NCAA Scouting 3-4 Defenses and the 2011 Draft by Paul Emery February 28th 2011
Almost half of the NFL are running 3-4 defenses of some description, so clearly there is demand for players to fit these systems. Within the 3-4 defense you have more than the one system each with different responsibilities for the defensive lineman. As we start to get into Mock Madness season it seems an opportune time to have a look at the different types of defense that are around in the NFL and which prospects fit best into which scheme(s) along the defensive line.
The 3-4 can be split into four main systems although with the flexibility of the defense, they do overlap causing confusion for offenses!
Two Gap
Origins – this defense came to the fore with the Giants in the LT/Bill Parcells era but was first run at the University of Oklahoma by Bud Wilkinson and Chuck Fairbanks with the latter becoming an assistant coach for the Patriots in the early seventies. Patriots defensive coordinator Hank Bullough is also credited with making significant changes to the basic system to the point where this is often called the Fairbanks-Bullough system.
Technique the two gap has the DE’s lined up pretty much right in front of the OT (called the 5 technique) with the NT slap bang in front of the Center (called the 0 technique) and all three have two gap responsibility the DE’s B and C gaps (those either side of the OT), while the NT has both A gaps either side of the Center. The idea here is for the NT and one of the DE’s to occupy two blockers each with the other DE the final one leaving the LB’s free to make plays. The principle technique for two gap is to stack and shed if at all possible so big, tall prospects with long arms required and to use those long arms to get into a blocker, then shed into either gap when the play develops (so football intelligence needed to read or feel where the play is going and discipline to not go flying out of position). If you have a DE and NT that can do this then they demand the required double team to keep the LB’s free but if they can be handled one on one then your defense is in trouble! In many ways 3-4 DE’s are as hard to find as athletic NT’s which is why the Chiefs were prepared to take Tyson Jackson with the third pick in the 2009 Draft.
Who runs it? The Patriots and Chiefs defenses use two gap principles but do also use some hybrid looks. The Browns were running it, but now move to a 4-3 under a new coaching staff (despite having one of the better 3-4 NT’s in Ahtyba Rubin). With Rob Ryan now in Dallas, it’s possible the Cowboys will use a two gap base scheme although they do have a top one gap NT in Jay Ratliff, so this may not be the case at least not initially.
2011 Draft Fits – the player who fits this system best this year is Cameron Heyward (Ohio State) who is the prototypical long athlete who already displays the stack and shed technique needed. The only minor negative is that he lacks a little bulk (listed at 285 lbs). I certainly think his technique is good enough to overcome the lack of bulk and he plays with power, so I think he’ll be OK.
The other top prospect who stands out for this system is Muhammed Wilkerson (Temple) who hasn’t got a huge amount of press, but should hear his name fairly early come April I personally think he has first round talent and at a tough position to find he could be a top 20 pick. One prospect who many are projecting as a NT, but I see as a two gap DE is Kenrick Ellis of Hampton. Ellis plays a little too high not a good thing for a NT (with smaller Center’s and Guards able to get under them and win the leverage battle whereas playing high against a Tackle isn’t quite the killer it is inside as Tackles are taller) but he does have the length and technique for the scheme.
At NT really there are only the two in the higher rounds Jerrell Powe (Mississippi) and Phil Taylor (Baylor). One sleeper at NT is Anthony Gray (Southern Miss) who may get a call in the later rounds as a space eater.
One Gap
Origins – a more attacking version of the 3-4 is a one gap system which was pioneered by Coach Bum Phillips then Head Coach of the old Houston Oilers in the 1970’s. His son Wade continued his Father’s legacy running this system in San Diego and then bringing it to Dallas. Wade has just been appointed the Texans Defensive Co-ordinator so he will be bringing the system home to Houston.
Technique – in this system, the DE’s still need to be around the 290 lb mark to stand up to potential double teams but they line up slightly differently. The NT lines up to one side of the Center (called the 1 technique), while the DE’s line up in the Guard/Tackle gap (although at times, the weakside DE in this system will still line up as a 5 technique). Rather than stacking and shedding the D-Line are encouraged to use their athletic ability to penetrate and cause problems (the principal negative with the two gap system is that it limits what the 3 lineman can do and if they come up against a top O-Line it could mean a long day on defense). So slightly quicker players are needed for this system and it doesn’t matter so much if they lack super long arms or discipline as they only have the one gap to worry about. On the surface you may think Mario Williams doesn’t fit a 3-4 defense but as it’s a one gap scheme he should be just fine at DE. It’s therefore an easier system to find players for as you can get away with shorter guys (the Chargers two starting DE’s are 6’2 and 6’3 respectively for example) which therefore leaves you with greater choice when drafting. The other advantage is that you can get away with a lighter NT Jay Ratliff being the best example of course a NT in any 3-4 is probably going to be double teamed on most plays, so they still need to be very strong to stand up to this.
Who runs it? Dallas ran this in 2010, but with Wade Phillips out it is possible Rob Ryan may run a different system however, if there’s a lockout he’ll have no time to change personnel or systems so it could be more of the same. San Diego run this but do have a NT who displays natural two gap technique in Antonio Garay so this does open up some options for them. As mentioned, Houston will run this system in 2011. The Redskins are looking to run this system but used some hybrid looks in 2010 due to a lack of suitable personnel.
2011 Draft Fits Nick Fairley (Auburn) may not get past two 4-3 teams who have the first two picks in the Draft but should he do so, then he could play in a one gap 3-4. Both Cameron Jordan (California) and J.J. Watt (Wisconsin) have the length to two gap but I see both more valuable in this Draft to one gap teams as they will need to work on their two gap technique and discipline even more of an issue if we have a lockout and no mini camps/OTA’s. Both could also be DE’s in a 4-3, with the flexibility to move inside to DT on passing downs. Corey Liuget (Illinois) and Marvin Austin (North Carolina) both project to this system (plus as 4-3 DT’s) as they offer quickness and enough bulk to stand up against double teams. Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) looks to be a very good 4-3 LDE prospect but he does have just enough quickness to be used in this system but I would say I prefer him a 4-3 as his success is often more from good hand use outside.
Clayborn’s college team mate Christian Ballard has experience at DE and DT in a 4-3 system and it could be he’s taken as a 4-3 LDE who kicks inside on passing downs but he could also play as a one gap 3-4 DE. An early entry Lawrence Guy (Arizona State) looks to have the length to two gap but doesn’t yet show the technique, so I am considering him of greater value for a Phillips system defense right now much in the way I do with Jordan and Watt. I also feel the previously mentioned Muhammed Wilkerson and Cameron Heyward can fit this system as well.
Marcell Dareus of Alabama could conceivably get away with playing the NT position in a one gap system (although I do see him as a better 4-3 over Tackle), although I don’t feel he’s got a great burst for a one gap 3-4 scheme. Stephen Paea (Oregon State) is another who could potentially play this position, along with Suane Fua (Stanford), Ian Williams (Notre Dame) and Jarvis Jenkins (Clemson).
Zone Blitz
Origins zone blitzing was a creation of current Steelers defensive co-ordinator Dick Lebeau. The move to a 3 man front was based on the principal that it means you don’t need to drop defensive lineman in coverage whereas from a 4-3 base you do and unless you have great athletes in your 4-3 that might not always be the best idea in terms of the matchups it creates (of course it doesn’t mean the D-Line don’t occasionally drop in coverage in this system to further confuse offenses!).
Technique the main difference between Phillips system and this is where the lineman line up. They actually line up much as the two gap system but on the snap, they all slant into a gap. So they show two gap, but actually one gap. Lining up in this way, does put a premium back on bulk as evidenced particularly at the NT position. On show much of the time in the Super Bowl was the nickel version of this system with the two OLB’s standing up at the line and then just two Defensive Lineman both of these guys need to be very stout inside to stand up to any draw plays (the Packers used B.J. Raji in the nickel).
Who runs it? The Steelers and Packers both use this system and it would seem the Cardinals will adopt this system with Ray Horton’s recent hire as Defensive Co-ordinator. It also seems like the 49ers will run this defense, although that decision doesn’t seem to have been made at the time of writing.
2011 Draft fits for DE’s see the Phillips one gap 3-4. At NT the system calls for bigger guys so really there are only the two in the higher rounds Powe and Taylor both have enough athletic ability to get penetration in this system.
Hybrid
Origins the hybrid defense was created by Mike Nolan to allow Ray Lewis to continue to dominate for the Ravens. A straight up 4-3 meant that Lewis had to be able to move sideline to sideline but having him in a 3-4 means he has less ground to cover (essentially it splits the field in half shared between each ILB). Rex Ryan continued to develop this defense after Nolan left to become Head Coach of the 49ers.
Technique – this system tends to be flexible and varies from week to week depending on the opponent and indeed situation within a game (in the playoffs against the Colts for example the Jets were using a 4 man front for much of the game). Defensive lineman in this system need to be able to play in either 3 or 4 man fronts so need to be big and strong but also move very well (the Ravens Haloti Ngata being the best example of such a player). Those demonstrating both one and two gap technique are highly sought after in this system as they enable the defense to remain extremely flexible without losing any effectiveness. There aren’t many Ngata types around so it’s not a defense that can be copied to a large degree although teams moving from a 4-3 will often employ a hybrid type of system initially as they may lack the personnel to make an immediate change to the 3-4 (Washington and Buffalo last year for example). When in 3 man lines, this defense often sees the DT (Ngata for the Ravens) and the NT one gap with the DE (Cory Redding for the Ravens) playing two gap so both types of player are required. When in a 4 man front the weakside OLB will put his hand down but his responsibilities are the same as if he were standing up thus effectively making Ray Lewis a 3-4 ILB even with 4 down lineman.
Who runs it? Rex Ryan took this system with him to the Jets, while the Ravens continue to run it. Miami ran a two gap type scheme when Bill Parcells was involved, but they are now using a hybrid system with Mike Nolan as Defensive Co-ordinator. Buffalo ran a hybrid of sorts in 2010 basically being forced to use the 4-3 due to a lack of 3-4 personnel but it would seem they are going to try to run a hybrid defense in 2011.
2011 Draft fits – the two prospects who can play in both systems and therefore look to be extremely enticing for hybrid teams are Heyward and Wilkerson. Both would be fits at the Redding DE position. With these two having earned a mention in all systems it’s clear that their Draft value could well be a lot higher than many are predicting.
The DT position in the hybrid system (which is the strongside DE moved a short distance back inside) played superbly by Ngata for the Ravens could be a position the Jets look at, but it’s going to be tough to find. There are only two possible candidates who will also be viewed as NT candidates (particularly with the influence B.J. Raji has had with the Packers) Jerrell Powe (Mississippi) and Phil Taylor (Baylor). Powe didn’t have a great senior year and Taylor was kicked out of Penn State early in his career and has basically been a one year wonder but despite the risk with both they should be drafted earlier than perhaps they deserve simply because there are only so many people on the planet that are 330+ lbs and can move as well as these two guys (the Planet Theory). The Combine will show if these guys are more NT space eaters only or can offer a little more (which I think both can) and thus will appeal to the Jets (or Ravens Ngata is a free agent, although should attract the Franchise tag from Baltimore). Both Powe and Taylor are also fits at the NT position in this scheme with perhaps Powe a better fit as he’s a little squatter and thus able to win the leverage battle easier inside than the slightly taller Taylor.
2011 Draft Fits – the player who fits this system best this year is Cameron Heyward (Ohio State) who is the prototypical long athlete who already displays the stack and shed technique needed. The only minor negative is that he lacks a little bulk (listed at 285 lbs). I certainly think his technique is good enough to overcome the lack of bulk and he plays with power, so I think he’ll be OK.
