit of research on it but for this game particularly, what type of defensive players should I recruit to fit the scheme? I read the defense usually relies on speed of what would be considered undersized players. So for D-line do I want speed rushers? And what type of LBs and DBs?

Sent from my Pixel 8a using Tapatalk

Stack or mint? I believe the mint front version plays closer to a 4 man line than a 3 which changes a few things both on the DL and in your LB core. The secondary is largely no different than any other defense except in 3-3 stack your SS position will be closer to LBs since they play more in the box as the outside contain players and need to be able to tackle and blitz effectively.

[Madden Air Raid]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

Look at the body types on Iowa State's default roster.

Mostly larger defensive linemen at DE and DT for playing 4i and 0 techniques in the 280lbs to 310s, with at least one large NT in there over 320 lbs. They do have some lighter weight guys in the 250 lb to 280 lb range that are pure pass rushers and would play 5 techs on passing downs.

The mike backer needs to be a very large run stopping backer with good play rec, awareness, and block shed. The outside backers still need to be good run stoppers but need more coverage skills as well.

If you're just paying a 33 stack you're going to be in a lot of single high cover 3 and cover 1, but if you're doing the Iowa State 3 high stuff as well to combat passing teams they're going to need to be able to play the flats and have the takling to provide run support. Most of Iowa State's corners are below 6 feet but weigh over 200 lbs.

If you're doing the 3 high stuff your middle safety needs to be able to both have the coverage skills/athleticism to play as a tampa 2 poll runner, a middle 3rd, and play almost like an additional linebacker when dropping down into a hook. This is probably the most demanding spot on defense and where the best athlete in terms of speed and agility/cod to weight/height ratio should play. Then you need at least one safety to can roll down into the box to play run support while still being able to cover. The last safety needs to be someone who is really good as a coverage player, but it doesn't hurt for them to be good at run support too. All safeties should have both good awareness and play rec.

[DarthRambo]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

Sorry. I should have prefaced I am running CPU vs CPU so I'm not really in charge of if we stack or not. Basically what I'm unsure of is like how it says run stopper, speed rusher, power rusher etc for lineman. Which one of those type would I want? Same with the LBs. Do I want coverage or run stoppers?

[stoncold32]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

Sorry. I should have prefaced I am running CPU vs CPU so I'm not really in charge of if we stack or not. Basically what I'm unsure of is like how it says run stopper, speed rusher, power rusher etc for lineman. Which one of those type would I want? Same with the LBs. Do I want coverage or run stoppers?

Guy above you literally just gave you a good, detailed book report on the question you asked.

Cpu vs cpu is hella wonky by the way. It doesn't matter what defense you run

[Hipster-Doofus]

3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

Really only change is there’s an extra LB in the field instead of 2 DT’s in a true 3-3-5 defense. So. Basically recruit extra LB’s and not as many DT’s. In real life, LB’s are a dime a dozen but good DT’s are hard to find. So a lot of coaches go to this style of defense for this reason, easier to recruit to. Not sure if that’s how it is in this game or not though.

Finding good hybrid safeties can also help. Guys that can cover out in space whether it’s man or zone but also are physical enough and good enough tacklers to play in the box also.

Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[TarHeelPhenom]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

You definitely want to get hybrid Safeties that can play Linebacker, and Linebackers who can play end. You want to recruit speed, because the defense is designed to bring pressure from all angles. In this game, when you employ the 3-3-5 as your base, you game move safeties to your Sub-LB package and they will be on the field in base. It will also help to have a big Jordan Davis type guy at Nose.

I'm running the 3-3-5 Tite defense as my defensive choice and it has changed everything for me. My calls, and packages are centered around what my guys abilities are and what they do best. I decided that last year when I saw what NC State's defense did to us. They fly around the football, and when you have a guy like Payton Wilson, it can cause all kinds of problems.

[bwanafulana]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

You’re in my dynasty league so my recommendation is to recruit as many players as you can with pretty red gems. Also, to recruit extra kickers and change their positions to Defensive Tackles for your 3-3-5 in the offseason lol

[RogueHominid]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

I use UGA and run the 335 Tite defense, and I would echo a lot of what’s been shared already.

I like that this scheme gives you odd front options to stop the interior running game with the extra speed that you also get from a nickel sub package.

Smael Mondon is a beast at MLB in this scheme. If I had to pick 1 player in the scheme that needs to be a monster, it’s the MLB position. This guy needs to be able to chase ball carriers sideline to sideline, and he needs to be able to cover the hook-curl zones to slow down the passing game over the middle of the field.

I’m lucky enough to have safeties who can really tackle—that helps a lot, too.

There’s a lot of match coverage in the playbook, so having guys who are good in match zone is also really helpful. If I were breaking it down, I’d say speed, play recognition, zone coverage, and tackling across the secondary are good points of emphasis.

The pressure will come from everywhere with this scheme, but if you run the tite version, I like having one stud edge rusher at LOLB. If this guy is a heavy OLB/light DE, I like that. 265-275 seems perfect to me for that position.

Just for fun, by position, I’m thinking:

DT/DE: 300 + lbs, run stoppers + 1 power rusher

OLB: EDGE with run stop + power rusher build and 1-2 speed rushers

MLB: Fast guys who are good in ZCV and TAK

S: Hybrid guys who can run, tackle, and play ZCV

CB: I like guys who have length, can play zone, and can tackle here

Just my .02 on the above!

[DarthRambo]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

You’re in my dynasty league so my recommendation is to recruit as many players as you can with pretty red gems. Also, to recruit extra kickers and change their positions to Defensive Tackles for your 3-3-5 in the offseason lol

[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

Sent from my Pixel 8a using Tapatalk

[Haze88]

Re: 3-3-5 scheme: type of players to recruit

Sorry. I should have prefaced I am running CPU vs CPU so I'm not really in charge of if we stack or not. Basically what I'm unsure of is like how it says run stopper, speed rusher, power rusher etc for lineman. Which one of those type would I want? Same with the LBs. Do I want coverage or run stoppers?

3-3-5 stack is a different scheme/formation from 3-3-5 tite I think it's called in game not mint.

If you run the the 3-3 stack your 3 linemen are all head up on the OL so you want to recruit them the same way you would a 3-4. A big interior DT/NT while your DE are also run stoppers or power rushers since they'll see more double teams. You want do it all LBs as well since any of them should be a threat to blitz and come up in run support or drop into coverage. Your CBs are probably more zone guys since the 3-3 stack is almost always a 1 high defense, meaning a lot of cover 1 and cover 3, and since most college CBs aren't islands you should play a lot more zone. Your FS is your classic center fielder type that needs to be able to get everywhere quickly to help over top or be the last line of defense in case of a second level run. Your SSs in this scheme line up level with the LBs and are the edge defenders/slot corners so they are your most athletic guys. They need to be able to both cover WRs and TEs inside, blitz off the edge, or take on RBs in run defense.

In the 3-3 mint or tite, it's closer to a 4-3 in terms of recruiting but one of your DEs takes the role of the 3 tech DT(Think Warren Sapp/Aaron Donald here) and the 7 tech DE (Think Khalil Mack/Demarcus Ware here) is one of your OLBs. Outside of that the 3-3 tite variant is best thought of as a traditional nickle defense so you can recruit everything else the same way you would a 4-3 defense with those minor adjustments to your interior DE and edge LB spots