Could This Be The Defense Of The Future?

[KatsAzz]

Could this be the defense of the future and one the Panthers may need to limplement?

Going back to the 1970's, NFL teams have used one of 2 types of base defenses (along with nickle and dime packages, and other special formations), the 4-3 or the 3-4, but are things about to change?

The spread offense has taken over college football, and it may soon come to the NFL. NFL teams already use 3, 4, and 5 WR sets at times. In response to the spread offense, several new base defenses are starting to appear, that are designed to stop the spread offense. TCU has used a 4-2-5, William & Mary uses a 3-3-5, and for all I know some team might even be using a 5-1-5. These defensive changes are because teams need a 3rd CB to cover the extra WR's that are now used. That's even why the Panthers wanted Charles Godfrey and Sherrod Martin, FS's that can also play CB, so they can shift over to cover the 3rd WR.

Much debate has taken place on this forum about what type of defense the Panthers should use next year, the 4-3, or the 3-4. In the past 3-4 teams may have had a draft advantage, because few teams used the 3-4, but next season almost half of the NFL will use the 3-4, and any draft advantage will be gone. NFL teams have used special nickle and dime packages to cover these extra WR's, but it won't be long before more NFL offenses start using a no huddle offense, to prevent these defensive substitutions. Once that happens, NFL teams will have to develop a new defense to stop these multiple WR sets, that doesn't require player substitutions.

That new NFL defense, using the same 11 players, will need to be able to play a 3, 4, or 5 man front, 4 or 5 (maybe even 6) DB's, and any combination of 0 to 4 LB's, so the offense will not know what defense they will face almost until the play starts. Here is what such a defense might look like (position and player size):

LDE - (280-295) can play both 3-4 and 4-3 DE

LNT - (320+) a typical NT

RDT/RDE - (295-310) a 4-3 DT who can also play 3-4 DE

RDE/ROLB - (255-275) a small 4-3 DE who can drop to 3-4 OLB

LOLB - (235-250) a 3-4 OLB with good cover skills who can also blitz

MLB - (235-250) a typical MLB with speed to cover LB zones with LOLB

ROLB/RILB/SS - (220-235) a big SS with speed who can also play LB

LCB - (180-205) a typical CB

SS/FS/CB - (200-215) a S who can cover WR's

FS/CB - (195-210) a S who can cover WR's

RCB - (180-205) a typical CB

This defense sort of takes the 3-4 defense a step further, more than just 2 small pass rushing DE's playing OLB, who lack very good pass coverage skills (because of their size). It used to be that it was hard to find 3-4 OLB's, but not their is almost an overstock of such players in college. FS's with CB cover skills are becoming more common, but it's harder to find SS's that can cover WR's. The hardest player to find is SS/LB, because players over 6-2 or 6-3, and 215, often lack good pass cover skills, but the Cowboys SS Roy Williams made several Pro Bowls as a good run stopper, with poor cover skills.

[pstall]

I can totally see this happening.

Its West Coast on steroids right now. Look for smash mouth to also make a comeback to limit touches for the other teams offense.

Its stuff like this why I like football so much. There is more game within the game going on.

[Darth Hater]

Anything but Cover 2!

[Brandon]

Anything but Cover 2!

Teams are going have to switch to more of a Cover 2 man under scheme if they want to keep the safeties deep.

To be honest though the current best defense in the NFL is a zone blitz scheme, but they are so hard to effectively run without a very good coordinator... (Capers, LeBeau, etc)

[TerriblePizza]

South Carolina uses this defense to some effect (Top 15 in the Nation the past two years in total defense). Its weak against the run, but very good against those spread formations.

[Darth Hater]

Anything but Cover 2 in Chicago!

fixed.