Falcons new pass defense alignment

[theProf]

In Sunday’s game against the Packers, I saw LB Stephen Nicholas playing some on defense, and couldn’t quite figure out who he replaced. I thought that Atlanta might have taken Brooking out, since Nicholas is listed as Brooking’s back-up at WLB. However, it turns out that Atlanta was using a new 3-3-5 pass defensive alignment with Nicholas, rather than the previous 4-2-5 pass defense. This was brought out in an AJC article published today by Orlando Ledbetter.

Atlanta took out Grady Jackson and Curtis Lofton, and replaced them with Stephen Nicholas and a 5th DB, Chevis Jackson when they went into the 3-3-5. In the base 4-2-5 pass defense, Atlanta replaced Grady with another defensive lineman, either Bierman or Moorehead, and replaced Lofton with a 5th DB, Jackson. The extra LB in the 3-3-5, can either pass rush or drop into coverage.

I’m not sure if Atlanta is going to use both the 3-3-5 and the 4-2-5 pass defenses, or whether they are going to the 3-3-5 as their base pass defense. It could be that the Falcons thought that the extra defensive lineman in the 4-2-5 alignment was not providing enough QB pressure. Therefore the extra LB in the 3-3-5 could rush the passer, or drop back and thus put 8 defenders in pass coverage. Perhaps the Packers were exploiting the middle of the field too much, and Atlanta needed an extra LB to help cover the middle on passing downs.

I think that the 3-3-5 might give the Falcons better flexibility and best utilize the available talent than the 4-2-5. Atlanta could easily send one LB to get a 4 man pass rush, or send two LBs in a 5 man pass rush. I think Nicholas and/or Boley will be more effective getting QB pressure than one of the defensive linemen. Other than Abe, and sometimes Babs, Atlanta’s existing DL are just not that good in getting QB pressure. It’s a weakness that has to be addressed in the future, but compensated for in the present.

Boley demonstrated last season they he can get real good pressure on the QB when he blitzed, or rushed from a down position on the defensive line. However, Boley is also very good in pass coverage, so he presents something of a dilemma in whether to rush him or not. Brooking at one time was very good in pass coverage and at blitzing. It appears that his pass coverage skills are declining somewhat, but Brooking still may be able to generate good QB pressure on a blitz. I think that Nicholas is a hard hitter and good player. Therefore, I really like seeing a defensive alignment that utilizes Nicholas.

Excerpts from Ledbetter’s AJC article about the Falcons 3-3-5 pass defense as follows:

“One of the zones, out of a 3-3-5 alignment where linebacker Stephen Nicholas is in the game, paid off. Nicholas can either rush or help out in coverage.

The Falcons were in that alignment when Michael Boley made a key interception in the fourth quarter against the Packers.

“Our coaches do a great job of mixing up our looks,” Coleman said. “Boley did a great job with his eyes. He saw the route and jumped the ball. He made a big play at a key moment in the game.”

The Packers were running a lot of three- and four-receiver sets. The Falcons countered with the 3-3-5 and dropped as many as eight players in coverage.

“We have different personnel groupings and we felt that was a grouping that we felt was advantageous to get more speed on the field,” Smith said. “When you have Stephen out there, he can rush the passer and he can also drop into coverage. It gives us some flexibility.”

[FalconFanForLife]

Wow thanks for the info. I was totally ignorant of that defensive alignment (as usual).

I love the way this coaching staff tries new alignments and schemes to try to improve us. They are not fixated on one scheme, but continue to tweak things for improvement.

[theProf]

Wow thanks for the info. I was totally ignorant of that defensive alignment (as usual).

I love the way this coaching staff tries new alignments and schemes to try to improve us. They are not fixated on one scheme, but continue to tweak things for improvement.

You are welcome. Since yours is the first response to this thread in over an hour after the initial topic post, I was beginning to think that I was the only one who thought that this new 3-3-5 alignment was an interesting enough development to comment upon.

[formul8or]

Very nice observations. I like how we aren't afraid to change when things don't work.

[Mr. VSU]

Notice Highway 56 is not even mentioned in this article. Humm, I wonder why???

[falconfanjason]

Coaches that actually make adjustments, I must be dreaming.

[xFalconLord]

I noticed some of this in the preseason. I havnt noticed it in the regular season so I am glad to hear that we are actually using it.

Bravo staff!!

[FalconFanSince1970]

...Brooking at one time was very good in pass coverage and at blitzing.

Brooking used to be good in pass coverage. Now not as much. He's never really been good at sacking the QB though. Not nearly as good as the great QB sacking LBs.

[theProf]

Very nice observations. I like how we aren't afraid to change when things don't work.

I get a feeling that the new 3-3-5 might become Atlanta's base pass defense rather than the 4-2-5. Some might consider the 3-3-5 as something temporary for the Packers game. However, I think it could be a more permanent solution for the Falcons. I think it has to do with the existing personnel. Atlanta just doesn't have 4 good pass rushing defensive linemen on its current roster. Therefore, they need to try something different.

If Atlanta can get almost as much pass rush with 3 defensive linemen, as they do with 4, then an extra LB in coverage can be very beneficial. If Atlanta's LBs are better at pressuring the QB, than some of the defensive linemen, then sending one or two LBs in the pass rush makes sense. Therefore, I think the 3-3-5 might be a better pass defensive alignment for the Falcons this season than the 4-2-5. The coaches are at least willing to try the new 3-3-5 defensive alignment in an attempt to make Atlanta's pass defense better.

[WineBird]

Thanks for the post, I thought that article was very informative. I had no clue we were running a different formation.

[DelawareFalcFan]

I really doubt they would try and run the 3-3-5 all the time, but it can definitely cause some assignment issues for the offense when you switch into it like we did, especially since they have to account for all the LBs being rushers. Havent seen too many nfl teams use it mostly just in college

[Big Duke 6]

I dont think the 3-3-5 is because of our lack of dline as much as it is a coverage package.Its something different, nickel packages are very common in the league.Moveing abe and bringing a lb can keep them guessing or moveing the pocket.I like the options of the 3-3-5 instead of the typical 3 down prevent with a db instead of a lb.

[crankdatfalcon]

a hurt aaron rodgers still passed for over 300 yards, and we still didnt get no pressure, so whatever defense it was last week, it didnt work.

[Big Duke 6]

a hurt aaron rodgers still passed for over 300 yards, and we still didnt get no pressure, so whatever defense it was last week, it didnt work.

Boley had the int in the 3-3-5.It worked enough to win.

[DelawareFalcFan]

that was the whole reason for dropping into the 3-3-5 you soften up for the run but he was picking us apart passing

[Theyhateme : )]

a hurt aaron rodgers still passed for over 300 yards, and we still didnt get no pressure, so whatever defense it was last week, it didnt work.

All credit goes to Rodgers and their WRs. Our defenders were there. It took a perfect pass and catch, both times, to pull off their TDs and they STILL Lost! You know they thought they were gonna win. But we won instead.

[crankdatfalcon]

Boley had the int in the 3-3-5.It worked enough to win.

we all know good and well if greenbay would have recovered that onside kick, they would have won..we just caught a lucky break.

[crankdatfalcon]

that was the whole reason for dropping into the 3-3-5 you soften up for the run but he was picking us apart passing

actually u might as well say a 2-3-5..ja98 is invisible on the field.

[Big Duke 6]

we all know good and well if greenbay would have recovered that onside kick, they would have won..we just caught a lucky break.

The odds of recovering onside kicks are very slim.We dont know they would have won not after we had taken the ball away earlier but I appreciate you insight.

[crankdatfalcon]

The odds of recovering onside kicks are very slim.We dont know they would have won not after we had taken the ball away earlier but I appreciate you insight.

yea thats true...the game went back and forth basically with both defenses not really playing great..it was just a matter of who had possession of the ball last.

[Charley]

In most cases you shouldn't get locked into any particular scheme. If you do your subject to become predictable. The idea is to create confusion for the other team. The art of war. It will take more changes to find something were comfortable with and thats not a bad thing.

[theProf]

Thanks for the post, I thought that article was very informative. I had no clue we were running a different formation.

Well I knew something was different with Atlanta's defense when I saw Nicholas getting playing time against the Packers, but I wasn't exactly sure what it was until I read Ledbetter's article this morning. Matter of fact, I made the following comments yesterday in an earlier topic thread regarding my take on the Packers game:

"Also good to see LB Nicholas get some playing time on defense. I think Brooking was taken out when Nicholas came in, but I won’t swear to that."

theProf, previously posted as rmarchma

QUOTE (nobkowski @ Oct 7 2008, 03:57 PM)

"Lofton came out when Nicholas was in. Not The Captain of The Defense - Keith Brooking"

"Thanks. Did you notice if Atlanta was in a 3-3-5 or 4-3-4 or 4-2-5 defensive alignment when Nicholas was playing on Defense?"

theProf, previously posted as rmarchma

[theProf]

a hurt aaron rodgers still passed for over 300 yards, and we still didnt get no pressure, so whatever defense it was last week, it didnt work.

Well, Atlanta did not start using the 3-3-5 pass defense formation until the 4th quarter of the game when they began playing Nicholas. Therefore all of Aaron Rodger's 300 yards passing were certainly not against the 3-3-5 alignment. Throughout most of the Packers game, Atlanta was in the 4-2-5 pass defensive alignment, which wasn't working very well. Hence the change to the 3-3-5. It was this alignment that Atlanta was in when they stopped the Packers drive later in the 4th quarter with Boley's interception.

[Joey563]

The 3-3-5 is actually Mike Smith's base Defense from when he was in Baltimore during their Superbowl run.

[Knight of God]

I'd love to see...

Abraham-Babineaux-Biermann

Boley-Nicholas-Milloy

Houston-Coleman-Decoud-Foxworth-Grimes