You’re essentially describing the Pats’ subpackage front, but traditional base 4-3 lines are a little different. They subscribe to the “Stop the run on the way quarterback” philosophy.
Maybe the best example of the traditional 4-3 is the Giants defense that whacked us twice in the Super Bowl. They matched up well against the Pats in those years because New England couldn’t (or wouldn’t) stick with their running game.
BB’s version of the 4-3 has had an interesting evolution. It started in 2011, when, in the strike-shortened preseason, BB felt it best to install the nickel front because it was less complex than the 3-4 which he usually used as the building block for his defense.
Now we’ve seen the Patriots are primarily a sub-package team, at an approximate 60% sub, 38% base, 2% short yardage clip.
So the sub front is as you described. Usually one big tackle in the middle and then an assortment of three pass rushers along the line. If we’re talking about the 43 base it gets a little more complex. Here’s a great read on it.
Essentially BB mixes who’s two-gapping and who’s shooting gaps. One side of the defense could be a traditional two-gapping 34 defense, while the other side is a one-gapping 43.
There wasn’t a place for a nose tackle really in a traditional 43, but in BB’s there is, and he’ll be moved around the formation as BB pleases to take away the run.
Overall, this is a new approach and somewhat revolutionary. I think for it to hit it’s full potential the Pats really need more depth than they had in 2013 both at defensive tackle and defensive end.
Once they can mix and match a little easier I think we’ll see some really good things, especially with the progress of Chandler, the steadiness of Ninkovich and the promise of Siliga, Chris Jones and Armond Armstead. If Kelly and Wilfork come back, look out!
