ZOD
Ruler of the Universe
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- Jun 22, 2003
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As some of you may be aware, I'm hooked on "schemes" right now. I'm reading and processing as much as I can. I came across an interesting article about three days ago that peaked my interest in that it linked Zach Thomas and London Fletcher. The article was an explanation of the decision of Brian Billick to change over to the 34 defense in 2003. Imagine my surprise when I read that this change was 6 years in the makings. It seems Marvin Lewis and Brian Billick had the 34 in mind for the upcoming 97 season until Ozzy Newsome hit a "paydirt" in the 97 draft and free agency with defensive stars. The results were one of the best 43 defensive units ever assembled.
The explaination for the change-
Prior to the free agency signings and the draft they felt that the crop of defensive ends coming out of college were undersized for the demands of run support. It's a phenomona that some could link to the developement of the pass rush "specialist". Some have chosen to acquiese to the demands of the pass rush by sacrificing the outsides to athletic linebackers. There is a gaping hole in the developement of this type of defensive end and it's inside the offensive tackle. In this 43 attack on the pass rush teams are sending a 265 pound defensive end upfield and filling that hole with a 245 pound linebacker and they are receiving a pounding for the duration of the year.
That is where the article linked Zach Thomas and London Fletcher. The two inside linebackers are two of the most undersized middle linebackers in the league. The article cited their size as one of the main reasons that their play "tailed off" at the end of the season. I got offended. I thought, "not Zach, he's a tackling machine!". But then I checked the stats. I not only checked the two players mentioned but I also dug a little further for players in the middle of a similar 43 scheme.
London Fletcher
Zach Thomas
The numbers do not look startling at first but then you have to contemplate what is on the table for this player. The 43 flex was set up to feature the talents of the inside linebacker. In short it was set up to put Sam Huff's facemask in Jim Brown's chest. Far be it from me to pass judgement but in Zach's case, I don't think 2 solo tackles against NE, 3 solo tackles against Philly, and 2 solo tackles against Buffalo is what Tom Landry had in mind. Throw on top of that the 2002 year that featured 3 solo tackles against Buffalo, 3 solo tackles versus Minnesota (both losing efforts) and December whoas start to get a little clearer. Need more dismantlment? In 2001 after a heroic effort to stop a bruising fullback at the goal line, Zach didn't play in the playoff game that followed.
Indeed Brian Billick and Marvin Lewis have some reason to be speculative of the success of this defense given the talent available to run it. It's not entirely the players fault. In playoff contenders this year you can find evidence of "floundering" inside linebackers and December losses in this scheme.
Notably-
Al Wilson
Scott Fujita
Dat Nguyen
and this years December victim?Robert Thomas
Edit: Actually KC's middle linebacker (not Scott Fujita) is another injury victim. Fujita is the replacement.
http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/135440/gamelogs
So what did Baltimore do this year and not "miss a beat"? Essentially they replaced that expensive pro bowl roster of a defense with no names.
DE-Anthony Weaver 300 pounds
DE-Marques Douglas 280 pounds
NT-Kelly Gregg 310 pounds
OLB-Cornell Brown
ILB-Edgerton Hartwell
ILB-Ray Lewis
OLB-Peter Boulware
Presently they are taking a college defensive end (Terrell Suggs) and turning him into a linebacker. "Tiger" defensive scheme with a 260 pound Jason Taylor moving to linebacker sound familiar? Even the "vanilla" Dolphins coaching staff is realizing the down falls of the scheme they stand by.
What hasn't been mentioned is something that we have admired from afar. New England entered into September with 9 starters injured. I think eight of them were on the defensive side of the ball. Why does this team not have many players going to the pro bowl? It's the scheme and everyone should have realized that by now. The scheme allows the coach to put the players (skill level realized) in position to attack the QB in a pass happy NFL. The reads become more difficult and turnovers increase. Most importantly the coach is the most stable feature to a team if successful and he doesn't count against the cap "to boot".
They are doing it in Philly, NE, and now Baltimore and having success. Throw in Houston and Pittsburgh as the only other teams using the scheme and all Dolphin fans should realize that the scheme does at the very least make a team dangerous.
The explaination for the change-
Prior to the free agency signings and the draft they felt that the crop of defensive ends coming out of college were undersized for the demands of run support. It's a phenomona that some could link to the developement of the pass rush "specialist". Some have chosen to acquiese to the demands of the pass rush by sacrificing the outsides to athletic linebackers. There is a gaping hole in the developement of this type of defensive end and it's inside the offensive tackle. In this 43 attack on the pass rush teams are sending a 265 pound defensive end upfield and filling that hole with a 245 pound linebacker and they are receiving a pounding for the duration of the year.
That is where the article linked Zach Thomas and London Fletcher. The two inside linebackers are two of the most undersized middle linebackers in the league. The article cited their size as one of the main reasons that their play "tailed off" at the end of the season. I got offended. I thought, "not Zach, he's a tackling machine!". But then I checked the stats. I not only checked the two players mentioned but I also dug a little further for players in the middle of a similar 43 scheme.
London Fletcher
Zach Thomas
The numbers do not look startling at first but then you have to contemplate what is on the table for this player. The 43 flex was set up to feature the talents of the inside linebacker. In short it was set up to put Sam Huff's facemask in Jim Brown's chest. Far be it from me to pass judgement but in Zach's case, I don't think 2 solo tackles against NE, 3 solo tackles against Philly, and 2 solo tackles against Buffalo is what Tom Landry had in mind. Throw on top of that the 2002 year that featured 3 solo tackles against Buffalo, 3 solo tackles versus Minnesota (both losing efforts) and December whoas start to get a little clearer. Need more dismantlment? In 2001 after a heroic effort to stop a bruising fullback at the goal line, Zach didn't play in the playoff game that followed.
Indeed Brian Billick and Marvin Lewis have some reason to be speculative of the success of this defense given the talent available to run it. It's not entirely the players fault. In playoff contenders this year you can find evidence of "floundering" inside linebackers and December losses in this scheme.
Notably-
Al Wilson
Scott Fujita
Dat Nguyen
and this years December victim?Robert Thomas
Edit: Actually KC's middle linebacker (not Scott Fujita) is another injury victim. Fujita is the replacement.
http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/135440/gamelogs
So what did Baltimore do this year and not "miss a beat"? Essentially they replaced that expensive pro bowl roster of a defense with no names.
DE-Anthony Weaver 300 pounds
DE-Marques Douglas 280 pounds
NT-Kelly Gregg 310 pounds
OLB-Cornell Brown
ILB-Edgerton Hartwell
ILB-Ray Lewis
OLB-Peter Boulware
Presently they are taking a college defensive end (Terrell Suggs) and turning him into a linebacker. "Tiger" defensive scheme with a 260 pound Jason Taylor moving to linebacker sound familiar? Even the "vanilla" Dolphins coaching staff is realizing the down falls of the scheme they stand by.
What hasn't been mentioned is something that we have admired from afar. New England entered into September with 9 starters injured. I think eight of them were on the defensive side of the ball. Why does this team not have many players going to the pro bowl? It's the scheme and everyone should have realized that by now. The scheme allows the coach to put the players (skill level realized) in position to attack the QB in a pass happy NFL. The reads become more difficult and turnovers increase. Most importantly the coach is the most stable feature to a team if successful and he doesn't count against the cap "to boot".
They are doing it in Philly, NE, and now Baltimore and having success. Throw in Houston and Pittsburgh as the only other teams using the scheme and all Dolphin fans should realize that the scheme does at the very least make a team dangerous.
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