Did Belichick bluff with the defensive scheme during the preseason?

[Brady6]

So I have been looking at our defensive personnel, and it has me asking the question, did Belichick bluff the entire preseason? All of OTA’s and training camp reports indicated a 34 front being the base defense, then we came out in the preseason and lined up in a 43 basically every time we were in a base. Looking at the players we kept, they all seem best suited for a 34 front, last season we broke camp with 3 or 4 LB, this year we have 7 including Ninkovich, and you could even say 8 with Buchanan being able to play OLB.

We also cut lose a lot of players that were better suited for a 43 fronts – Francis, Cunningham, Fortson and to a lesser degree Benard, interesting right.

Then you look at the player types, they all fit the mold of what you would want in a 34 player at their respective position, with the exception of RDE, which Belichick could be attempting to intentionally use a lighter player as he prefers to line up in the 34 over and under fronts.

So this is how it could look:

LOLB – Rob Ninkovich | Jamie Collins | Michael Buchanan
LDT – Tommy Kelly | Joe Vellano
NT – Vince Wilfork | Tommy Kelly
RDE – Chandler Jones | Jake Bequette | Michael Buchanan
ROLB – Dont’a Hightower | Jamie Collins
SILB – Brandon Spikes | Dane Fletcher | Steve Beauharnais
WILB – Jerod Mayo | Dane Fletcher | Steve Beauharnais

An interesting aspect I want to point out is Jones and Bequette both come in at around 6’5 275 pounds at RDE, and you have Buchanan as the ideal 3rd string player because he has the height and size to play in the same mold as Jones and Bequette but he also has the athletic ability to swing over and play behind Ninkovich and Collins.

I will say I still feel even if Belichick pulled off one hell of a poker move here, we still need to add a backup NT behind Wilfork, I know Kelly is capable but it certainly is not his optimal position. I could be reading too far into our personnel, and over thinking the situation, I am a mere amateur, but I wanted to throw this out there to get some feedback on what you all thought about the situation.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

No, A 3-4 with only three lineman? Jones and Buchanan would be LB's in a 3-4.

 

[Tunescribe]

As a group those four linebackers would get toasted by the short passing game.

 

[Ring 6]

So I have been looking at our defensive personnel, and it has me asking the question, did Belichick bluff the entire preseason? All of OTA’s and training camp reports indicated a 34 front being the base defense, then we came out in the preseason and lined up in a 43 basically every time we were in a base. Looking at the players we kept, they all seem best suited for a 34 front, last season we broke camp with 3 or 4 LB, this year we have 7 including Ninkovich, and you could even say 8 with Buchanan being able to play OLB.

We also cut lose a lot of players that were better suited for a 43 fronts – Francis, Cunningham, Fortson and to a lesser degree Benard, interesting right.

Then you look at the player types, they all fit the mold of what you would want in a 34 player at their respective position, with the exception of RDE, which Belichick could be attempting to intentionally use a lighter player as he prefers to line up in the 34 over and under fronts.

So this is how it could look:

LOLB – Rob Ninkovich | Jamie Collins | Michael Buchanan
LDT – Tommy Kelly | Joe Vellano
NT – Vince Wilfork | Tommy Kelly
RDE – Chandler Jones | Jake Bequette | Michael Buchanan
ROLB – Dont’a Hightower | Jamie Collins
SILB – Brandon Spikes | Dane Fletcher | Steve Beauharnais
WILB – Jerod Mayo | Dane Fletcher | Steve Beauharnais

An interesting aspect I want to point out is Jones and Bequette both come in at around 6’5 275 pounds at RDE, and you have Buchanan as the ideal 3rd string player because he has the height and size to play in the same mold as Jones and Bequette but he also has the athletic ability to swing over and play behind Ninkovich and Collins.

I will say I still feel even if Belichick pulled off one hell of a poker move here, we still need to add a backup NT behind Wilfork, I know Kelly is capable but it certainly is not his optimal position. I could be reading too far into our personnel, and over thinking the situation, I am a mere amateur, but I wanted to throw this out there to get some feedback on what you all thought about the situation.

You have created an entire conspiracy theory surrounding whether you call Ninkovich a DE or OLB.

 

[Joker]

Thew only "bluff" was not showing what they never show in preseason....I'll bet there were less than five blitzes of any kind in each of the 4 preseason games

 

[Brady6]

No, A 3-4 with only three lineman? Jones and Buchanan would be LB's in a 3-4.

In an old school 34 they would be but not if you’re creating a 34 that is more contusive to attacking the quarterback, the way the 34 aligns is a little different than the front we ran in the past, the other thing to keep in mind is you may have an undersized player in Jones or Bequette at RDE, but you also have that position backed up by Hightower as the ROLB and he is 270 pounds, so on running plays he can even out some of that disparity.

 

[Brady6]

You have created an entire conspiracy theory surrounding whether you call Ninkovich a DE or OLB.

:lol: you ass, you are so right, and I just completely wasted my time here.. I actually laughed out loud for like 2 minutes when I saw your post, excellent call Andy, kudos my friend!

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

In an old school 34 they would be but not if you’re creating a 34 that is more contusive to attacking the quarterback, the way the 34 aligns is a little different than the front we ran in the past, the other thing to keep in mind is you may have an undersized player in Jones or Bequette at RDE, but you also have that position backed up by Hightower as the ROLB and he is 270 pounds, so on running plays he can even out some of that disparity.

I just think it would be a waste to have Jones and Buchanan on the line and not at LB. BB wouldn't run a 3-4 without the beef up front.

 

[Joker]

then he needs to sign Seymour

 

[Jared]

:lol: you ass, you are so right, and I just completely wasted my time here.. I actually laughed out loud for like 2 minutes when I saw your post, excellent call Andy, kudos my friend!

Moderators shut this down, and restrict my rights to open a thread, I am not ready

Don't take it personally, people screw this up all the time. BB loves actually talking football, and has explained in the past that there isn't a significant difference between the 3-4 and 4-3 fronts that the defense has run here for the last decade+. They are always going to be 2-gap defenses, and have more in common than they have different.

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Did Belichick bluff with the defensive scheme during the preseason?

then he needs to sign Seymour

I don't think it will happen though, didn't he once say something along the lines of there being 31 teams in the NFL he'd play for, with the Patriots being the team left out?

His durability hasn't been there in the last few season either, plus the biggest thing is he wants to be paid like a 28 year old Richard Seymour.

I'm not against it at all, I would be very happy if it happen, it just seems like a real unlikely scenario.

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Did Belichick bluff with the defensive scheme during the preseason?

Don't take it personally, people screw this up all the time. BB loves actually talking football, and has explained in the past that there isn't a significant difference between the 3-4 and 4-3 fronts that the defense has run here for the last decade+. They are always going to be 2-gap defenses, and have more in common than they have different.

I never would buddy, I thought Andy's post was hilarious because it pointed out how dumb my post was, I got so caught up in the thoughts of why would he cut this player or that player I created this silly theory that there was more to it than Belichick just not liking the player anymore.

I learned long ago not to take myself to seriously as we all make mistakes and usually they're pretty damn funny. I appreciate the kind and polite response, just the same, much respect for your approach

 

[mgteich]

You know more than any of us. There have been dozens of threads about 4-3 vs 3-4 and whether we have the right personnel. And often, all they are talking about is whether Ninkovich or whatever DE/OLB has his hand on the ground. Obviously, there are much more importance nuances to our defenses.

You have created an entire conspiracy theory surrounding whether you call Ninkovich a DE or OLB.

 

[jah]

When they showed 3-4 looks, Jones was a DE but Bequette and Buchanan were both OLBs. I think these cuts just proves we're sticking with the 4-3. In a 3-4 there would be literally no backups for either Wilfork or Jones.

 

[rookBoston]

You know more than any of us. There have been dozens of threads about 4-3 vs 3-4 and whether we have the right personnel. And often, all they are talking about is whether Ninkovich or whatever DE/OLB has his hand on the ground. Obviously, there are much more importance nuances to our defenses.

The deeper truth behind this thread is the BB recruits players with positional versatility that allows his front 7 to morph between 3-4 and 4-3 without a thought. In fact, they do all the time.

The other thing is this: BB doesn't bluff. He would say, what's the point? One win? Then the game tape is out there for other teams to prepare against. Why bother with preseason deception? Better to study and learn the fundamentals of your scheme in preseason, so you have the option to add custom variations and twists for each game.

Overall, the "idea" of this defense is that opposing offenses have to prepare for a variety of possible defensive fronts...adds complexity and burden for opposing coaches. You never know what youre gonna get.