Doug Farrar on Defensive Evolution

[mayoclinic]

A good read:

2026 NFL Preview: Changing Face of the Modern NFL Defense - AOL

[Editor’s note: The following article is from Athlon Sports’ 2026 NFL Preview magazine. Order your issue online today, or grab a copy at newsstands and retail racks nationwide.] In their 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks refused to play ...

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Today’s ideal defense is one in which fronts and coverages look relatively “vanilla” before the play and then can morph into just about anything once the ball is snapped. The value of this philosophy is that it gives the quarterback, and whoever’s calling the protections, very little intel with which to work. With these structures, offenses are flying blind a lot of the time because they have to discern two different defenses on nearly every play — the one they appear to be getting pre-play and the one that actually happens post-snap. And those two looks can be radically different.

How are NFL coaches changing the face of their defenses so radically and making it work? With the cunning use of scheme and personnel. This has always been the case throughout pro football history; it’s just that it’s now being done with a decidedly 21st-century flavor.

Key elements of Seattle and Philly SB dedenses:

1. Interior wrecking balls
2. Evil rotation of EDGE rushers
3. A LB versatile enough to be the only man at his position on the field
4. More than one do-it-all defensive back who could shore things up when defending the run

Pats are currently deficient in #2 and 3.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

How many #3 are there in the league at this point? Pats aren't the only ones looking for the next jack of all trades.

 

[Patsfan1645]

How many #3 are there in the league at this point? Pats aren't the only ones looking for the next jack of all trades.

Totally agree and how much of an impact does it have on a defense if the golden unicorn gets hurt.

 

[mayoclinic]

Philly has potentially 2 of them in Baun and Jihaad Campbell.

Sonny Styles and Jacob Rodriguez from the 2026 draft. Maybe CJ Allen.

Campbell and Carson Schwesinger from 2024.

 

[rkarp1]

#3 could be a healthy Spillane
#2 if Jacas turns out to be a stud and Landry is healthy could be