| FTBL Questions about a 3-4 defense

[TerryP]

musso I share your concerns about the 3-4 with which we are sticking with this year.

If you look back at last year 4-3 was the base defense but maybe talent had something to do with not playing the 3-4.

I think though that we will see a D alot like last year but better execution and more variations added but younger specifacly in DB's.

I don't know where you are pulling that from. The "Jack" and OLB'er play on the line a lot, but we were in a 3 downlinemen set unless it was a 3rd and short or a goal line situation.

The 3-4, under Saban, puts one of the linebackers on the line a lot, yes. But, as many times as they rush they drop back in coverage.

Google the 34 defense...even add Buddy Ryan to it...you'll see a lot of details.

Look at this diagram as an example

 

[TerryP]

And, if I may add, as the off-season progresses and we get more into scheme talk, pay attn. to what's diagrammed here as well. Specifically, A and B gaps.

 

[ghice]

This may be a little bit off topic, but do yall think John's will get more PT due to his switch to defense, or will all the new talent coming in beat him at his new position?

 

[pimpsahoy]

A lot of people get confused b/c last year we had Saunders playing most of the time as a pass rusher with his hand on the ground. But even when he did that we never added another DT to make it a 4-3. That was due mainly to Saunders' inabilities to play in space (not really his fault, he was a DE converted to LB b/c he was the only one who could come close to playing the Jack).

The biggest differences in a 3-4 are:
1: Typically all 3 of the DL are much bigger than their 4-3 counterparts.

2: There is usually a hybrid OLB who can both rush the passer and drop into coverage. This is the position that Saban calls the Jack. Think Jason Taylor or DeMarcus Ware.

3: On run plays your DL are typically there to eat up blocks and allow the LB's to make the plays. Especially you NT who will play a lot of zero technique and try to occupy two gaps. And if your DE's are big enough they too will try to occupy two gaps.

4: On pass plays you don't require a pass rushing specialist at DE. This is one of the reasons that the 3-4 has had such a large comeback in the NFL. Teams realized that they could save a lot of $$ by not having to pay guys like Jevon Kearse or Dwight Freeney.

 

[RollTidePGH]

Another coach and team to look into about the 3-4 is Dick LeBeau and the Steelers. Dick LeBeau is basically the guy responsible for the development of the zone blitz and the Steelers have been running a 3-4 since the early 80's. Actually kind of funny, the popular Tampa 2 defense was what the Steel Curtain was, Tony Dungy was an assistant with the Steelers and learned the formation from Chuck Noll and his staff took it with him, added a couple of wrinkles and viola the Tampa 2.

Anyway back to the subject at hand -- I think pimpsahoy pretty much nailed the general keys to the 3-4. One of the biggest reasons to use a 3-4 defense is that it is really suited to a very athletic team and you can disguise the 3-4 so easily that just the scheme alone can be very difficult for a quarterback to identify.

I heard alot of people generally unfamiliar with the 3-4 have concerns when it comes to the spread, actually it is most likely the best defense to defense the spread, since it typically allows for more disguise of the coverage and more athletic players on the field i.e. one more linebacker one less lineman. One of the main keys to make it work though, is the nose tackle. You gotta have a huge run stopper in the middle, a guy just like Terrance Cody. Quality defensive ends are also key, but as long as you have a powerful front three the LB's can cause havoc. Sometimes they rush, sometimes they drop and sometimes you mix in a zone blitz and totally throw off the QB's reads.

One huge advantage for the 3-4 in college is that it's not used very often, and teams may only see it once a year. So they have to do that much more game planning to be prepared for the game. Plus you can mix so many different looks and packages, teams may have to go through 2 or 3 games worth of film see most of the defense.

Maybe I'm biased but I grew up watching the 3-4 and love the defense, and if it is run correctly with quality athletes (which it looks like we will have soon) it can be an extremely effective D. Heck the teams that run it in the NFL usually have the best numbers against the run. Once Saban's recruits start to get more playing time I think this D will be a brutal force.

 

[mongo4bama]

What I meant to say was we used a 3-4 Defense last year and will again this year.

Last year though we used a 4 man d out of that alignment most of the time and probably will again next season.