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 ...

www.aol.com

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.

Jack Campbell in 2023.

All top-45 picks. Those guys have value.

 

[rkarp1]

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

 

[mayoclinic]

Not sure Spillane is that guy. Hoping to draft 1 or more LBs in 2027.

 

[Wozzy]

The Pats had the best defense in the postseason last year. When healthy they were among the best or top five in the league.

This year they’re deeper than last year… but without a single padded practice we’re already deficient in spots?

Some of you are really glass half empty types….

 

[mayoclinic]

Not at all half-empty.

We have a top 5 defense, to me.

But also some deficiencies for the long-term. Wanting to address those does not imply a pessimistic view.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Spillane is the guy we need to stay healthy. He’s not elite in coverage but pretty close vs the run. Def need youth at LB next year.

 

[captain stone]

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 ...

www.aol.com

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.

Yep; and they won't be receiving any help from inside the building either. They either have to sign somebody or trade for somebody.

6-man boxes are the base defenses of the future, if not the present: 2 Linemen, 2 Midfielders & 2 DE/OLBs.

All those versatile DBs mentioned in the article, including 3 drafted this year: Bill & Nicky & Nike thought that's what they were getting in Uncle Dugg... Boy were they wrong; unlike the others, our dude couldn't cover for ****.

 

[mayoclinic]

For those with long memories, old forums friend Off the Grid (aka Fanatical Yankee) developed his own positional terminology. "Midfielders" were rangy LBs, "Raptors" DBs with exceptional range and coverage, "Gryphons" Intermediate range DBs, etc.

 

[Triumph]

The Pats had the best defense in the postseason last year. When healthy they were among the best or top five in the league.

This year they’re deeper than last year… but without a single padded practice we’re already deficient in spots?

Some of you are really glass half empty types….

You fail mention all the players missing from the 2025 post season teams.

Herbert was sacked 6 times. Does it matter that starting OL were out? No? OT Jamaree Salyer had 6 starts in all of 2025.

Houston was without 2025 - 120 targets WR in Nico Collins and 106 targets Dalton Shultz who was limited to 16% of the snaps. The Texans 2 top producing pass receivers limited or out does not matter?

Denver is a different offense with Nix.

 

[Wozzy]

You fail mention all the players missing from the 2025 post season teams.

Herbert was sacked 6 times. Does it matter that starting OL were out? No? OT Jamaree Salyer had 6 starts in all of 2025.

Houston was without 2025 - 120 targets WR in Nico Collins and 106 targets Dalton Shultz who was limited to 16% of the snaps. The Texans 2 top producing pass receivers limited or out does not matter?

Denver is a different offense with Nix.

The Pats D when healthy was among the best in the NFL all season. They don’t choose who they get to play or decide who is healthy.

All 32 teams deal with injury, are the Seahawks results diminished because some opponents were dealing with injuries.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

2 and 3 definitely missing, but does a shutdown cb plus the quality at cb 2 and 3 make up for that in some way? Not many teams have that combination of cb and di

 

[Gumby]

Every year it seems there is a SECRET RECIPE to success. Usually modeled after the SB winner.

(Trigger Warning). BB had it right, he tried to find the Players he wanted to run a particular D. but when they werdet there anymore he switched from 3-4 to 4-3. he GAME-PLAN designed Both D and O, cause he knew you were only as strong as your werkest link.

BL: you need to work our D aroubd whT YOU GOT; not what you WISH you had, and put them in right PLAY/SETUP versus who you go against.

Rodney was that Jack of all trades LB (but playing at S). So these aren t sone GREAT NEW IDEAS.

Reading & thinking that Spillane is somehow going to be Rodney out there made me spew my Cappuccino foam all over the lecture hall-theater seat in front of me.

 

[mayoclinic]

All "blueprints" are just schematics at best. The actual players to implement them and how they execute will always vary.

There is plenty of wiggle room for the specifics. A Rodney Harrison at safety certainly fills a lit if roles on the back end of the defense, if you are fortunate enough to get such a guy.

 

[Vindicate]

All "blueprints" are just schematics at best. The actual players to implement them and how they execute will always vary.

There is plenty of wiggle room for the specifics. A Rodney Harrison at safety certainly fills a lit if roles on the back end of the defense, if you are fortunate enough to get such a guy.

A versatile set of safeties is one of the most impactful things on a defense. Seahawks really really really benefitted from this last season. I could be wrong, but it seems to me no other position has as much latitude and longitude in being directly both run support and deep pass defense.

 

[mayoclinic]

A S who can blitz as well contributes to all 3 major defensive elements.