3-4 Base DEF now most popular in NFL

[Coogiguy03]

I've done the maths, and with the Cowboys, Packers and Bills now moving to a 3-4 base there are now 18 teams in the same position with only 14 in a 4-3 base. Now before anyone posts nickel is the new base, let me make the following points:

1) The 'player type' in terms of measurables is different between the two
2) The coaching staff you need is different between the two.

Makes the draft and free agency very competitive. Fortunately it looks like we are putting the correct coaching staff together to make the switch and are ahead of the Packers and Bills in this respect.

Many on this forum have been calling for this change for several years and thank goodness it is finally happening. The only disappointment for me is no Micah. He would have been great. The Packers have been smart enough to see this and switch schemes as they have had the chance with their DEF Coordinator moving to Miami

Has it officially been said we're moving, or that's the assumption?? I know they mentioned him saying more 5 man fronts i'm guessing that's a 3-4??

 

[Coogiguy03]

So many hybrid defenses now seem to be used.
So are there really any traditional 4-3 or 3-4 defenses left?

Seems to be let's just line up a lot in nickel because teams use soooo many WR formations

 

[ScotsCowboy]

So many hybrid defenses now seem to be used.
So are there really any traditional 4-3 or 3-4 defenses left?

I’m also a Pats fan, and when Vrabel came in last off-season, one of the first things he clarified was that they would be using a 3-4 base. Hybrid to an extent? Sure, who isn’t? But the premise they work from is 3-4.

Having a general shape doesn’t necessarily mean rigidity.

 

[thunderpimp91]

It matters with some players. Nik Bonitto is a very good rusher, but would you want his hand on the ground in a 43 base defense against the run? I wouldn't.

Bonitto is probably one of the better examples, but who says you have to have your had on the ground in a 4-3? Parsons played here multiple years in a 4 man front rushing from a 2 point stance.

Coordinators have taken aspects of both systems to implement. Good coordinators are adapting year to year to adjust more to the strengths of the players they have. A stand up 4-3 edge isnt uncommon these days on passing downs, and Bonitto only averages 40 snaps per game this year so he most likely isnt even on the field for early run downs. He would probably transition just fine into a rush only type of 4-3 role IMO.

 

[xwalker]

I've done the maths, and with the Cowboys, Packers and Bills now moving to a 3-4 base there are now 18 teams in the same position with only 14 in a 4-3 base. Now before anyone posts nickel is the new base, let me make the following points:

1) The 'player type' in terms of measurables is different between the two
2) The coaching staff you need is different between the two.

Makes the draft and free agency very competitive. Fortunately it looks like we are putting the correct coaching staff together to make the switch and are ahead of the Packers and Bills in this respect.

Many on this forum have been calling for this change for several years and thank goodness it is finally happening. The only disappointment for me is no Micah. He would have been great. The Packers have been smart enough to see this and switch schemes as they have had the chance with their DEF Coordinator moving to Miami

The 3-4 was a small percentage of snaps for the 2025 Eagles.
- Basically they played it vs 2 WR sets.

Cowboys played about as many snaps per game in their "5 man" front as the Eagles playex in the 3-4.

Eze and #53 often dropped into coverage regardless of front. Sam Williams did it occasionally.

 

[ConstantReboot]

The traditional Fangio defense usually lines up with two defensive tackles, two edge rushers (often standing up as rushing linebackers), two off-ball linebackers, and five defensive backs on passing downs. Before the snap, it shows a two‑deep safety shell. After the snap, those safeties rotate into different coverages.

The key to the defense is disguise. It makes the offense think they’re getting a basic two‑deep zone, which forces certain checks and route adjustments. Once the ball is snapped, the coverage changes because the defense is in nickel. At the same time, pressure is simulated by walking linebackers or edge players up to the line of scrimmage without always rushing them.

That’s why it was misguided for Stephen to say, “We will run more five‑man fronts.” Five‑man fronts are something you show to simulate pressure, not something you live in as a base defense.

 

[XXLMike]

So are you calling the Cowboys 5 man DL a 3-4 defense?

Yes

 

[ConstantReboot]

Has it officially been said we're moving, or that's the assumption?? I know they mentioned him saying more 5 man fronts i'm guessing that's a 3-4??

I bet Stephen really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I wish he would just shut up.

I even bet they didn’t know what exotic pressure (simulated pressure) really meant until they started talking to Parker.

Long ago, they kept saying, “Anyone can run behind this O-line.”

Now they’re using the latest buzzword, like exotic pressure, to make themselves sound smart.

 

[Majic]

I’m also a Pats fan, and when Vrabel came in last off-season, one of the first things he clarified was that they would be using a 3-4 base. Hybrid to an extent? Sure, who isn’t? But the premise they work from is 3-4.

Having a general shape doesn’t necessarily mean rigidity.

Exactly

 

[Majic]

The 3-4 was a small percentage of snaps for the 2025 Eagles.
- Basically they played it vs 2 WR sets.

Cowboys played about as many snaps per game in their "5 man" front as the Eagles playex in the 3-4.

Eze and #53 often dropped into coverage regardless of front. Sam Williams did it occasionally.

Expect more 5 man fronts
I don't think Parker will implement an exact copy of what the Eagles did.
I think the starting point for our DEF are the 3 DT's (on the Jones's insistence)

 

[Majic]

Could now be up to 19 teams with 49ers grabbing Morris. Speculation 49ers are switching to a 3-4 base

 

[noshame]

Good with our big offensive front, we can start running the ball and nobody will be able to stop it. Of course. We need to have a coach that will commit to running the ball. What a concept.

 

[AKATheRake]

Easier to find systems for "hybrid" athletes running hybrid systems.

 

[Parcells4Life]

How so?

Last year:

• TJ Watt had 863 defensive snaps....857 of them were on the DL, 3 deeper in the box... 855 of those were lined up outside the tackle...48 snaps in coverage
• Micah Parsons had 707 snaps....665 were on the DL, 42 were deeper in the box...599 outside the tackle, 52 over the tackle, 14 down in the B gap...7 snaps in coverage
• Myles Garrett had 859 snaps.....859 were on the DL.....831 were outside the tackle, 24 over the tackle, 4 down in the B gap....0 snaps in coverage

3 dominant edge players in 3 different systems....all pretty much used the same ways once you remove the labels. The differences are pretty slim.

Quinnen Williams with the Jets and Cowboys was mostly a B gap player. The Cowboys moved him around a bit more than the Jets did, but the assignments were mostly the same. Just looking at the Cowboys roster from last year....Clowney has played in both systems, so has Clark, so has fowler, So has Thomas. I doubt EZ or Houston would have much issue transitioning to either scheme.

I think the days of showing up to the draft and saying "Thats a 3-4 guy so lets pick this other player" are long gone.

This. 3-4/4-3 talk is just sports radio/internet article clickbait

 

[Parcells4Life]

I bet Stephen really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I wish he would just shut up.

I even bet they didn’t know what exotic pressure (simulated pressure) really meant until they started talking to Parker.

Long ago, they kept saying, “Anyone can run behind this O-line.”

Now they’re using the latest buzzword, like exotic pressure, to make themselves sound smart.

Exotic pressure was the key buzzword when Wade came in 2007. That’s also why they followed him up with Rob Ryan.

 

[thunderpimp91]

The other thing to keep in mind here is while all the talk is about exotic pressures and pass defense the vast majority of 3/4 or 5/2 schemes are about run prevention first. Look at a team like Pittsburgh that is known for their 3-4 defense....typically ranked pretty well against the run, bad against the pass. Baltimore is the other big 3-4 team and while they were just bad all around this year they are typically ranked high against the run, bad against the pass. Even Wade's defenses back in 07/08 were the same thing.

The Cowboys sticking with the 5 man front is likely more of a commitment to stopping the run once again, which seems to be the trend around the league as the run game has become such a big factor after years of passing dominance in the nfl.

 

[TNCowboy]

Effectively Yes

It’s not.

And you rarely see an actual 34 alignment.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I bet Stephen really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I wish he would just shut up.

I even bet they didn’t know what exotic pressure (simulated pressure) really meant until they started talking to Parker.

Long ago, they kept saying, “Anyone can run behind this O-line.”

Now they’re using the latest buzzword, like exotic pressure, to make themselves sound smart.

I love this post! Lol lol

 

[TNCowboy]

Almost every defense is just a 4 man front disguised as something else.

 

[thunderpimp91]

It’s not.

And you rarely see an actual 34 alignment.

What’s the difference?