The 46 defense and man-free coverage

[Yakuza Rich]

Yeah, but it wasn't until the 2000's, after the Patriots abused the WRs of the Rams, in the Superbowl, that the officials started calling PI like they should have been.

Actually it was after 2003 when the Pats where molesting the Colts WR's that they re-enforced the rules. Of course Pats fans were claiming that they were changing the game to benefit the Colts, but in reality they were just calling the penalties like they should and it's made for a much funner game to watch.


YAKUZA

 

[sonnyboy]

Love this thread. Icould talk this type stuff all night.

Really liked the 46 in the 80's

1) Loved the three true lineman covering the C and 2 G's it just caused havoc. You know the Eagles use to run this with Reggie at the NT so he couldn't be double. What a nightmare.

2) Eight men in the box with this allignment forced most teams to abandon the running game. And most teams in the 80's just couldn't do it.

You guys remember the one team that ran very effectively against the 46.
They did to the Bears and the Eagles all thoughout the 80's
The freaking Commanders. Gibbs and that counter tray used to eat up the 46. That 2 TE offense with the weakside OT and OG pulling and the rest of the lineman blocking down. They used to kill it every time.

The 46 as it was run in the 80's just doesn't work today for alot of reasons already covered. But what it really comes down to is that passing games are more precise today and teams don't rely on there running games like they use to.

With that said I still think it can be useful in spots. I actually think your average 3-4 base team is better equipped to slip into and out of this defense.
The 3 lineman of the 3-4 are a perfect fit for the interior three of the 46. Most weakside 3-4 LBs like Ware would fit nicely into the weakside DE role.
Come to think of it our Cowboys might be the best equipped team to do this. I love Ellis as the week side end and ROY as the SS/LB.

 

[dwmyers]

Love this thread. Icould talk this type stuff all night.

Really liked the 46 in the 80's

1) Loved the three true lineman covering the C and 2 G's it just caused havoc. You know the Eagles use to run this with Reggie at the NT so he couldn't be double. What a nightmare.

2) Eight men in the box with this allignment forced most teams to abandon the running game. And most teams in the 80's just couldn't do it.

You guys remember the one team that ran very effectively against the 46.
They did to the Bears and the Eagles all thoughout the 80's
The freaking Commanders. Gibbs and that counter tray used to eat up the 46. That 2 TE offense with the weakside OT and OG pulling and the rest of the lineman blocking down. They used to kill it every time.

The 46 as it was run in the 80's just doesn't work today for alot of reasons already covered. But what it really comes down to is that passing games are more precise today and teams don't rely on there running games like they use to.

With that said I still think it can be useful in spots. I actually think your average 3-4 base team is better equipped to slip into and out of this defense.
The 3 lineman of the 3-4 are a perfect fit for the interior three of the 46. Most weakside 3-4 LBs like Ware would fit nicely into the weakside DE role.
Come to think of it our Cowboys might be the best equipped team to do this. I love Ellis as the week side end and ROY as the SS/LB.

Well, Ellis would be the strong side end (S in the diagram) and Ware would be the weak side end. The pair would go nuts here, they're totally unblocked.

I do have to say it's been an interesting thread so far. I'm not sure how any sweep style play with pulling guards works against this defense. I think if you just drive blocked and took it to the lineman, let the fullback block the offside end, you could let the running back pick a hole on the weak side.

I'm not sure where Yakuza Rich sees an outside run weakness in this defense. There is an exposed end on either side of the line. I can only guess, in the case of a split T quick pitch, that the WR blocks down on the end and this leaves the running back isolated against the cornerback. It's not as good as a play where everyone is blocked but hey, it's about as good as you can do here.