Hazard's Huddle: How Will Joe Barry's Front Look? A Look at Chargers Front vs. Patriots

The Redskins defensive coordinator search took Redskins fans on a roller coaster of emotions. Most thought Wade Phillips was a shoe-in for the position due to connections with the staff and being spotted around the team all season. When Raheem Morris's name came up as a possibility, fans got a bit mental and when Joe Barry was reportedly hired as the Redskins defensive coordinator (the first time), fans went berzerk. When Vic Fangio became available and Redskins name became attached, nerves calmed. When he reportedly chose the Bears over the Redskins, tempers again flared culminating in Joe Barry being announced as the Redskins defensive coordinator (for real this time) triggering a Redskins nation revolt.

What is unclear to me is if the fan's top two choices were Vic Fangio and Wade Phillips, is track record the only thing that matters? Because their defenses are not very similar. While it's hard to know exactly how Joe Barry will call his defense, if his time with the San Diego Chargers is any indication, it'll be more similar to Wade Phillips than Vic Fangio; it'll be aggressive. Jay Gruden has already said it will be a "3-4-one-gap-penetrating-style" which only further cements Barry's defense will resemble that of the Chargers. In this breakdown, I'm going to look at what the Chargers did with their front against the New England Patriots.

Alignment

Now, in a traditional 3-4, you have a NT playing 0-Technique over the Center and two DE's playing 5-Tech over the Offensive Tackles.

True to what Jay Gruden said, instead of the traditional 5-0-5 alignment, the Chargers have their three base lineman in gaps. The Chargers are shaded one click over towards the strength (two TEs) making it basically a 6-1-4 or an under front.

As you can see, it wasn't just a one time deal. The Chargers used this alignment to consistently combat this formation.

Again, Chargers are stressing getting penetration through the gaps towards the strength of the formation with an OLB on the backside responsible for contain/bootlegs.

When the Patriots motioned out of the double TE, the DL stayed put and the LBs/S shifted over giving the Chargers good protection against runs to either side as either could be strength.

The Patriots try to run Lead Weak here to combat the fact the Chargers keep penetrating towards the strength. While the NT Sean Lissemore is lined up in the opposite A-Gap making the block easy for the center, it makes it hard for the guard who is responsible for blocking #53 Kavell Conner.

The guard basically gets clipped by the center's block making him unable to reach Conner who now goes untouched through the gap and makes the tackle for a minimal gain.

To counter the one gap alignment, the Patriots came out in an even formation and ran a Counter Weak to whatever side they didn't shade. Good play by the backside is required to limit damage.

As you can see, right off the snap, the 1-gap penetrating towards strength almost immediately makes the block for the OL.

After the pulling guard obliterates the LB on the backside, Blount is able to take it up field for a 9 yard gain.

Patriots get in the red zone again and try the same play. Like I said, good play from the backside can change the results.

OLB Melvin Ingram beats his block almost immediately.

Ingram levels Blount in the backfield for a loss on the play.

In even formations from the Patriots, the Chargers also used some line shifts. After initally aligning likes this and Brady would makes his line calls, the two DL would shift gaps right before the hike.

In Nickel formations, the Chargers used typical 4-3 responsibilities having a 1-Tech, a 3-Tech, and two edge rushers.

Many times, the Chargers liked lining up in that flatline defense with a single high safety that hides who is rushing and who is dropping. Sometimes they rushed, sometimes they didn't. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

On this play, with everyone near the line of scrimmage, it looks like they are bringing 5 but the two ILBs drop and it's only a three man rush.

Both ILBs take away the hot receiver and Brady goes to Gronkowski but throws it over his head.

Charger show the same flatline defense again but this time it doesn't work so well. Dwight Freeney is showing rush but has Rob Gronkowski who is running a short out route in man coverage. Since Freeney is bluffing so hard with his rush, when he backs into coverage, he does it as fast as he can but straight back instead of with his man.

This gives Brady a large window to throw.

Gronkowski does the rest turning the catch and run into a massive gain.

Blitzes and Stunts

Looking at stunts and blitzes, they use your basic double Texas Stunt with two DL and 2 OLB (basically DEs in this formation).

Towards the end of the first half, the Chargers used 3 OLBs and one DL or what you may affectionately refer to as "a NASCAR package." Here, they lined up their DT outside (picture Jason Hatcher) and Stunted him with an OLB on the left.

As bodies move around, there are rushers very close to Brady as he lets go of the pass.

This time, the Chargers move the DL inside but do the same thing with a stunt on the other side as well.

The Patriots OL has a hard time picking it up, forcing Tom Brady to throw it away as he takes a solid shot in the chest.

On this play, they put the DL back inside and run a stunt with the two OLBs on the other side.

The most outside OLB stunting from the right crosses the entire formation as the OL block down and gets in Brady's face, forcing him to let the ball go a little early.

He underthrows Gronkowski and Manti Te'o gets the easy interception.

Here is a blitz where where they bring that 4-3 look with an ILB blitzing off the edge. The safety comes down into the box and replaces the blitzing ILB.

Later in the game, they show the same blitz and the Patriots try to run away from the blitzer.

But Dwight Freeney does a great job setting the edge.

Other Chargers rally to the ball and make the play in the backfield.

In SD, Joe Barry worked with the LBs. I liked seeing how well they disguised their blitzes. They didn't often tip their hand. On this play, the DT is going to shoot towards the inside gap across the OG's face and Dwight Freeney is going to rush wide to open a big hole in the B-Gap.

By the time the LT notices Manti Te'o is blitzing, he's already in a bind while mirroring Freeney. This gave Te'o a huge rushing lane. Brady beat it though dumping it off to the RB quick.

The Chargers also utilitzed a Double Cross Dog blitz.

Once again, this produces a free rusher but Brady is able to get the ball out because the coverage behind doesn't hold up long enough.

Here is another good disguised blitz. The ILB comes right up over the center and Andrew Gachkar lines over Gronkowski with inside technique giving off the impression that the middle of the field is going to be vacant because of the A-gap blitz. In all actuality, Gachkar is the one coming on the blitz and the ILB is dropping underneath Gronkowski.

The offensive line call was designed to stop the A-Gap blitz so Gachkar again has a huge rushing lane. Brady sees it and flushes left immediately. He ends up throwing it before he wants to and it's incomplete.

How is this for an alignment? This isn't right after breaking the huddle. They are just waiting late to show their hand. I'm surprised the Patriots didn't just quick hike it and run. Brady is trying to identify the Mike in this mess.

When Brady gets deep into his cadence after line calls and checks, one DL rushes down and gets his hand in the dirt, the others creep up. The DL with his hand in the dirt is going straight at the guard while the OLB is rushing wide to open up the B-gap for the deep safety blitz.

The RB and OT both go after the outside rusher and the safety comes free in the huge lane created.

Tom Brady tries to get the pass off but the ball is tipped and it's incomplete. If he held it any longer, it would have been a sack.

How about this for an alignment. A 0-Tech NT with two 9-Tech's on the outside.

Of course this isn't just a three-man rush, it's going to set up a blitz. The NT is going to the left A-gap (or 1 hole). The LB is going for the right A-gap and with the RT handling the outside 9-Tech, that should again open up the B-gap for the safety. (I'll get into it more when I post my article on the secondary, but the way the Chargers utilize it, it's hard for offenses to identify when that safety is coming on a blitz).

With bodies around him, Brady is forced once more to get rid of the ball before he's ready.

For those who support the more aggressive style of defense, this should be right up your alley. While this probably isn't a carbon copy of what Barry will do, it's a good outliner. What will be interesting is how he adapts this scheme to the current Redskins personnel. Hopefully, Scot McCloughan and crew will do a good job providing a few more pieces for Barry to work with as we all know how the shelf looks right now. Check back later this week as I take a look at what the Chargers did with their secondary/coverages in this game.