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NYT: Guide to NFL Defenses

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NYT: Guide to NFL Defenses

Another day, another article with insight into the 3-4 defense. Great stuff and really explains a lot in terms of why it’s so hard to find OLBs that could fit the Pats system.

The key to the success of Belichick’s style is flexibility of personnel. To be able to switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 to a dime defense and all points in between requires versatility at nearly every position. Players have to be able to run and cover and hit. Linemen have to be strong enough to hold the point in the 3-4, but get upfield in a 4-3. Defensive backs have to be very good in zone coverage but competent in man coverage when needed. It requires special skills, but also an above-average football IQ. Compared with the base Dungy-Kiffin scheme, which probably started with as little as three or four fronts and a couple of zone coverages, Belichick’s hybrid is a maze meant to confuse and confound.

Another important difference in Belichick’s defense is philosophical rather than playbook-oriented. Most coordinators identify the weaknesses of an upcoming opponent and game-plan to take advantage. Belichick specifically seeks to take away the strength of an offense, forcing it to operate out of its comfort zone. In a league where you may face a power offense one week and a spread offense the next, the versatility of the multiple front playbook is the only way to pull off such a philosophy.

Patriots defensive philosophy from Dean Pees

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Came across this on a messageboard, it appears to be notes taken by a coach after hearing Dean Pees talk about the things the Patriots preach on defense. It’s in bullett point form, wish it was a little more descriptive, but I felt it was worth sharing regardless:

Dean Pees Defensive Coordinator New England

The Patriots Defense

Defensive Laws:
Leverage
Attack
Wall
Square

Patriots ran 37 coverages and 17 fronts in 2007

Coach’s Fundamentals

Drill work- Does your drill work emphasize the player fundamentals that you want because practice must mimic game.

Evaluation-Does it works? Can your players do it? Does it fit your scheme?

3-4:

Defense must fit together to build a wall to force indecision in the running backs mind.

Separation in the defense creates a seam.

Must stay square if a guy turns sideways it creates seams.

From end zone, should be able to stand behind and see the back numbers of defenders, if you cannot then that player got turned.

Practice what kids are going to see.

Not as much penetration in base.

LBs must attack and come across square.

Press the offensive player and stay square.

Do not use a sled or bags because its not who you play against.

Goal is 3 yards a carry because two gapping penetration causes positive gains.

Never wrong arm anything. Face to face, never give self up. 

Make a play by staying square (two gap him). Do not cut offensive player because it causes seams.

Everybody pushes east and west, not north and south.

Safety reads the shoulders of backs-stay square.

Everything is read and react.

#1 coverage is quarters
#2 cover 3

PS: One of my former players (All-Pro ILB James Farrior) is the defensive Captain, & signal caller for the World Champion Steelers. Their 3-4 Defense operates on a different PHILOSOPHY. They try to spill (& wreck) EVERYTHING to the outside – to secondary run support, in their ¼, ¼, ½ coverage (S/S to quarter side, & W/C to half side). That is one reason Polomoleau makes so many tackles – he is a “heat seeking missle”!

MHR: The Modern 3-4 Defense

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MHR: The Modern 3-4 Defense

Keeping with the defensive scheme theme this week and we have another great article about the 3-4 defense.

The LBs can zone, man, or blitz.  That’s three things that each of four LBs can do.  Do the math to try to predict the number of variations.  Then, before patting yourself on the back, consider that each of those actions have further variations.  Man – which man?  Zone – zone where?  Blitz – through which lane?

Despite the fact that the Bullough can be confusing, the system relies on a lot of "bend; don’t break" thinking.  The system will often give up short yards in the run, and blitzes are not common.  The idea is that the longer the offense is on the clock, the longer it takes them to score, and the more plays the offense risks an interception, fumble, or a fourth down.

Ravens 3-4 Defense Coaching Slide Show

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Ravens 3-4 Defense Coaching Slide Show

Really interesting stuff here in the format of a slideshow that comes to us via current Jets DC Mike Pettine back when he was with the Ravens. While the Patriots and Ravens defensive systems are different there’s still plenty of interesting info to take from this. Highly recommended reading, and if you pay attention you’ll learn a lot about how NFL defenses work.

You might notice some defensive formations that the Pats saw a lot of out of the Jets last year. Especially the blitzes coming out of the Cover 0 looks.

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Bill Belichick considers his playbook a sacred text, and he doesn’t tolerate students who don’t share his devotion. So late on most Wednesdays, after the Pats have installed the bulk of their latest game plan, Belichick will mutter warnings like “You guys better get back in those playbooks, because I promise I’m gonna have some f-ing questions for you tomorrow morning.”

At the next day’s breakfast, Belichick will quiz his team about coverages, blocking assignments, blitz packages—even the opposing coach’s tendencies. “And if he calls on you and you’re wrong, there’s just silence,” says tight end Ben Watson, who drives to the team complex steering with his knees so he can squeeze in a few extra minutes of study. “It’s like school all over again.”

Belichick’s playbook is just like the man: precise, relentless, obsessive. It is color-coded-red for defense, blue for offense, black for coaches—and each player is given a bag to carry it in, along with a pencil, a blue pen and a yellow highlighter. Immediately after the team returns to the locker room following a game, the Pats collect the books from everyone, then lock them up, shred them or, knowing Belichick, incinerate them and blast the ashes into space.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/bill-belichick-considers-his-playbook-a-sacred/

Sporting News: Patriots 5th most needy defensive line

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Sporting News: Patriots 5th most needy defensive line

Sporting News has the Pats as the 5th most needy defensive line, but they should be all set for this season. I don’t really understand that logic, but I understand what they’re getting at. There’s still a question mark at RDE, and right now it looks like it will be Marcus Stroud vs. Brandon Deaderick barring any other free agent acquisitions.

5. Patriots. Just looking at the near future, they will be fine with Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren for ‘11, so now they need to protect against their age and injuries by making their 3-4 rotation deeper.

As always it just comes down to injuries. If the Pats stay healthy they should be just fine. Look at who they lost last year… Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Myron Pryor… basically three of their top four most experienced and best defensive lineman. How many teams could lose that kind of quality and still win 14 games? I’d say no one other than the Pats.

Football Outsiders: NFL Draft Poll Results

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Football Outsiders: NFL Draft Poll Results

Here’s the results for the Football Outsiders 2011 Draft poll and it’s littered with Patriots stuff. There’s even a full question dedicated to the Pats:

New England’s trades for more 2012 picks: Good move?

54.5% No, they needed pass rushers and they’re running out of time in Tom Brady’s prime.

43.7% Yes, the picks they added have more value than the ones they gave away.

1.8% No, there won’t be a draft in 2012 so they gave away picks for nothing.

As always the Pats are all over the map with what people think of their draft. I attribute this to people not understanding what the Pats did on draft weekend, but it’s tempered with an underlying “they must know what they’re doing because they haven’t stopped winning no matter what any of have thought of their drafts”, so the result? New England is once again on both the best and worst lists.

The truth? There will be hits and misses with this draft class as there always are, but there will be another bunch of picks next year to cover the mistakes that were made.