3-3-5 Defense

My All-Time NFL Team

Hey, I'm Bob.

Here are my thoughts on the all-time NFL team. I've written more than is probably healthy.

Gameday Roster

QB: Tom Brady.                          Bart Starr                                         

HB: Jim Brown.                           Barry Sanders, Walter Payton

FB: Marion Motley.                 
TE: John Mackey.                        Mike Ditka, Tony Gonzalez

WR: Jerry Rice, Don Hutson.       Randy Moss, Lance Alworth, Steve Tasker, Mel Gray

C: Dwight Stephenson.                   Bruce Matthews

G: John Hannah, Jim Parker.       Larry Allen

T: Anthony Munoz, Forrest Gregg.   

DT: Joe Greene. Reggie White                Bob Lilly, Alan Page

DE: Lawrence Taylor, Deacon Jones.    Bruce Smith, Gino Marchetti

MLB: Dick Butkus.                                 Ray Lewis

OLB:  Derrick Brooks.                           Jack Ham, Bobby Bell, Ted Hendricks 

CB: Dick Lane, Mel Blount.                  Herb Adderley                          

HY: Rod Woodson.                           Charles Woodson
S: Ronnie Lott, Emlen Tunnell.             Ed Reed  

P: Ray Guy.                            Adam Vinateri

K: Adam Vinateri.                  Ray Guy

KR/PR: Mel Gray.           

LS:  Bruce Matthews             Bobby Bell                     

H: Ray Guy.                            Bart Starr

Reserves:  Joe Montana Bronko Nagurski, Jim Otto, Jonathan Ogden,  Paul Warfield,
                 Jack Lambert, Jack Christiansen

First and foremost, the Cover 6 takes advantage of my versatile secondary. As you can see, I have forsaken the shutdown cover-corners such as Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, and Darrell Revis for larger more physical corners. All four are well-suited to play press coverage/run support on the boundary side but have the requisite coverage skills to play the quarters assignment on the field-side. The safeties will play a deep half/quarter assignment as well as fill downhill in run support.  Rod Woodson will play the hybrid safety/corner role that gives the 3-3-5 it's signature flexibility. Lott and Tunnell are both ball-hawks and ferocious hitters, both against receivers and runningbacks  

Depth: I have 27 players on offense, 24 on defense, and 2 on special teams (22, 22, and 2 dressed).  I've structured the roster so that I can absorb 2 injuries at most positions during a single game. As you can see, I've designated Rod and Charles Woodson as HY (hybrid) as they can play both CB and S for a super-versatile secondary (Lott could potentially be a HY but he was always more of a safety). I have only one fullback, but a TE will do in a pinch.  I have only two middle linebackers dressed, but Bell is a fine 3rd string option. Ray Guy is my emergency quarterback, as he was with the Raiders.  My special teams players have each both kicked and punted in college, so they are each other's emergency backup.