High-scoring offense might be what brings the fans to their feet at a football game, but it's consistent defense that will allow teams to contend for playoff spots and championships. The 3-4 defensive alignment is one of the two primary defensive sets, and it gives creative defensive coaches a chance to confuse opposing offenses and create big plays regularly.
Basic Alignment
The 3-4 defensive alignment consists of three defensive linemen, including one nose tackle and two defensive ends. There are four linebackers, including two inside linebackers and two outside linebackers. It also has four defensive backs, almost always consisting of two cornerbacks and two safeties.
Nose Tackles
The nose tackles sets up in the middle of the defensive line, and he must be a powerful player with outstanding strength and quickness. If you are going to run a 3-4 defense, you must have a nose tackle who can break down the interior run. This is a difficult assignment because he may have to take on the blocks of the center and both offensive guards. The nose tackle is not charged with making the tackle, but he must keep the offensive linemen from opening a hole and creating a seam for the running back.
Linebackers
The linebackers in a 3-4 setup must be versatile, hostile and agile. The linebackers have to make tackles in the running game, pressure the quarterback and handle running backs and the tight ends in coverage. The inside linebackers will make most of the tackles in the running game, while outside linebackers have to be among the best athletes on the field. When Bill Parcells coached the New York Giants, he used the 3-4 defense to help turn the Giants into a Super Bowl-winning team. Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor manned one of the outside linebacking spots, and his ability to run past blockers and sack the quarterback helped make the 3-4 defense viable.
Secondary
The defensive backs are primarily responsible for shutting down receivers in the passing game. That's the same whether a team is a playing a 3-4, a 4-3 or any other defensive formation. But a 3-4 setup might be bit more vulnerable to the run than the 4-3, and that means that defensive backs have to be quite physical and willing to commit to stopping the run. As a result, you will need more physical defensive backs in the 3-4 than the 4-3.
References
- "Parcells"; Bill Parcells and Mike Lupica; 1987
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
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