Building a defense in the modern NFL

[Chris Meck]

So, I've been thinking about this all season, and especially after watching Monday's game have some thoughts.

Something Reid said a few weeks back has been on my mind-he said that he thought the future of pass rushing was on the inside, as it's a shorter distance to the QB. Teams are getting the ball out quicker and quicker these days to neutralize that outside pass rush. See Aaron Donald.

1. Corners aren't allowed to play physical anymore. So top end speed, discipline and ball skills are really the only things that matter.

2. Outside pass rushers and CB's are generally the highest paid defenders at the current moment.

3. Interior linemen are, with a few exceptions, undervalued.

4. Safeties have become undervalued, as teams refuse to spend the top dollar on them (other than us with Berry) and instead put that money into CB's. We're speaking relatively here.

I think going forward, I would concentrate on defensive linemen as pass rushers first in the draft and free agency. I would tag Ford next year and let Houston walk after '19. I would sink dollars and high picks into the interior 3 move away from overpaying edge rushers.

I would absolutely sign quality veteran safeties, as to me, they're MORE valuable than corners if this is how the NFL wants to play.

I think every corner gets torched anymore and so this position is no longer worth the premium contract. There's not a lot of difference anymore between a mediocre corner and a great one under these rules. But a smart safety that diagnoses the play and is in the right place is golden. More so than before.

just my thoughts.

[O.city]

Whatever you do, you've gotta be multiple. I think having versatile guys that aren't necessarily specialists is where you've gotta try and go.

[SAUTO]

You are kinda contradicting yourself on the safety and corner stuff

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

You are kinda contradicting yourself on the safety and corner stuff

well, what I mean is-pay the safeties, not the corners.

the safeties prevent touchdowns. The corners are going to get burnt no matter what they do.

[The Franchise]

Run a 4-3. You need to be able to pressure consistently with your four down linemen. You'll also need LBs that can cover well and stop the run. Man corners that have speed and ball skills. Rangy safeties that can take away the TE and also play the deep zones.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by The Pest

Run a 4-3. You need to be able to pressure consistently with your four down linemen. You'll also need LBs that can cover well and stop the run. Man corners that have speed and ball skills. Rangy safeties that can take away the TE and also play the deep zones.

I would agree with this except that nobody's in their base defense much anymore. Nickel is more or less everyone's base defense.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I would agree with this except that nobody's in their base defense much anymore. Nickel is more or less everyone's base defense.

Exactly why you run a 4-3. You have defensive linemen that can get pressure from the base defense, nickel or dime.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by The Pest

Exactly why you run a 4-3. You have defensive linemen that can get pressure from the base defense, nickel or dime.

Yeah, I'm just saying we do that a lot already. I mean, they may call Speaks and or Kpass OLB's, but their essentially DE's on a four man line when we're in nickel, which is like 70% of the time.

I think 4-3 or 3-4 is irrelevant in the modern NFL. What does matter is where you put your monetary and draft pick resources. I think it might be smart to put it where other teams DON'T, at least not as a first priority. Especially so since we're likely to be drafting at the bottom of each round for the forseeable future.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Yeah, I'm just saying we do that a lot already.

With the wrong personnel is the point. We're trotting out 300+lb Dlinemen and asking them to rush the passer.

That's not as efficient as a true 43 D-line that can play lighter, smaller and quicker. Along with LB's who are also lighter, smaller and quicker.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by The Pest

Exactly why you run a 4-3. You have defensive linemen that can get pressure from the base defense, nickel or dime.

Winner winner chicken dinner.

[Randallflagg]

Originally Posted by The Pest

Run a 4-3. You need to be able to pressure consistently with your four down linemen. You'll also need LBs that can cover well and stop the run. Man corners that have speed and ball skills. Rangy safeties that can take away the TE and also play the deep zones.

I agree. Absolutely. Unfortunately in this new "era" of Arena League - you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Run a 3-4 and you get very little push up front, giving the opposing QB more time to look downfield.

Run a 4-3 and you get more push up front, but if you miss - you lose.....


Me? I'm a believer in the 4-3. But again - if you don't have a good rushing Down Lineman who can shoot the gap and 2 good edge rushers, well.....it can end fairly badly.

Neil Smith, Derrick Thomas and Dan Saleaumua. Need I say more?

[Chiefaholic]

Originally Posted by Randallflagg

I agree. Absolutely. Unfortunately in this new "era" of Arena League - you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Run a 3-4 and you get very little push up front, giving the opposing QB more time to look downfield.

Run a 4-3 and you get more push up front, but if you miss - you lose.....


Me? I'm a believer in the 4-3. But again - if you don't have a good rushing Down Lineman who can shoot the gap and 2 good edge rushers, well.....it can end fairly badly.

Neil Smith, Derrick Thomas and Dan Saleaumua. Need I say more?

Joe Phillips

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by The Pest

Run a 4-3. You need to be able to pressure consistently with your four down linemen. You'll also need LBs that can cover well and stop the run. Man corners that have speed and ball skills. Rangy safeties that can take away the TE and also play the deep zones.

/thread

The modern NFL defense should be a 43

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

/thread

The modern NFL defense should be a 43

well, I think you're missing the point. What difference is it, really, especially when a team like the Chiefs has 275lbs. OLB'ers? Call them a DE, call them OLB'ers, what difference does it make? More than a DE then, even in a 4-3, I say the DT should be the new point of emphasis. And even they will not look like the old hulking 300+ pounders but more like the Donald prototype. Reid's point was that the interior linemen collapsing the pocket from the INSIDE is faster and more disruptive than pressure from the edge.

My point is I think that Interior linemen and safeties are more important in this new era, with the new rules (or new emphasis on the rules) than the previous conventional wisdom that CB's and edge rushers are the premium defensive positions.

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

well, I think you're missing the point. What difference is it, really, especially when a team like the Chiefs has 275lbs. OLB'ers? Call them a DE, call them OLB'ers, what difference does it make? More than a DE then, even in a 4-3, I say the DT should be the new point of emphasis. And even they will not look like the old hulking 300+ pounders but more like the Donald prototype. Reid's point was that the interior linemen collapsing the pocket from the INSIDE is faster and more disruptive than pressure from the edge.

My point is I think that Interior linemen and safeties are more important in this new era, with the new rules (or new emphasis on the rules) than the previous conventional wisdom that CB's and edge rushers are the premium defensive positions.

MLB will be super important as well.

Interesting how rules will change defense from outside in to the opposite.