4-3 vs 3-4
- Thread starter BunchofAholes
- Start date
I am not a coach or an expert who has deeply studied this formation but have read and listened to others describe it. The 3-4 is considered by some teams when they have a stud run stopping nose tackle they can line up right on the center, A gap to B gap. The problem for many teams that dont pay against it very often is the blitz packages the defense can use with 4 linebackers. The other two defensive linemen on each side of the nose tackle are generally DTackle types so the 3-4 with the 4 linebackers in all the gaps can be a very effective run stuffing defense.
And if you have at least 2 really great linebackers flying around it can be tough. Iowa St runs basically a 3-3-4 or aligns it that way but they probably have a pretty stout safety or two who can come into the box or blitz.
You can exploit if you can throw the ball really well for one thing. Get a fast receiver on one of those lbkrs. It is hard to run against as those outside lbkrs have the edge covered all the time.
But, spread them out with 4 receivers and run pass option based on how the defense aligns. If they move a lbkr out to guard a split out TEnd then they only have 6 in the box and you can try to run it. Again, a really good passing team can force the defense to take one Lbkr off the field and your offense can find some mismatches.
When Wisky was great at it they had just a group of very good, experienced players.
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I wonder if a high school coach with a small enrollment might prefer a 3-4, because he is more likely to have LBs than interior DL on his roster.
Just guessing here.
Just guessing here.
3-5-3 all day. Or 3-3-5 depending on athletes and the opponent you’re facing.
As someone said, gap control across the LOS plus I have heard expert analysts say you have to have 2 really good nose tackles that can alternate in the middle of at really good 3-4.