Switch to 3-4 seems to be getting more official

[Ring 6]

All based on the player and scheme fit. That is my point.

Then why are you arguing a safety is a linebacker???
Let me put it a different way. Most positions have responsibilities that overlap with other positions. On a running play every defender is a run defender for instance.
Some are better than others.
Chung is a good run playing safety. Harmon is not, for example. That doesn’t make Chung a lb it makes him a safety who is good in run support.

That is not unique at all to the patriots.
If you want to run a nickel base it makes your safety run defense more important to your success. It doesnt make your safety a lb.

Our nickel base is not a case of removing a lb and putting Chung in his spot playing like a lb. that would serve no purpose. It’s removing a lb and adding a safety, creating more liability up front that a good run defending safety is very worthwhile having.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Then why are you arguing a safety is a linebacker???
Let me put it a different way. Most positions have responsibilities that overlap with other positions. On a running play every defender is a run defender for instance.
Some are better than others.
Chung is a good run playing safety. Harmon is not, for example. That doesn’t make Chung a lb it makes him a safety who is good in run support.

That is not unique at all to the patriots.
If you want to run a nickel base it makes your safety run defense more important to your success. It doesnt make your safety a lb.

Our nickel base is not a case of removing a lb and putting Chung in his spot playing like a lb. that would serve no purpose. It’s removing a lb and adding a safety, creating more liability up front that a good run defending safety is very worthwhile having.

Chung has LB responsibilities. Thank you. Don't get caught up on titles but rather roles

 

[Ring 6]

Chung has LB responsibilities. Thank you. Don't get caught up on titles but rather roles

No he doesn’t. He is a safety. He has safety responsibilities.
Safeties have run defense responsibilities.
Me caught up in titles? Are you kidding? This started with you saying we should call him a linebacker.

 

[RobertWeathers]

No he doesn’t. He is a safety. He has safety responsibilities.
Safeties have run defense responsibilities.
Me caught up in titles? Are you kidding? This started with you saying we should call him a linebacker.

You just said Chung plays like a LB- which is accurate.

Did you misspeak?

 

[mgteich]

I believe based on the one preseason game, Calhoun is a DE who slides inside to play DT in certain passing situations.

instead of Guy?

 

[mgteich]

Chung has LB responsibilities. Thank you. Don't get caught up on titles but rather roles

Strong safeties have run responsibility. I don't see the point of labeling those responsibilities "LB" responsibilities.

For me, the strong safety is a hybrid between a CB and a LB; that is nature of the position.

 

[ralmat55]

We play a front 7 about 10-15% of the time.

Really we are a 3-2 plus whatever you feel like calling the 6th guy.

2 big DTs one bigger DE 2 off the line LBs and then the 6th guy is a hybrid that could be classified as de or olb and the classification has nothing to do with whether he is standing up or down in a stance.

Perhaps, the Coach whose team just literally ran itself to a Super Bowl championship behind a Fullback’s lead blocking is thinking the pendulum might be swinging back a little and is anticipating being in his base defense a little more than “10-15% of the time” this upcoming season and is tweaking his base D a little to maximize it’s effectiveness when it’s on the field. Regardless, just because the base defense is used a minority of the time doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant which seems to be your argument.

 

[jah]

instead of Guy?

I don't see them as the same type of player. There's the Wise, Bennett, Calhoun types who are pretty much exclusively DE in any alignment unless you want a NASCAR type of look.

Guy, to my knowledge, has never played significant snaps as a DE on a 4 man front. He would be a DT on most downs with the lighter ends playing DT situationally. I see Guy as the defensive tackle who for the most part never leaves the field.

 

[Brady6]

Shelton has the size for it too but Pennel is much better.

That must be why Shelton is taking first team reps and Pennel is taking 3rd team reps.

Shelton is a very talented and a great fit for a NT.
2015 NFL Draft Profile: Danny Shelton

Pennel is a JAG.

 

[jah]

Perhaps, the Coach whose team just literally ran itself to a Super Bowl championship behind a Fullback’s lead blocking is thinking the pendulum might be swinging back a little and is anticipating being in his base defense a little more than “10-15% of the time” this upcoming season and is tweaking his base D a little to maximize it’s effectiveness when it’s on the field. Regardless, just because the base defense is used a minority of the time doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant which seems to be your argument.

I'm not so sure about this. My vague understanding of the Patriots system is that there's an emphasis on generalization in the playbook. You just have a collection of play concepts in the end; positions are mostly just a way of quickly knowing how to assign who goes where in a play. You can run a simple cover 2 man with a 4-3, 3-4, 3-3, 3-2, etc.

So I guess what I'm saying is it might be worth practicing these looks not (only) because the league may or may not be trending back toward the run, but because they apply to all personnel sets ultimately.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Strong safeties have run responsibility. I don't see the point of labeling those responsibilities "LB" responsibilities.

It's where they line up

 

[Triumph]

It seemed to me that the Pats were going to go aggressive in an attacking pass rushing defense.

Bennett, Collins, Winovich

These passing offenses like KC pick apart 3 - 4 defenses.

 

[Triumph]

That must be why Shelton is taking first team reps and Pennel is taking 3rd team reps.

Shelton is a very talented and a great fit for a NT.
2015 NFL Draft Profile: Danny Shelton



Pennel is a JAG.

What happened to Shelton last season?

The Pats did not pick up his option or Malc Browns. So the job was up for grabs and both those guys cleaned out their lockers and began looking for a new job. Shelton is back because nobody else wanted him.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Pennel is 6'4" 331 is that not enough size?

The guys arms look like tree trunks

 

[signbabybrady]

That must be why Shelton is taking first team reps and Pennel is taking 3rd team reps.

Shelton is a very talented and a great fit for a NT.
2015 NFL Draft Profile: Danny Shelton

Pennel is a JAG.

 

[Brick27]

This is one of those threads where some later posts seem slightly scattered, which tells me the resident debater is trying to wedge their way into have a pissing match even when it isn’t necessary. I feel bad for their mental illness.

 

[Ring 6]

You just said Chung plays like a LB- which is accurate.

Did you misspeak?

No I said he is a safety and safeties and linebackers have overlapping responsibilities but are different positions with different requirements.

 

[Ring 6]

Perhaps, the Coach whose team just literally ran itself to a Super Bowl championship behind a Fullback’s lead blocking is thinking the pendulum might be swinging back a little and is anticipating being in his base defense a little more than “10-15% of the time” this upcoming season and is tweaking his base D a little to maximize it’s effectiveness when it’s on the field. Regardless, just because the base defense is used a minority of the time doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant which seems to be your argument.

Well there is a huge misrepresentation of fact.
Develin played less than 40% of the snaps in the post season.

The base defense is nickel. That other 10-15% is also made up of short yardage and goal line defense. 3-4 or4-3 barely exists.

 

[Hyped]

I don't think I can find a single example of someone actually doing this in the thread. We all generally understand that the sub packages are dominant these days.

Was referring to the general football media/fan community...not this thread in particular.

 

[DarrylS]

To categorize this team as a 3-4, 4-3 or nickel is an injustice here.. what we have seen is BB moving on from some of his previous beliefs (coaching up mediocre DB's etc.) to a very strong versatile defense with lots of plug and play guys..

With this cast of quality D players will see a lot of different applications of the D and even more of the "playground defense" that we saw in SB LIII... as a long time fan really looking forward to this latest addition...