Basics Of The 4-3 Defense
The 4-3 defense was invented in the 1950's and is one of the oldest most effective football defenses. This article we will focus on the basic formation of the modern era 4-3 and each player's role. Beginning with the base formation, you can effectively modify the defense to run stunts, blitzes and different pass coverage schemes for situational downs.
<b>Down Linemen:</b>
1.Defensive End: Uses a 7 alignment of the outside shoulder of the tight end. His duty is to fill the c gap between the tight end and strong side offensive tackle and turn plays to the inside.
2.Defensive Tackle: Uses a 3 alignment lining up on the outside shoulder of the strong side guard and fills B gap. The best defensive tackles are the ones that can fill both A and B gaps, who can push the pocket or drop back and fill the gaps between the guards and tackles.
3.Nose Tackle: Uses a 0 or one alignment lining up between center and the weak side guard. He must be exceptionally strong and durable fighting off blocks and stuffing the run.
4.(REB) Rush End Backer or Weak Side Defensive End: Duties are to keep the running attack between the tackles and attack the weak side tackle while rushing the quarterback.
<b>Linebackers:</b>
1.SAM: Strong Side Linebacker, lines up 5 yards deep in a 5-6-7 alignment on the outside of the tight end. SAM remains responsible for the C gap and making sure nothing gets outside the defensive end. Since the tight end can be lined up on either side to the center the SAM and WILL must be able to switch sides.
2.Mike: Middle Linebacker is usually 5 yards off the LOS and is the quarterback of the defense calling the defensive plays. He must be strong enough to fight off blocks and quick enough to fill strong side A gap and the weak side B gap. Mike is in a 2i alignment on the out side shoulder strong side of center. Besides attacking the run between the tackles he must be able to protect the middle from crossing routes and under coverage passes.
3.WILL: Weak Side Linebacker: Is 5 yards off the LOS and if there is only a single tight end and no slot back he is a 5 alignment off the outside shoulder of the weak side tackle covering the B & D Gaps. If there is a slot or two tight ends the WILL lines up in a 7 alignment and is responsible for weak side D Gap. If it is a pass play WILL is responsible for covering the #1 receiver on the curl route, if there are two receivers he must force the #2 receiver outside past the hash mark.
<b>Secondary:</b>
1.Corners: Line up about 5 yards off the receiver with an outside shade alignment. (out side shade, off the outside of the receivers nose) The corners don't take off on the snap of the ball, instead the want to remain outside the receivers and jam them towards the inside and forcing them to run up field towards the safeties. If the ball is not in the air on the third step the turn and go with the receivers for 15 yards to help the safeties protect against the long ball. Corners are also looking for the ball on the run and try to force the play inside where they have the back up of the linebackers.
2.SS: Strong Safety lines up 10 to 12 yards deep off the tight end. The primary duty of the SS is run support with the SAM. Pass plays have the SS playing a cover 2 and is responsible for the long pass and receivers on his side of the field. He can play as a free safety here and breaks on the ball only when it is in the air. He must keep everything in front of him.
3.FS: Free Safety lines up 10 – 12 yards of the LOS between the #1 receiver and the offensive tackle. Unless he is cheating up to blitz on short yardage situations he is responsible for deep ball pass protection.
In conclusion the 4-3 defense is a solid defense that schemes well against all offensive schemes. With each player filling their assignments the offenses do have to earn their yards. The 4-3 is easily modified to throw disguised blitzes and stunts at the offense. There are many excellent 4-3 Defense Coaching DVDs available, see our selection by using the links below
The 4-3 defense was invented in the 1950's and is one of the oldest most effective football defenses. This article we will focus on the basic formation of the modern era 4-3 and each player's role. Beginning with the base formation, you can effectively modify the defense to run stunts, blitzes and different pass coverage schemes for situational downs.
<b>Down Linemen:</b>
1.Defensive End: Uses a 7 alignment of the outside shoulder of the tight end. His duty is to fill the c gap between the tight end and strong side offensive tackle and turn plays to the inside.
2.Defensive Tackle: Uses a 3 alignment lining up on the outside shoulder of the strong side guard and fills B gap. The best defensive tackles are the ones that can fill both A and B gaps, who can push the pocket or drop back and fill the gaps between the guards and tackles.
3.Nose Tackle: Uses a 0 or one alignment lining up between center and the weak side guard. He must be exceptionally strong and durable fighting off blocks and stuffing the run.
4.(REB) Rush End Backer or Weak Side Defensive End: Duties are to keep the running attack between the tackles and attack the weak side tackle while rushing the quarterback.
<b>Linebackers:</b>
1.SAM: Strong Side Linebacker, lines up 5 yards deep in a 5-6-7 alignment on the outside of the tight end. SAM remains responsible for the C gap and making sure nothing gets outside the defensive end. Since the tight end can be lined up on either side to the center the SAM and WILL must be able to switch sides.
2.Mike: Middle Linebacker is usually 5 yards off the LOS and is the quarterback of the defense calling the defensive plays. He must be strong enough to fight off blocks and quick enough to fill strong side A gap and the weak side B gap. Mike is in a 2i alignment on the out side shoulder strong side of center. Besides attacking the run between the tackles he must be able to protect the middle from crossing routes and under coverage passes.
3.WILL: Weak Side Linebacker: Is 5 yards off the LOS and if there is only a single tight end and no slot back he is a 5 alignment off the outside shoulder of the weak side tackle covering the B & D Gaps. If there is a slot or two tight ends the WILL lines up in a 7 alignment and is responsible for weak side D Gap. If it is a pass play WILL is responsible for covering the #1 receiver on the curl route, if there are two receivers he must force the #2 receiver outside past the hash mark.
<b>Secondary:</b>
1.Corners: Line up about 5 yards off the receiver with an outside shade alignment. (out side shade, off the outside of the receivers nose) The corners don't take off on the snap of the ball, instead the want to remain outside the receivers and jam them towards the inside and forcing them to run up field towards the safeties. If the ball is not in the air on the third step the turn and go with the receivers for 15 yards to help the safeties protect against the long ball. Corners are also looking for the ball on the run and try to force the play inside where they have the back up of the linebackers.
2.SS: Strong Safety lines up 10 to 12 yards deep off the tight end. The primary duty of the SS is run support with the SAM. Pass plays have the SS playing a cover 2 and is responsible for the long pass and receivers on his side of the field. He can play as a free safety here and breaks on the ball only when it is in the air. He must keep everything in front of him.
3.FS: Free Safety lines up 10 – 12 yards of the LOS between the #1 receiver and the offensive tackle. Unless he is cheating up to blitz on short yardage situations he is responsible for deep ball pass protection.
In conclusion the 4-3 defense is a solid defense that schemes well against all offensive schemes. With each player filling their assignments the offenses do have to earn their yards. The 4-3 is easily modified to throw disguised blitzes and stunts at the offense. There are many excellent 4-3 Defense Coaching DVDs available, see our selection by using the links below
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