The BYU 3-4 defense and its permutations in 2011

[oxcoug]

The D was the real story yesterday and since there are people in these parts who more schematically aware than I am, wanted to get a thread focused on it.

One of the things that stood out to me was that Ole Miss failed to outside with their running game. I think there were probably about a half-dozen attempts and every one of them got strung down the LOS before being killed by D-Sor, Uale, Sampson or one of the backers.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic that we have both the speed and the personnel with the run-killing instincts that we are just going to be very difficult to run on all year.

The handful of decent runs that Ole Miss did execute seemed to have come between the tackles, but those were also too few to matter much. They never established a ground game.

[cougjunkie]

The D was the real story yesterday and since there are people in these parts who more schematically aware than I am, wanted to get a thread focused on it.

One of the things that stood out to me was that Ole Miss failed to outside with their running game. I think there were probably about a half-dozen attempts and every one of them got strung down the LOS before being killed by D-Sor, Uale, Sampson or one of the backers.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic that we have both the speed and the personnel with the run-killing instincts that we are just going to be very difficult to run on all year.

The handful of decent runs that Ole Miss did execute seemed to have come between the tackles, but those were also too few to matter much. They never established a ground game.

Part of the reason Ole Miss was unable to get outside was due to BYU playing cover 1 most of the game and bringing Sorenson up as a 5th linebacker. They dared Ole Miss to beat them through the air and sold out to stop the run.

[Sizzle]

The D was the real story yesterday and since there are people in these parts who more schematically aware than I am, wanted to get a thread focused on it.

One of the things that stood out to me was that Ole Miss failed to outside with their running game. I think there were probably about a half-dozen attempts and every one of them got strung down the LOS before being killed by D-Sor, Uale, Sampson or one of the backers.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic that we have both the speed and the personnel with the run-killing instincts that we are just going to be very difficult to run on all year.

The handful of decent runs that Ole Miss did execute seemed to have come between the tackles, but those were also too few to matter much. They never established a ground game.

Pendelton and Van Noy did a great job negating any alleged speed advantage Ole Miss had containing the corner stopping the run and putting pressure on the QB, but not getting wildly out of position doing so. A lot of that credit needs to go to the front three for eating up space and letting the backers play. I think Van Noy is a little bit more of a liability in pass coverage, though he is a beast rushing the passer from the edge. I think Pendelton should be a little bit better in coverage given his time as a safety.


IMO you aren't going to beat BYU trying to establish the run to set up the pass. If you want to beat BYU you're going to have to make them commit to dropping backers into coverage instead of letting them focus on the run. Sorenson is solid against the run and above average in pass coverage. I'm not sold on Uale and Eason, but I felt like Sampson and Hadley were both good enough to get the job done most weeks. Texas is going to be one of those tests where I'm not sold.

[kccougar]

The D was the real story yesterday and since there are people in these parts who more schematically aware than I am, wanted to get a thread focused on it.

One of the things that stood out to me was that Ole Miss failed to outside with their running game. I think there were probably about a half-dozen attempts and every one of them got strung down the LOS before being killed by D-Sor, Uale, Sampson or one of the backers.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic that we have both the speed and the personnel with the run-killing instincts that we are just going to be very difficult to run on all year.

The handful of decent runs that Ole Miss did execute seemed to have come between the tackles, but those were also too few to matter much. They never established a ground game.

I don't believe you. You're trying to say a team with SEC speed couldn't get to the corner on BYU? That's not what ESPN was telling me on Saturday.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I don't believe you. You're trying to say a team with SEC speed couldn't get to the corner on BYU? That's not what ESPN was telling me on Saturday.

Meh...Ole Miss didn't want to be there

[DU Ute]

I was impressed with BYU's defense, especially the OLBs. It will be interesting to see if the secondary can be exploited.

[USCoug]

I was impressed with BYU's defense, especially the OLBs. It will be interesting to see if the secondary can be exploited.

Which they will be.

[Blueintheface]

Pendelton and Van Noy did a great job negating any alleged speed advantage Ole Miss had containing the corner stopping the run and putting pressure on the QB, but not getting wildly out of position doing so. A lot of that credit needs to go to the front three for eating up space and letting the backers play. I think Van Noy is a little bit more of a liability in pass coverage, though he is a beast rushing the passer from the edge. I think Pendelton should be a little bit better in coverage given his time as a safety.


IMO you aren't going to beat BYU trying to establish the run to set up the pass. If you want to beat BYU you're going to have to make them commit to dropping backers into coverage instead of letting them focus on the run. Sorenson is solid against the run and above average in pass coverage. I'm not sold on Uale and Eason, but I felt like Sampson and Hadley were both good enough to get the job done most weeks. Texas is going to be one of those tests where I'm not sold.

I agree completely. I predicted a BYU with my heart but until we see that secondary cover a good throwing team, I'm reluctant to proclaim the defense completely solid top to bottom.

[Uncle Ted]

One of things I don't think a lot of people realize about the 3-4 is the down linemen are pretty key in making it work, especially the nose tackle. Joe Collier, the DC of the Denver Broncos during the "Orange Crush" years said this about the 3-4:

“The nose tackle and the inside linebackers, those are three guys that are very important. But when you go through it, the nose tackle is probably the single-most important guy.”

[Pheidippides]

Part of the reason Ole Miss was unable to get outside was due to BYU playing cover 1 most of the game and bringing Sorenson up as a 5th linebacker. They dared Ole Miss to beat them through the air and sold out to stop the run.

Yup. Which was of course the right strategy to take against a team with giant question marks at QB and a supposedly solid run game. The defense was not just about awesome personnel - it was about scheming. Bronco is on record as a stop-the-run-first coach anyway.

[Sizzle]

One of things I don't think a lot of people realize about the 3-4 is the down linemen are pretty key in making it work, especially the nose tackle. Joe Collier, the DC of the Denver Broncos during the "Orange Crush" years said this about the 3-4:

Yup. The linemen don't put up big numbers, but without them doing their job, the defense doesn't work.

[Uncle Ted]

Yup. The linemen don't put up big numbers, but without them doing their job, the defense doesn't work.

If the DL is getting double-teamed a good part of the time then they are doing their jobs.

[cougjunkie]

If the DL is getting double-teamed a good part of the time then they are doing their jobs.

Which is why lineman hate the 3-4 and linebackers love it.

[BlueHair]

The nose tackle is critical. Casey Hampton for the Steelers is a good example of the ideal nose tackle for a 3-4.

[Surfah]

Which is why lineman hate the 3-4 and linebackers love it.

And why when we made the switch I was critical and thought we're better off with a 4-3. But that was before I knew what we'd have at LB. If we can continue to recruit Pendleton/Van Noy type players then I am happy because we will always be able to fill out the line. And like you said, I think that the switch has helped us land these guys that may have gone elsewhere otherwise.