Reiss/ESPN Boston: Bill Belichick crafts a new draft tune

As we tweeted yesterday, “Nickel is the new base”.

In the past, more focus was placed on the base 3-4 defense. Belichick has almost always had a stout 3-4, with powerful, hold-the-fort linemen in the 300-pound range whose primary job was to build a wall at the line of scrimmage. Bigger, physical linebackers played behind them.

It wasn’t the fastest defense, but it had size, played physically, and was fundamentally sound in its run fits and assignments.

This defense still exists; it’s just that we’re seeing less and less of it. And this is where Belichick has come around to a new way of thinking on what is needed in New England.