3-4 Man Recruiting Guide (CFB 27): Who to Recruit and Why

72% of snaps ask for the even_4down RRE_RLE job, 28% ask for the odd_tite RRE_RLE job. Designated pass rushers in the sub-package fronts. The pair aligns outside in Nickel and Dime spacing and wins with get-off, because a four-man rush has to create pressure while everyone else covers. Contain duty against scrambling quarterbacks comes with the job. Rushes from width in the three-down sub fronts. Dime 3-2 and Nickel 3-3 Mint supply most of these snaps, so he attacks long edges with only one or two interior bodies beside him and has to win without much help. Twist games off his rush are part of the deal.

Physical 6'2 to 6'5, 245 to 270. Get-off outranks everything else.

Designated pass rushers in the sub-package fronts. The pair aligns outside in Nickel and Dime spacing and wins with get-off, because a four-man rush has to create pressure while everyone else covers. Contain duty against scrambling quarterbacks comes with the job.

Physical 6'2 to 6'5, 245 to 270. Get-off outranks everything else.

60% of snaps ask for the odd_tite REDGE_LEDGE job, 23% ask for the bear_heavy REDGE_LEDGE job. Sets the edge outside the tite front. With the interior trio eating blocks, he squeezes runs back inside and keeps contain against zone schemes, and his rush wins come off power and length more than pure burst. He carries more run responsibility than an even-front edge. Sets a hard edge in heavy fronts. Goal line and bear spacing ask him to close down blockers and force runs back into the pile. Rush matters only after the run is dead.

Physical 6'3 to 6'6, 250 to 280. Length outranks timed speed.

60% of snaps ask for the odd_tite REDGE_LEDGE job, 23% ask for the bear_heavy REDGE_LEDGE job. Sets the edge outside the tite front. With the interior trio eating blocks, he squeezes runs back inside and keeps contain against zone schemes, and his rush wins come off power and length more than pure burst. He carries more run responsibility than an even-front edge. Sets a hard edge in heavy fronts. Goal line and bear spacing ask him to close down blockers and force runs back into the pile. Rush matters only after the run is dead.

Physical 6'3 to 6'6, 250 to 280. Length outranks timed speed.

First job is winning the edge as a rusher. Aligned wide in 4-down spacing, he attacks upfield at the snap and turns speed into pressure. He sets the edge on the way to the quarterback, not instead of it.

Physical 6'3 to 6'5, 240 to 265. First step over mass.

Covers the single-receiver side by himself. Boundary alignment means shorter grass and more isolation routes, so he wins with leverage and phase instead of waiting on help. Screens and quick game to his side are his tackles to make. More grass means more double moves and deeper stems, so long speed and cushion discipline carry the assignment.

Physical 6'0 plus preferred with length. Recovery speed outranks height if forced to choose.

CB1/CB2 are the outside pair; boundary vs field is alignment, the depth chart does not split them

Covers the single-receiver side by himself. Boundary alignment means shorter grass and more isolation routes, so he wins with leverage and phase instead of waiting on help. Screens and quick game to his side are his tackles to make. More grass means more double moves and deeper stems, so long speed and cushion discipline carry the assignment.

Physical 6'0 plus preferred with length. Recovery speed outranks height if forced to choose.

CB1/CB2 are the outside pair; boundary vs field is alignment, the depth chart does not split them

Covers the slot with no sideline to help. Inside alignment gives receivers a two-way release, so twitch and mirror skill decide these reps. He also triggers on inside runs as the closest small defender.

Physical 5'9 to 6'0, 180 to 195. Short-area quickness outranks length.

first slot body; CB_slot rows cover CB3 and CB4

Covers the slot with no sideline to help. Inside alignment gives receivers a two-way release, so twitch and mirror skill decide these reps. He also triggers on inside runs as the closest small defender.

Physical 5'9 to 6'0, 180 to 195. Short-area quickness outranks length.

second slot body, on the field in dime sets

50% of snaps ask for the even_4down DT job, 41% ask for the odd_tite DT job. Penetrates as the 3-technique. He lines up on the guard's outside shoulder and wins the B-gap with his first step, turning run downs into losses behind the line. On passing downs he supplies the interior rush that keeps quarterbacks off their spot. Plays the long end spots of the odd fronts, from a 4i on the tackle's inside shoulder in tite spacing to a head-up or outside 5-technique in base 3-4 looks. He two-gaps with length and keeps the B-gap closed so runs spill to the edge players. Rush production comes from push and hands rather than speed. 16% of his snaps come from mugged formations. Protections point extra attention at the mugged threats, which leaves the nose and tackle in more one-on-one blocks they are expected to win.

Physical 6'2 to 6'5, 285 to 310. First-step quickness outranks bulk.

55% of snaps ask for the even_4down NT job, 35% ask for the odd_tite NT job. Anchors the front as the shade nose. He controls the A-gap against interior runs and holds his ground against double teams so the MIKE can flow. Pocket push on late downs is a bonus on top of the run-down anchor. Two-gaps the center in tite spacing. He absorbs double teams without giving ground and closes both A-gaps so the linebackers can run. There is no help coming, so mass and leverage are the job. 17% of his snaps come from mugged formations. Protections point extra attention at the mugged threats, which leaves the nose and tackle in more one-on-one blocks they are expected to win.

Physical 6'1 to 6'4, 300 to 330. Anchor strength outranks height.

77% of snaps ask for the odd_tite DT job, 23% ask for the bear_heavy DT job. Plays the long end spots of the odd fronts, from a 4i on the tackle's inside shoulder in tite spacing to a head-up or outside 5-technique in base 3-4 looks. He two-gaps with length and keeps the B-gap closed so runs spill to the edge players. Rush production comes from push and hands rather than speed. Covers the guards in bear looks and multiplies in goal line fronts, where DT3 and RDT tokens add extra interior bodies. Every rep is a single block in a phone booth, so he has to win fast with power because there is no space to recover.

Physical 6'3 to 6'6, 285 to 315. Arm length outranks burst.

Covers the guards in bear looks and multiplies in goal line fronts, where DT3 and RDT tokens add extra interior bodies. Every rep is a single block in a phone booth, so he has to win fast with power because there is no space to recover.

Physical 6'2 to 6'5, 300 to 330. Short-area power outranks any testing number.

Erases mistakes from the deep middle. Man coverage across the board leaves him as the lone helper, so range from the post to either numbers is the whole job. Ball skills turn that range into takeaways.

Physical 6'0 to 6'2, 190 to 205. Range outranks hitting.

Takes the tight end or the back man to man. He lines up low more often than deep, matching routes from in-line and backfield alignments, and fills the box when run shows. Coverage chops against tight ends decide whether this defense holds up.

Physical 6'0 to 6'3, 200 to 215. Coverage movement outranks box thump.

Applies in formations with a third safety on the field. He takes the extra slot or tight end in man and plays the overhang against the run. About 17 percent of man-book snaps field this body, package level by the depth thresholds but a real matchup piece.

Physical 5'11 to 6'2, 195 to 215. Versatility outranks any single trait.

third safety; on the field in Dime 2-3-6

72% of snaps ask for the even_4down SUBLB job, 28% ask for the odd_tite SUBLB job. Holds the second level of the sub packages that carry most snaps. The job is coverage first, matching backs and tight ends underneath, with a late rush added when the assignment stays in to block. Sub fronts field both SUBLB tokens together, so this is a sign-two position. Covers from the middle of light boxes. Dime 3-2 alone supplies over half of these snaps, so he protects the middle hole and carries verticals from #3 with little help around him. Space tackling is the floor requirement. Coverage demand leads: backs and tight ends man to man, snap after snap. 26% of his snaps come from mugged formations. Walked into an A-gap before the snap, he either arrives with the rush or bails into coverage after showing it, and the bail is the hard part. Short-area burst plus coverage recovery is the trait pair that survives the assignment.

Physical 6'0 to 6'3, 220 to 240. Coverage movement outranks bulk.

No blitz attribute exists on the scouting panel. Blitz maps to Acceleration and Hit Power here.

61% of snaps ask for the even_4down SUBLB job, 39% ask for the odd_tite SUBLB job. Holds the second level of the sub packages that carry most snaps. The job is coverage first, matching backs and tight ends underneath, with a late rush added when the assignment stays in to block. Sub fronts field both SUBLB tokens together, so this is a sign-two position. Covers from the middle of light boxes. Dime 3-2 alone supplies over half of these snaps, so he protects the middle hole and carries verticals from #3 with little help around him. Space tackling is the floor requirement. Coverage demand leads: backs and tight ends man to man, snap after snap. 21% of his snaps come from mugged formations. Walked into an A-gap before the snap, he either arrives with the rush or bails into coverage after showing it, and the bail is the hard part. Short-area burst plus coverage recovery is the trait pair that survives the assignment.

Physical 6'0 to 6'3, 220 to 240. Coverage movement outranks bulk.

No blitz attribute exists on the scouting panel. Blitz maps to Acceleration and Hit Power here.

60% of snaps ask for the odd_tite MIKE job, 23% ask for the bear_heavy MIKE job. Runs free behind the trio. The front's job is to keep him unblocked, and his job is to make that matter, flowing tackle to tackle and finishing in the open field. On pass downs he owns the middle hook and carries #3 up the seam when the call asks. Hits lead blockers behind a loaded line. The front eats the linemen and he meets fullbacks and pullers in the hole, keeping his fits square in short yardage. Coverage asks are minimal here. About a third of man-book snaps stay in base personnel, and the backers take the leftover assignments, usually backs and in-line tight ends.

Physical 6'0 to 6'3, 235 to 255. Diagnose-and-go outranks size.

60% of snaps ask for the odd_tite WILL job, 23% ask for the bear_heavy WILL job. Scrapes behind a front built to keep him clean. He presses the line when the trio holds and falls back over the top when it slants, and his tackles come at full speed in pursuit. Flat and hook drops fill the pass downs. Fits downhill from the weak side of heavy fronts. He fills fast and takes on climb blocks without giving ground to finish runs at the line. Backside screens are the only pass work that finds him. About a third of man-book snaps stay in base personnel, and the backers take the leftover assignments, usually backs and in-line tight ends.

Physical 6'0 to 6'2, 225 to 245. Closing speed outranks size.