Comments on Tundra Vision: The Kitchen Analogy and the 3-4 Defense

Great stuff as usual CD. I would only note that th...

2009-05-26T15:23:23.367-05:00

Great stuff as usual CD. I would only note that the NFC North blog piece was actually by Matt Williamson, not Seifert.

I do agree with you IPB. In the 1970/80s, power r...

2009-05-25T14:27:38.991-05:00

I do agree with you IPB.

In the 1970/80s, power run games and opened-up passing games were en vogue. So, defenses moved to the 4-3...front four stopped the run.

As the 4-3 established itself, the WCO formed to counter it: short passing, screens, misdirection to get around the massive front fours.

As the WCO formed, Denver started the movement towards the smaller, quicker defensive linemen in the 90's. They could pursue the misdirections better and stymied the screen.

As that happened, the ZBS came into being...a simpler run attack that required one cut from the RB once the smaller DL were off balance.

From that, came the move back to the 3-4...more hidden support from the outside edges, more ability to attack from the outside.

What next? Well, the 3-4 counters so many of the changes that have taken place, that eventually, offenses will have to go back to straight straight ahead power rushing through those three DL and start passing more out routes and zone reads with the linebackers pulled up to the line.

So eventually, the defenses will be forced to bulk up the front lines and keep the linebackers back in coverage for longer passes.

Thus, the return to the 4-3. It's all cyclical.

Not bad, C.D. Kitchen Cook analogy is pretty fai...

2009-05-24T12:59:36.074-05:00

Not bad, C.D. Kitchen Cook analogy is pretty fair. Although I would disagree with the fact that the 3-4 had had its day in the sun as the 1990's were coming around.

Agree or disagree (?) - it was the West Coast Offense that caused a change across the NFL to the 4-3.

Bill Walsh came up with the concept of laying out the diagram - from Cincinnati, that is - and Mike Holmgren made it work on Offense for the Niners. If anything, I would almost be willing to give Holmgren more credit for the WCO than Walsh. But, it's old news, let's move on.

Against the WCO isn't the 4-3 more "palatable"..? And, doesn't it cover for more of the contentions that show up in a WCO game plan? It seems that way from over in this chair.

Speaking of the WCO. How many teams still actually use that specific Offense? We now have the Wildcat to consider. Although, that too may be a flash in the pan.

Personally, before now, I did not see certain players becoming what they have on other teams, back when it might have been the Pack that grabbed them. So, while hindsight is 20/20 ... drafting players in the NFL certainly isn't. Nor should anyone pretend what might have been as a reasoning for calling any GM a failure.

Half the battle is making sure any Team has the right set of Coaches. A top-drawer General Manager can bring in all the first round picks he wants. And, if the Coaches simply aren't good Teachers, then those same players will not hold up.

JMHO!