Anyone who thinks Tomlin or Colbert are going anywhere

[steelerkeylargo]

Technical differences between the 2-gap and 1-gap 3-4-
The 2-gap alignment puts both Ends in 4-techniques on the offensive Tackle’s head. The NG plays a 0 tech, on the Center’s head. Both offensive guards are uncovered by linemen, creating two bubbles over both guards in the defensive alignment. Inside LBs stand over the bubble in any defensive front to keep it gap-sound. See figure 2.
The gap that the DL attack is selected based on the release of the blocker. They wait to see which way he goes, and then squeeze the gap. If the OL goes outside, you squeeze his outer half – meaning you push him into the direction that makes the hole on his outside smaller. If he goes inside, you squeeze his inner half. You are tightening up the hole the RB intends to enter and keeping that OL off the LB who is supposed to make the tackle.
When you play a 2-gap 3-4 this way, you really need mammoth defensive linemen, and in particular the NG. They all have to control that blocker and be able to tackle on either side of him, which is difficult to do. The NG in any 3-4, 1 or 2-gap, is the most important player on the defensive front. Any 3-4 team without a good NG will have a bad run defense (see Georgia Tech).
Additionally, with 2 linebackers covering two bubbles, you require big inside backers who can handle a block from a guard on every play in the event that your linemen cannot keep them free.
The type of coverage and defense they then play, in part due to the size, is usually a read-and-react style. Defenses like this drop the linebackers in zone coverage most of the time and usually only one of the outside ‘backers is a "Rush" linebacker, who attacks off the edge to generate a 4-man pass rush. The most prominent example of this style nowadays is the New England Patriots. The contrary example of a blitzing two-gap 3-4 would be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The one-gap version is set up as a more aggressive style of defense on every snap. I believe much of it can be accredited to Bum Phillips. His son Wade runs it still today. It is very closely analogous to Under front 4-3. Most pro teams that do not use the 3-4 are playing the Under. The two defenses are very similar

Like the Under defense, the one-gap 3-4 plays plenty of Cover 1 MAN coverage, with the idea being that the added QB pressure allows them to take a few risks in the pass defense. The Free Safety (FS) covers the deep middle of the field while the cornerbacks (CB) have man coverage outside and attempt to funnel their opponent towards the middle of the field where they have help.
Others continue the coverage schemes of the Pittsburgh Steelers with the zone blitz and matchup zone coverage. .
Matchup zone coverage is also called combination coverage. It is analogous to matchup zone in basketball: you are assigned a zone to defend, but any man who enters that zone is picked up man/man. The other type of zone is called spot-drop zone, where a defender drops to a spot on the field and remains there with his eyes on the QB so he can react to any throw.UGA plays a mix of combination coverage and man/man coverage schemes, but is primarily a C2 zone defense with rolling C3 against spread formations in their Nickel package. Since the one-gap 3-4 g defense like the Under 4-3, the man coverage isimarily based on man/man pressing packages using a single high safety and a "robber" underneath that is usually a linebacker. In any man/man scheme, the cover man is aligned with the correct leverage to funnel his receiver inside to the FS or to the boundary – i.e., towards the cover man’s best help. An alternative commonly used is 2 Man, with dual high safeties, that operates on the same concept.
Blitzes
Teams that use 3-4 schemes do use a few more zone blitz packages compared to Under 4-3 teams because in the case of the 3-4 you are usually blitzing and dropping linebackers, whereas in the 4-3 you’re dropping a DE. Zone blitz schemes catch the quarterback off-guard by dropping players into coverage where he assumes there will be a mismatch or uncovered zone because he reads a blitz. To be sound, and not give up big plays, they almost always have Cover 3 coverage behind them with a rotation of the coverage to one side (e.g., quarter-quarter-half instead of 1/3-1/3-1/3).
Now we want to illustrate a few blitzes from the 30-series fronts, both man/man and zone blitzes. There are obviously endless ways to blitz a QB and all have been thought of, but the choice of who to blitz and who to drop really depends on the individual talents of the player. It’s up to the coaching staff to identify those talents and utilize them the best way to win the ballgame.
The first simple blitz is a Combo blitz that alters based on the formation the offense shows. It can be a 2-gapped front or 1-gap. The secondary is in Cover 1 coverage and both OLBs blitz outside. When the offense presents a 2-back formation, the inside LBs take the first back that comes out to their side in man coverage. If one of them blocks, the free LB becomes a Robber.

At the end of the day Grantham's 3-4 is more a 1 gap/hybrid 3-4 vs. LeBeau's 2 gap sheme. The coverages played in college are more Vanilla behind the front seven and the NFL schemes ask more from the 3-4 backers in a wider array of schemes than in the college game.

[steelerkeylargo]

In the immortal words of Robert Shaw. "Don't you tell me about my business again"!!

[BradshawsHairdresser]

SKL, that was a good, readable explanation...

[Dee Dub]

In the immortal words of Robert Shaw. "Don't you tell me about my business again"!!

This is what I thought you would do. Nice history on the 3-4 defense. You basically wasted time explaining how it works. Most Steeler fans could ahve told you most of that. But that isn't what I asked. I asked you to prove what the differences are between LeBeau and Saban's 3-4 and also what were all these new wrinkles that everyone keeps saying LeBeau comes up with.

You need not continue. You have a misspoke. Saban ( and Grantham who learned his 3-4 under Saban), do not run a 1 gap hybrid 3-4. You are completely wrong.

Read for yourself....

Several years ago, [URL="http://www.smartfootball.com/"]Smart Football[/URL] posted an excerpt from Saban's LSU playbook. While the post has

The Nose Tackle
While outside linebackers are the star playmakers in a 3-4 defense, the nose tackle is the most critical in executing the defensive concept. The nose tackle lines up over the center and has gap responsibility for the entire space from the inside shoulder of the left guard to the inside shoulder of the right guard.


Defensive Ends
In the base 3-4, the defensive end does not play in the Deacon Jones style classic edge rusher mold. 3-4 ends are more like defensive tackles. Similar to the nose tackle, the defensive ends have two-gap responsibility. The defensive end must occupy the gaps to the inside and outside shoulder of the tackle.

[URL]http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2013/june/17/alabamas-3-4-defense-d-line-basics[/URL]And as far as saying they play a vanilla coverage behind their 3-4, again you are completely wrong and really do not have any idea what you are talking about.

From the Holy Grail of defense, the 2001 LSU Playbook (Saban's defense)...


In the subsequent posts, we'll look at the various types of coverages Saban employs, and the fundamental elements that make them work.
Of the most noteable elements to his instruction to defensive backs is what he calls "position maintenance". This is a defenders leverage on a receiver in relation to his position with the field and other defenders.

Divide And Conquer
The first thing Saban will teach his defensive backs is understanding their "divider". The divider simply divides the field in relation to the deep safety to the split receiver. More can be read/watched about the divider [URL="http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2009/08/boo-yah-route-reading-pattern-match.html"]here[/URL]. The divider exists 1 yard inside the top of the numbers on the field. These numbers are 2 yards tall, so the 'top' exists at 9 yards from the sideline, and the 'bottom' exists at 7 yards from the sideline. The defensive back uses the divider to position himself to either cut off or funnel the receiver to his deep safety help. According to Saban, to be a good defense, you HAVE to be able to take away the middle of the field. This forces an offense to throw it short and in the flat.

As the distance from the sideline to the hash is 17.8 yards, the divider essentially cuts the 1/3rd of the field in half to put the defensive back in the best possible position to discourage/leverage throws.

For instance, if a receiver aligns outside the divider (on the numbers), the defensive back should align inside the receiver. If the receiver aligns inside the divider (contracted split), the defensive back should align outside the receiver (relative to the position of the divider). This alignment rule discourages wide seams (distance between receiver and deep safety) from being created down the field.

Position Maintenance
Once the defensive back aligns properly, he moves on to "position maintenance". Using the divider as a rule, extending all the way down the field, once the receiver stems into his route the defender must maintain his divider leverage on the receiver.
If the receiver stems outside with the corner already aligned outside, the corner should be inside the receiver (as the receiver extends the distance between himself and the safety). Conversely, if stems inside, the corner should maintain his horizontal position of outside leverage.


The next phase of position maintenance involves their horizontal and vertical adjustments relative to the coverage.
When a receiver stems outside, the zone defender can turn his butt outside because he ends up in a half-turn with his eyes in a position to see the receiver and quarterback. When you turn your hips/butt inside (away from the ball), you no longer are looking at the ball. To adjust to this, Saban has his defensive backs shuffle / slide inside with a heel-to-toe 'waltz'. The only thing that can hurt the defender now, is when the recevier disappears while he's in a half-turn (drop out / bench route). The defender cannot turn back in and chase (from a backpedal, plant, and drive) - this would take too long and he would lose the receiver. The defender should 'roll' into the receiver (open to the sideline). This particular technique was highlighted recently in an [URL="http://smartfootball.com/defense/nick-saban-schools-you-on-how-to-play-pass-coverage"]Alabama press conference[/URL] after a game against FIU and Rusty Smith.
The divider rules stay consistent in zone coverage, but what about when it is man-free (C1), what changes for the defensive back? The vertical position on the receiver.
When the receiver stems inside the divider in C1, the corner has deep help inside, therefore the corner can maintain a 'low-shoulder' (trail) position on the receiver. The rationale is, if there is safety help, there is no need to stay high on a receiver. The only route left for the corner to defend is the "corner" route, so the defensive back is in perfect position to cut off this throw. If a defensive back has help inside, he is going to play outside leverage and low-shoulder.
Conversely, if the receiver stems outside, the corner's position should be inside and high. By maintaining a 'high-shoulder' position on a receiver, the defensive back can control the speed of the receiver with the outside arm/hand while he cuts off the inside throw. The principle is the same no matter the coverage.
This all plays into what Saban defines as being "in phase" with a receiver (which essentially is the position of being close enough to touch the receiver) and gives the defensive back a guideline on how to play the ball based on his vertical position. When a corner is "high-shoulder" leverage, he is "in-phase" with the receiver, putting him in position to be a receiver to play the ball.
[URL]http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2009/10/nick-saban-middle-of-field-safety.html[/URL]

[Dee Dub]

There's more...

Nick Saban: Middle of the Field Safety Coverage Principles (part II - Cover 3)



Cover 3

Saban installs all versions of three-deep zone (buzz, sky, cloud, etc) all at the same time. Citing his work with Bill Belichick, Al Groh, Jim Bates, Rick Venturi, and WoodyWidenhofer, he explains the simplicity of Cover 3 concepts;

What he's referring to is the variations of who is the force (flat) defender in the coverage. This could be the corner (cloud), the safety (sky), or the backer (buzz).

With a 4 man front, you will end up with 4 underneath defenders

• curl to flat
• hook
• hook to curl
• flat

What makes it so simple?

The bottom line how the defenders relate to pattern distribution and who is controlling the two deep vertical seams in Cover 3. He will take corners, safeties, and linebackers and teaches them how to control the seams (protecting the seams in C3 is vital to the success of the coverage as 4 verticals is the only pass that can hurt you) as the curl-to-flat player relating to the #1 receiver pattern (who ends up being the first receiver outside once the receivers run their routes).

With middle of the field coverage, the breaking point lays in the seams (pictured). The major liabilities attacking the seams will be the #2 receiver(s). Saban's philosophy states that there are really only 3 types of passes that can be run with the vertical seam being run #2 (double-seams / Smash / and Seam + Out or 'pole'). The strong safety should drop into the seam at 10 yards, which intersects a vertical stem of #2.

Saban teaches and stress three important concepts to his defenders

• drop to area / reroute receivers (deflect receivers from finding the weak spots of the coverage)
• match pattern distribution
• break on the ball

The pattern match concept he relies so heavily on can be found [URL="http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2009/08/boo-yah-route-reading-pattern-match.html"]here[/URL], but a brief overview of this can be seen below. Before the pattern distribution, the receivers are numbered from the sideline.

After the snap, the routes are run and the receivers are distributed through the defensive zones.

THIS is the distribution of the pattern. From this distribution, the curl-to-flat defender expands to the #1 widest shallow receiver, the S to the #2 shallow receiver. This is not landmark dropping (though landmarks do give a proper depth/spacing to relate to the final distribution) this is "finding work" and the proper route to attack.

The corner leverage in Cover 3 was covered in the [URL="http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2009/10/nick-saban-middle-of-field-safety.html"]first installment[/URL]. The Free Safety (middle of the field) technique Saban stresses is keeping the shoulders square to the line of scrimmage while back pedalling and attacking the ball.

The worst thing a safety can do is roll his shoulders and commit to a side, thereby opening the cut-back and/or over pursuing to the perimeter. He likens it to playing running back, that a safety should attack the point of attack in much the same way, keeping the shoulders square and balanced into the fit.

[Dee Dub]

..and more...

Nick Saban: Middle of the Field Safety Coverage Principles (part III - Cover 1)

Cover 1

Just like it sounds, man-free coverage is man-to-man defense with a free safety in the deep hole (and a linebacker in the shallow hole). Players simply line up and play the respective man across from them.

1. Corners always take the first receiver outside (and use the MOF divider just like in C3)
2. The Strong Safety displaces to the second receiver
3. The Mike and Sam play the backs respectively (Sam has first back out strong / Mike has third back)
4. The Will takes the first back out weak or the second receiver weak.

As can be found on page 167 of the LSU playbook, where it explains Cover 1 assignments and adjustments to each formation. The position-maintenance covered in the first section of this series plays a major part in funnelling receivers into the free safety / rat-in-the-hole help and eliminates duplication of effort. With man coverage, there becomes fewer opportunities for interceptions, but it increases the chances of an incompletion.

The main nuance of this coverage has to do with a challenging/conflicting assignments for the backers. Because the main thrust of the defense is to stop the run from the inside out and keeping the defenders playing fast, the premise is to keep the linebackers focused on the backs and TE. Saban uses an alert code (RAT) to prevent a potentially ‘coverage breaking’ route.

“RAT” is used to alert inside backers of the strong safety passing off his responsibility (tight end) to the inside linebackers. When the second receiver (tight end) stems inside (shallow), if the strong safety ran with him, he would be immediately vacating the perimeter (where the run game would likely be attacking) as well as running into the path of the (run game) pursuing linebackers (potential rub/pick). To quickly circumvent this hazard, when the tight end stems inside, the strong safety will declare/yell “RAT!”. “Rat” means a guy is coming into the funnel (is being funneled) and [URL="http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-1-high-kiffin.html"]the remaining defender in the hole should cut/reroute and jump this receiver as he approaches.[/URL]

This call accomplishes two things. First, it alerts the next backer over (Sam) that the strong safety will take his assigned man (first back out), and he should now adjust to the second back out strong. Secondly, it tells the Mike, who is the “rat in the hole” that he is going to have company soon (crossing tight end) and can jump this route as it comes.

This leaves the defense with +1 in the box, putting 3 linebackers on 2 (remaining) backs (see diagram below).

Because the 'rat' rules can be influenced by the first crosser, how does all this shake out in a real-time scenario? How is it all able to remain consistent and adjust to multi-level passing attacks? In the example below, the "shallow" or "NCAA" post/dig concept is utilized to attack the defensive coverage at 3 levels.

The corners obviously eliminate the outside receivers. Because the Y aligns inside the divider and is being funnelled into middle-of-the-field coverage, the strong safety aligns outside and his vertical positioning on him will be low-shoulder (see first post on position maintenance). This puts the strong safety in perfect position to deny the vertical-to-inside breaking dig route (with additional free safety sitting over the top in the deep hole to deny the dig and the post). Because the second receiver immediately takes an inside route (shallow), he is passed off to the rat-in-the-hole (S) who is looking to cut this receiver as he comes across the formation. The flow-side backer (M) to the side the back (F) releases takes his man into the flat/flare. Because the back is accounted for by the absolute 'funnel' rules (2 on 1), the W, who has released his shallow to the rat, is free to ROBOT (Roll and Run to find the seam/TE). Since he is not threatened by #1, #2, or #3 weak, the W, in this concept immediately bails to find the TE and rob the intermediate hole (ROBOT). This provides a 3-level-man-defense against this concept.

Obviously, walking out a linebacker on a weak receiver is not ideal, so what happens if a back motions out of the backfield or you are confronted with a true 1-back set? Do you displace a linebacker and leave yourself vulnerable to inside run? This isn't a good option, therefore a second alternative is offered ("1 Alert").

1 ALERT

Because we just want linebackers matched up with backs and tight end, when confronted with a second receiver weak, “1 Alert” is used to precipitate an adjustment by the safeties. The defense will spin the safeties to the second receiver weak.

1 Alert means the tight end and remaining backs are taken by linebackers. All breaks are taken by safeties. To accommodate or adjust to this, the safeties will spin the coverage (typically away from the TE). Rather than walking out backers, the safeties adjust and the S takes the TE, leaving the M & W on the remaining back (2 on 1, as pictured below).

This essentially slides the backers away from the spin, leaving a 2 on 1 advantage with the linebackers on the remaining back. The linebacker to the side the back releases takes the back, the remaining linebacker becomes the rat in the hole. In summary;

• “Funnel” when LBs have 3 on 2 versus the backs
• “Alert” when LBs have 2 on 1 versus the backs.
  
  
  

[Dee Dub]

I had asked if anyone could tell us what one new thing has been introduced/added to the 3-4 zone blitz in tghe past 40 years, and nobody could. The fact of the matter is there has been one thing that has been added. And it was Nick Saban and Bill Belicheck who did it. It's called "Pattern Match".

Nick Saban, currently the head coach at Alabama, was the defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick when the two were with the Cleveland Browns in the early 1990s. While speaking to high school coaches [URL="http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2010/08/nick-saban-cover-3-adaptation-ripliz-to.html"]at a recent clinic[/URL], Saban summed up the early problems of traditional spot-dropping zone coverage: "Well, when Marino's throwing it, that old break on the ball **** don't work."
The answer that Saban, Belichick, and many others developed was "pattern-match" coverage — essentially man coverage that uses zone principles to identify the matchups. As Saban explained at the [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606791044/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957& creativeASIN=1606791044&linkCode=as2&tag=chrisbrow nsfo-20"]2010 Coach of the Year Clinics Football Manual[/URL] clinic:

You can play coverages in three ways. You can play zone, man, or pattern-match man. Pattern-match man is a coverage that plays the pattern after the pattern distribution. That means you pick up in man coverage after the receivers make their initial breaks and cuts. We number receivers from the outside going inside. If the number-one receiver crosses with the number-two receiver, we do not pick up the man coverage until they define where they are going.

In other words, the zone blitz had come full circle. What began as a way to blitz without playing man coverage had started incorporating man coverage all over again, this time in an entirely new way.
Using pattern-match principles allowed defenses to overcome the deficiencies in both the manic, risk-heavy man-to-man blitzes and the easy-to-exploit soft spots in the zone-coverage scheme. There was now a way to keep the safety of the zone and the tighter coverage of man-to-man. Defenses had finally done for blitzing what Walsh had done for passing — keeping the reward but eliminating the risk.
The nuances of a pattern-match zone blitz are, as one would guess, rather extensive, but the principle is simple. "I had the opportunity to work for [current New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator] Steve Spagnuolo," said University of Pittsburgh secondary coach Matt House at a coaching clinic in Pittsburgh this past summer. "He had a great analogy talking about zone pressure. He said, 'All you do is roll out the basketball and tell the players to play three-on-three.' The players will talk, communicate, and switch on the picks. We do the same thing in zone-dog coverage."
[URL]http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8428129/[/URL]

[Dee Dub]

Now, how anyone could say that Nick Saban runs a vanilla coverage behind his front 7 and that he runs a 1 gap/hybrid 3-4 is someone who really doesn't know what he is talking about.

But it sure sound good, huh?

[steelerkeylargo]

Now, how anyone could say that Nick Saban runs a vanilla coverage behind his front 7 and that he runs a 1 gap/hybrid 3-4 is someone who really doesn't know what he is talking about.

But it sure sound good, huh?

The fact of the matter is this thread got derailed by YOU (because thats what you do) over my belief that Jarvis Jones is not up to speed with LeBeau's schemes. It has nothing to do with "middle of the field safety coverage". I don't care what Nick Saban does at Alabama (just because they coached on the same staff 15 years ago doesn't mean their playbooks are EXACTLY the same). I am talking about Georgia and Todd Grantham. You can cut and paste articles all you want from things you read online. I am talking about what I see from tape and the program that Grantham/Richt run at Georgia (in particular relating to the LBer play from the rush LB spot that Jarvis Jones played and what they ask from that position. I could care less about "middle of the field safety coverage" The bottom line is that if Jones was up to speed he would not be still splitting time with Worilds in situational football. Don't give me the concussion crap either!!! You basically told me I don't know football,and don't know the differences between variations of the 3-4, which is what I have done my whole life. You are a blowhard that does nothing but read articles online posted by amateurs and start threads that "toot your own horn. Anyone who knows me on here knows that I don't get confrontational with anyone and mostly only talk about player evaluation and moves i feel(or have heard) the Steelers should/will make. You are a gasbag who ALWAYS contradicts everything I say. If I say the sky is blue you say no it's not. You always dig up 2 year old posts that say "look at me I told you this would would happen", funny how you never dig up all the utter crap that you post like Matt Barkley is the man or Rahim Moore or Alameda Ta'amu should be our first round pick!!" I have zero time for your nonsense and twisting of facts. Have a nice life and I'm done with you. I am sure some will continue to stroke your ego, but not me.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Now, how anyone could say that Nick Saban runs a vanilla coverage behind his front 7 and that he runs a 1 gap/hybrid 3-4 is someone who really doesn't know what he is talking about.

But it sure sound good, huh?

Uhhh...you might want to go back and read...he was talking about Grantham, not Saban....

But thanks for the very thorough explanation of Saban's coverages. I have learned a bit from reading this thread.

[steelz09]

Funny thing ... I'm sitting here watching Stanford v Oregon .. and it occurs to me that David Shaw, HC at Stanford would be a perfect match for the Steelers. Offensive minded coach (OC for the entirety of Harbaugh's tenure at Stanford) who runs a system that has a nice mix of run and pass.
What interests me about this is seeing if some of the same people who rip Tomlin will rip this idea, and what their basis for doing so would be ... lol

uhhhh... here we go again

[SteelBuckeye]

uhhhh... here we go again

Just saying. I've heard names like Urban Meyer, who runs a system nowhere near what people have stated they want to see. Here's a guy whose system screams STEELERS FOOTBALL ... seems to me his name should have been brought up before by those who want Tomlin gone ... I can't for the life of me figure out why it hasn't been

[BlitzTo7]

Just saying. I've heard names like Urban Meyer, who runs a system nowhere near what people have stated they want to see. Here's a guy whose system screams STEELERS FOOTBALL ... seems to me his name should have been brought up before by those who want Tomlin gone ... I can't for the life of me figure out why it hasn't been

Because Art II made the decision to hire Haley and everyone is afraid of criticizing him?

[SteelBuckeye]

Because Art II made the decision to hire Haley and everyone is afraid of criticizing him?

Just one man's opinion, but I'd take a guy like Shaw over Haley as OC every day of the week and thrice on Sunday! That's assuming you could even get him to listen to such a preposterous idea. Leave a cushy HC job at a place like Stanford for what would amount to less than a lateral move? #wishfulthinking

[Shoe]

With regard to Haley: Anyone here think that coaching is a learning experience unto itself? i.e. You aren't the coach you were five years ago? (Presumably, you have gotten better?)

And given that, since we've invested two years now into Haley, we should look to continue along--instead of changing course, hiring a new OC, and the players having to adapt again? That is what bad teams do.

I mean presumably, those who want Haley gone, also want a change in offensive philosophy (different system). How long before our team grasps that? And how many years do we have in Ben, that we want to blow on him and the offense learning a new system?

Think back to Coughlin way back when, as an example of a coach "improving" or adapting. He had strict rules, in terms of being on time, etc. The GIANTS bristled against it, and the team suffered. But it was only until Coughlin was willing to be more accomodating (of the pro game), that we saw the GIANTS become the team they did. He learned.

I think Haley should be given that opportunity too (and I think he's taken it, to a degree).