Dan Quinn Defensive Formations

xwalker

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Dan Quinn used a variety of defensive formations last season.

The 2 most common were 4-2-5 Nickel and 4-2-5 Big Nickel (3 Safeties)
  • If Kearse is shown, it indicates there were 3 Safeties on the field.
    • Examples how Kearse was used in 3 Safety sets:
      • Half step towards 4-3:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing the Nickel CB with Kearse (Big Nickel).
      • Half step towards Dime:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing a LB with Kearse (4-1-6 Big Dime).
  • Abbreviations:
    • sDE: Stand-Up DE
    • MP: Micah Parsons
    • LB: Could be LVE or Neal.
      • LVE more on run downs, and Neal more on passing downs.
Listed in order from best run defense to best pass defense:

Pseudo 3-4 (There were some snaps with Watkins, Bohanna & Hamilton together)
.....MP.....DT.....DT.....DT.....sDE
.......................LVE...............Kearse

5-man DL
.....sDE.....DE.....DT.....DE.....sDE
..........................MP..................Nickel DB

4-2-5 Big Nickel
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP......................LB.....................Kearse

4-2-5 Nickel
........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP....................LB.....................Nickel CB

Pseudo 3-3-5 Nickel (Kearse at LB)
...........DE..........DT..........DE
MP.....................LB.................Kearse..............Nickel CB

4-1-6 Big Dime
.......sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP................Kearse.....................Dime CB

4-1-6 Dime
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP............................................Nickel CB.....................Dime CB
 

AsthmaField

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Dan Quinn used a variety of defensive formations last season.

The 2 most common were 4-2-5 Nickel and 4-2-5 Big Nickel (3 Safeties)
  • If Kearse is shown, it indicates there were 3 Safeties on the field.
    • Examples how Kearse was used in 3 Safety sets:
      • Half step towards 4-3:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing the Nickel CB with Kearse (Big Nickel).
      • Half step towards Dime:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing a LB with Kearse (4-1-6 Big Dime).
  • Abbreviations:
    • sDE: Stand-Up DE
    • MP: Micah Parsons
    • LB: Could be LVE or Neal.
      • LVE more on run downs, and Neal more on passing downs.
Listed in order from best run defense to best pass defense:

Pseudo 3-4 (There were some snaps with Watkins, Bohanna & Hamilton together)
.....MP.....DT.....DT.....DT.....sDE
.......................LVE...............Kearse

5-man DL
.....sDE.....DE.....DT.....DE.....sDE
..........................MP..................Nickel DB

4-2-5 Big Nickel
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP......................LB.....................Kearse

4-2-5 Nickel
........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP....................LB.....................Nickel CB

Pseudo 3-3-5 Nickel (Kearse at LB)
...........DE..........DT..........DE
MP.....................LB.................Kearse..............Nickel CB

4-1-6 Big Dime
.......sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP................Kearse.....................Dime CB

4-1-6 Dime
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP............................................Nickel CB.....................Dime CB
Thanks for just making a post about football. Not enough of this type of threads here, as crazy as that seems.
 

xwalker

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In 2022, I anticipate more of the 5-man DL with Sam Williams and Fowler as the Stand-Up DEs that 'look' like 3-4 OLBs.

5-man DL
.....SW.....DE.....DT.....DE.....Fowler
..........................MP..................Nickel DB


The Nickel or Big Nickel will often 'look' like the front 5 of a 3-4 depending on Parsons alignment.
sDE: Sam Williams or Fowler (Fowler has often played 3-4 OLB and SW is faster than many LBs).

4-2-5 Nickel
MP.....DE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
......................LB.....................Nickel DB
 

CCBoy

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Dan Quinn used a variety of defensive formations last season.

The 2 most common were 4-2-5 Nickel and 4-2-5 Big Nickel (3 Safeties)
  • If Kearse is shown, it indicates there were 3 Safeties on the field.
    • Examples how Kearse was used in 3 Safety sets:
      • Half step towards 4-3:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing the Nickel CB with Kearse (Big Nickel).
      • Half step towards Dime:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing a LB with Kearse (4-1-6 Big Dime).
  • Abbreviations:
    • sDE: Stand-Up DE
    • MP: Micah Parsons
    • LB: Could be LVE or Neal.
      • LVE more on run downs, and Neal more on passing downs.
Listed in order from best run defense to best pass defense:

Pseudo 3-4 (There were some snaps with Watkins, Bohanna & Hamilton together)
.....MP.....DT.....DT.....DT.....sDE
.......................LVE...............Kearse

5-man DL
.....sDE.....DE.....DT.....DE.....sDE
..........................MP..................Nickel DB

4-2-5 Big Nickel
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP......................LB.....................Kearse

4-2-5 Nickel
........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP....................LB.....................Nickel CB

Pseudo 3-3-5 Nickel (Kearse at LB)
...........DE..........DT..........DE
MP.....................LB.................Kearse..............Nickel CB

4-1-6 Big Dime
.......sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP................Kearse.....................Dime CB

4-1-6 Dime
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP............................................Nickel CB.....................Dime CB
Much of the 'changes' will involve linebacker adjustments, I presume.
 

john van brocklin

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Dan Quinn used a variety of defensive formations last season.

The 2 most common were 4-2-5 Nickel and 4-2-5 Big Nickel (3 Safeties)
  • If Kearse is shown, it indicates there were 3 Safeties on the field.
    • Examples how Kearse was used in 3 Safety sets:
      • Half step towards 4-3:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing the Nickel CB with Kearse (Big Nickel).
      • Half step towards Dime:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing a LB with Kearse (4-1-6 Big Dime).
  • Abbreviations:
    • sDE: Stand-Up DE
    • MP: Micah Parsons
    • LB: Could be LVE or Neal.
      • LVE more on run downs, and Neal more on passing downs.
Listed in order from best run defense to best pass defense:

Pseudo 3-4 (There were some snaps with Watkins, Bohanna & Hamilton together)
.....MP.....DT.....DT.....DT.....sDE
.......................LVE...............Kearse

5-man DL
.....sDE.....DE.....DT.....DE.....sDE
..........................MP..................Nickel DB

4-2-5 Big Nickel
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP......................LB.....................Kearse

4-2-5 Nickel
........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP....................LB.....................Nickel CB

Pseudo 3-3-5 Nickel (Kearse at LB)
...........DE..........DT..........DE
MP.....................LB.................Kearse..............Nickel CB

4-1-6 Big Dime
.......sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP................Kearse.....................Dime CB

4-1-6 Dime
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP............................................Nickel CB.....................Dime CB
Don't understand it all, but I know the eye test said we were much improved.
Glad we got Quinn and kept him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

tunahelper

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Dan Quinn used a variety of defensive formations last season.

The 2 most common were 4-2-5 Nickel and 4-2-5 Big Nickel (3 Safeties)
  • If Kearse is shown, it indicates there were 3 Safeties on the field.
    • Examples how Kearse was used in 3 Safety sets:
      • Half step towards 4-3:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing the Nickel CB with Kearse (Big Nickel).
      • Half step towards Dime:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing a LB with Kearse (4-1-6 Big Dime).
  • Abbreviations:
    • sDE: Stand-Up DE
    • MP: Micah Parsons
    • LB: Could be LVE or Neal.
      • LVE more on run downs, and Neal more on passing downs.
Listed in order from best run defense to best pass defense:

Pseudo 3-4 (There were some snaps with Watkins, Bohanna & Hamilton together)
.....MP.....DT.....DT.....DT.....sDE
.......................LVE...............Kearse

5-man DL
.....sDE.....DE.....DT.....DE.....sDE
..........................MP..................Nickel DB

4-2-5 Big Nickel
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP......................LB.....................Kearse

4-2-5 Nickel
........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP....................LB.....................Nickel CB

Pseudo 3-3-5 Nickel (Kearse at LB)
...........DE..........DT..........DE
MP.....................LB.................Kearse..............Nickel CB

4-1-6 Big Dime
.......sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP................Kearse.....................Dime CB

4-1-6 Dime
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP............................................Nickel CB.....................Dime CB

Great post XWALKER.
 

xwalker

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Thanks for just making a post about football. Not enough of this type of threads here, as crazy as that seems.
In reviewing Sam Williams college game footage, it was easy to see why he is a Dan Quinn type DE.

Relative to most Edge rushers, Sam Williams had a high percentage of pressures/sacks rushing inside.
- He also played most run downs snaps at the 4i position which is aligned on the inside shoulder of the OT.

Gregory, DLaw & Armstrong all had a much higher number of inside pass rushes after Quinn arrived than previously.
- Gregory even commented about it in an interview last season.
- He said previously he didn't like rushing inside, but that Quinn showed him what it was an advantage.
 

DanA

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Dan Quinn used a variety of defensive formations last season.

The 2 most common were 4-2-5 Nickel and 4-2-5 Big Nickel (3 Safeties)
  • If Kearse is shown, it indicates there were 3 Safeties on the field.
    • Examples how Kearse was used in 3 Safety sets:
      • Half step towards 4-3:
        • M odify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing the Nickel CB with Kearse (Big Nickel).
      • Half step towards Dime:
        • Modify 4-2-5 Nickel by replacing a LB with Kearse (4-1-6 Big Dime).
  • Abbreviations:
    • sDE: Stand-Up DE
    • MP: Micah Parsons
    • LB: Could be LVE or Neal.
      • LVE more on run downs, and Neal more on passing downs.
Listed in order from best run defense to best pass defense:

Pseudo 3-4 (There were some snaps with Watkins, Bohanna & Hamilton together)
.....MP.....DT.....DT.....DT.....sDE
.......................LVE...............Kearse

5-man DL
.....sDE.....DE.....DT.....DE.....sDE
..........................MP..................Nickel DB

4-2-5 Big Nickel
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP......................LB.....................Kearse

4-2-5 Nickel
........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP....................LB.....................Nickel CB

Pseudo 3-3-5 Nickel (Kearse at LB)
...........DE..........DT..........DE
MP.....................LB.................Kearse..............Nickel CB

4-1-6 Big Dime
.......sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP................Kearse.....................Dime CB

4-1-6 Dime
..........sDE.....DT.....DT.....sDE
MP............................................Nickel CB.....................Dime CB

If I had to guess I would say it will again be 4-2-5 as the most common option as per below:

DE.........DT..........DT......SDE
..............MP.....Kearse..........

I do however think we'll see a pretty varied secondary. In terms of positions in our 4-2-5 I think it will be:

  • DE = Lawrence / Golston / Basham
    • A straight forward depth chart at LDE.
  • DT = Odigzuwa / Gallimore / Hill
    • The three main 3-tech options with Gallimore / Odigi fighting for no.1, Hill is an outside option to not make the roster IMO.
  • DT = Gallimore / Watkins / Ridgeway
    • The player subbed in here depends on down and distance. I have Ridgeway beating out Bohanna to be the run stuffer, I have Gallimore as the pass rusher, and Watkins somewhere in between. I still think Bohanna makes the roster but beat out by Ridgeway as the primary 1T.
  • SDE = Armstrong / Williams / Fowler
    • I think Williams will be more of a DPR role coming in on pass rushing downs. I have Armstrong as the typical RDE and Fowler is the wildcard (not sure what to expect).
  • MIKE = Parsons / LVE / Clarke (late year)
    • Micah to move around a lot as MIKE and with LVE coming in to cover any shift to edge rusher by Parsons. I actually think Clarke will take LVE's spot in December but we'll see how his health goes. He'll no doubt start out on IR/PUP
  • WILL = Kearse / Cox
    • Kearse to playing near 100% of snaps with Cox as the primarily injury cover
  • S/CB3 = Brown / Lewis (SCB), Mukuamu (NB), Wilson (SS)
    • A variety of coverage/match up options to come in and match up on different opposition looks. I really think Mukuamu is a dark horse to play regularly this season as a B.Jones (rookie season) chess piece type player but many have him losing out to Bell with the sentiment that he doesn't like to hit enough to play safety. Byron Jones was never a big hitter either so we'll see how it goes. I think Brown is better in slot than Lewis so if he loses out to Joseph as an outside corner then that's where I think he goes.
  • FS = Hooker
    • He's the only option I'm comfortable with in single high
  • CB1 = Diggs
    • The pretty clear no.1, although I don't think he'll travel much
  • CB2 = Brown / Joseph
    • A camp battle to decide who is the 2nd CB with Joseph's potential suspension also a factor
I think we go long in defense with Goodwin, Wright, Harper, and Bland also make the team primarily as special teams guys.
 
Last edited:

xwalker

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If I had to guess I would say it will again be 4-2-5 as the most common option as per below:

DE.........DT..........DT......SDE
..............MP.....Kearse..........

I do however think we'll see a pretty varied secondary. In terms of positions in our 4-2-5 I think it will be:

  • DE = Lawrence / Golston / Basham
    • A straight forward depth chart at LDE.
  • DT = Odigzuwa / Gallimore / Hill
    • The three main 3-tech options with Gallimore / Odigi fighting for no.1, Hill is an outside option to not make the roster IMO.
  • DT = Gallimore / Watkins / Ridgeway
    • The player subbed in here depends on down and distance. I have Ridgeway beating out Bohanna to be the run stuffer, I have Gallimore as the pass rusher, and Watkins somewhere in between. I still think Bohanna makes the roster but beat out by Ridgeway as the primary 1T.
  • SDE = Armstrong / Williams / Fowler
    • I think Williams will be more of a DPR role coming in on pass rushing downs. I have Armstrong as the typical RDE and Fowler is the wildcard (not sure what to expect).
  • MIKE = Parsons / LVE / Clarke (late year)
    • Micah to move around a lot as MIKE and with LVE coming in to cover any shift to edge rusher by Parsons. I actually think Clarke will take LVE's spot in December but we'll see how his health goes. He'll no doubt start out on IR/PUP
  • WILL = Kearse / Cox
    • Kearse to playing near 100% of snaps with Cox as the primarily injury cover
  • S/CB3 = Brown / Lewis (SCB), Mukuamu (NB), Wilson (SS)
    • A variety of coverage/match up options to come in and match up on different opposition looks. I really think Mukuamu is a dark horse to play regularly this season as a B.Jones (rookie season) chess piece type player but many have him losing out to Bell with the sentiment that he doesn't like to hit enough to play safety. Byron Jones was never a big hitter either so we'll see how it goes. I think Brown is better in slot than Lewis so if he loses out to Joseph as an outside corner then that's where I think he goes.
  • FS = Hooker
    • He's the only option I'm comfortable with in single high
  • CB1 = Diggs
    • The pretty clear no.1, although I don't think he'll travel much
  • CB2 = Brown / Joseph
    • A camp battle to decide who is the 2nd CB with Joseph's potential suspension also a factor
I think we go long in defense with Goodwin, Wright, Harper, and Bland also make the team primarily as special teams guys.
They played about 40% of snaps last season with 3 Safeties (Big Nickel).
- Since their primary defense was 4-2-5 Nickel, the Big Nickel meant Kearse replaced the Nickel CB.
- i.e. Big Nickel is a half step between 4-2-5 Nickel and a 4-3 (i.e. Better run defense).

Occasionally, Kearse replaced a LB which was a pass defense alignment.
 
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