would the flex work today?

[iceberg]

Here's my deal. I'm 23 and followed football at a relatively early age. From the age of 5 or so,I watched the games every week. (weird child, I know) This was in 1988/89 so the Cowboys sucked back then. The 49ers, Commanders, Giants and Bears ruled the NFL in those days and had players that had played for their respective teams for years and were dominant in comparison to the rest of the league. As I grew a little older, the Cowboys rose again to elite status. Just in time of course for free agency to begin in 1993, followed by the implementation of the slary cap in 1994. This eroded the Cowboys chances of having an extended dynasty like the Packers Steelers and 49ers.
One of the things that are so attractive in sports like MLB and the NBA is that it is so hard to knock off the kingpins of the league, that when you do it feels like a really worthy accomplishment

I miss that in the NFL.

Starting with the Broncos, The league was treated to five first time Super Bowl winners in a six year span. Prior to 1997, the last time there was a first time Super Bowl winner was in 1986. The eighties saw four first time winners (the previous four kingpins of the eighties mentioned previously) Those four teams where championship contenders for years following their initial Super Bowl wins. We can't really say thyat for the first time winners in the 90's save the Patriots.

I suppose if you're a fan of a team in a middle-level market and previously did not have the financial means to compete year in and year out under the old system, then the free agency/salary cap era of the NFL is great due to its leveling of the competive field, if you will. My friend who's a Buccaneer fan would agree.

Me, I lomg for the days of when groups like the Steel Curtain, the Doomsday Defense, the Purple People Eaters were given enough time to gel into a cohesive unit and thus permanently ensure their place of football lore.

hey man - thanks for replying - good input!

 

[iceberg]

That's the really vexing part of the salary cap era. The palying field has been leveled so dramatically that even a mediocre organization can luck themselves into a Super Bowl run if everything goes right.

it's almost as if "luck" is a player on the team and as long as he stays injury free, you've got a good shot.

i hate that. i don't want the best sorta good - i want the best!

 

[Aikbach]

it's almost as if "luck" is a player on the team and as long as he stays injury free, you've got a good shot.

i hate that. i don't want the best sorta good - i want the best!

Dallas is real healthy apart from Ellis and they've turned to poodle poopoo on defense.

 

[iceberg]

Be curious no more. No, it won't work.
Parcells is stuck on his ways.
It's his way or the highway.
If he's from New York or Jersey he's a great one.
If he once coached him, he's in.
If he's used a system he'll use it for life.
He wont change.

what about the defense makes it so complicated moreso than defenses today? not being anal, i hear this a lot but i'm not sure what *about it* specifically made it so differnt and harder to learn/execute.

that's when i started watching football (around 77) but i never got the flex really and would like to know.

 

[Cbz40]

what about the defense makes it so complicated moreso than defenses today? not being anal, i hear this a lot but i'm not sure what *about it* specifically made it so differnt and harder to learn/execute.

that's when i started watching football (around 77) but i never got the flex really and would like to know.

I'm not by any means an expert in X & O but just reading about it I came to this conclusion......to put it simply ...just too many moving parts.

 

[iceberg]

I'm not by any means an expert in X & O but just reading about it I came to this conclusion......to put it simply ...just too many moving parts.

well the big knock is the players must be familiar with each other and i'm wondering what about it vs. a standard 4-3 makes that so.

 

[5Stars]

well the big knock is the players must be familiar with each other and i'm wondering what about it vs. a standard 4-3 makes that so.

Was it successful when Landry used it? Yes...

Then why are other teams not using it today? Because it's too hard to learn...

Now, if it's too hard to learn by professional coaches, why do you expect dumb fans like me to try and explain it to you?

I really doubt you are going to get the answer you are looking for...

 

[burmafrd]

The flex was the first read and react Defense. It was primary a run defense- but if well manned and well coached did fine against the pass. From 1965 to 1986 against all the changes the NFL went through the Flex was competitive. Only when the talent ran out and the coaching decreased did it finally die.
It puts the players in the position of being responsible for areas. Not players or plays- areas. If done right- there are no holes unless your player gets physically pancaked, completely taken out of the play. If goes against the players natural tendency to pursue and gang tackle, etc.

 

[MONT17]

I was a young buck watching the Boys and never really payed attention to those details... but looking back I guess the flex enabled RANDY WHITE who was strong enough to play DT and fast enough to play LB!!! having him in a 4 point stance off the line would allow him to run to the ball carrier on sweeps and off tackles or plug the middle and make it hard for teams to trap inside!!!




Jimmy's system of having better athletes is the way to go now days!!!

 

[iceberg]

The flex was the first read and react Defense. It was primary a run defense- but if well manned and well coached did fine against the pass. From 1965 to 1986 against all the changes the NFL went through the Flex was competitive. Only when the talent ran out and the coaching decreased did it finally die.
It puts the players in the position of being responsible for areas. Not players or plays- areas. If done right- there are no holes unless your player gets physically pancaked, completely taken out of the play. If goes against the players natural tendency to pursue and gang tackle, etc.

and 5stars said i wouldn't get good answers.

this is the type of stuff i'm looking for - just input from people who paid attention at the time, not some "how do impliment the flex for dummies" book.

 

[5Stars]

and 5stars said i wouldn't get good answers.

this is the type of stuff i'm looking for - just input from people who paid attention at the time, not some "how do impliment the flex for dummies" book.

That was a good answer...

 

[iceberg]

That was a good answer...

i'm working on it. : )

 

[5Stars]

i'm working on it. : )

Not yours! buramfrd's answer...

I'm confused now...

 

[burmafrd]

Landry specifically designed the flex- or as he called it- The Coordinated Defense- to prevent cutback runs- or as it was called at the time- running to daylight. ALso to prevent there being areas where there were no defenders in the passing plays- the player in that area while technically playing a zone was allowed to close in and take on the offensive player. He did not have to just sit there and wait for the pass to be thrown. Players in adjacent areas were expected to react if their own immediate space was empty and the offense was attempting to flood another area with multiple receivers. This all had to be done by each player in a second or two- three at the most. So it took some very smart and quickly responsive players to make it work.

 

[iceberg]

Landry specifically designed the flex- or as he called it- The Coordinated Defense- to prevent cutback runs- or as it was called at the time- running to daylight. ALso to prevent there being areas where there were no defenders in the passing plays- the player in that area while technically playing a zone was allowed to close in and take on the offensive player. He did not have to just sit there and wait for the pass to be thrown. Players in adjacent areas were expected to react if their own immediate space was empty and the offense was attempting to flood another area with multiple receivers. This all had to be done by each player in a second or two- three at the most. So it took some very smart and quickly responsive players to make it work.

gotcha - thanks a bunch!