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When Jack Del Rio was hired by Ron Rivera to run the defense here in Washington, shouts of joy could be heard echoing throughout the area. Prior to Rivera’s hiring, the Redskins endured a long string of incompetence at defensive coordinator under former head coach Jay Gruden, including Jim Haslett, Joe Barry, and the last three seasons under Greg Manusky.
Part of this incompetence was due to the team not having the correct pieces to run the 3-4 defense. The previous coordinators consistently miscast former college 4-3 defensive ends into 3-4 outside linebackers - often forcing them to drop into coverage against much more agile offensive skill players. For years, even dating back to the days of Mike Shanahan, the team lacked a true nose tackle to anchor the middle of the defensive line. That, however, didn’t stop the group from trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
The other part was due to general incompetence by the trio to conform to today’s NFL, and change their scheme to prevent offensive coordinators from exploiting obvious mismatches.
Hopefully, with a defensive-minded head coach and a coordinator like Del Rio, things will change.
Today’s NFL:
Fans are constantly asking who will play where in the Redskins new 4-3 look. We draft up depth charts and project starting lineups to see who fits where best, and who can help the team given the skill-sets we have on defense.
Facts are, starting lineups are only that in words. It is much more important to have the personnel to adjust to multiple offensive formations that creative coordinators will throw at you.
In today’s NFL, with offenses opening up their formations to create mismatches all over the field, versatility is key. It’s all about being able to play “Heavy” when you need to, and be able to get speed on the field when necessary. Having athletes that can transcend both situations is vital.
The defensive front has seen some re-shaping, although the principle aspects of stopping the run and getting after the quarterback will never change. The 350 pound two-down nose tackles are becoming like dinosaurs, instead being replaced with more versatile interior defenders who are not liabilities in passing situations. Mind you, these space-eaters still have a place in the game, but they are becoming less and less common. The EDGE players are seeing a different breed as well. In the 80’s and 90’s, a 4-3 defensive end would likely be north of 280 pounds(ala, your Reggie Whites’), now, these athletes are playing inside, in favor of a more high-cut, linear, edge-bending pass rush specialist on the outside - aka, your Khalil Mack’s and Nick Bosa’s - or a name many Redskins fans are familiar with in the 2020 draft...Chase Young!
In the past, defenses saw monsters like Ray Lewis roaming the middle. Today, we are seeing smaller, quicker more versatile off-the-ball linebackers who can fly sideline-to-sideline in run support, cover a tight end or slot receiver if necessary, and run with a back out the the backfield. These “space” players have replaced the bigger, run-stuffing linebackers - the Reggie Raglands’ if you will, in today’s modern NFL.
Free safeties and strong safeties certainly still have their place, but make no mistake, defensive coordinators, with all the disguised coverages they like to run, prefer interchangeable safeties who can operate as a single high, or come down into the box when asked. These once rare hybrid players are becoming more and more common in college football with all the 4-2-5 looks and inverted Tampa 2 defenses we are seeing. You’ll see this type of athlete in Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James, and more and more will be entering the NFL in coming years as defenses continue to adapt to the spread offenses that are taking over college football.
Defining the Positions of a 4-3 Defense:
First off, let me start by saying there are many different types of 4-3 fronts, and most good coordinators will design one to fit around the talent they have, versus trying to fit a square peg into a round hole(the Redskins way the past decade). I assume Del Rio will be the former. After studying his tendencies during his time as a coordinator in Denver and as a head coach in Oakland(his two most recent jobs), this has been his mantra.
For as many different looks as you see, the 4-3 under looks seems to be a staple of a Del Rio coached defense. Below, you will see an example of this alignment against a single in-line TE look.
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From left to right and front to back...
EDGE(left side) - Usually the more “stout” of your EDGE players.
DT(1-tech) - The nose tackle. Usually your bigger, space-eating DT.
DT(3-tech) - The quicker, penetrating DT
EDGE(right side) - Sometimes called the “LEO” - this is usually the team’s best pass rusher.
SAM(strong side LB) - Lines up to the TE side, or what is determined to be the strong side of the offensive formation. Must be stout at the point of attack. Can be asked to cover the TE, or may be used to rush the passer.
*SAM is usually the LB who is substituted for an extra DB in Nickel
MIKE(middle LB) - The leader of the defense. Must be able to play sideline-to-sideline and has to be able to scrape and get off blocks in run game, and drop into zone coverage in passing situations.
WILL(weak side LB) - Lines up to the weak side of the offensive formation, usually splitting the B and C gaps. The WILL is the team’s most athletic, versatile linebacker, who is often the team's best cover LB in either man match-up or zone looks(hook-to-curl, buzz flats).
CB(right side) - Since most QBs are right handed, the old rule was the team’s best CB would usually line up on the right side, but this is not always the case.
CB(left side) - see above
Slot CB(not pictured) - This is usually a defensive back who is subbed in for the SAM linebacker in obvious passing situations. Can play on #2 WR to that side.
SS - Will usually line up to the strong side of the offensive formation. Can play in the box(usually behind and to the outside of the SAM), or float back to a deep safety as part of a Cover 2 or 4 look.
FS - Traditionally, your cover safety, who must have the ability to play as a single-high, or man-over help defender.
Projecting the Redskins Players to a 4-3 Defense:
*Starter/Back-up
EDGE: Montez Sweat/Ryan Kerrigan
It appears Montez Sweat is starting to “get it” and now he’s able to just go out and play without thinking as much.
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) September 27, 2019
Here, he uses good hand placement and speed off the edge to record his first sack of the season. pic.twitter.com/yCZccWTqHF
Unlike Sweat, Kerrigan is not able to get off his block here and make the play. pic.twitter.com/pEHKCdcIoO
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) September 27, 2019
Yet another example of Ryan Kerrigan taking himself out of the play and leaving a huge cut-back lane that Montgomery exploits. pic.twitter.com/MPo8IOeIcR
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) September 27, 2019
DT(1-Tech): Daron Payne/Tim Settle
A lot of what Payne does goes unnoticed. Here he splits the double team and stop the play for a short gain. Buffalo was able to pick up the 1st, but still a very good play here. pic.twitter.com/lkzUttlxUk
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 5, 2019
DT(3-Tech): Jonathan Allen/Matt Ioannidis
The speed, quickness and agility here by Jonathan Allen is almost unfair.
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 14, 2019
He COULD make for a nice 4-3 DE...Just saying pic.twitter.com/dVi9AOq9AT
Matt Ioannidis is a STUD. Watch the active hands and repositioning. Then he bench presses the OL, finds the ball, sheds and makes a tackle.
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 5, 2019
Textbook! pic.twitter.com/sLtOVu8bUs
*Nickel front could see Allen and Ioannidis as 3-Tech DT’s
EDGE(LEO): Chase Young(#2 selection in 2020 NFL Draft)/Nate Orchard
Chase Young showing off the speed and bend...mind you it’s against a slow-footed RT - but still, impressive none-the-less pic.twitter.com/APPGIvTLtN
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 23, 2019
SAM: Ryan Anderson(in a Under look) OR Thomas Davis(doesn’t have coverage ability he once did)
Ryan Anderson’s play is wildly inconsistent. Here he gets sealed by a WR! The RB easily gets the edge. This is way too easy pic.twitter.com/b1TH9XDxMI
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 5, 2019
MIKE: Jon Bostic OR Shaun Dion Hamilton/Cole Holcomb
Bostic was a damn BEAST yesterday! pic.twitter.com/H1sD5mfiAG
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 14, 2019
Heck of a play here by Shaun Dion Hamilton! pic.twitter.com/uvx7P0lSH2
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 9, 2019
Sean Dion-Hamilton needs to see the field more. His route recognition, awareness and open-field play are excellent. Watch his eyes here from the coaches film. pic.twitter.com/YoOAleqMmv
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 20, 2019
This looks to be a Cover 2 zone, and the play the Jets are running is a cover 2 beater. The People’s Corner, Jimmy Moreland, comes up with a heck of a play here!
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 20, 2019
Also notice Dion-Hamilton running with a receiver down the seam! pic.twitter.com/1WqWY5XLbD
Watch here as Dion-Hamilton reads the pulling linemen, and stuffs the OT at the POA. Anderson does a heck of a job here too! pic.twitter.com/ae651hJSzt
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 20, 2019
WILL: Reuben Foster/Kevin Pierre-Louis
If(and this is a BIG if)healthy, here is our WILL! pic.twitter.com/mcdDL7mLZu
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) March 28, 2020
CB: Fabian Moreau/Jimmy Moreland
You can’t play this much better than Fabian Moreau did.
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 25, 2019
...insert appropriate Josh Norman joke here. pic.twitter.com/oJcV42HK2M
CB: Ronald Darby/Greg Stroman
Slot CB: Kendall Fuller/Jimmy Moreland
I love Jimmy Moreland, but his lack of speed here is a bit alarming. pic.twitter.com/QqzJfPBLPz
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) September 30, 2019
The People’s Corner with another great play in open space! pic.twitter.com/hTu5Iypx2Y
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 25, 2019
SS: Landon Collins/Deshazor Everett
Here you see the deep safety skills of Landon Collins! pic.twitter.com/Lc7ReQQ3S6
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 14, 2019
Landon Collins...Beast! pic.twitter.com/JwHI0Lbukp
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 25, 2019
FS: Sean Davis/Troy Apke
Talking Points:
- Defensive tackle seems set with both high-caliber starters and quality depth. Although you see Matt Ioannidis listed as a reserve behind Jon Allen at 3-tech, I think they are interchangeable; also, you can and will see situations(especially in nickel)where both Allen and Ioannidis are both 3-techniques, and in base where Ioannidis is a 1-technique. This is a nice issue to have!
- I went based off the assumption we will draft Chase Young at number two overall this year. If this happens, he will probably slot in at left defensive end, but I believe both he and Sweat could flip as needed. There is still a chance Anderson remains as a full-time EDGE instead of a SAM linebacker, so that is just a projection right now based off some of Del Rio’s past tendencies in that 4-3 Under look.
- Off-the-ball linebacker is a bit muddled right now.
- Thomas Davis has been a WILL LB, but he struggled mightily in coverage last year with the Chargers. His best position here may be as a SAM, where he will have Landon Collins playing coverage behind him, or a situational WILL(although I do not trust his coverage skills on an island)/mentor.
- Bostic was a 3-4 MIKE last year, so you would think he’d transition to 4-3 MIKE this year under Del Rio. But, the better, more instinctual LB is Shaun Dion Hamilton, who also has superior coverage skills and higher upside. Holcomb may also fit in here, but will need to drastically improve his reads and zone coverage.
Asking Bostic to cover Bell when he’s lined up as a WR is just unfair. Props to the Jets for scheming this against us and props to Darnold for recognizing this mismatch. pic.twitter.com/yZrWpwfzwk
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 20, 2019
Jon Bostic bites Hard...I mean Really, REALLY HARD on this play action fake! ♂️
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 20, 2019
Love the hustle by Payne here. pic.twitter.com/ixKZfWZ68N
- If Reuben Foster is healthy(and that’s still a BIG if), he profiles perfectly to a 4-3 WILL. His speed, athleticism and instincts are superior to anyone on the current roster. This is also the position he played(and excelled at as a rookie) under Robert Saleh in San Francisco. Kevin Pierre-Louis, a tremendous athlete in his own right, profiles very well to WILL linebacker too. One would think Holcomb could be an excellent WILL backer, but his coverage skills are lacking. If he can improve in this area, he could be an option here.
Holcomb gets absolutely pummeled by a TE here. This was one of his biggest issues coming into the league - getting off blocks and playing at the POA.
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 23, 2019
He did not do a good job at either on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/Q06nfVSxmk
Poor job again by Holcomb, bad angle by Collins and an absolutely embarrassing effort by Nicholson pic.twitter.com/erXRIlXxLj
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 23, 2019
- Right now, outside corner leaves a lot to be desired. Moreau has the athletic traits, but he peeks WAY too often into the backfield, which makes him prone to bite on pump fakes instead of reading the receiver. The plus side on him is that he was much better on the outside in 2019 than he was in the slot. The addition of Ronald Darby helps tremendously, and allows Fuller to play his more natural slot position. Moreland needs to improve this spring, but I love his upside.
I love Jimmy Moreland, but his lack of speed here is a bit alarming. pic.twitter.com/QqzJfPBLPz
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) September 30, 2019
- Free safety is a work in progress, but Sean Davis has the ability to play the position at a high level. Health is a bit of a question mark though, and the depth behind him is poor.
Poll
Where do you see this defense finishing in 2020?
This poll is closed
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10%
Top 5
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46%
Top 10
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40%
Middle of the pack
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2%
Bottom 10
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0%
Bottom 5