Im looking for a hard and fast key for lbs in 3-5

[stigers]

This is my first year coaching Linebackers. Can someone tell me a hard and fast key for lbs in a 3-5-3 defense? Thanks.

[CoachJoe]

First they need to know the gap they are responsible to defend, based on the slant of the line. This is even more important for the Mike than the other two guys. Hopefully you are not 2-gapping the Nose, because that's tougher to teach.

Now, they read flow in the backfield. If one-back, they just read the single back. Read for inside flow. Flow to, hit the gap now. Flow away, counter shuffle steps (shuffle down the line at 4 yards depth, not commiting until you are sure that the RB will not be able to cut back to your gap). On outside flow, of course, the LB is looking to scrape over and knife through to make a play. No reason to waste him.

Versus 2-back, there are a few more types of flow to read. Hard flow is when both the FB and TB head in the same direction. Hit the gap now if its to your side. Split flow is when FB goes on direction and TB goes the other, like a GT counter. Mike LB is going to look at the FB. If the FB hits to his gap side, he's going to fill now. The Lion and Ram, Sam and Will, whatever you want to call the other two LBs, base off the TB. TB to their side, they hit it now.

Dive flow is the Triple Option. Same effect, your Mike hits on the dive back to his side, the other two backers are looking at the outside flow by the TB and flowing QB to TB on the dive option play.

Fast Flow is the full outside run - Outside Zone or Sweep. Everyone is scraping.

Check out some of my posts on football-defense.com/ for more information about the 3-5-3 Defense and linebackers.

Hope this is helpful! There's a lot of ways to do it, of course, this is just the way I would do it!

[stigers]

Thanks! Very helpful. Got any tips vs. double wing super power, or shot gun two backs?

[CoachJoe]

Never seen double wing super power, so I can't say much on it. 2-back gun sucks, I hate playing it. Tough reads. Key the near back into the mesh, then key whatever comes out of it to your side. If you can pick up the ball, make sure you're right - otherwise, on a play like Zone Read Option, pretty much everyone should be coming hard.