By Keith Thomerson
Editor’s Note: The writer is a former high school football coach and a University of Louisville football fan. From time to time, he will attempt to simplify some of the technical aspects of the game. Not an easy assignment.
Lots of chatter in the pre-season about the University of Louisville football team switching to the 3-4 defense. The apprehension was alleviated in UofL’s convincing 31-13 win over Miami in the opener, with the defense allowing Miami a paltry 244 offensive yards.
The objective of the 3-4 defense is to prevent the offense knowing in advance how the defensive line is going to attack. Is the defense going to present three down linemen, four down linemen, or five down linemen? Are the linebackers going to blitz? Are the cornerbacks going to blitz? Only Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham and his charges know for sure.
The foundation begins with the three down lineman, and the cornerstone in UofL’s approach is DeAngelo Brown, the nose tackle (NT) who lines up over the center most of the time. He must be as quick, like a hungry lion attacking its prey as soon as the ball is snapped. Is he going to bull over the center, or shoot the right gap, or the left gap? The center must have help from the left or right offensive guards to deal with him.
Ideally, the NT will also disrupt the blocking schemes of the pulling guards. This will free up Mike or Mo linebackers (see graphic). The NT’s objective is to plug-up the middle, taking on the offensive center and both offensive guards to be effective.
The NT moves the offensive players. They do not move him. When the NT does his job, he will rarely if ever get a tackle. He will however, make it possible for the linebackers to get the tackles.
The left and right ends will line up across from the offensive tackles, rushing forward or shooting the gaps. They must be attentive to pulling guards. If the NT is effective in his drive, this will force the pulling guard to take a deeper route around the center and make the pulling guard less effective to block the defensive ends. UofL’s defensive ends were involved in 12 tackles in the Miami game.
What the opposing quarterback has to worry about is whether the SAM or Will linebackers can and will line up in a three-point stance at the last moment and become linemen. That means the defensive line has grown from three down linemen to four or five.
Oops, the offensive play called by the coaches and relayed to offensive players is probably not going to work. The quarterback must call another play, the play clock is winding down fast to zero, or a time out must be called. Good confusion delivers a delay of game five-yard penalty. The down linemen attempt to create chaos on blocking assignments so the linebackers can make the tackles.
The linebackers have additional duties besides stopping running plays. They must recognize and be able to stop pass plays. The linebackers watch the quarterbacks face. A bad technique for some quarterbacks is to look where they are going to pass the ball as soon as the ball is snapped. Some receivers have this same bad habit. They look to the spot on the field where they are supposed to run, resulting in UofL making two interceptions in the Miami game.
Let us not forget about the deep defensive backs. Besides defending the pass, they also blitz the quarterback. They must be sure tacklers, taking responsibility for preventing plays from becoming long gainers. During the Miami game the cornerbacks and safeties accounted for 19 tackles.
The free safety must be one tough player. He provides help where needed and must make decisions in a split second. He provides double coverage on pass receives or comes up fast to assist or make the tackle. He is the quarterback for the deep defensive backs. During the Miami game, the free safeties accounted for 13 tackles and the interceptions.
Any questions?