PatsPropaganda

Well the primary switch was made in 2011 due to the shortened training camp because of the lockout. BB said it was easier to teach their nickel front instead of the complex 3-4.

The Pats were primarily a 3-4 defense during the Super Bowl-winning years but now, they only really use it in games where stopping the run is the priority. If you see them in a 3-4 now, it’s because BB sees the running game as the key to the opposition’s offense. Still, it’s a different version of the 3-4 now, as Chandler Jones is a different defensive end that Richard Seymour.

The Pats’ version of the 4-3 is quite different than the traditional 4-3 defenses. Often others are a one-gap 4-3, but the Patriots version mixes the techniques along the line. One side of the defense might be in a 3-4, with the defensive linemen two-gapping, while the other side is a 4-3 look with the defensive tackle one-gapping. This is similar to the front the Seahawks run now as well.

The shift to this style I believe is in responses to stopping the pass. It’s a way to get more athletes on the field, since it is almost as much a 2-5 as it is a 4-3. There are more athletes on the field this way and, in theory, they’ll be better to defend the pass.

In a lot of ways 3-4 vs. 4-3 is just semantics. Just because you might suddenly see Ninkovich stand up at defensive end doesn’t mean it’s a 3-4 defense. What defines the defense are the techniques played up front. The old 3-4 in the simple days had three defensive linemen all playing two gaps and the linebackers behind them making the plays.

It’s never this straight forward anymore, outside of 2011 when the Pats were getting killed by Tebow and the running game of the Broncos so they went to this straight-up 3-4.

The biggest thing going forward to to acquire and develop as many versatile linebackers and defensive linemen as possible, with a focus on pass rush. Edge rushers and interior rushers are the priority over old school two-gapping nose tackles, though having one or two of those to plug in the opponents favorite run gap is always nice.

Here’s a great read on the Pats’ defense from 2011.

Yes, it was a good read here from Doug Kyed.

This is a three part answer, first comes the defensive line. The Pats were just killed by injuries this season but the Seahawks had so many specific tools that they mix and match to exploit whatever they want. The Pats should be in better position at DL to mimic this in 2014, and in some ways it flashes back to 2010 when the Pats were very much a specialized front. They just weren’t very talented.

But similar to Seahawks, you might have Wilfork two-gapping and Kelly one-gapping, with Nikovich/Jones either rushing or dropping. The biggest difference is the Pats need at least one more defensive end who can rush the quarterback, and more depth at defensive tackle. Chris Jones and Siliga are good pieces to getting closer to what the Seahawks did.

The next part is linebackers, where the Seahawks feature closer to traditional 4-3 backers and the Pats are more 3-4 guys playing in the 4-3. Mayo is a good piece, but Spikes, Hightower and Collins would either not play for Seattle or not be linebackers. Collins and Hightower would probably be defensive ends. Spikes wouldn’t have a position.

I think this difference is an overall philosophical one. Belichick leans toward physicality at linebacker over speed. At least in recent years. Maybe that will evolve, though with Mayo and Collins they have two unique pieces that will be interesting to watch.

Finally comes the secondary. While the Pats prefer physicality in their linebackers to speed, the Hawks prefer physicality in their corners and strong safety opposed to speed. Earl Thomas’ range enables them to do this in large part. Perhaps McCourty is headed to that kind of play as well, though I’d still put him a tier below Thomas.

Talib could play anywhere, but Arrington/Dennard/Ryan would not fit in Seattle. All are pretty physical and can play man, but are undersized.

The biggest takeaways I see from the Seattle defense is to find a bigger, more intimidating strong safety than Gregory or Harmon. Add as many pass rushers as possible, and shift the linebackers to more speed than size. Letting Spikes walk is a step towards this.

There is more than one way to put together a good defense, but what the Super Bowl proved to me, once again, is that it is all about pass rush. You can cover any deficiency in the secondary with a consistent pass rush. But you have to do it with four guys and not with some exotic blitz scheme.

The Pats didn’t have the rotation upfront, especially playing in Denver, to get pressure like they needed to against Peyton. Maybe with renewed health and a couple additions, their pass rush will take the next step. 

Not straight-up man, but what the Seahawks do is conducive to avoiding the pics. They’ll play press zone (aka press bail) where the CBs get up on the receivers at the line, get a jam and then fall back into zone coverage.

It’s a good coverage against the Broncos, because it disrupts timing and helps your corners avoid chasing the receiver across the field. Then, when the Broncos complete a pass to someone coming across the middle, the defensive backs are sitting back in their zone and able to come downhill to drill the ball carrier.

We saw plenty of this last night and I look forward to getting in the specifics of the Seahawks coverage. But it certainly looked a lot different on those kind of play than it did vs. the Pats, where the receivers were consistently gaining the edge on those short passes.