Undershift and overshift

[VACowboy]

"He could be either one," Parcells said. "It depends on what kind of four-man front we were using. If we were using an undershift, he'd probably be more of a defensive end. If we were using more of an overshift, he'd be more of a linebacker."

Can someone explaen "undershift" and "overshift?"

 

[JackMagist]

Can someone explaen "undershift" and "overshift?"

Who was he talking about? Ware?

 

[VACowboy]

Yeah. Ware.

 

[ndanger]

Can someone explaen "undershift" and "overshift?"

I dunno,I'll zip over to a nascar site and check.

 

[junk]

It is essentially a shift in the defense that allows a team to overload one side or another. I have included an article on it.

Defensive Formations - The Over/Under 4-3
The Over/Under 4-3 defense is a variation of the basic 4-3 defense that allows the defense to shift more linemen to the suspected point of attack. The alignment features four down lineman and three linebackers in the front seven, just as in a basic 4-3.

If you take a look at the illustration on the right, you will see a diagram outlining the Over 4-3 alignment. The Os in the diagram represent offensive players while the Xs represent the placement of the defensive players.

Notice the lowest row of Xs positioned on the line of scrimmage (imaginary line seperating the offense and defense). The two defensive ends (DE) line up over the offensive tackles. The two defensive tackles (DT) line up over the center and the guard on the strong side. One linebacker (LB) lines up on the line of scrimmage over the tight end.

Another lines up off the line, just outside the weak-side defensive end. The third linebacker lines up off the line, but in the gap between the weak-side tackle and end.

When in the Over 4-3, the strength of the defense is on the offense's strong side. With a simple shift to the Under 4-3, the strength of the defense moves to the weak side. To get from the Over formation to the Under, simply shift the defensive tackles over one spot so that they are now over the center and the weak-side guard. The linebacker playing the gap between the weak-side tackle and end then shifts to the gap created between the strong-side tackle and end.

Two cornerbacks (CB), one on each side of the field, line up to cover the wide receivers. There are also two safeties. The exact position of the defensive backs (cornerbacks and safeties) depends on the type of pass coverage they are in.

Also, check out this site which details a 4-3 over/under scheme that might be implemented by Saban. It has quite a few 3-4 traits, but I personally feel its the best defense to line the Cowboys up in. Ware, Spears, Glover, Ferguson, Ellis, Dat and Burnett.

http://www.phins.com/articles05/3-4defense.php

 

[ndanger]

Good stuff Junk...THX

 

[VACowboy]

Thanks Junk. Just what I was looking for.

 

[VACowboy]

Yes, I agree with you about Saban's defense being perfect for the players on the Cowboys roster.

Both Ware and Thornton can play DE or OLB.

Canty, spears and Ratliff can play DE or DT. Johnson is a NT who can play DE.

Dat is a very similar player to Zack Thomas, a great flow and scrape playmaker on the weak side. I think James and Fowler would make great strong-side runstuffers in that scheme.

It really plays to the strength of the defense, the depth and versatility of the DL, while minimizing the lack of depth and experience at LB. It puts all our best defensive players on the field and in positions to do what they do best.

 

[jterrell]

It is simply a 3-4 Defensive philosophy on the DL(for those 3 guys) with both DE's over tackles and a NT on the Center. The quick DT gets a gap on either the strong or weak side depending on play tendencies and matchups.


Team like it because covering up the center seems to really disrupt many offenses.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Good article, Junk!

That's what Parcells is talking about... It would allow us to go 4-3 but the under wouldn't require Ware to take on the OT play after play, which Parcells has already said he doesn't want to do. In the over when the DE does have to take on the tackle, someone else like Ellis would play there and Ware would move back to LB.

But this is something I haven't seen mentioned -- maybe it was and I just missed it -- but I think it's very significant. Did you notice Zimmer saying in an article this week that he now has "a new 4-3 to learn"? That's what Parcells meant when he talked about a 4-3 with 3-4 principles. Parcells doesn't like that even or one gap 4-3 that the article mentions (like we used to play) because it's more of a finesse defense.

So even if we go to a four man line this year, it won't be the same 4-3 we played last year, but a much more man-up physical defense. And I think that's the key. It's not so much that Parcells hates the 43 or has to have three men up front, but that he hates the idea of being reactive and having a finesse team. He wants to slug the offense in the mouth from the snap and beat them down physically. I think the fact that the 43 Zimmer had before didn't feature that is what really made him uncomfortable with the scheme we used the last two years.

 

[Cbz40]

Good article, Junk!

That's what Parcells is talking about... It would allow us to go 4-3 but the under wouldn't require Ware to take on the OT play after play, which Parcells has already said he doesn't want to do. In the over when the DE does have to take on the tackle, someone else like Ellis would play there and Ware would move back to LB.

But this is something I haven't seen mentioned -- maybe it was and I just missed it -- but I think it's very significant. Did you notice Zimmer saying in an article this week that he now has "a new 4-3 to learn"? That's what Parcells meant when he talked about a 4-3 with 3-4 principles. Parcells doesn't like that even or one gap 4-3 that the article mentions (like we used to play) because it's more of a finesse defense.

So even if we go to a four man line this year, it won't be the same 4-3 we played last year, but a much more man-up physical defense. And I think that's the key. It's not so much that Parcells hates the 43 or has to have three men up front, but that he hates the idea of being reactive and having a finesse team. He wants to slug the offense in the mouth from the snap and beat them down physically. I think the fact that the 43 Zimmer had before didn't feature that is what really made him uncomfortable with the scheme we used the last two years.

Thanks CL I now believe I have a much better understanding of what's going on in the new D scheme...thanks to your great explanation.......


"a much more man-up physical defense" I like that concept.

Thanks Junk for the post.....good stuff

 

[VACowboy]

Pretty exciting stuff.

 

[junk]

Yes, the author of that article does a good job of explaining the difference between even and odd fronts and I do think it ties into exactly what Parcells is talking about with his four man front.

I have posted a link to that Dolphins article about a dozen times because I think that highly of it.

 

[Rockytop6]

Thanks Junk. Really cool stuff.