Updated 12/20.
Base 3-4
Brace - Wilfork - Warren
Ninkovich - Spikes - Mayo - Cunningham
McCourty - Meriweather - Chung - Arrington
Bengals: Meriweather not used in base 3-4 vs. Bengals, but was used in all other packages. Brace substitutes in at LDE. Murrell substitutes in at LOLB in 2nd half.
@ Jets: Far more use of the base 3-4. Kyle Love saw time at the nose, Jermaine Cunningham saw time at ROLB. Meriweather continues to be used behind James Sanders. Ninkovich significant minutes at LOLB.
Bills: 34 used frequently. Cunningham started at ROLB, played some LOLB too. Ninkovich logged a lot of mins. Crable saw time at LOLB.
@Dolphins: Wilfork - Wright - Warren was the primary front, with Deadrick getting time at RE and showing well. Cunningham again started at ROLB, Banta-Cain saw plenty of time as well. Ninkovich played primarily LOLB, getting 2 INTs. Meriweather returned to the starting 3-4 defense.
Ravens - Deaderick starts at LDE, Warren at NT, Wilfork at RDE. Brace subs Deaderick but limited snaps.
@Chargers - Deaderick remains as starter, but all lineman play all over in the 3-4 (75-92-99, 71-92-99, 75-91-99, 75-92-71), including this new pass rush 3-4. All other starters remain.
Vikings - 71-75-99 were the starters. 97-75-71 for 3rd/4th series. 97-75-92 to start 3rd Q. 91 subbed 75 for one series in 3rd. 95, 50, 96 all rotate thru all OLB spots.
Colts - 34 used rarely but when it was for run stopping it was 97-75-92.
Pass Rush 3-4
Wilfork - Pryor - Wright
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Big 4-2-5 Nickel
Wright - Pryor - Wilfork - Brace
Mayo - Spikes
Butler - Sanders - Chung - Meriweather - McCourty
Bengals: Opened game against Bengal 3-WR set with this.
Nickel Front Variations
Ninkovich/Cunningham/Crable - Wright - Pryor/Wilfork - Banta-Cain
The Patriots rotate their defensive lineman and passrushers depending on the situation. Wright/Pryor/Wilfork are the primary interior guys while the outside linebackers rotate on the outside, usually with their hand down, but sometimes standing/walking around to create confusion.
The backend remains usually the same, though Arrington replaced Butler against the Bills.
@Dolphins: Nickel Fronts
Cunningham - Pryor - Wright or
Cunningham - Wilfork - Pryor
Guyton (cover) - Mayo (cover/rush) - Banta-Cain (rush)
Vikings Nickels:
95-75-99-71 (run protection)
98-99-91-95 (straight up rush)
Steelers Nickel
This was the primary package used most of the game. Of note is Patrick Chung handled nickel corner duties over Jonathan Wilhite.
98-99-92-95 (Pryor DNP)
51-59
32-31-36-25-27
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Big 3-3-5 Nickel
Warren - Wilfork - Wright
Banta-Cain - Spikes/Guyton - Mayo
McCourty - Chung - Butler
Meriweather - Sanders
Bills: Used but only in some spots. 3rd and 5. Seems like the package for mid-distance 3rd downs, with some run protection.
3-3-5 Nickel
Crable - Wright - Pryor
Fletcher - Mayo - Guyton
McCourty - Page - Meriweather - Chung - Arrington
Ravens - Fletcher was used as a spy on Ray Rice and did a solid job. This was the first time we’ve seen a look like this one, probably something whipped up during the bye week. Fletcher should continue to see an increased role. Chung dropped into nickel coverage over Wilhite.
Chargers - Again used in the same fashion as it was against the Ravens. Fletcher looks like he could overtake Guyton at some point.
Vikings:
96-91-95
52-51-59
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Big Dime
Wright - Wilfork - Pryor
Mayo - Banta-Cain
McCourty - Wilhite - Sanders - Butler
Meriweather - Chung
Bengals: The three down lineman were rotated quite often, with Wilfork playing in all three positions. Pryor, Wright, Wilfork, Cunningham were the primary down lineman which gives them protection against the run. Brace was also worked in during the second half. Guyton was spelling Banta-Cain on his interception play. Ninkovich was also used as a DPR (Designated Pass Rusher).
@Jets: Seems this package is used in probably passing downs when the Pats want to maintain a presence against the run by keeping Wilfork in, usually in whatever gap they most want to protect. Chung was used primarily in coverage against the tight end (Dustin Keller) while Gary Guyton was used to both as a blitzer and in coverage vs. the rb (Ladainian Tomlinson).
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2-DL Dime
Cunningham - Pryor - Banta-Cain
Guyton - Mayo
McCourty - Chung - Wilhite - Butler
Meriweather - Sanders
Third down package vs. Bengals.
Third down package vs. @Jets, Banta-Cain and Cunningham lined up in 3-point stance out wide.
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Pass Rush Dime
Crable - Wright - Pryor - Banta-Cain
Mayo
McCourty - Wilhite - Chung - Meriweather - Sanders - Arrington
Bills: Used in 3rd quarter.
Vikings: basically Guyton comes off for an extra DB, usually the third safety.
98-99-91-95
51
32-24-27
31-36-38
Steelers Dime
98-99-95
59-51
32-24-38-31-25-27
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Colts
3-4: 97-75-92 96-59-51-95 32-31-36-27
Nickel: 96-75-99-95 51-59 32-31-36-25-27
27-75-99-95 51-59 32-31-36-25-28
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Jets
3-4: 97-75-92 50-55-51-96 32-31-36-27
Nickel: 95-75-92-96 59-51 32-28-31-36-27
Dime: 95-75-96 59-51 32-28-31-36-25-27
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Bears:
3-4: 75-97-92 96-51-59-50 32-36-25/44 -27
Nickel: 75-97-92 96-51-59 32-25-44-36-27
Dime: 98-75-97-95 44/59-51 32-36-25-31-28-27
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Packers
3-4: 71-75-92 96-51-59-50 32-31-36-27
Nickel: 95-75-92-98 51-52 32-25-31-36-27
Dime: 95-75-98 51-59 32-28-31-36-25-27
