3-4 defense = more blitzing opportunities?

[azmodeus13]

In watching a lot of the teams that play the 3-4, I have noticed that in a lot of instances are they not only stingier against the run in many cases, but that they use their linebackers a lot in blitzing situations - and very frequently.

I figure, obviously, that it's due to not just wanting to rush with only 3 linemen, but I also guess that Williams is kind of interested in it since he can be more creative with his blitzes - I imagine with his love of camoflaging the blitzers by shifting men up and back from the line that the 3-4 will give him more opportunity to attempt to tag the QB from all sorts of directions.

With Jones and Killings dinged up, I think we'll see this more often in the Giants game, but I do tend to worry a bit on the inside run game since we really don't have a true NT.

What do y'all think?

[rvan1]

well, greg williams is very versatile, and i think he demonstrates it in packages with extra linebackers or secondary. its definitely not a shock to me to see the skins using more of the 3-4, as on any given play, that extra linebacker can fall into coverage, blitz, or lineup as a DL...

[SkinsHokieFan]

The 3-4 is designed to confuse the offense about where the pressure is coming from

So yeah, the more 3-4 we play the more I would anticipate us blitzing because it is tough to identify who is going to be blitzing from where

You can't really play a "passive" read and react 3-4

[KillaCam21]

PLaying in the 3-4 too much worries me too. I love attacking the QB, but I think it makes it harder for us to stop the run. MAybe if we could just get Sean Taylor to not be so aggressive when teams run at us while we're in the 3-4 it would do alright. It looks to me that on pretty much all of the opposing teams' big runs so far this season we haven't had a safety guy back to prevent the big play. I think our safeties jump up into the box and end up getting beat. i'm not too concerned either way because GW will make the right decision.

[Mr. Nostril]

The misconception with the 3-4 defense is that teams don't necessarily blitz more when they use it. When you only have 3 d-linemen, sending 1 non d-lineman isn't a blitz. Because you're still only sending 4 total players. Offenses just don't know who the fourth player the defense sends is going to be.

The thing is since on almost every play, a non d-lineman is sent, you hear alot of annoucers say "it's a blitz!" When really, it isn't.

[Mr. S]

im still more of a fan of the 4-3, we do have some pretty good LB's, but a 3-4 puts a mismatch at LB for the o-line, a very good tackle can stop a blitzing OLB. Seems like an ILB blitz has a better shot of working, or blitzing a LB and a CB or something. Also yes, I feel our run support is a little suspect in a 3-4.

I think it was the Cowboys game, I kept seeing Samuels matching up to Ware, it was a pretty easy matchup for him it seems.

[Lifelong Skins Fan]

The 3-4 seems to work best for teams (like us) who do not use it as their base defense. Having the ability to play both means that the opposing team has to gameplan every play vs both defenses. Ergo they have to shrink their game plan in order to practice blocking vs both alignments. One will notice that teams who best employ 3-4 have players ala Lavar Arringon who could be lining up at LB or DE. This way oponents cannot tell which you are doing until you line up. And you have the ability to shift in or out at the line.

On this note I think Greg Williams will not so much blitz this weekend as he will be trying to get Eli to audible. If we can make Eli guess (should not be hard I don't thin he is ols enough to drink) then we will have a lot of fun on sunday.

[RamsTheMan]

The 3-4 sucks as your base defense...I've always hated it, teams can run right threw you...its also such and ugly formation.

4-3 is the classic and the best.

[Tommy-the-Greek]

Not many teams use a 3-4 so by using it you can give an "O" line fits because they are not in a comfort zone blocking it. When we go into the 3-4 watch the Giant "O" lineman pointing out who has responsibility for who. That should be entertaining.

This will also impact Tiki's ability to sneak out of the backfield on swing passes and passes into the flat. He may have to stay in to block to protect Eli. In a 4-3 Tiki is probably watching the MLB and if he blitzes Tiki has to stay in to block him. On the 3-4 Tiki will have to block the second backer blitzing. Washington or Lavar on Tiki should be a mismatch in our favor.

The 3-4 is also conducive to penetration into the backfield by the backers. This will mean some running plays will be stopped in the backfield for negative yardage. It also means that Williams can conceal his blitzes better. If Washington and Lavar line up on the same side one of them is going in and maybe both of them. The Giant "O" line is going to have to go into max protect mode. This can also help negate Shockey's effectiveness if he also has to stay in to block. The Giants will have only two recievers, Toomer and Plexico running routes.

Forcing the Giants to Keep Tiki and Shockey into a max protect mode works to our advantage IMHO. :2cents:

[JimmiJo]

I think we will be seeing it more from GW because our ends are not creating pressure for the QB. Griffin is the only guy really creating problems for the opposing O-lines. We need to draft a bonafide rushing specialist (or pick one up with free agency).

[GoDannyBoy]

I think are Backers are better than our D-line. With the line banged up it is the way to get our best players on the field.

[azmodeus13]

I agree that we probably shouldn't play this as a base defense, but the one thing GW was asked was about his switching from one play at 4-3 to the next at 3-4. I can only imagine it would cause consternation in the O line especially with the LBs moving up towards the line and back, hiding who is rushing and who isn't.

The one thing is that I can see LBs dropping into coverage on a blitz (when they send two or more besides the line) easier than dropping Daniels or Wynn into coverage on a zone blitz.

I agree, Mr. Nostril (cool name), that many get the "it's a blitz" wrong... I can just see the Skins bringing LA from one side - say over the guard and Springs or Harris from the other... with a LB dropping back to aid the safety shifting over to cover

I remember a couple of blitzes from teams like the Cowboys and the Pats doing some damage like that...

[Parlett316]

3-4 is a great formation to break out against NFC teams since not many in the NFC use it. AFC teams see it alot.