In the 43 the linebackers play more behind the line, and the team will rely on its four defensive linemen to get the job done up front. Gross oversimplification, but 43 defenses focus on attacking an offense before. What are the main differences between a 34 and 43 defense in nfl. As important as 34 vs 43 is to understand onegap vs twogap schemes. There are several different types of coverages that can be implemented as well. Ive tried to give you a good historical and schematic overview of the 43 under. In american football, the 34 defense is a common defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers. The defense also has flexibility to run concepts found in 4. The 43 defense can be effective against the passing game, as long as a team has a good defensive line. The nose tackle will align himself over the center, the defensive tackle will align over the other guard, and the two defensive ends will line up over the offensive tackle or tight ends, if there are any on the field. What are pros and cons to a 34 defense vs a 43 defense. Spread and prostyle offenses utilize a tight end versus threedown defenses because the defense lacks a natural adjuster. The 43 is a more conservative defense, but thats not always a bad thing. Onegap 34 defense as teams begin to get faster, more spread out, and more pass heavy on offense, a way many defenses are counteracting this is by moving to a 34 defense.
Pete carroll has been running this defense nearly his. You have three 3 defensive linemen and four 4 linebackers, hence the name 34. In the 43, the responsibility for creating pressure on the quarterback generally comes from the defensive line specifically the defensive ends although. Teams have won with the 43 defense at every level, from youth football to high school, college and the nfl. It is a simple defense to learn and teach, and also allows your players to. Because of all the passing in the league some teams are using unheard of amounts of nickel. Deal with the threat of a twoback, downhill running game. Updates the capabilities and functions of the service engineer forces. Our offenses ability to score will be greatly dependent upon the field position the defense gives. The 43 defense was the main formation in the nfl throughout the 1950s and. While the defense was a precursor to the traditional 434 of today, it was not yet evolved into what one would call a traditional 43 defense.
The modern 34 is somewhat different, and is more of a hybrid of the 34 and 43 philosophies. Defenses have to make sure that no matter which gap the running back goes through, they have a defender ready to make the stop. Below youll see a 43 defense lined up against a traditional iformation. The broncos currently have a 34 defense, but john fox might switch it to a 43. The ss and ws play force while the four down linemen and two inside linebackers account for all the interior gaps. In 2018, the detroit lions switched to hybrid 34, 43 defensive front now that former patriots defensive coordinator matt patricia has taken over. The 34 defense uses just three defensive linemen and four linebackers. In its current form, it has survived over 30 years of change on the offense side. This allows the defense to cover down their olb and combats rpos. I believe the playbook came from delaware, where the blue hens had. It is called a base defense because it is the default defensive alignment used on base downs 1st and 2nd downs. I breakdown the difference between 34 vs 43 in madden. The 43 under defense is the base defensive package that the seahawks run. Many teams have won the super bowl with the 34 defense as its base defense, most recently, the green bay packers in 2011.
The 34 defense has grown in popularity across the nfl in recent years. The will already knows how to execute the pass drops so there is little new teaching. By using four defensive linemen and having each of these linemen responsible for a gap the linebackers can play downhill and control the box. Position roles and weaknesses the 34 defense had become the goto base defense utilized by nfl teams since the dawn of the 1980s. The defense can choose to fit the run like a 43 with a safety filling the role of the third linebacker. As the torrent of water dried up for the first time in thousands of years. The 43 under and 34 defense are two very similar defenses. During the 1970s and 1980s the 34 defense was the most widely used defense in the nfl. After seeing a decline for the next 2 decades, the 34 defense made a resurgence in the 2000s and is now implemented by nfl, collegiate, and even high school football teams.
It uses four defensive linemen and three linebackers. I know football pretty well but im an offensive guy and cant manage a defense very well. American english thingsyou might be onto something defence and defense are both correct ways to spell the same word. You will also see two 2 cornerbacks, one strong safety, and one free safety. One advantage of using the west front for pressure is the ability of the defense to drop a lb, not a dl, into coverage. Gross oversimplification, but 43 defenses focus on attacking an offense before the play can develop while 34 defenses focus on controlling the offense and tricking. We know we need to give you an under front, a bear front a 53 front and we will get to all of these eventually. The 34 defense has become more popular in recent years with both nfl and college defenses. It is a called a base defense because it is the default defensive alignment used on base downs 1st and 2nd downs.
It is a simple defense to learn and teach, and also allows your players to play fast and be confident in their assignments. Lovie smith explains the big advantage of the 43 defense. The nose tackle will align himself over the center, the defensive tackle will align over the other guard, and the two defensive ends will line up over the offensive tackle. Its defense against defence, and if you think its one of the british english vs. The 43 is considered the more classic style of defense. He faces the offenses center and must control the gaps between the center and his guards, making the tackle for any rush. The basics of the 34 defense in football liveabout. Alignment, coverages, and basic wrinkles for a 43 defense. I remember back in madden 15 i didnt even know the difference between 34 and 43 defense, so i thought id share a simple tutorial video. If you had four 4 defensive linemen and three 3 linebackers, you would have the 43 defense, which you can read about elsewhere. The 34 defense is one of the most used defensive schemes and is named for the configuration of defensive linemen and linebackers. The difference between them, the fact that ones spelled with a c and the other with an s, comes down to the part of the world in. Whats the difference between a 34 and a 43 defense. A big selling point to the game this season was the defenses ability to play gap sound football and in theory, allow for more realistic 34 experience.
It has worked in the past, but offensive linemen now sit on stunt fronts and pick up the. I have heard the phrase 43 defense with 34 personnel bandied about, and it really makes more. Adjust the depth off the line of scrimmage according to the speed of the offensive. The 34 defense has been around since the 1940s when bud wilkinson utilized it with the university of oklahoma. The nose tackle in the 34 configuration has one of the most challenging positions in the nfl. Lovie smith explains the big advantage of the 43 defense new, 176 comments rod marinellis former head coach lays out why he is so committed to. The front line for this defense is typically very large, usually larger than the same positions when used in a 43 configuration. Yes that is a lot of defense and we adjusted every single defense to offensive motion and tight end trade. Defense has always and will always be the most important part of football. To the closed side, the defense is protected with the nose tackle n in a 0shade or 1technique on the outside shoulder of the center same as a 4. In this article we will look at the alignment of the base 4. A big selling point to the game this season was the defenses ability to play gap sound football and in theory, allow for more realistic 34. Stopping the run in the 43 defense dawgs by nature. The evenness of the fourdown is why many spread teams attack 425 and 43 defenses from 20 pers.
This means stopping the run can potentially be more effective than with a 34 defense, as a 43 team utilizes two defensive tackles. Showcasing the biggest differences in the nfl pass. In american football, a 43 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of four down linemen and three linebackers. In 2018, the detroit lions switched to hybrid 34, 43 defensive front now that former.
While teams may have hybrid versions of the 34, coaches are recognizing how it can be used quite effectively as a base defense. If a team cannot score on our defense we will not lose. This playbook will cover the stack 44 defense, which calls for 8 players in the box and offers. Many teams have won the super bowl with the 34 defense as its base defense, most recently, the green bay packers in. The flexibility of the 34 and the added athlete on the field makes the scheme. The reason is because of the versatility it provides, both in terms of different blitz calls and coverages that the defense. Below is our 43 defense blitz package with man free coverage. However, defenses will readily switch to other defensive alignments such as a nickel defense or a dime defense as circumstances change. On the surface it seems like wed just be replacing a lineman with a linebacker and running with it. You kinda gotta think of it these days as a loose molding for a defense due to all the hybrids people use. The pittsburgh steelers brought it to fame at the professional level in the 1980s. In this post well look at what this change amounts to, both. The 43 defense has been one of the most successful defenses over a long period of time in the history of football.
I know that in a 34, there are 3 down linemen and 4 linebackers, vice versa for a 43, but which is better and what are pros and cons to each. In american football, the 34 defense is a common defensive alignment consisting of three. A 43 defense will run its own stunt game in order to free one defender for a shot on the quarterback. The defense, dissatisfied with their inconsistent performance last year, is also switching base fronts from a 43 under to a 43 over. When would a defense in american football prefer using a 34 versus a 43 scheme.
167 1044 417 877 1565 699 1275 243 974 883 144 1303 422 455 995 600 1323 255 1445 1489 438 21 1139 1050 1420 698 240 129 1137 1202 1446 700 573 1088 725 1034