Sturm had come up with a terrific piece.
I say it all the time, but he’s hands down the most knowledgeable sports journalists in DFW.
It’s a subscription service but I believe first article is free and a little taste here helps us and him, I’m sure.
If you want to really get ready for this new defense, this is about as close to a guide as you’re going to get.
Luckily, we have been taking notes since he was hired, on what Denver, Philadelphia, Miami, and other 2-high Fangio defenses have done to get clues on how Parker will do it. We fully expect he will wander off in his own directions, but since 2021, the 34 year old has served those five seasons under the following bosses:
2021 - Vic Fangio, Denver
2022 - Ejiro Evero, Denver
2023 - Vance Joseph, Denver
2024 - Vic Fangio, Philadelphia
2025 - Vic Fangio, Philadelphia
He then breaks down the Fangio coaching tree and spends many, many pages detailing the 34 defense, two-high shells, and why the new incarnations of them are a reactions to McVay/Shanahan, who basically broke the NFL almost a decade ago .
Cody Alexander is a contributor and has this to say about safeties in this defense
The term “hybrid” will be used at volume from now until the season. Parker is looking for “add-value” players that can play multiple spots, which is needed if you are going to base in Nickel. In some of his interviews, Parker has mentioned he doesn’t want a traditional Slot CB, which has been the norm in Dallas; he wants a Nickel Safety or “tweener” who can play in zone coverage and survive near the box. Currently, on the roster, Markquese Bell fits that mold (and has experience playing LB).
Nickel is Base
Again, there is a long ways to go, but the theme here is that “nickel is base” because as we know, there is no 4-3 or 3-4 defense here. Or, if there is, it is 20% of the recipe. The other 80% is nickel. And if you are in nickel (5 DBs), then there are only six defenders left.
That means you can run a 4-2 or a 5-1, but that is with a nickel attached. The coverages are more zone and with a lighter box, it means your DBs must all be able to tackle – and that explains why you want three safeties on the field over three corners. One extra guy who knows how to tackle. And your corners? You must be able to tackle which is why you want dawgs out there and not passive players who want to keep their jersey clean.
https://open.substack.com/pub/bobst...arker-defensive-shift?r=1ym42z&utm_medium=ios
