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ESPN: Belichick re-defining the linebacker position

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ESPN: Belichick re-defining the linebacker position

This article is a definite must-read, but it’s back from September 2005 when the Patriots were coming off their 3rd Super Bowl in four years and everything was just rainbows and roses.

This is the best section…

Belichick’s 3-4 scheme is the next step in this evolution. The Steelers’ 3-4 zone blitz was defensive-line oriented and redefined what defensive linemen could do. The Patriots’ 3-4 scheme is linebacker-oriented and is similarly breaking the mold for linebackers.

Belichick recognized two problems with a defensive-line oriented zone blitz scheme. First, even though you can drop the nose tackle into the short zone, it’s not likely he’ll be agile enough at 300 or so pounds to be adept in coverage. Second, to run the scheme properly, a team must find very athletic defensive ends who not only can play the run and rush the passer but also can drop into coverage. Such players are rare.

The Patriots’ solution to the first problem was fairly simple. Instead of dropping oversized nose tackles into coverage, they opted to give that assignment to the 3-4 inside linebacker. Known as “pluggers,” these are bigger linebackers whose main purpose is to stuff the run, but they can defend the pass better than nose tackles. On passing downs, about the only time they’d need a nose tackle to drop into coverage, the Patriots replace the lineman with a plugger linebacker lined up as a nose tackle. If the opponent runs the ball, the plugger is big enough to help stop it. If the opponent passes, he’s much better equipped to drop back.

New England’s solution to the second problem was, in hindsight, fairly obvious, but it didn’t seem so at the time. In 1996, New England drafted defensive lineman Tedy Bruschi out of Arizona. At 250 pounds, Bruschi was a bit small to play defensive end and was struggling, so Belichick and his staff decided to teach Bruschi to play linebacker. His success as a rush linebacker in the 3-4 zone blitz scheme led to an epiphany of sorts. The Patriots realized they could draft undersized defensive linemen and convert them into linebackers. In doing so, they oriented their zone blitz scheme around linebackers rather than defensive linemen. This subtle and seemingly small change had several advantages.

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BB at the B’s game last night (via Barstool). Love how he always pops up at the other Boston sporting events. Clearly he lives for competition. And short sleeves. And visors.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/bb-at-the-bs-game-last-night-via-barstool-love/

CoachHoover: Notes on Belichick Coaches Clinic

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CoachHoover: Notes on Belichick Coaches Clinic

Another great find! Here are the notes taken by a coach attending a coaching clinic by BB. Some great stuff, but since we’re on a defense schemology week we’re only posting the notes from that side of the ball. Note the very last note at the bottom…

Defense

  •        Just because you have 11 guys wearing the same-colored jersey doesn’t mean you are a coordinated unit.

Pass Defense – must collision WRs so they don’t just run down field uncontested. 

  •         Get on WRs quickly – don’t give them any space.
  •        Don’t let them inside – keep good inside leverage.
  •        He showed his team cut-ups of Arizona’s WRs running downfield uncontested to reinforce what NOT to do.  Then show examples of what you do want to do.
  •        Pass Defense – DBs – job #1 – defend the deep ball.

Run Defense – set the edge – turn the ball back inside toward pursuit.

  •        Don’t just run upfield – must attack at correct angle. 
  •        Don’t let the ball outside for uncontested yardage.
  •        Force player – once you force it inside, shed block and get in on tackle.  You want to push back the  LOS.
  •        Must teach players how to defeat blocks.
  •        QB as runner – Offense will always out-gap you.  Somebody must be a two-gap player.
  •        Backside of Defense – still want to set the edge for Reverse, Cutback, and Misdirection.
  •       Every week – emphasis is on setting the edge.
  •      Tackling – don’t leave your feet – run thru the RB.

Pass Rush – worst place to be is behind the QB.

  •      Must collapse the pocket to get at depth of QB.
  •       Must have push up the middle – don’t let QB step up in pocket.
  •       Michael Vick – obviously would play differently.
  •       Pass Rusher behind QB – worst position in football that you can be in.
  •       Pass rush helps the coverage more than having four Champ Baileys will do.

Nick Saban’s Belichick-influenced defensive philosophy

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We posted this a few months ago but in keeping with our Patriots defensive schemology week we’re posting it again. Saban learned the ropes under BB so it’s safe to say that much of what you’ll read below is heavily influenced by the hoodie.

Saban has been coaching defense – and coaching it quite well – for decades. But there is no question that the defining period of his coaching career was 1991-1994, when he was Bill Belichick’s defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns. Just knowing that tells you a great deal about Saban’s defense: he (primarily) uses the 3-4; he’s very aggressive, especially on passing downs; he wants to stop the run on first and second down; he’s not afraid to mix up schemes, coverages, blitzes, and looks of all kinds; and, most importantly, he is intense and attentive to detail, which is the hallmark of any great defensive coach.

Now here is Saban’s defensive philosophy in his own words:

[Our] philosophy on first and second down is to stop the run and play good zone pass defense. We will occasionally play man-to-man and blitz in this situation. On third down, we will primarily play man-to-man and mix-in some zone and blitzes. We will rush four or more players versus the pass about ninety-percent of the time.

“In all situations, we will defend the inside or middle of the field first – defend inside to outside. Against the run, we will not allow the ball to be run inside. We want to force the ball outside. Against the pass, we will not allow the ball to be thrown deep down the middle or inside. We want to force the ball to be thrown short and/or outside.

“… Finally, our job is to take the ball away from the opponents’ offense and score or set up good field position for our offense. We must knock the ball loose, force mistakes, and cause turnovers. Turnovers and making big plays win games. We will be alert and aggressive and take advantage of every opportunity to come up with the ball … . The trademark of our defense will be effort, toughness, and no mental mistakes regarding score or situation in any game.”

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Bill Belichick considers his playbook a sacred text, and he doesn’t tolerate students who don’t share his devotion. So late on most Wednesdays, after the Pats have installed the bulk of their latest game plan, Belichick will mutter warnings like “You guys better get back in those playbooks, because I promise I’m gonna have some f-ing questions for you tomorrow morning.”

At the next day’s breakfast, Belichick will quiz his team about coverages, blocking assignments, blitz packages—even the opposing coach’s tendencies. “And if he calls on you and you’re wrong, there’s just silence,” says tight end Ben Watson, who drives to the team complex steering with his knees so he can squeeze in a few extra minutes of study. “It’s like school all over again.”

Belichick’s playbook is just like the man: precise, relentless, obsessive. It is color-coded-red for defense, blue for offense, black for coaches—and each player is given a bag to carry it in, along with a pencil, a blue pen and a yellow highlighter. Immediately after the team returns to the locker room following a game, the Pats collect the books from everyone, then lock them up, shred them or, knowing Belichick, incinerate them and blast the ashes into space.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/bill-belichick-considers-his-playbook-a-sacred/

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After the New England Patriots 2004 season, coach Bill Belicheck and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels went to Gainesville, Florida to meet with Urban Meyer, scout some of his offensive players and discuss the spread option with him. Over the next few years, they would form a great bond and change the New England Patriots offensive attack from an old, smashmouth, Earhardt-Perkins offense left over from the Charlie Weiss and Bill Parcells era, to a new spread attack. The rest is history!

The 2007 New England Patriots went on to break every offensive NFL record with this new spread attack. They grew tired of stumbling into super bowls and barely winning them by three points. They wanted the offense to be explosive and be able to dictate to the defense. If you watch their offense, they use multiple formations to run the same plays, similar to Meyer’s spread. The exception is that the NFL quarterback can’t run. At least, not yet.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/after-the-new-england-patriots-2004-season-coach/