DMN Blog: Bigger, Stronger, Faster
by Kevin Burnett
In the 3-4 you must have versatile players who can do a lot. Lineman have to be bigger, linebackers have to be stronger at the point of attack being the line of scrimmage. Speed is always a factor in this game so that goes without saying. Your D-line has to be bigger in order to play off double teams and a hair faster than usual due to the amount of space they have to cover. Linebackers' being bigger allows them to be able to deliver a blow and shock uncovered lineman as they come off of a double team. A faster personnel allows the entire defense to be in position to attack ball carriers on every play.
The biggest key to the 3-4 is PENETRATION. Your nose guard has to play like his hair is on fire every down of every game or else you lose. As most things that work from the inside out without a solid foundation (nose) you are in hot water. The nose is asked to do two things predominately. One take up two blockers and two make the ball carrier commit before he wants to. Here is a good rule of thumb for good nose play. If he doesn't take up two blockers he has to make the play. Why? The nose gets double teamed every play period. If he lets either guard or the center straight up to the second level its imperative that he makes the play. An offenses goal on a running play is to cut off the defense and let the running back find the hole. Cut off meaning stop the flow of the defense or change pursuit angles. So if a guard or the center gets to the second level cutting off the backside linebacker trouble is soon to follow. If you guys are having a hard time following me I will try to do a video blog to help you understand.
When the defense gets cuts off this also means a safety has to make a one on one tackle or slow do the ball carrier to allow pursuit to arrive. Having a safety that can make a one on one tackle (one of the hardest things to do in football) in the open field is rarity, this is what makes Roy so good. Roy plays exceptionally well in the box with a 3-4 this creates 5-3 vs the run. With a 5-3 look someone inside the box cannot be accounted for. The person they cannot account for is most of the time is the safety. Also with a safety coming down into the box, everyone must be on the same page as far as where we want the ball to go. Do we want the ball to go inside, outside are we trying to stop the play in the backfield or do we just want them to punt the football?
What you readers and fans don't get enough of is real insight. Ron Jaworski (Jaws) and Merrill Hodge do an exceptional job at breaking down film and giving fans facts. Some of these other Clowns don't know left from RIGHT.
Workout Warriors
Strongest: Dre, Flow, Tank, Burger, LD
All of which can handle 500+ on the bench easy.
Fastest: T-New, Ball, Glenn, 81
Can flat out run sub 4.4 any day of the week.
Rookies
F. Jones will be a nice change of pace, has nice wiggle through the line and after the catch. Should give average backers hard times in coverage.
Jenkins probably the most game ready of the group, great cover skills has to learn some of the trick of the trade but will be a very good player.
T. Choice will also make his presence felt carrying the ball, should get a chance to show what he can do on special teams.
4-3 breakdown in the afternoon
In the 3-4 you must have versatile players who can do a lot. Lineman have to be bigger, linebackers have to be stronger at the point of attack being the line of scrimmage. Speed is always a factor in this game so that goes without saying. Your D-line has to be bigger in order to play off double teams and a hair faster than usual due to the amount of space they have to cover. Linebackers' being bigger allows them to be able to deliver a blow and shock uncovered lineman as they come off of a double team. A faster personnel allows the entire defense to be in position to attack ball carriers on every play.
The biggest key to the 3-4 is PENETRATION. Your nose guard has to play like his hair is on fire every down of every game or else you lose. As most things that work from the inside out without a solid foundation (nose) you are in hot water. The nose is asked to do two things predominately. One take up two blockers and two make the ball carrier commit before he wants to. Here is a good rule of thumb for good nose play. If he doesn't take up two blockers he has to make the play. Why? The nose gets double teamed every play period. If he lets either guard or the center straight up to the second level its imperative that he makes the play. An offenses goal on a running play is to cut off the defense and let the running back find the hole. Cut off meaning stop the flow of the defense or change pursuit angles. So if a guard or the center gets to the second level cutting off the backside linebacker trouble is soon to follow. If you guys are having a hard time following me I will try to do a video blog to help you understand.
When the defense gets cuts off this also means a safety has to make a one on one tackle or slow do the ball carrier to allow pursuit to arrive. Having a safety that can make a one on one tackle (one of the hardest things to do in football) in the open field is rarity, this is what makes Roy so good. Roy plays exceptionally well in the box with a 3-4 this creates 5-3 vs the run. With a 5-3 look someone inside the box cannot be accounted for. The person they cannot account for is most of the time is the safety. Also with a safety coming down into the box, everyone must be on the same page as far as where we want the ball to go. Do we want the ball to go inside, outside are we trying to stop the play in the backfield or do we just want them to punt the football?
What you readers and fans don't get enough of is real insight. Ron Jaworski (Jaws) and Merrill Hodge do an exceptional job at breaking down film and giving fans facts. Some of these other Clowns don't know left from RIGHT.
Workout Warriors
Strongest: Dre, Flow, Tank, Burger, LD
All of which can handle 500+ on the bench easy.
Fastest: T-New, Ball, Glenn, 81
Can flat out run sub 4.4 any day of the week.
Rookies
F. Jones will be a nice change of pace, has nice wiggle through the line and after the catch. Should give average backers hard times in coverage.
Jenkins probably the most game ready of the group, great cover skills has to learn some of the trick of the trade but will be a very good player.
T. Choice will also make his presence felt carrying the ball, should get a chance to show what he can do on special teams.
4-3 breakdown in the afternoon
posted by The Gryphon at 10:34 AM
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