Snow/Rhule Might Be On To Something

[Untouchable]

While it might seem crazy to look to the Big 12 for ideas on stopping offenses it actually makes perfect sense.  If anyone wants to keep their job there then they have to get creative to stop those spread offenses taking over the game.  Offseason moves at safety at least suggest that a 3 high safety in the back end could on the horizon here.  Reid's coverage skills were an issue so he's shown the door.  Enter versatile safeties Juston Burris and Jeremy Chinn to play on either side of the newly resigned FS/middle safety Tre Boston (and add Kenny Robinson to back him up).  I'm sure we'll see this look but no idea if it will be the staple it was a Baylor or just a wrinkle like some of the other creative concepts that have come out of college lately.

If you can't get through the PFF paywall, the Riot Report has you covered.

[Mr. Scot]

As long as it's not 11 safeties...

[MMA]

[DCR]

I haven't checked , but I thought we played 4 linemen, 2 linebackers & 5 defensive backs more than 4-3-4 last season.

If Chinn is good enough , put him on the field and the offense can guess whether he's playing linebacker or safety.

 

 

[Khyber53]

Going up against Brees, Brady and Ryan for six games in the coming season should let us know really quickly how big of a wrinkle this could be to the new game. In a pass happy division (and league) this could be big. 

I just hope Brown and KK can really stop the run, though.

[saX man]

8 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Going up against Brees, Brady and Ryan for six games in the coming season should let us know really quickly how big of a wrinkle this could be to the new game. In a pass happy division (and league) this could be big. 

I just hope Brown and KK can really stop the run, though.

This is why the Brown & GM picks are so mint.  We suddenly have a DL to get excited about again.

GM-Brown-Short-Burns has a ton of promise.  Just need to figure out who moves in for KK next year if/when he leaves.

[philit99]

35 minutes ago, DCR said:

I haven't checked , but I thought we played 4 linemen, 2 linebackers & 5 defensive backs more than 4-3-4 last season.

If Chinn is good enough , put him on the field and the offense can guess whether he's playing linebacker or safety.

 

 

This is the main reason we traded up for Chinn, to play defensive chess. He is a stud as well.

[run-run-pass-punt]

Evolution at work on the gridiron.

I'm surprised we haven't seen more major (defensive) shifts at the NFL level, given the way the offensive game is so heavily favored.

I think having hybrid players like Chinn/Simmons is the way forward at the second level/secondary. Just having that flexibility in coverage/in the box is so valuable. If you can couple those type of players with a stout, run-stuffing, chaos causing line, you've got something.

 

[LinvilleGorge]

I don't think I've ever seen the three high safety look with a four man front. IMO, one of the most intriguing elements about this season is exactly what our defensive system is going to look like.

[bababoey]

The article on the riot said they played the 3 deep look like 70% of the time at Baylor.  That can work in the "throw the ball all over the place" Big 12.  In the NFL, not so much.  Having said that, if you used it on 2nd and 3rd and long kind of looks it could work.  It's a good way of disguising coverage and you give the QB the same look on 3 deep, 2 deep, and single high man coverages.  Maybe use if 20 - 30% of the time it could be really effective.  But like everything in the NFL if you run it all the time someone will figure out and then all the teams will copy it and that's the end of the defense.

[Wes21]

43 minutes ago, run-run-pass-punt said:

Evolution at work on the gridiron.

I'm surprised we haven't seen more major (defensive) shifts at the NFL level, given the way the offensive game is so heavily favored.

I think having hybrid players like Chinn/Simmons is the way forward at the second level/secondary. Just having that flexibility in coverage/in the box is so valuable. If you can couple those type of players with a stout, run-stuffing, chaos causing line, you've got something.

 

One thing I've grown to appreciate over the years is how many coaches in the NFL aren't really "football minds," they just learned to do something and got really good at doing it over the years.  When faced with the potential of doing something different, they can't or won't.

Some teams started going to the 3 safety look years ago.  In the NFL alot of times they call it "big nickel."  Here is a random article about it from back in 2014.

https://www.nfl.com/news/big-nickel-package-emerging-as-nfl-s-hottest-defensive-trend-0ap3000000375711

[MMA]

If you go look at the depth chart for a lot of teams, they are showing 3 corners or safeties and taking away the other olb. This ain’t a Rhule and Snow thing. It’s a copycat around the league that a lot of teams are starting to do. Omg Panthers fans. 

[Soul Rebel]

45 minutes ago, Wes21 said:

 

Some teams started going to the 3 safety look years ago.  In the NFL alot of times they call it "big nickel."  Here is a random article about it from back in 2014.

https://www.nfl.com/news/big-nickel-package-emerging-as-nfl-s-hottest-defensive-trend-0ap3000000375711

But the look that Snow is implementing is not a big nickel or Buffalo nickel. We are running 3 safeties, but the third safety (Joker safety) is not lined up in the box as a hybrid LB/S. He may disguise coverage and end up supporting or blitzing, but pre-snap, he is not a big nickel DB. This is the confusion and beauty of the 3 safety look. 

[bythenbrs]

Will the three high safety be a problem with the NFL’s regular drug testing? Asking for a friend.