Greg Bedard on depth chart and base defensive scheme

[Fencer]

Resetting the roster and depth chart - Extra Points - Boston.com

Greg Bedard did a depth chart a few days ago. As part of the exercise, he indicated that he thinks the Pats will continue with a 4-3, the 4 being LDE, NT, 3-tech T, and Elephant/Open end.

That puts Mayo at the Will.

Unless I'm mistaken, this is mainly a 2-gap scheme.

 

[Gumby]

Resetting the roster and depth chart - Extra Points - Boston.com

Greg Bedard did a depth chart a few days ago. As part of the exercise, he indicated that he thinks the Pats will continue with a 4-3, the 4 being LDE, NT, 3-tech T, and Elephant/Open end.

That puts Mayo at the Will.

Unless I'm mistaken, this is mainly a 2-gap scheme.

I thought it was more reflective of the hybrid scheme ( 2-gap on one side; 1-gap on the other side) ??

 

[TB146]

I thought it was more reflective of the hybrid scheme ( 2-gap on one side; 1-gap on the other side) ??

I think you're right. Somebody with a lot more football knowledge posted a couple of great diagrams on another thread about this. I can't remember where it is, though. But it showed which positions were 2-gap and which were 1-gap.

 

[Ring 6]

I thought it was more reflective of the hybrid scheme ( 2-gap on one side; 1-gap on the other side) ??

Its not really a scheme, but a play call.
The can 1gap, 2gap or do some of both from either 34 or 43.

 

[Gumby]

Its not really a scheme, but a play call.
The can 1gap, 2gap or do some of both from either 34 or 43.

True, but isn't it the existence of this play call (i.e. the hybrid scheme) that drove Bedard to use different positional names than just traditional 3-4/4-3 names of DE, DT, NT? (3-Tech & Elephant )

 

[Gumby]

Another odd thing with Bedard's depth chart, by splitting the TEs into 2 categories Y and F; he essentially highlights that there is (besides kickers) only ONE position on the team with NO ROSTER DEPTH.

That is the Y-TE: Gronkowski.

Does that play into any draft thoughts? - i.e. a vet TE you could never stash on the PS in case you get another Pollardization. ...

But a rookie; (especially a lower round draft choice -hmmm....that we dont' currently have & BB loves to trade down for more picks )

 

[Ring 6]

Another odd thing with Bedard's depth chart, by splitting the TEs into 2 categories Y and F; he essentially highlights that there is (besides kickers) only ONE position on the team with NO ROSTER DEPTH.

That is the Y-TE: Gronkowski.

Does that play into any draft thoughts? - i.e. a vet TE you could never stash on the PS in case you get another Pollardization. ...

But a rookie; (especially a lower round draft choice -hmmm....that we dont' currently have & BB loves to trade down for more picks )

Fells is that player.

 

[jmt57]

I mentioned in another thread that I liked the layout Bedard used over the traditional 11-man roster depth chart. With sub packages, utilizing 1-gap or 2-gap, 3-4 or 4-3, this type of depth chart makes more sense to me. In addition the color coding makes it easy to see the additions and subtractions in comparison to last year's roster.

 

[Deus Irae]

His attempt to 'think' like the Patriots has made the chart close to useless other than the O-line and QB listings. That leaves:

I realize the Patriots don’t have free and strong safety.

as the only really important thing to take from that article, as it's something that seemingly has to be pointed out to people year after year.

 

[BTTA]

Fells is that player.

Not according to Bedard. He has him exclusively at the other TE spot, not able to fill in at that one.

 

[TheComeback]

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Patriots go after a big D-lineman in the draft to play next to Wilfork and Fanene. I think they'd rather have Wilfork on the nose than at three-technique. Ideally, Love is a reserve player and a substitute for Wilfork.

I hope Trevor Scott can return to form. He could help the defense a lot.

If this is really how the Patriots are planning to line up, I don't think they'll draft for the elephant position in the first round. They have three prospects and probably Andre Carter there already.

It's still possible they could look for a pass rusher in later rounds for the sub defense.

 

[Fencer]

Well, "3 technique" sounds one-gap, but I'm not sure I believe that's what Wilfork was doing. E.g., you always hear of a 5 technique end being what a two-gap team needs, when 4 technique is a better description of how a two-gapper players.

That said, I do believe it's what Haynesworth was doing. I further believe it's what Wilfork was best suited for out of college, before he reshaped his game in the pros under a lot of coaching. So I won't be emphatic in saying that Bedard was sloppy or wrong.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Not according to Bedard. He has him exclusively at the other TE spot, not able to fill in at that one.

Maybe Fells is where he is because he has to go somewhere.

Fells really seems to be more Gronk than AHern. However, with only three guys it's tough with two different categories.

 

[Shockt327]

I think you're right. Somebody with a lot more football knowledge posted a couple of great diagrams on another thread about this. I can't remember where it is, though. But it showed which positions were 2-gap and which were 1-gap.

Don't know if you are referring to the below post; but it's from reading Chris Brown; who did indeed have the below diagrams in his article...

Last year we would often split the D so that it it was half-4/3 and half-3/4. Of course, often doesn't mean every down, cause we'd mix it up quite a bit with different guys playing different gaps/techniques.

Here's a good read by Chris Brown; the guy that runs the "Smart Football" blog, and easily knows more than any of us...

 

[cstjohn17]

I used his list to update my roster map. The team is looking pretty solid, some additional competition / depth at 4 or 5 key positions will shore things up nicely. Bringing Yeremiah Bell would be a good stop gap if no Safety can be found in the draft.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApWRaF25BKdAdHV6ZXlIMnNBQ3FNQXNhc0IweWJ6bUE

 

[Fencer]

That 4-3 Under picture looks like what Bedard was thinking of. The RDE 1-gaps while the LDE 2-gaps. The Will and the Mike line up similarly, which is why it makes sense to put Mayo at what is nominally an "OLB" position.

Of course, any Patriots depth chart like this is an oversimplification, as it assumes guys play one and only one position, which is counterfactual.

One takeaway: At the moment, the Patriots only have one defensive tackle better than Kyle Love.

 

[Mystery Pats Fan]

Its not really a scheme, but a play call.
The can 1gap, 2gap or do some of both from either 34 or 43.

Explain to me exactly what a 1 gap or a 2 gap means, and what it looks like. Thank you.

 

[Mystery Pats Fan]

At the moment, the Patriots only have one defensive tackle better than Kyle Love.

You cant be serious.

 

[Ring 6]

Not according to Bedard. He has him exclusively at the other TE spot, not able to fill in at that one.

Wrong. He has every player listed at only one position.

 

[Ring 6]

Explain to me exactly what a 1 gap or a 2 gap means, and what it looks like. Thank you.

A 2 gap player is responsible for 2 gaps, that is the gap on either side of the player (OL) across from him. For example, Vince Wilfork on the nose in a 2 gap would be responsible to engage and control the C and cover plays in the C/G gap on both sides.
A 1 gap technique means the player attempts to penetrate through one gap. For example Wilfork could line up anywhere from head up to in the gap, and is responsible to shoot that gap and penetrate.