Great point
@arge13 .
Today, there is no more 43 vs. 34 argument really, because everyone is playing the Nickel as their base. The fronts are typically 33, and we run variations like 42, 51, and six DB formations suc as 50, 41, and even 32. This new normal is the reason why most teams have moved to hybrid SS/LB types and why fans love guys like Jerome Baker, who is undersized and less effective vs. the run compared to traditional LB's. Today, it is mostly about coverage, and the LB's we see are not really stack and shed guys.
The LB position is now almost impossible to play, and guys like Luke Kuechly don't grow on trees. Today, they're not only asked to fill the primary run defense role that requires size, strength, and length to properly stack and shed linebackers and fill run lanes, while also physically thumping (tackling with power to prevent the RB from gaining an extra yard), but also speed and quickness to cover scatback RB's, quick slot WR's, and powerful long tall Move TE's. It's a near impossible ask. So, most LB's do only one or two things, but not all. Our old MLB Raekwon McMillan, and our new MLB Bernardrick McKinney are old-school thumper type MLB's who excel at run defense but are weak in coverage. So while McKinney is an outstanding player ... he needs to be protected from coverage duties or an OC will expose him relentlessly. But let's face it ... every LB is going to be exposed somewhere. Jerome Baker is constantly exposed in run defense, where he is terrible. Our hybrid OLB/DE types are not great in coverage. But, their ability to shift from OLB to DE decently makes our defense very hard to predict and expose.
Coach Flo's defense is different. We need stronger LB's and our OLB's are hybrid OLB/DE types to change up our formation on the fly. We are very good at creating area overloads to generate pressure and shifting looks to mess with blocking schemes. This defense is unusual, which makes it hard for new teams to prepare for it. That's part of the reason the Patriots tend to do so well in the playoffs and Super Bowl ... teams aren't used to what they see, and they have only a limited and theoretical chance to prepare for it. As we've all noticed, our defense tends to either look great or bad. Either we're dominating, or being dominated. So, that edge of not being familiar helps. Coach flo likes to win by suffocating the pattern with exceptional DB's, taking away teams #1 option and forcing them to take the option he gives them. Last year we made our meals by using Byron Jones to suffocate their WR#1, coverage to take away the middle routes, and force them into throwing at Xavien Howard, who was an INT machine. We compounded these looks by making sure we generated pressure on those plays--forcing QB's to make quick (bad) decisions to challenge Xavien Howard. Sure, the QB would win 4 out of 5 times ... and be intercepted 1 out of 5.
For us, the LB position is less about coverage, because Coach Flo invests a lot of resources into having a great backfield of 5 or 6 DB's who cover. The LB position is about flexibility to pass rush, set the edge, tackle, stop the run, and be smart and knowledgeable enough to run our complex defensive playbook. Our front 6 are asked to do a LOT of different things, and almost everyone covers 2 roles. The lazy and dumb can't execute this system. It takes the sharp and hard working guys who study and master it.
But the nickel .... yeah, it's here to stay.
