In a mad rush
A liberal dose
September 06, 2007
Of course Cowboys coach Wade Phillips was kidding, right?
Asked what was the difference between his 3-4 scheme and others -- most specifically the one run by Bill Parcells in Dallas the past two seasons -- he deadpanned:
'You mean besides being better?'
Phillips smiled and the assembled media chuckled along with him.
But don't be naive. Many truths are told in jest, and Phillips truly believes the way he runs the self-titled 'Phillips 3-4' is best.
'All defenses certainly can be successful,' Phillips said. 'I've been in quite a few. I think the way we do it gives our players a chance to do what they do well and to adjust to the players we have using different techniques within the same system.'
Some might question whether the Phillips 3-4 is better than the zone blitz-heavy 3-4 used with great success for a number of years in Pittsburgh.
Some might believe there is no better 3-4 technician than Bill Belichick in New England. Three Super Bowl titles are quite convincing.
All that matters to the Cowboys is that the Phillips 3-4 scheme is better than the one Parcells employed.
Although Parcells won two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants in 1986 and 1990 -- albeit with a host of Hall of Famers and Belichick as his coordinator -- his scheme was criticized in Dallas for being inflexible and outdated.
More pointedly, he refused to adapt the scheme to the talents of the players. And he refused to adjust for obvious deficiencies in personnel or ability.
The Phillips 3-4, which dates to Phillips' days with the Houston Oilers in the 1970s and was greatly influenced by Buddy Ryan's 46 defense, is known mostly for its aggressive, attacking philosophy.
Phillips utilizes stunts and twists with his defensive linemen. He sends his linebackers after the quarterback like heat-seeking missiles. Blitzing one linebacker is so common in his defense that he doesn't even call it a blitz. That's just standard. More often than not, he will send two or three.
'The definition of the blitz is different with everybody, because when you're playing a 3-4, you only have three down linemen, so a fourth rushes,' Phillips said. 'Always with us, there's going to be a fourth rusher. Some people call that a blitz. Dan Reeves used to call any time you brought a linebacker, that was a blitz. It's only four guys coming, it's not the same as a 4-3.
'If you call that a blitz, then we blitz coming out of the dressing room.'
But the biggest difference with Phillips is he ultimately realizes it's not about the scheme or himself, but the players.
He adapts his defense to fit the individual talents of his players. Different nose tackles will be asked to do different things based on their own abilities. And if there is a certain skill a player has, Phillips will do his best to put that player in position to make the most of his skill.
'It's not really the scheme itself,' Phillips said. 'It's always the players, but you have got to be able to utilize those players, and I think that's what our 3-4 does. The Phillips 3-4 does a little bit more than most defenses and most 3-4s. A lot of them I see only play it one way and that's the only way you play it. You have to plug in a player that can play that way.
'We have the players and then we plug.'
THE PHILLIPS 3-4 vs. THE STANDARD 3-4
Blitzes The Cowboys will bring a linebacker on every play. That is a given. Routinely, they will bring two or three. They will bring regular blitzes and zone blitzes. When they really want to get aggressive, the Cowboys will bring safeties and corners. It's all on the table.
Line stunts Instead of having to engage blockers for the sake of gap control, the defensive linemen will be able to use their athleticism to get to the quarterback. That means twists and stunts up front, which should result in increased production from defensive ends Marcus Spears and Chris Canty.
Adaptability Phillips doesn't try to fit square pegs in round holes. He adapts the scheme to fit the talent of his players. His main focus is to allow the players to do what they do best. Safety Roy Williams will play close to the line of scrimmage. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware will rush on every down.
Speed A number of players have lost weight since last season because Phillips' defense relies more on speed than size. The entire linebacker corps and safety Roy Williams are faster and sleeker. Great pursuit is the foundation of his defense.
It's fun For all the above reasons, players love playing for Phillips and in his scheme. They get to be active. They get a chance to make plays. If players enjoy the scheme, they tend to give maximum effort.
September 06, 2007
Of course Cowboys coach Wade Phillips was kidding, right?
Asked what was the difference between his 3-4 scheme and others -- most specifically the one run by Bill Parcells in Dallas the past two seasons -- he deadpanned:
'You mean besides being better?'
Phillips smiled and the assembled media chuckled along with him.
But don't be naive. Many truths are told in jest, and Phillips truly believes the way he runs the self-titled 'Phillips 3-4' is best.
'All defenses certainly can be successful,' Phillips said. 'I've been in quite a few. I think the way we do it gives our players a chance to do what they do well and to adjust to the players we have using different techniques within the same system.'
Some might question whether the Phillips 3-4 is better than the zone blitz-heavy 3-4 used with great success for a number of years in Pittsburgh.
Some might believe there is no better 3-4 technician than Bill Belichick in New England. Three Super Bowl titles are quite convincing.
All that matters to the Cowboys is that the Phillips 3-4 scheme is better than the one Parcells employed.
Although Parcells won two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants in 1986 and 1990 -- albeit with a host of Hall of Famers and Belichick as his coordinator -- his scheme was criticized in Dallas for being inflexible and outdated.
More pointedly, he refused to adapt the scheme to the talents of the players. And he refused to adjust for obvious deficiencies in personnel or ability.
The Phillips 3-4, which dates to Phillips' days with the Houston Oilers in the 1970s and was greatly influenced by Buddy Ryan's 46 defense, is known mostly for its aggressive, attacking philosophy.
Phillips utilizes stunts and twists with his defensive linemen. He sends his linebackers after the quarterback like heat-seeking missiles. Blitzing one linebacker is so common in his defense that he doesn't even call it a blitz. That's just standard. More often than not, he will send two or three.
'The definition of the blitz is different with everybody, because when you're playing a 3-4, you only have three down linemen, so a fourth rushes,' Phillips said. 'Always with us, there's going to be a fourth rusher. Some people call that a blitz. Dan Reeves used to call any time you brought a linebacker, that was a blitz. It's only four guys coming, it's not the same as a 4-3.
'If you call that a blitz, then we blitz coming out of the dressing room.'
But the biggest difference with Phillips is he ultimately realizes it's not about the scheme or himself, but the players.
He adapts his defense to fit the individual talents of his players. Different nose tackles will be asked to do different things based on their own abilities. And if there is a certain skill a player has, Phillips will do his best to put that player in position to make the most of his skill.
'It's not really the scheme itself,' Phillips said. 'It's always the players, but you have got to be able to utilize those players, and I think that's what our 3-4 does. The Phillips 3-4 does a little bit more than most defenses and most 3-4s. A lot of them I see only play it one way and that's the only way you play it. You have to plug in a player that can play that way.
'We have the players and then we plug.'
THE PHILLIPS 3-4 vs. THE STANDARD 3-4
Blitzes The Cowboys will bring a linebacker on every play. That is a given. Routinely, they will bring two or three. They will bring regular blitzes and zone blitzes. When they really want to get aggressive, the Cowboys will bring safeties and corners. It's all on the table.
Line stunts Instead of having to engage blockers for the sake of gap control, the defensive linemen will be able to use their athleticism to get to the quarterback. That means twists and stunts up front, which should result in increased production from defensive ends Marcus Spears and Chris Canty.
Adaptability Phillips doesn't try to fit square pegs in round holes. He adapts the scheme to fit the talent of his players. His main focus is to allow the players to do what they do best. Safety Roy Williams will play close to the line of scrimmage. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware will rush on every down.
Speed A number of players have lost weight since last season because Phillips' defense relies more on speed than size. The entire linebacker corps and safety Roy Williams are faster and sleeker. Great pursuit is the foundation of his defense.
It's fun For all the above reasons, players love playing for Phillips and in his scheme. They get to be active. They get a chance to make plays. If players enjoy the scheme, they tend to give maximum effort.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:19 AM
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