Parsons confirms 3-4 base and initial position

quickccc said:

probably because Nolan finally came to his senses, got his azz outta the coach-booth and to the sidelines, listen and communicate to his players as to simplify the wild wild west chaotic
defense so his players can finally see what they are doing, and not have to think out on the move what they were trying doing, .. not to be as choose and confuse what they were doing,
but damn if it didn't take soooo freakin' long,..

it was no big mystery to me, .. that debacle of a defense was led by Nolan. it wasn't all Nolan, (as he did have some players that flat could not play) but Nolan damn sure led the charge
and it most reflected upon him.

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But they still sucked even when Nolan was on the sideline lol.

Vinnie2u said:

You mean we going to be less predictable? How refreshing.

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Yep. Like the Falcons.

Vinnie2u said:

You mean we going to be less predictable? How refreshing.

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We need to come out with only 9 players on defense, they'll never see it coming.

No matter what DQ has told Parsons, the rookie doesn't need to be repeating it to the outside world. Loose lips sink ships and he needs to treat information like that as if it's classified. It's up to DQ to nip that kind of carelessness in the bud.

stasheroo said:

I have to say that confuses me a bit. To me, the advantage of the 3-4 is in its ability to disguise things, especially blitzes and pressure. The trade off is having less size and numbers on the line of scrimmage in the run game.

Why run that in base downs only to change it up in obvious passing downs? That doesn’t make sense to me.

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I think the common misconception is that a 3-4 is worse against the run due to one less lineman. It actually creates more complex blocking assignments for the oline. You have more speed on defense and more players moving around. Plus now you need more athletic lineman who can go straight to the second level and block in space.

Risen Star said:

Yep. Like the Falcons.

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I’ll take a Super Bowl loss.

Risen Star said:

Yep. Like the Falcons.

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Sorry to make a homer-like comment, but there are dozens of examples of guys that are stud coordinators, yet awful HCs.

Maybe Quinn is that guy.

LACowboysFan1 said:

No team runs solely a 4-3 or 3-4 anymore, besides a good football player like Parsons can handle either alignment...

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Exactly, and would imagine that most players in the NFL know there is no base defense, only fans with outdated perceptions still think in a 4-3 vs 3-4 false reality.

fivetwos said:

Sorry to make a homer-like comment, but there are dozens of examples of guys that are stud coordinators, yet awful HCs.

Maybe Quinn is that guy.

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Maybe but what he's being asked to do in Dallas he's never done before. He inherited a great defense and kept it great. He's never built a great defense.

Valkyr said:

We need to come out with only 9 players on defense, they'll never see it coming.

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if you add Jaylon’s -1 we got 10!

thunderpimp91 said:

I think the common misconception is that a 3-4 is worse against the run due to one less lineman. It actually creates more complex blocking assignments for the oline. You have more speed on defense and more players moving around. Plus now you need more athletic lineman who can go straight to the second level and block in space.

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If memory serves, the 3-4 was originally designed to be a run stopping defense.

But like any defense, or offense, teams learn how to be successful against it....

I can tell you right now my opinion of Dan Quinn nose dived with the Wright reach. You know that came from him.

That was very, very Marinelli-ish.

In a sane war room no coordinator would ever have that kind of power but ours is an insane asylum.

conner01 said:

Basically nickel 4 man front
Base 3 man front

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I agree

Typhus said:

Exactly, and would imagine that most players in the NFL know there is no base defense, only fans with outdated perceptions still think in a 4-3 vs 3-4 false reality.

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The NFL is far more complex than most fans know...

stasheroo said:

I have to say that confuses me a bit. To me, the advantage of the 3-4 is in its ability to disguise things, especially blitzes and pressure. The trade off is having less size and numbers on the line of scrimmage in the run game.

Why run that in base downs only to change it up in obvious passing downs? That doesn’t make sense to me.

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No, it is the opposite.

The 3-4 is a run defense.

To convert a 4-3 to 3-4, the 4-3 DTs and DEs each move towards the outside and an NT is inserted in the middle.
- The DEs stand up and are now called LBs.
- The DTs are now called DEs.

In order to add the NT, the 4-3 SLB is removed.

The net result is that the 320+ NT replaces the 240-ish SLB.

Deception of pass rushers was just a side benefit. Buddy Ryan had the same deception in Philly with a 4-3 by using zone blitzes where a DE would drop in coverage and a LB would rush.

The 3-4 being a run defense is the reason that teams play 3-4 in base and a 4-man DL in Nickel.

Having the outside players (3-4 OLBs) stand up is as much for run defense as pass rush.
- It gives them an extra step or step and a half towards the sideline on outside running plays as compared to having their hand down.
- Much of the coverage by 3-4 OLBs is in the flat against RBs or end-around type plays. This allows the CB on that side to have less responsibility to come up against the outside run.
- Many DEs in a 4-man DL often stand up for the same reasons.

The problem with Nolan last season was not the alignment. It was the fact that he played read & react instead of a penetrating/attacking style.
- Modern 3-4 defenses like the Bill Belichick defense and in previous in previous years the Wade Phillips defense are 1-gap penetrating defenses that just occasionally 2-gap or just have the NT 2-gap while everyone else plays 1-gap defense.

TheSkaven said:

Yes, Quinn said 70% to 80% of the time they'll be in the nickel but I wonder how correct that is. When they take the field on first and 10, against most teams in the division, I'd guess they will be in a 3-4. Clearly on passing downs they'll be in the nickel. But it really depends upon the offense they're up against and the personnel.

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Saying that they will be in a nickel D is just an easier way for any coach to explain to the masses that still must have a defined 4-3 or 3-4 base so that they can have some archaic understanding.
Quinn just says nickel rather than try and explain all the dynamics of a modern day defense and how it has to be run.

quickccc said:

Wade's 3-4 scheme wasn't the traditional 3-4 look. Virtually every 3-4 scheme was about 2 gaps.
Whereas Wade's 3-4 look was actually a one gap scheme. it emphasize DL slanting and getting upfield vs the traditional 3-4's placing emphasizing on read first-react 2nd
and more so controlling two gaps.

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Wade's defense was not a traditional 3-4 back in the day (20 or 30 years ago) but in the modern era 3-4 defenses are very similar to Wade's defense.

Belichick does not play the 1990 Giants style of 2-gap read and react defense.

Risen Star said:

Maybe but what he's being asked to do in Dallas he's never done before. He inherited a great defense and kept it great. He's never built a great defense.

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No, but can't say he doesn't know his football.

Sometimes it just takes the right people all in the same place at the right time.

History tells me I'm a fool.

The fact that I have to be a fan of this team no matter what makes me hope that has happened with this team now.

Not much more than that.

Quinn said base 3-4 but will be in nickle 4-3 roughly 60-70% of the time.

Risen Star said:

I can tell you right now my opinion of Dan Quinn nose dived with the Wright reach. You know that came from him.

That was very, very Marinelli-ish.

In a sane war room no coordinator would ever have that kind of power but ours is an insane asylum.

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Yes Dan was really given the power of the people by being allowed to select a player he wanted with a 3 round compensatory pick at #99. That's a lot of power to be wielded by a mere D-Coordinator. What's next the keys to AT&T?