How to Run a Football Defense: 4-3

[Cbz40]

How to Run a Football Defense: 4-3
The offense may have difficulty getting a running back through this defense - and worse yet, in finding a receiver when there are four defenders deep in the backfield.




Steps:
1. Assume your defense faces a typical split-back offense (see first step of "Run a Football Offense: Quick Pitch" under Related eHows). Adjust the following formation to compensate for varying offenses.

2. Leave the center unguarded.

3. Position a tackle to either side of the center. Each blocks on the left side of opposing guards.

4. Line the left end up to block the tight end head-up.

5. Position the right end to block the outside shoulder of the opposing tackle.

6. Set two corners in the secondary, farther off the line of scrimmage than normal - about 10 yards. Position them opposite any receivers.

7. Set three linebackers 3 to 4 yards off the line of scrimmage: one in front of the center, a second behind the left end, and a third in back and to the outside shoulder of the right end.

8. Position two safeties 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage and to the outside shoulders of the left and right linebackers.


Tips:
If the offense pulls the tight end and triples up on receivers, compensate by moving a tackle off the line to mirror him. Shift the other tackle to fill as nose guard, then use the strong safety as a lineman to the outside shoulder of the right end (or the left end, if the receiver was placed on that side). Shift the left end inside to mirror the opposing tackle, who is unmanned now that the tight end is gone. This shift becomes a variation on the 5-3 defense.


Warnings:
If the offense sucks a linebacker inside, an option play will kill the defenders. Let the linebackers stray to the outside, but don't get overanxious and punch through until ball movement and direction are determined.

Football is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.

Tips from eHow Users:
Running the under package by steve G.
This is a great package for both stopping the pass and still controlling the pass. Place your Sam linebacker directly over the tight end not letting him off the LOS. Leave your Will linebacker and your Mike linebacker in the middle for pass & run.

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3-3 by Jim C.
You need to make the down defensive tackles 5 techniques and they need to be C-Gap players. The 2 second level outside LB's need to read the fullback. Flow to them they are blowing up the B-Gap. Flow away they are B-Gap to reverse/counter players.

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[Eddie]

We won 5 Super Bowls with the 4-3.

Why the fixation with the 3-4? I don't get it.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Eddie

We won 5 Super Bowls with the 4-3.

Why the fixation with the 3-4? I don't get it.

Because the Patriots' biggest fan has an O every time he types the phrase "3-4".

[joseephuss]

Originally Posted by Eddie

We won 5 Super Bowls with the 4-3.

Why the fixation with the 3-4? I don't get it.

Dallas won 5 Super Bowls with great talent on the defensive side of the ball. Give me talented players on this team and I don't care what scheme they run.

[WoodysGirl]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Because the Patriots' biggest fan has an O every time he types the phrase "3-4".

Hilarious, Mr. Winky.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Eddie

We won 5 Super Bowls with the 4-3.

Why the fixation with the 3-4? I don't get it.

Because it is the defense that has taken our Head coach to 3 SuperBowls. Parcells is a creature of habit. He'll always go back to the same drinking well that served him well.

I think the writing was on the wall last season when the Cowboys used 3-4 fronts a couple of times. Also Jerry Jones clearly stated he expected the Cowboys to make the transition gradually in 2 or 3 drafts but the move could come much quicker with the way the draft unfolded.

[Rack Bauer]

Originally Posted by Eddie

We won 5 Super Bowls with the 4-3.

Why the fixation with the 3-4? I don't get it.

In every one of those superbowl wins we had the key "ingredient" to successfully running a 4-3 - a pass rushing DE. We don't have that now. That's why the "Fixation" on the 3-4.

[Waffle]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Because the Patriots' biggest fan has an O every time he types the phrase "3-4".

In a vacuum, I don't think there would even be much debate about the 4-3 vs 3-4. I think most objective Cowboy fans would have the opinion that if Parcells truly believed we'd be more successful running a defense (3-4) he's more comfortable with and that we do have the players for, we should make the switch.

This whole 3-4 vs 4-3 "debate" that we have going on here is really all about an individual Zone contributor, who has made a whole slew of predictions on a variety of subjects, most likely getting this one right and then openly touting that fact. In my mind, the opposition to the 3-4 was galvanized when Nors was advocating we play the 3-4 LAST YEAR with players who don't fit into the scheme very well.

Now it's just a good ole fashion p****** match.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Waffle

Now it's just a good ole fashion p****** match.

Yeah it is isn't it?

But I kinda like'em!

[JackMagist]

How to run ANY style defense:

Get good quality personnel who fit into the scheme that you are going to run. All else follows from there because without the personnel NO defensive scheme will work.

Not that I am trying to discount your post Cbz; your analysis of the scheme was on the money. I am just not as concerned about which scheme we run as I am about the personnel we field to run it.

[Waffle]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Yeah it is isn't it?

But I kinda like'em!

Me too!

This board wouldn't be the same without Nors stirring the pot!

[Billy Bullocks]

Originally Posted by Eddie

We won 5 Super Bowls with the 4-3.

Why the fixation with the 3-4? I don't get it.

Parcells has won 2 with it, and been to a 3rd using it. He wants to do what he knows, and I'll buy into it he can work better with it.

Rack is absolutely right, look at all the succesful 4-3 teams in the NFL right now, they all have a good D-End. Kearse in Philly, before that it was Douglas. Peppers AND Rucker in Carolina. Why do you think since Haley retired we've spent so much energy trying to locate a stud DE?

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Waffle

Me too!

This board wouldn't be the same without Nors stirring the pot!

I agree.

Hey, I like Nors and having him around. He gives out and takes a lot of crap and I do respect him for that. He gives me shots and I give them right back. I enjoy that.

[ravidubey]

Cyclical. The 3-4 was invented to stop the passing offenses of the Raiders and Steelers, and soon the entire NFL as OL blocking rules relaxed and DB's weren't allowed to touch WR's after 5 yards.

The NFL became pass-happy until about the 2nd half of the Redksins/Dolphins Superbowl when John Riggins and the Hogs started annihilating the 3-4 "Killer Bee" defense. After that, the 3-4 crazy AFC got blasted out of the water by physical NFC teams every Superbowl. The only 3-4 teams worth a damn were the Giants and Saints-- and ONLY because they had beasts like Lawrence Taylor, Rickey Jackson, Carl Banks, and Pat Swilling manning the outside.

By the time Dallas rose to power again the 4-3 was firmly entrenched as the dominant defensive style once again and the 3-4 was dismissed as a fad.

Soon a couple of teams with tweener-type guys like Jason Guilden, Gregg Lloyd, Teddy Bruschi, Willie McGuinest, and Mike Vrabel started to have some success, and then had great success especially against West Coast offense type teams with athletic guards and short passing games.

But the 3-4 still sucks against powerful offensive lines and offenses that attack the whole field. I doubt the 3-4 could have stopped the Rams in their heyday without the rampant cheating the Patriots got away with in the 2001 Superbowl, and I KNOW the early 1990's Cowboys routinely pummeled 3-4 defenses (and 4-3 defenses for that matter) into meat.

In a nutshell it comes down to having good players, regardless of the defense. If you have talented LB's play a 3-4. If you have better DL, play a 4-3. I prefer the 4-3 myself because your defense has the best chance to be physical.

[Waffle]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

I agree.

Hey, I like Nors and having him around. He gives out and takes a lot of crap and I do respect him for that. He gives me shots and I give them right back. I enjoy that.

Yeah, I have to agree with that too. I'm glad our disagreements don't get out of hand though.
He'll never admit it...but I think deep down, you're Nors' hero!!