Game Week 2025: UConn v. Duke University Blue Devils (Saturday 11/8/25 @3:30p). Game on CBSSN. Audio on UConn Varsity Network & FoxSports 97.9

[jostar1]

The Weather Channel has it as 51 F and 71% chance of rain. There will not be many people in the stands and those of us who are there will be frozen. I like UConn's chances.

The forecast now shows 62 degrees and sunny at 3:00.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Chin Diesel]

The forecast now shows 62 degrees and sunny at 3:00.

Mark Twain was right.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I watched play after play where Huskies would bring someone and get pressure, but it was all on the outside leaving a donut hole in the middle. Sometimes the youngster from UAB was able to capitalize and run, others he stepped up into it and passed, usually errantly. A better team and QB will capitalize on this.

Is that the result of being out of position as Chin mentioned? I am a Huskies FB fan, but not a FB guy. What is the supposed advantage of the 3-3-5? Don't see it.

The 3-3-5 is best when you lack depth at the interior linemen position and have an excess of LB's and DB's. In today's college football world, it's tough for teams like UConn to recruit enough known good interior linemen. More likely they get lucky and a few under the radar kids develop in to good linemen. The idea is it's easier to recruit good athletes at LB and in the backfield, so you play the 3-3-5.

And then it's smoke and mirrors. Put 6-7 players on or near the line but only rush four. Which 4? That's the idea. Don't give the QB a clean look at where pressure is coming from on each play. Problem is if the offense guesses right and executes their blocks, the play becomes a huge advantage for the offense. Or maybe bring 5-6 of those players and hope the pressure gets to the QB before he can find the open player.

There's plenty of info if you Google it. Here's how AI responded to my prompt:

 

[Chin Diesel]

I watched play after play where Huskies would bring someone and get pressure, but it was all on the outside leaving a donut hole in the middle. Sometimes the youngster from UAB was able to capitalize and run, others he stepped up into it and passed, usually errantly. A better team and QB will capitalize on this.

Is that the result of being out of position as Chin mentioned? I am a Huskies FB fan, but not a FB guy. What is the supposed advantage of the 3-3-5? Don't see it.

This seems like a good theory and history of the 3-3-5.

Drawing It Up: Explaining the 3-3-5 defense and what it means for FSU

Florida State’s defense will look very different in 2025

www.tomahawknation.com

 

[TheDude]

The 3-3-5 is best when you lack depth at the interior linemen position and have an excess of LB's and DB's. In today's college football world, it's tough for teams like UConn to recruit enough known good interior linemen. More likely they get lucky and a few under the radar kids develop in to good linemen. The idea is it's easier to recruit good athletes at LB and in the backfield, so you play the 3-3-5.

And then it's smoke and mirrors. Put 6-7 players on or near the line but only rush four. Which 4? That's the idea. Don't give the QB a clean look at where pressure is coming from on each play. Problem is if the offense guesses right and executes their blocks, the play becomes a huge advantage for the offense. Or maybe bring 5-6 of those players and hope the pressure gets to the QB before he can find the open player.

There's plenty of info if you Google it. Here's how AI responded to my prompt:

View attachment 112956

This was great. Thanks I really learned something

 

[Gburyhusky]

The 3-3-5 is best when you lack depth at the interior linemen position and have an excess of LB's and DB's. In today's college football world, it's tough for teams like UConn to recruit enough known good interior linemen. More likely they get lucky and a few under the radar kids develop in to good linemen. The idea is it's easier to recruit good athletes at LB and in the backfield, so you play the 3-3-5.

And then it's smoke and mirrors. Put 6-7 players on or near the line but only rush four. Which 4? That's the idea. Don't give the QB a clean look at where pressure is coming from on each play. Problem is if the offense guesses right and executes their blocks, the play becomes a huge advantage for the offense. Or maybe bring 5-6 of those players and hope the pressure gets to the QB before he can find the open player.

There's plenty of info if you Google it. Here's how AI responded to my prompt:

View attachment 112956

Interesting and insightful take of the 3-3-5, thanks. Perhaps one of the explanations for our defensive issues late in games is that the 3-3-5 relies on deception and confusion in looks to the offense, but these factors become less impactful as the game goes on the offense adjusts?

 

[Chin Diesel]

This was great. Thanks I really learned something

Interesting and insightful take of the 3-3-5, thanks. Perhaps one of the explanations for our defensive issues late in games is that the 3-3-5 relies on deception and confusion in looks to the offense, but these factors become less impactful as the game goes on the offense adjusts?

Thanks. I'm fortunate enough to be able to retain and regurgitate some stuff I read and know to Google the rest.

My personal opinion is football eventually becomes helmet on helmet sport of force. Last year with the game on the line against Temple, it was literally 6 inches between defeat and victory. Deception and schemes are out the door. Same thing once the weather turns foul. And it goes for spread offenses, the ole fun and gun, zone run offenses, etc. They have their purpose, but eventually it seems like games come down to a couple of plays in the trenches, and that's where all the weight lifting and conditioning pays off.

There's a reason almost all of us fans were pissed off at the end of the Ball St game where the pile just kept moving and moving near the goal line.

I'll also add, if the 3-3-5 was an inherently advantageous scheme, more teams would use it. But, IMO, it does have its purpose, and when you have the right players, it is effective enough to keep you in games.

 

[RSTuthill]

The 3-3-5 is best when you lack depth at the interior linemen position and have an excess of LB's and DB's. In today's college football world, it's tough for teams like UConn to recruit enough known good interior linemen. More likely they get lucky and a few under the radar kids develop in to good linemen. The idea is it's easier to recruit good athletes at LB and in the backfield, so you play the 3-3-5.

And then it's smoke and mirrors. Put 6-7 players on or near the line but only rush four. Which 4? That's the idea. Don't give the QB a clean look at where pressure is coming from on each play. Problem is if the offense guesses right and executes their blocks, the play becomes a huge advantage for the offense. Or maybe bring 5-6 of those players and hope the pressure gets to the QB before he can find the open player.

There's plenty of info if you Google it. Here's how AI responded to my prompt:

View attachment 112956

I have noticed that almost all the P4 games I have seen on TV, in passing by the channel in question, have gone to the 3 man front.

 

[TheDude]

I have noticed that almost all the P4 games I have seen on TV, in passing by the channel in question, have gone to the 3 man front.

I guess that's why Burton last year and
Smiley this year are at the edge at 250 lbs. They can drop back in coverage as big line backers or rush like a blitzing line backer . I get it and it makes sense.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[businesslawyer]

I guess that's why Burton last year and
Smiley this year are at the edge at 250 lbs. They can drop back in coverage as big line backers or rush like a blitzing line backer . I get it and it makes sense.

Pretty certain Smiley was out for the UAB game. That would not be unrelated to UAB's QB's ability to scramble, as his replacements are much larger and less mobile.

 

[LIUCHusky]

Duke’s offense will be a challenge but I also don’t expect them to shut down UConn’s passing offense.

Duke is mid-tier ACC, maybe a top 40 team and rightfully favored by 9. But if UConn can avoid turnovers & force 1 or 2, this is a very winnable home game.

I wouldn’t label Duke as mid tier in the ACC this season. If they can beat Virginia they have a decent chance to win the ACC.

 

[huskymedic]

-> UConn’s Joe Fagnano and Duke’s Darian Mensah are both among the best in the nation in every major statistical category through 10 weeks as Fagnano looks for his fifth win at home and Mensah bids to lead the Blue Devils to bowl eligibility.

It will be a tall task for the Huskies’ defense to stop the Duke redshirt-sophomore, who was regarded as one of the best transfer portal additions after starring at Tulane last year and is finding just as much success in Durham. <-

-> “I think that this quarterback (Mensah) is outstanding in the pocket, finding passing lanes, moving around in the pocket and still keeping his eyes down the field,” UConn coach Jim Mora said. “And then they’ve got a good group of receivers, so they’re playing with a high level of confidence right now. When a quarterback can find a rhythm because his offensive line and his backs, and his tight ends who are also involved in pass protection, are doing a good job for him, then that just builds confidence.” <-

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]