3-4 defense

Question
my team is going to be using a 3-4 next season so im looking to see as much of it as possible, i've seen the nfl teams using it, chargers, steelers, etc and i was wondering if any college teams currently use a 3-4?

Answer
Joe -

Thanks for writing.  Well, it would be tough to list every team that uses the 3-4 on this site.  But it is a very popular scheme.  I would guestimate that between 30-50% of NCAA Div 1 teams use some type of variation of the 3-4 defense.  It is sometimes hard to tell because there are so many ways to line up in a base set with a 3-4.  For example, the standard base is 3 down linemen, and 4 LBs.  But almost every team that runs a 3-4 have what they call a "hybrid". It is really the KEY to the entire defense.  Teams looking to change to the 3-4 actively search for this one type of player befopre they make the change, because you cant run the 3-4 without him. The HYBRID is a combo OLD / DE who will line up on in many different spots trhoughout the game.  Sometimes he is on the line of scrimmage in a 2 pt stance or a 3 pt stance, other times off the LOS like an OLB.  So it will sometimes appear as a 4-3 to some people.  He should be able to do both jobs equally.  Some plays he rushes like a DE, and others he covers like a OLB. A good example of this entire situation is Cameron Wimbley of the Cleveland Browns.  He was drafted SPECIFICALLY for this, and the team could not change their defense until he was drafted.  But a heck of a lot of teams use the 3-4, and I am sure you will enjoy playing in it next season.

The versatility and numerous base sets is why teams like this defense.  The best way to know for sure is to check out the starting line up for each defense.  No matter how they line up on the field, the starting defensive roster will key you in - (3 DL and 4 LB is a 3-4).  Dont get fooled by HOW they line up each play, pay attention to what players are on the field.

Hope this helped out.

Best wishes

Coach Perl