3-4 Article with Capers quotes

[infantrycak]

Capers is given a lot of credit for helping bring the 3-4 into prominence in the 1990s, massaging it from the style used by some teams in the 1970s and 1980s.

As the defensive coordinator for the Steelers from 1992-94, he helped develop the "Blitzburgh" 3-4 system. That was a 3-4 front that included a heavy dose of zone blitzing behind it. The idea was the confuse the quarterback as to who was coming on each play, blitzing a linebacker, for example, while dropping a defensive lineman into coverage to disrupt the passing lanes. Current Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was the defensive backs coach.

Link

 

[texasguy346]

Very good article. I found the section on how to attack a 3-4 defense was very interesting. The quote from Kerney about how he was getting beat up as an OLB last year when the Falcons were a 3-4 should illustrate why Dan Cody might not be suited well for a 3-4 defense. I was a bit surprised to learn that Minnesota is one of the teams considering switching to a 3-4. It just doesn't seem to me that they have the LBs needed for it. All in all it was a great read.

 

[nunusguy]

Tha'ts a real good 3-4 article Infantrycak. I think it's more than a coincidence that all the 3-4 (or almost all of them) are American Conference
teams, inarguably the superior circuit in the NFL.

 

[Marcus]

The four linebackers are the key. The up-front guys are asked to occupy blockers to free up the linebackers to make the plays. The outside linebackers are usually the playmakers off the edge, the pass-rush specialists.

Just from watching what those 4 linebackers (Bruschi, Johnson, Vrabel, and McGinnest) did to Manning and gang, I'd say that was one of the best advertisements of the 3-4 that I've ever seen.

I can't believe Dallas is thinking about switching to the 3-4. That's the first I've heard about that one.