Modern Era Defensive Alignment Designations

[xwalker]

The terms 4-3 and 3-4 are outdated in the modern era of multiple front defenses.

I know that one college team uses the following nomenclature in their notes:

• DL - Edge - LB
  • Examples:
    • 3-4: 3-2-2
    • 4-3: 2-2-3
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2

• They use a 4th digit to reference Big Nickel:
  • Example:
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2-3s

• They (sometimes) use a * to reference Edge players as standing up.
  • Example:
    • 2-2*-3: 4-3 with 1 Stand-Up Edge players.
    • 2-2**-3: 4-3 with 2 Stand-Up Edge players.

• They also use a * to reference when Edge players are aligned inside.
  • Example (From Cowboys in 2021):
    • DLaw aligned inside with Basham and Gregory as Stand-Up DEs.
    • 2*-2**-2

• Source:
  • I know a college assistant coach. He said they use this nomenclature.
  • They use it in their notes when breaking down film of other teams.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Thanks for sharing. For all the debate the last couple of years about do we run a 3-4 or a 4-3 it turns out everyone was right....sort of...but also very wrong. Defenses are evolving, and so is the terminology. Very tough to put a modern defense into the box of 4-3 or 3-4....even Nickel and Dime packages aren't what they were a couple decades ago.

 

[Typhus]

The terms 4-3 and 3-4 are outdated in the modern era of multiple front defenses.

I know that one college team uses the following nomenclature in their notes:

• DL - Edge - LB
  • Examples:
    • 3-4: 3-2-2
    • 4-3: 2-2-3
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2

• They use a 4th digit to reference Big Nickel:
  • Example:
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2-3s

• They (sometimes) use a * to reference Edge players as standing up.
  • Example:
    • 2-2*-3: 4-3 with 1 Stand-Up Edge players.
    • 2-2**-3: 4-3 with 2 Stand-Up Edge players.

• They also use a * to reference when Edge players are aligned inside.
  • Example (From Cowboys in 2021):
    • DLaw aligned inside with Basham and Gregory as Stand-Up DEs.
    • 2*-2**-2

• Source:
  • I know a college assistant coach. He said they use this nomenclature.
  • They use it in their notes when breaking down film of other teams.

The definition has been outdated for a while in the league, and those that still believe in a 4-3 vs 3-4 base set have not been paying attention, and doubt that Quinn really has a preference.
He probably chuckles a bit when he hears it.

 

[jterrell]

Thank you for this.
We are still talking 3-4 versus 4-3 like it is 1995.

The NFL adopted collegiate offenses and thus has combated that with collegiate defenses.
The NFL of course has tweaked and perfected it.
They utilize more variance and bigger/faster players across the board.


The biggest overall take away is variance.
Teams no longer run simple concepts like just a base 4-3 or 3-4.
But post snap movement has really grown.

As teams deploy more guys back into zones and coverage areas NFL offenses will (and do) adapt and run it more into softer boxes.
We have definitely seen this collegiately.
Teams play mostly what we'd call 3-3-5, stack up front with 1 of the down DL an edge who can stand and rush or move to either edge and teams can go as small as 2 down, 2 LB and 7 DBs versus pure passing teams.
So, yes, teams now teach what they call things like 21-2-2-4
It's not at all unlike modern "soccer".
That defense would be 2 DT, a roving Edge, 2 interior LB, 2 Bandit's or big/hybrid safeties and 4 CBs who play Quarters.
That can easily become 22-2-3-3 versus run based or even balanced teams.
Bring in another Edge, a big safety/hybrid and play 3 deep or cover 3.

 

[john van brocklin]

The terms 4-3 and 3-4 are outdated in the modern era of multiple front defenses.

I know that one college team uses the following nomenclature in their notes:

• DL - Edge - LB
  • Examples:
    • 3-4: 3-2-2
    • 4-3: 2-2-3
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2

• They use a 4th digit to reference Big Nickel:
  • Example:
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2-3s

• They (sometimes) use a * to reference Edge players as standing up.
  • Example:
    • 2-2*-3: 4-3 with 1 Stand-Up Edge players.
    • 2-2**-3: 4-3 with 2 Stand-Up Edge players.

• They also use a * to reference when Edge players are aligned inside.
  • Example (From Cowboys in 2021):
    • DLaw aligned inside with Basham and Gregory as Stand-Up DEs.
    • 2*-2**-2

• Source:
  • I know a college assistant coach. He said they use this nomenclature.
  • They use it in their notes when breaking down film of other teams.

Wow that's complex , but thanks for posting

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

The terms 4-3 and 3-4 are outdated in the modern era of multiple front defenses.

I know that one college team uses the following nomenclature in their notes:

• DL - Edge - LB
  • Examples:
    • 3-4: 3-2-2
    • 4-3: 2-2-3
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2

• They use a 4th digit to reference Big Nickel:
  • Example:
    • Nickel 4-2-5: 2-2-2-3s

• They (sometimes) use a * to reference Edge players as standing up.
  • Example:
    • 2-2*-3: 4-3 with 1 Stand-Up Edge players.
    • 2-2**-3: 4-3 with 2 Stand-Up Edge players.

• They also use a * to reference when Edge players are aligned inside.
  • Example (From Cowboys in 2021):
    • DLaw aligned inside with Basham and Gregory as Stand-Up DEs.
    • 2*-2**-2

• Source:
  • I know a college assistant coach. He said they use this nomenclature.
  • They use it in their notes when breaking down film of other teams.

I look at the first few steps and how they use their hands. 2 gappers show really quick with their stack. From that you can get a sense of who has which gap. With movement this becomes more difficult particularly figuring the fills for the backers.

I stopped caring about the odd and even front designations. It used to be that it described the way defenses attacked but now you see our even fronts stacking the strong side end and tackle.

 

[ChuckA1]

Excellent info, xwalker. Very informative