Such a Tease: The History of the 3-4 Defense and Another Preview Shot

does anyone notice that if the were to run a fb counter or even just a counter to the weak side, there is noone in the "A" gap ( gap between the center and guard)... that means that if that back side backer is pursuing the sweep, he will over run due to the counter action of the run. This is why I teach my back side backers to play the inside hip of the running back for cut back purposes. I also teach them to step down hill at a 45 so that they will not over pursue and get caught up in the linemen. I could be wrong becuase the writing is very little but this would be a bad situation on the counter. especially on third and short.

prolly why the TE shovel pass killed us in the FLA game. Doesn't that attack the A gap?

it doesnt actually start at the A gap but the A gap moves during the play and it seems to be caught usually around that area. Its more of a ( read the LB and go where he doenst go type of thing more than a particular gap.)

same principal then, I gotcha.

Looking at the diagram you could see where the linebacker would flow the left side of the field and that "gap" would be open if he were to overpursue.

yeah I know... something else that would kill right there would be a screen to the week side especially if this is a blitz diagram. Its not though, its a run gap responsibility diagram. hmmmm......... its got me curious on why the hell that gap is open.

Your the coach not me, that is for you to figure out and apply!! Appreciate what you bring to the forum BaMaD13!

im trying to learn a little something new every day.
Thanks buddy.
It does seem a little funny though huh... Utah and Florida killed us on screens and slants and such. I wonder if theres any connection to this mishap... then again. We arent the ones getting paid millions to figure things out are we? :P

I have not received any check yet.. I bet that is why Muschamp was brought in earlier in the year. To try and figure out what happened. Muschamp did a very good job while at AU in stopping FLA's offense for two years in a row and a decent job of slowing down all of those offenses in the Big 12.

Lawrence Taylor (if not already) should be synonymous with the 3-4..

It took two (and sometimes three) blockers to keep him from obliterating the opponent's QB..

No offensive tackle could handle Taylor 1 on 1 and it took committing at least one running back or H-Back to keep Taylor from destroying the play (freeing up an extra defender somewhere else)..

It almost wasn't fair..

Arguably, the Giants had the best (collectively speaking anyway) set of 4 linebackers to ever take the field simultaneously in Taylor, Carl Banks, Harry Carson/Pepper Johnson, and Gary Reasons..

Of course (like most cases), these 4 guys had a lot of help in front of them in the form of Leonard Marshall, Jim Burt, and George Martin..

Truly one of the greatest NFL defensive units of all time.

quote:

Originally posted by BaMaD13:
does anyone notice that if the were to run a fb counter or even just a counter to the weak side, there is noone in the "A" gap ( gap between the center and guard)... that means that if that back side backer is pursuing the sweep, he will over run due to the counter action of the run. This is why I teach my back side backers to play the inside hip of the running back for cut back purposes. I also teach them to step down hill at a 45 so that they will not over pursue and get caught up in the linemen. I could be wrong becuase the writing is very little but this would be a bad situation on the counter. especially on third and short.

Nice work, BamaD...they edited the article because of what you said. Click the link again..."ed.- Since I wasn't able to show a lot of the text that goes along with the diagram above, several astute commentators over at the tidesports forums have noted that the gap on the weakside is open, leaving the defense prone to a counter. The diagram is meant to illustrate the responsibilities of the Mike and Will in run support, i.e. filling any open gaps left by the down linemen. In this diagram, which is a straight power run to the strong (TE) side, the ball is already snapped and the defense has ostensibly read the play and is flowing towards the ball, meaning the Mike fills the open gap on the play side while the Will is left to "scrape" the play. Should they read counter to the weakside, the Will steps up to fill the open gap while the Mike trails or, conversely, if the back sees a cutback in the open A gap on the weakside, either the Will cuts back with him or one of the safeties comes up to make the tackle. Just to clear up any confusion..."

The real problem other than the weakside open gap, is what Florida's offensive coordinator Ed Zaunbrecher exposed in Saban's 2003 national championship season. The Gators traveled to LSU and busted the Tigers for two touchdowns on tunnel screens which were directed at the clean up area of the defense after a safety blitz...it left the entire middle of the field open two times and resulted in 14 points. Playing a 4-3 with 3-4 over-under principles has a number of problems when blitzing from the safety position, but it can be devastating if it works.

nice