DMN: Gosselin: Super 'D' of choice: 3-4
Scheme can win championships, but it takes talent to run it
01:18 AM CST on Saturday, January 13, 2007
BALTIMORE – The Cowboys have the right idea on defense. But the Chargers, Patriots and Ravens have the right players.
Six NFL teams used a 3-4 scheme as their base defense in 2006 and half of them have reached the conference semifinal playoff round. This comes on the heels of 3-4 defenses winning the last three Super Bowls.
The Cowboys finished 13th in the NFL in defense and 10th against the run this season. Four NFL teams played better 3-4s.
The Baltimore Ravens finished first in defense and second against the run. The New England Patriots finished sixth in defense and fifth against the run, and the San Diego Chargers finished 10th in defense and seventh against the run. All three teams play this weekend for the right to advance to the AFC Championship Game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers also fielded a Top 10 defense with their 3-4, finishing ninth overall and third against the run but failed to qualify for the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
The Steelers did win the Super Bowl last season with a defense that ranked in the top 5 overall and against the run. The Patriots won Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004, with defenses that ranked in the top 10 overall and against the run.
The only other NFL team to play a 3-4 in 2006 was the Cleveland Browns, who were still filling the slots of the scheme in coach Romeo Crennel's second season as head coach. The Browns, who started three rookies at linebacker, finished 27th in defense on the way to a 4-12 record.
AP
San Diego's Shawne Merriman (left) and Baltimore's Terrell Suggs made the Pro Bowl as 3-4 defenders. The Cowboys couldn't muster a pass rush with their 3-4, especially after the loss of outside linebacker Greg Ellis at midseason. The Cowboys managed 34 sacks. The Browns were worse with 28 sacks.
The 3-4 has long been a great pass-rush scheme. The Giants under Bill Parcells set a franchise record with 68 sacks in 1985 with Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor leading the charge. The Steelers, Ravens and Chargers have all led the NFL in sacks this decade in their 3-4s.
In fact, the Chargers and Ravens finished 1-2 in sacks this season. San Diego collected 61, Baltimore set a franchise record with 60, and New England finished fifth with 44.
When the quarterback does get the ball out of his hand, the 3-4 is an opportunistic defense. Seven NFL teams intercepted 20 or more passes this season and three of them played a 3-4. The Ravens led with 28 interceptions, the Patriots picked off 22 and the Steelers 20.
The 3-4 is a linebacker-driven scheme and the Cowboys don't have enough difference-makers there. Baltimore's four starting linebackers combined for 35 sacks. So did San Diego's. Dallas got 18½ from theirs.
The Ravens had two linebackers selected for the Pro Bowl, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas. The Chargers had two linebackers in double figures in sacks, Shawne Merriman (17) and Shaun Phillips (11½).
There were three interior linemen selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team and all came off 3-4 defenses – Casey Hampton of the Steelers, Richard Seymour of the Patriots and Jamal Williams of the Chargers. That's where the run defense starts in a 3-4.
In addition, defensive end Trevor Pryce was passed over for the Pro Bowl at Baltimore despite serving as an anchor in the AFC's best run defense and posting 13 sacks. But Baltimore did have two Pro Bowl selections in the defensive backfield, cornerback Chris McAlister and safety Ed Reed.
Four Pro Bowlers and two others who probably should have made it – Pryce and inside linebacker Bart Scott – explains why the Ravens fielded the best defense in the NFL this season.
It also explains why the Ravens are playing at home today against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC semifinals. The Chargers are playing at home Sunday against the Patriots.
Maybe one day the 3-4 defense can return the Cowboys to the conference semifinal round as well. But first Parcells must upgrade the talent level, particularly at linebacker.
Great linebacking makes for a great 3-4 defense. The Ravens have it. The Giants had it in the 1980s. The Cowboys don't have it. DeMarcus Ware can't do it all. Even Taylor had Carl Banks and Harry Carson to give him a hand.
01:18 AM CST on Saturday, January 13, 2007
BALTIMORE – The Cowboys have the right idea on defense. But the Chargers, Patriots and Ravens have the right players.
Six NFL teams used a 3-4 scheme as their base defense in 2006 and half of them have reached the conference semifinal playoff round. This comes on the heels of 3-4 defenses winning the last three Super Bowls.
The Cowboys finished 13th in the NFL in defense and 10th against the run this season. Four NFL teams played better 3-4s.
The Baltimore Ravens finished first in defense and second against the run. The New England Patriots finished sixth in defense and fifth against the run, and the San Diego Chargers finished 10th in defense and seventh against the run. All three teams play this weekend for the right to advance to the AFC Championship Game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers also fielded a Top 10 defense with their 3-4, finishing ninth overall and third against the run but failed to qualify for the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
The Steelers did win the Super Bowl last season with a defense that ranked in the top 5 overall and against the run. The Patriots won Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004, with defenses that ranked in the top 10 overall and against the run.
The only other NFL team to play a 3-4 in 2006 was the Cleveland Browns, who were still filling the slots of the scheme in coach Romeo Crennel's second season as head coach. The Browns, who started three rookies at linebacker, finished 27th in defense on the way to a 4-12 record.
AP
San Diego's Shawne Merriman (left) and Baltimore's Terrell Suggs made the Pro Bowl as 3-4 defenders. The Cowboys couldn't muster a pass rush with their 3-4, especially after the loss of outside linebacker Greg Ellis at midseason. The Cowboys managed 34 sacks. The Browns were worse with 28 sacks.
The 3-4 has long been a great pass-rush scheme. The Giants under Bill Parcells set a franchise record with 68 sacks in 1985 with Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor leading the charge. The Steelers, Ravens and Chargers have all led the NFL in sacks this decade in their 3-4s.
In fact, the Chargers and Ravens finished 1-2 in sacks this season. San Diego collected 61, Baltimore set a franchise record with 60, and New England finished fifth with 44.
When the quarterback does get the ball out of his hand, the 3-4 is an opportunistic defense. Seven NFL teams intercepted 20 or more passes this season and three of them played a 3-4. The Ravens led with 28 interceptions, the Patriots picked off 22 and the Steelers 20.
The 3-4 is a linebacker-driven scheme and the Cowboys don't have enough difference-makers there. Baltimore's four starting linebackers combined for 35 sacks. So did San Diego's. Dallas got 18½ from theirs.
The Ravens had two linebackers selected for the Pro Bowl, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas. The Chargers had two linebackers in double figures in sacks, Shawne Merriman (17) and Shaun Phillips (11½).
There were three interior linemen selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team and all came off 3-4 defenses – Casey Hampton of the Steelers, Richard Seymour of the Patriots and Jamal Williams of the Chargers. That's where the run defense starts in a 3-4.
In addition, defensive end Trevor Pryce was passed over for the Pro Bowl at Baltimore despite serving as an anchor in the AFC's best run defense and posting 13 sacks. But Baltimore did have two Pro Bowl selections in the defensive backfield, cornerback Chris McAlister and safety Ed Reed.
Four Pro Bowlers and two others who probably should have made it – Pryce and inside linebacker Bart Scott – explains why the Ravens fielded the best defense in the NFL this season.
It also explains why the Ravens are playing at home today against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC semifinals. The Chargers are playing at home Sunday against the Patriots.
Maybe one day the 3-4 defense can return the Cowboys to the conference semifinal round as well. But first Parcells must upgrade the talent level, particularly at linebacker.
Great linebacking makes for a great 3-4 defense. The Ravens have it. The Giants had it in the 1980s. The Cowboys don't have it. DeMarcus Ware can't do it all. Even Taylor had Carl Banks and Harry Carson to give him a hand.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:07 AM
<< Home