Mailbag question: Coach Robinson and the 3-3-5

Posted at 8:00am -- 3/28/2010

Mailbag question: Coach Robinson and the 3-3-5

GBMW,

I have a couple of questions regarding the 3-3-5 defense that UM is apparently going to use this season.

I do not think that I have seen any information indicating that GR has ever used the 3-3-5 defense. How much of a problem is this for implementing the defense? I believe that one issue with the defense is that they have seemed to learn a new scheme each year so this has entailed a hard time improving. So isn't that still a problem for this season? Does the scheme offer enough advantages to offset the learning curve?

Keep up the good work; I enjoy your honest evaluations and comments.

Andy

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Thanks for the questions.

If the entire defensive staff were novices (little background knowledge or teaching experience) regarding the use and implementation of a 3-3-5 stack defense, then Coach Robinson's lack of experience might be an issue. Remember as well that Coach Robinson has been to several places working either at the NFL or college level, so he is clearly adept at employing and teaching different schemes, as well as working with personnel across a broad continuum of skill talent.

Coach Bruce Tall, Coach Tony Gibson, and Coach Adam Braithwaite all have significant experience with the odd stack from their time at West Virginia. And so on the surface, one could infer that implementing the 3-3-5 stack should not be a problem.

Michigan also played quite a bit of 3-man front last season, so again the learning curve should not be as much of an issue.

The primary supporting event in our opinion is that by previous design or an evolutionary course of things, Michigan has been recruiting and gaining commitments from athletes with skills that are a better fit with 3-man fronts. Michigan has been recruiting more of the smallish, quicker athletes who can run, which is in theory the perfect fit for playing the 3-3-5 odd stack.

Thank you again for your questions. There is no doubt that the defense (or more likely defenses) that Michigan employs in 2010 is of great interest to fans.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!