Mike Nolan's Defense

[vel]

Here is an excerpt about Mike Nolan's defense. It is from his short stint with the Broncos:

I do realize that these two topics may have already been discussed at the end of the season, but due to recent comments on blogs. It seems like the firing of Mike Nolan was another big mistake in the eyes of some Broncos fans, and its a topic that is still burning people. I am going to explain the Nolan firing from a scheme perspective and why it made sense, and give my theory as to why the Broncos collapsed last year. As most Broncos fans have heard,Josh McDaniels and Mike Nolan had philosophical differences. The root cause of these philosophical differences came from a scheme perspective. Mike Nolan is a hybrid 3-4 defensive coach rather than a pure 3-4 defensive coach.Josh McDaniels like most Parcells/Belichickcoaches is a believer in the 3-4, but he is a believer in the Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4system which is a bend but don’t break defense. Mike Nolan’s version of the 3-4 defense doesn’t believe in playing bend but don’t break type of defense. Nolan believes in attacking the quarterback whenever possible and using a combination of a 1-gap and 2-gap system at times. He likes to try and confuse the quarterback with exotic blitzing, where as Josh was taught to confuse a quarterback by disguising coverages instead of relying on the blitz.

In the system that Josh was taught, the Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4, you don’t blitz as much as you do in the other four versions of the 3-4 defense. The other four versions of the 3-4 are the “Zone Blitz 3-4”, “Phillips 3-4”, “Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4” and the “Hybrid 3-4”. A good example of a Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4 defense is the Patriots defense. The Fairbanks-Bullough is commonly referred to as a 2-gap 3-4 system that gives teams the greatest amount of flexibility compared to other 3-4’s. The linebackers in this system are extremely versatile and are capable of doing any and everything on the field. (I.e.;Mike Vrabel) When you mix the roles of the four linebackers from play to play, you can cause mass confusion for an offense. The reason this system is a 2-gap system, is because the defensive lineman are required to cover the gaps on both sides of an offensive lineman. The defensive linemen in this 3-4 are very stout so that they can occupy the offensive lineman, and allow the linebackers can make plays. As you compare the philosophies, you can see how and why Josh and Mike didn’t see eye to eye at times during the year.

http://coloradosportsdesk.com/wp/archives/2010/06/mike-nolan-and-the-2009-broncos-defense-what-happened/

I highlighted in green the things I thought were good and in the red the things we are trying to move from (some of us at least).

[Karst41]

Good stuff.

[A-TowN.-]

I really like him as what he can bring to our team. He would have some solid pieces to use and also we can get some defensive players in the draft.

I am sure he is coaching right now though.

[SBorBust]

I believe that article used this one as a reference:

http://helmetandpadsrequired.sportsblognet.com/2010/05/27/not-all-3-4-defenses-are-created-equal/

I have to say, the Phillips version sounds like the best for our personnel but the Fairbanks-Bullough sounds like the version Mike Smith would be comfortable with

Here's some info from that article

Chuck’s version of the 3-4 is the Fairbanks-Bullough, which is commonly referred to as a 2-gap 3-4 system. Most coaches who are from the Parcells/Belichick coaching tree run this system. The Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4 gives teams the greatest amount of flexibility compared to other 3-4s. The linebackers in this system are extremely versatile and are capable of doing any and everything on the field. (I.e.; Mike Vrabel) When you mix the roles of the four linebackers from play to play, you can cause mass confusion for an offense. The reason this system is a 2-gap system, is because the defensive lineman are required to cover the gaps on both sides of an offensive lineman. The defensive linemen in this 3-4 are very stout so that they can occupy the offensive lineman, and allow the linebackers can make plays. It’s a more conservative version of the 3-4 compared to the other two versions. It’s typically known as a “bend but don’t break” kind of defense.

The Bum Phillips 3-4 is a more aggressive version of the Fairbanks-Bullough system. One major difference about this version is, unlike Chuck’s; it’s a one gap system. A one gap system is one in which the defensive lineman are responsible for just one gap in the offensive line. The lineman can be more aggressive, and take more risks shooting the gaps since the linebackers are asked to give them support also. The defensive linemen are more agile and slimmer than other 3-4 defensive linemen because in this scheme, there are lots of slants, and gap and loop changes. (I.e.; Jay Ratliff) The linebackers are not as versatile nor do they need to be as smart as the backers in the Fairbanks-Bullough system. They are all blitzing, gap filling linebackers who have sacrificed size for speed, and have the ability to cover but are typically not good in space. Zone coverage isn’t something that is commonly done with linebackers in this scheme, except for the “Jack” and “Mike” linebackers who tend to do well playing in short to medium zone coverage.

A great example of how subtle but different the Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4 and Phillips 3-4 philosophies are, is in Dallas. When Parcells was the head coach in Dallas he ran Fairbanks system. Once Wade Phillips took over, the personnel changed and things got more aggressive in North Texas. Parcells wanted his players to read and react, not only during the play, but before the ball was snapped. Parcells rarely blitzed if at all during games because he didn’t want to give up the big play. If a blitz was called, but a receiver lined up in the slot, the blitz was called off most of the time. Demarcus Ware only blitzed when Bill told him to. Other than that, Ware’s job was to cover tight ends or a receiver in pass coverage. Once Wade took over, he wanted the offense to adjust to the defense. His idea is that by making Ware and the other linebackers blitz on almost every play, and have his lineman shoot the gaps and casue havoc in the backfield. Dallas would be able to dictate to an offense what it could and couldnt do. If a blitz is called, it’s hardly ever called off. In Wade’s 3-4, Demarcus Ware is basically an extra defensive lineman because he is blitzing on 90% of the time. I am sure we all remember the playoff game last year against the Eagles when Dallas had McNabb running for his life, and embarrassed the Eagles. That was the Phillips 3-4 at its best.

The last 3-4 defensive scheme, and the sexiest to most fans, is the 3-4 Zone Blitz. Violent, aggressive, confusing and relentless are all adjectives that can be used to describe this 3-4 scheme. This version of the 3-4 was created by **** LaBeau while he was the defensive coordinator in Cincinnati. For some odd reason, this version of the 3-4 has become the most famous and publicly approved standard for 3-4 defenses. LaBeau’s scheme is based on confusing the offensive line by blitzing players that typically wouldn’t, and dropping players into coverage that don’t normally play coverage. Its not knowm as an one or two gap system, its known for being both. Teams who run this version of the 3-4 love to use various principles from a one and two gap system. The defensive linemen in this defense are very similar to the lineman in the Phillips 3-4, but can vary. One spot on the defensive line that is a must, is a DT/NT who is big, thick, and heavy and can play a one or two gap. Will, Jack, Mike and Sam are all big, fast and violent linebackers who were once defensive ends in college, but are undersized to play defensive end by NFL standards. Linebackers in this scheme are asked to give run support, blitz, and zone up and man up when needed, and have to be able to disguise what the coverage is and what their true intentions are on every play.

The Zone Blitz normally is run out of two basic zone coverages with one man coverage. The two zone coverages are the “Cover Two” and “Cover Three”. These two zone coverages are pretty standard throughout the NFL, minus the blitzing. Now most people don’t know this, but the “Cover Two” defense that Pittsburgh uses has been a staple of theirs since the 70′s. Tony Dungy, the inventor of the “Tampa Two” defense was a defensive back for the Steelers in the 70′s. He created the “Tampa Two” from the same “Cover Two” defense that the Steelers have ran since the 70′s, which they ran it out of a 4-3 just like Tampa. The only man coverage that this defense runs is a “Cover One”. In this formation, which is also known as “Cover Zero”, there is no man covering deep at all leaving a team vunerable for the big play. The free safety has no man to man responsibilities, and can either play an underneath to middle zone, or roam the field and cause havoc. The first player that comes to mind that has perfected this role in the Zone Blitz system is Troy Palamalu.

[SBorBust]

I am sure he is coaching right now though.

Nolan? He's the DC in Miami, so I think he's available

[k-train]

Would not hurt my feeling if he was the guy

[madman88]

Unless he is willing to coach a 4-3 team i dnt see this happening at all... Smitty said in his news confrence when asked? Will you switch to a 3-4 defense.. he replied "obviously we drafted for a 4-3 defense... And TD said in his interview whoever ylthe new DC is he will Wrk hand in hand with smitty....

I would love it but nut being realistic about this... I dnt like Jack del Rio since he only been a DC once for one year.... So Idk who we will interview and who we will hire for the job but i hope its someone that TD keeps sayin how he wants his defense to be(fiery opputunistic anecdote agressive)

[Knight of God]

BBDB makes good DB's look awful. I know from experience.

[LookAboutFalcon]

How about Raheem Morris for DC?

Nice up and comer.

[capologist]

There's a long list of things I'd be willing to do to get Nolan here...

[falcndave]

How about Raheem Morris for DC?

Nice up and comer.

Not the way that team cashed it in early. He is much like Jim Mora who we had here. Players coach...all fun and games as long as things are going good. As soon as the sledding gets tough, RahRah turns into Rut Roah. All flash and no substance. His enthusiasm could be good for the team in a lesser role. Maybe a position coach.

[dirteebirdee]

Wonder if he would wear the suit and tie?

[raysnill1]

Wonder if he would wear the suit and tie?

the Reebok contract only allowed head coaches to wear suits on the sidelines