The 4-3 defense VS the 3-4 defense

[MightyGiants]

What do people feel are the relative strengths and weaknesses of each?

Which do you prefer?  Why?

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[spider68]

Here’s a FO article on the two defenses.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2005/06/16/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/2665/

It takes you from the ancient 5 man DL to the modern 4-3 and 3-4. The writer brings it full circle with a great last paragraph:

Teams like the Steelers and Bills ran the ball so effectively last year that opponents switched to a 4-4 defense: four linemen, four linebackers. At times, the extra linebacker crept up to the line and into a three-point stance. Suddenly, the five-man defensive line had returned to the NFL, strategy coming full circle. That’s the nature of the game, and that’s why it’s a source of endless fascination.

I prefer the modern, Spagnulo 4-3 for a few  reasons:

Sentimentality – I grew up in the late sixties, an era of the famous front fours – The Purple People Eaters, the LA Rams’ Fearsome Foursome, the Dallas Doomsday Machine.

I believe the Spagnulo approach is as versatile and capable of attack as a 3-4. This is not your father’s 4-3. The ends of the sixties did not drop into zone blitzes, DE did not stand up and the 3-4 was not used yet. With Michael down to 255, Tuck playing tackle, the Giants can be almost as light and quick up front as a 3-4 , but much stronger on the edges. The four Aces package was awesome. The Giants are really good at the Zone Blitz, and I love to watch tem stand up a DE like a LB. They DL stunt and twist well, so they are able to disguise the pass rush approach well The LB and the CB, Madison and Ross, blitz well so we are just a tough as a 3-4 in figuring out where the rush is coming from.

Personnel – A 3-4, IMO needs two players the most – a good pass rushing LB, and a good NT. A 4-3 needs 2 pass rushing DE first and foremost. The 4-3 does not need a 325 pound NT.  IMO Nose tackles are harder to come by than DE, and they are more vulnerable. Most NT develop back issues. I just think it gets harder to find athletes at that size.  To me one of the great achievements of the George Young era was finding Burt and then Howard. And one of Accorsi’s achievements is the Four Aces. Most franchises would kill to have our DE. 

I do enjoy watching the 3-4. Bellichek does some amazing things with it. I just loved that D he ran against the Bills in 1990. Only two down lineman. That took balls. It worked wonderfully.

[dasher]

I do know that New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Dallas all played the 3-4 and won their divisions this year. I am not sure if anyone else played it or not besides Baltimore and they've had a great D until this year. As we did when we played it.

[MightyGiants]

Dasher I have seen both systems used with great success.  It's my opinion that it's better to be in the minority of teams running a particular defense, than in the majority.  When you are in the minority there is less competition for players and teams are less used to facing it.


Here are a couple of more good articles and the 3-4 and the 4-3

http://football.calsci.com/DefensiveLine.html

http://football.calsci.com/DefensiveLine3.html

THE 3-4 DEFENSE



THE 4-3 DEFENSE