The Mind-Boggling Multiplicity of NFL Defenses

[Playoffs]

Don’t Stop Frontin’: The Mind-Boggling Multiplicity of NFL Defenses

Right now, in the exact moment before that ball is snapped, what’s important is the group of four men about to tear after Manning — on this play and most of the 60-plus after that.

[IMGwidthsize=600]http://espngrantland.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/seahawks-d1.png?w=765[/IMG]

Not a single one of the four tips the scale at 300 pounds. Clinton McDonald, second from the right and the de facto nose tackle, is closest at 297. He’s also one of the three undrafted free agents in the group. Every team in the league passed on three of the four linemen starting in the Super Bowl for the best defense in football. All three have been cut during their careers — Michael Bennett, second from the left, by the previous Seahawks regime. Chris Clemons, furthest to the right, played for three teams before coming to Seattle. All this matters, but it isn’t exactly the point.

[IMGwidthsize=600]http://espngrantland.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/seahawks-d2.png?w=765[/IMG]

These are the Seahawks two weeks earlier, in nearly the exact same scenario. It’s their first defensive snap in the season’s most important game to date — the NFC Championship Game against San Francisco. The only difference is, well … everything. Instead of no linemen hitting the 300-pound mark, they have two. The alignment is still technically a 4-3, but Brandon Mebane (92) is lined up like a 3-4 nose tackle. “Defensive end” Red Bryant (79) and McDaniel (99) are aligned in nearly the same spot on opposite sides of the defense. The only consistent piece is ol’ Clemons (91), back on the far right side of the line...

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

In a league with quarterbacks like Manning and the host of formations offenses use today, the ability to react to those tactics with games of your own is essential. “I think defense is reactionary,” says Ray Horton, the newly hired Titans defensive coordinator. “We have to react to what we see on the other side of the field. It’s critical. I think if you line up in one thing, they kill you.”

Exactly why last year our D got killed.

 

[drs23]

Most interesting PO, thanks for posting. Sounds like a lot of the things that Bill O'brien has been saying from day one. I like it.

 

[WolverineFan]

If you're interested in defense then you should do a little bit of research into Carroll's defense in Seattle. It's insane how versatile they are.

They can switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 without subbing personnel. They will line up in a 4-3 look and run a 3-4 set and vice versa. Also, despite running a ton of base Cover 3, they will run a ton of other coverage's out of that look that befuddle QB's. Their DB's are damn good and insanely well coached. Also, look at how versatile some of their front seven players are. K.J. Wright seemingly plays a different LB position in every sub-package, Cliff Avril plays both LB & DE, Michael Bennett plays both DT and DE in base packages, etc.

They also look for specific skill sets in their players which is why they have a ton of unheralded guys playing big roles on their team. These guys are so good for Seattle because their skills are perfectly suited for what Seattle is asking them to do. You see a lot of teams draft great talents who don't fit into their defense schematically and don't perform to expectations. You'll rarely see Seattle do this. They'll pass on that freak and take a guy in the 4th round who is a perfect fit for what they want and the guy ends up producing out of his mind.