Chris Whalen’s Random Life

When you hear of Mike Sherman or Bill Belichek being a defensive guru, what does that really mean? What are these defenses doing? Don’t they just look for the ball and hit the snot out of people? Defenses don’t often make the big headlines unless they did not do their job. In the NFL, defense is about match-ups and adjustment. Those who create match-ups in their favor are successful, those who do not end up on the team highlight reels, of the opposing offense that is. And, oh yeah, these guys WILL hit you. I remember hearing a player coming off the field after making a hit, he was a little dazed, and the coaches asked him if he was ok. “Hey man, people pay good money to feel the way I feel right now.” Is there a psychologist in the house?

3-4 or 4-3?

We hear alot about the 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. Well, what are they? In a 3-4, there are three defensive linemen and four linebackers, a 4-3, the opposite. But let’s be realistic – there is very little difference. There are so many linebackers out there that can go from defensive end to outside linebacker that a team can shift from a 3-4 to 4-3 without changing personnel. Adalius Thomsas and Jason Taylor are good examples. They can cover in a zone or rush the passer, effectively changing the defense. With three linemen, one plays on the center, and the other two between the guard and tackles. Linebackers fill the gaps. With four, everyone plays in a gap. Well, who cares? Here is the main difference: a lineman playing head up on the center say, is looking to beat the center and get up-field. Playing a gap usually means you stay in that gap and read the play. The wildcard here is the 2-gap defense, run by the Patriots as an example. Two gap is very difficult to play because the lineman is responsible for the gap on either side of him. His job is to make the Offensive lineman on both sides of him block him and open a hole for the linebacker to make a play. You need BIG, physical people for this! Linebackers love it because they get to make most of the plays!

What do you look for? When you watch a game, look to see where the linemen are lined up and try to pick out what they are playing. Look for a linebacker to move up to the line of scrimmage and then back out to try to disguise it. Basically trying to make the QB audible into a play the defense wants. Most teams have guys that can play safety and linebacker as well as extremely fast linebackers that can cover. This adds a great deal to the flexibility. They can play up on the line like in a 3-4, and then drop into coverage, or line up as a safety and then move into a middle linebacker slot. Creates more confusion. Some of these alignments are run by salary as well. Great defensive linemen are harder to find and more expensive, one of the reasons you see more 3-4. And when you hear a team stacking 9 men up front to stop then run, just look at the field. You will see everyone except the two safeties at the line of scrimmage, expecting a run. Usually those really fun, physical goal line stands or 3rd and 1. To me, the essence of the game!

2-deep

I get this question alot. I am at a game, the QB throws a pick, the fans get angry and start yelling “why did you throw that?!!!”. Usually that leads to a discussion from me about the 2 deep zone. Run usually from a nickel defense (5+ defensive backs), this is a zone where the main goal is to bait the offensive to throw the ball deep. It looks like man to man defense. The corner right in the face of the receiver and then runs with him. QB’s see this and think they have a shot at the deep ball. But wait…the safety is coming over to help the deep. Essentially the safety runs over to double the receiver as he goes down the field. Suckered! This is when the fans start yelling “WHY?!” or in Philly, New England and New York, “You stupid f…!”, and throw things.

Zone Blitz

Ay yes, the trendy defense. Started most recently by Pittsburgh and Baltimore, run by most NFL teams now in certain situations. Well, what is it? It is more of a philosophy than a scheme. Take either the 3-4 or 4-3, and basically assume any of the 11 players can blitz or cover. Essentially, a corner or linebacker will be blitzing from somewhere, any of them, and a lineman will back into coverage. You might have Warren Sapp drop from the line of scrimmage into a zone coverage. NOBODY expects a lineman to drop into coverage. The advantage here is you cannot tell who is going to drop into coverage or rush. There are alot of variations depending on how many people you want to rush. This confuses the heck out of an offense, not only the QB trying to read who to throw to, but also the offensive lineman knowing who to block (read last week’s understanding offense). Confusion usually leads to good things for the defense; CHAOS rules!

Ok, so in practical terms what the heck is going on? The reality is a team starts with one defense to start, but then they adjust like crazy. When the offense comes out, you see defenders running all over the place, again, getting match-ups. Linebacker on tight end, linebacker on running back, defensive back on receiver, switching from man to zone. All of this going on before the ball snaps. Look at the Superbowl last year. The Patriots run a 4-3 2-gap with 2-deep as a base. I saw that TWICE! Everything else was a nickel. At LEAST 5 defensive backs. Some of them like a Ed Reed, moving up to play linebacker when they shifted. A good, physical safety can do that. It gives the defense MUCH more flexibility. John Lynch is also very good at it. It is all about match-ups. Taking away what the offense wants to do. Play a St. Louis, San Francisco (and Buffalo, Washington this year), and you will see alot of nickel zone. Those teams will throw until the QB’s arm comes off. Play Miami, New England, Cincinnati, Giants and run more of a base defense to take away their running games. When you go to your local game, look at the opponent and try to guess what defense your team will run, watch them adjust according to down and distance, etc. Understand the defense and amaze your friends! Passing downs, nickel, other downs, according to the team you are playing. The most fun for me is to look at the defense, the offense and try to see where the play is going before the snap. Then trying to see why the play succeeded or failed. At a game, this will make you the most popular guy in your section.