Bob Diaco's Defense Broken Down

[Morgan747]

This is some good stuff. It's from about 4 and a half years ago but it provides very good insight into Coach Diaco's D. Sorry if it's been posted already!

http://www.onefootdown.com/2012/8/25/3267286/bob-diacos-3-4-no-crease-defense

 

[Suhrreal]

This is some good stuff. It's from about 4 and a half years ago but it provides very good insight into Coach Diaco's D. Sorry if it's been posted already!

http://www.onefootdown.com/2012/8/25/3267286/bob-diacos-3-4-no-crease-defense

Thanks for that. Good read, and I'm optimistic that we will have the talent to field a starting team. Depth is the same story as last season though.

Corner situation sounds ideal from reading that. Kalu at boundary and Chris Jones playing the field. May the best safeties win.

Looks like Newby is perfect for the 3-4 at OLB taking the TE. Maybe Gifford or a new face (Guy Thomas??) at the other OLB spot. Avery Roberts, if advertised, along with Weber in the middle.

Freedom should be solid at one end with Carlos Davis at NT. Stoltenberg at the other end spot? He might be too tall to play NT with good leverage.

Spring game should be a doozy!

 

[cubsker_rivals142943]

I still say attitude is the most important adjustment that needs to be made. I think we're on the right track here.

 

[Morgan747]

Thanks for that. Good read, and I'm optimistic that we will have the talent to field a starting team. Depth is the same story as last season though.

Corner situation sounds ideal from reading that. Kalu at boundary and Chris Jones playing the field. May the best safeties win.

Looks like Newby is perfect for the 3-4 at OLB taking the TE. Maybe Gifford or a new face (Guy Thomas??) at the other OLB spot. Avery Roberts, if advertised, along with Weber in the middle.

Freedom should be solid at one end with Carlos Davis at NT. Stoltenberg at the other end spot? He might be too tall to play NT with good leverage.

Spring game should be a doozy!

I assume the twins will have to play the middle. With the way they put on weight so quickly they might be able to stay in the middle long term. They would be DE's in his scheme at their present size. I would bet we play more 4-3 looks for now because of our personnel. Yes, Stoltenberg is the perfect size because he has good length for DE.

Freedom would be OLB I think because he isn't long. We need length at DE to take on OT's. Need some size at ILB like Jefferson and bigger still. The OLB's will be asked to do a ton in this defense. Sometimes they will be asked to play with a hand on the ground.

Lots of flexibility and when we have the proper personnel, we can sub in according to down and distance. It may take a couple years to get it right. The responsibilities of the front 7 are different than what they have learned thus far.

I like the concepts but it's really tough to recruit 2 good NG's who call spell one another.

 

[dockentwo]

I assume the twins will have to play the middle. With the way they put on weight so quickly they might be able to stay in the middle long term. They would be DE's in his scheme at their present size. I would bet we play more 4-3 looks for now because of our personnel. Yes, Stoltenberg is the perfect size because he has good length for DE.

Freedom would be OLB I think because he isn't long. We need length at DE to take on OT's. Need some size at ILB like Jefferson and bigger still. The OLB's will be asked to do a ton in this defense. Sometimes they will be asked to play with a hand on the ground.

Lots of flexibility and when we have the proper personnel, we can sub in according to down and distance. It may take a couple years to get it right. The responsibilities of the front 7 are different than what they have learned thus far.

I like the concepts but it's really tough to recruit 2 good NG's who call spell one another.

Well written, but do you think that was considered over how many DT's we would have to recruit and develop?
I believe these are college guys; as a coach he seems to turn them into quick studies ?
It seems like we have been learning this defense by playing against it. Wiscy and others have been schooling people. Is it possible HCMR, and others have evaluated and the coin was flipped over this way ?

 

[TwinsRRUs_rivals79748]

Some defenses are picked up right away by the players and succeed in year one of the new coach.

Other defenses take a couple years to get the D solid.

We need this new D to succeed right away.

We went from 111th in 2007 to 74th in Pelini's first year to 1st in his second year.

So from 30th this year, IMO we need to jump to the top 20 in 2017. IMO there is no excuse to drop below where we were this year unless the new D is too complicated... which I don't want to hear

I want poeple to react like we just got what we paid for and at this point in time I see no reason not to think that we will. GBR and bring our D back in time to the 90's Bobby!

 

[Morgan747]

Well written, but do you think that was considered over how many DT's we would have to recruit and develop?
I believe these are college guys; as a coach he seems to turn them into quick studies ?
It seems like we have been learning this defense by playing against it. Wiscy and others have been schooling people. Is it possible HCMR, and others have evaluated and the coin was flipped over this way ?

The change in scheme requires different kinds of players now. It's essential we recruit some really good NG prospects to play our 1 technique. For the 3 tech we need guys that have length plus size. Stoltenberg has the ideal body for the 3 tech DE. They need length because they'll be battling those tall OT's.

The way the 4 LB's play is really different, explained very well in the article. The inside guys need size and the outside guys need to be hybrid guys. It's really complicated in what they do. When we get the right personnel recruited we will be able to substitute according to down and distance too. We will play with 3, 4 , and 5 man fronts. You'll see the front 7 play closer to the line than we have been.

 

[ExxHusker]

No mention of quarters coverage. That alone is positive.

 

[Headcard]

I think guys like Ferguson and Alexander played in these type of OLB roles in HS and could be in the running for immediate PT. Jefferson also seems like an ideal fit at ILB. Not sure what happens to guys like Stille, Miller, Natter and King. Maybe Miller can play OLB, the rest probably need to bulk up to play DE.

 

[Suvey101885]

Just worried about how many yards and points his D have given up, I am very happy to have him here and make us PROUD. GBR

 

[dinglefritz]

The change in scheme requires different kinds of players now. It's essential we recruit some really good NG prospects to play our 1 technique. For the 3 tech we need guys that have length plus size. Stoltenberg has the ideal body for the 3 tech DE. They need length because they'll be battling those tall OT's.

The way the 4 LB's play is really different, explained very well in the article. The inside guys need size and the outside guys need to be hybrid guys. It's really complicated in what they do. When we get the right personnel recruited we will be able to substitute according to down and distance too. We will play with 3, 4 , and 5 man fronts. You'll see the front 7 play closer to the line than we have been.

Sean Callahan says that the personnel we have NOW fit better with a 3-4 than with a 4-3. I believe Sean Callahan and my own eyes and think you're full of it.

 

[Redscarlet]

This is some good stuff. It's from about 4 and a half years ago but it provides very good insight into Coach Diaco's D. Sorry if it's been posted already!

http://www.onefootdown.com/2012/8/25/3267286/bob-diacos-3-4-no-crease-defense

Thanks for sharing excellent read... Excited about future on defense as well as the future of our program with a group of new QB to run the system intended for.

 

[dinglefritz]

I think guys like Ferguson and Alexander played in these type of OLB roles in HS and could be in the running for immediate PT. Jefferson also seems like an ideal fit at ILB. Not sure what happens to guys like Stille, Miller, Natter and King. Maybe Miller can play OLB, the rest probably need to bulk up to play DE.

, Miller, Alexander and Guy Thomas all project well to 3-4 outside backers.

 

[CC_Lemming]

Thanks for that. Good read, and I'm optimistic that we will have the talent to field a starting team. Depth is the same story as last season though.

Corner situation sounds ideal from reading that. Kalu at boundary and Chris Jones playing the field. May the best safeties win.

Looks like Newby is perfect for the 3-4 at OLB taking the TE. Maybe Gifford or a new face (Guy Thomas??) at the other OLB spot. Avery Roberts, if advertised, along with Weber in the middle.

Freedom should be solid at one end with Carlos Davis at NT. Stoltenberg at the other end spot? He might be too tall to play NT with good leverage.

Spring game should be a doozy!

Stoltenberg does have Richard Seymour esque size, one of the best 3-4 ends in the history of the NFL.

 

[dinglefritz]

Stoltenberg does have Richard Seymour esque size, one of the best 3-4 ends in the history of the NFL.

Not nearly his athleticism though. We'll see where they line em up and that may even be fluid within a game. I won't question what they do with guys but everybody that I've listened to that I consider knowledgeable, project Stoltenberg in the middle. Maybe a little tall for it but they feel that's where he would be most effective.

 

[PeliniTheCrutch_rivals294365]

No mention of quarters coverage. That alone is positive.

They'll play quarters coverage.

 

[inWV]

Freedom and Stolt outside and the Davis twins on the nose. Or mick in the middle with the Davis boys and freedom at DE.

 

[dinglefritz]

Freedom and Stolt outside and the Davis twins on the nose. Or mick in the middle with the Davis boys and freedom at DE.

There was talk of playing at least one of the Davis twins at DE from former blackshirts before this all came up.

 

[inWV]

They're extremely athletic guys for their size.

 

[North**O**Cholo]

I know this is a thread about Diaco's 3-4 defense, but is anyone else concerned or curious that he only signed a 2yr contract??

I'd felt better if he signed for four years... if he has success here his development and recruiting guys for his system will be important for sustained success.

So my concern would be his short 2 year contract...

 

[mothmonsterman]

I know this is a thread about Diaco's 3-4 defense, but is anyone else concerned or curious that he only signed a 2yr contract??

I'd felt better if he signed for four years... if he has success here his development and recruiting guys for his system will be important for sustained success.

So my concern would be his short 2 year contract...

As I understand it, almost all assistant coaches at almost all schools sign year to year or two year contracts, so it would be very out of the ordinary for him to sign for a longer term.

 

[TruHusker]

Watch the Patriots D and you will get a good idea of the 3-4. What stands out right away is how close to the LOS everyone is. Granted, the Pats run this better than a college team but you get the point. I think it is going to be fun to watch.

 

[North**O**Cholo]

As I understand it, almost all assistant coaches at almost all schools sign year to year or two year contracts, so it would be very out of the ordinary for him to sign for a longer term.

Ok thanks. If that's the norm then it makes me feel better haha. If he does well here I hope he'll stay around to see it through and build depth for his defense was my only concern.

Thanks

 

[Morgan747]

Sean Callahan says that the personnel we have NOW fit better with a 3-4 than with a 4-3. I believe Sean Callahan and my own eyes and think you're full of it.

What is your problem dingleberry? I don't give a **** what Callahan thinks you ***!

 

[dinglefritz]

What is your problem dingleberry? I don't give a **** what Callahan thinks you ***!

Nice.

 

[inWV]

Whether the players fit a 4-3 or a 3-4 is probably a wash. What matters is that Diaco is the coordinator and he is going to run a 3-4 with a particular flavor.

 

[inWV]

Big concern about NT size in a 3-4. Stanford stared Harrison Phillips at NT and he goes 285. The backup was smaller.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Judging by some of the tackling last year it wouldn't have mattered if we were in a 4-3, 3-4 or 6-1.

I think players adjust to their responsibilities just fine if they believe what they are being coached. How else do you explain how programs with lesser talent can compete with programs with greater talent.

I know all of you no excuse guys aren't believers in the buy in principal but anyone who has coached knows it's real. Hell sometimes you don't have other coaches that buy in and will have a detrimental impact on the end product.

If Diaco can come in get the coaches excited about the direction, that will go a long way toward getting the players excited.

 

[Foosball is the devil]

Great to have an innovator in the fold.

The term "no-crease" is in reference to the fact that all of those front 7 players are close to the line of scrimmage and aligned in a manner that eliminates vertical and horizontal creases between the individual players.

Creativity and innovation would be awesome. Want to see other schools trying to copy NU again.

 

[OO Snipes_rivals]

Watch the Patriots D and you will get a good idea of the 3-4. What stands out right away is how close to the LOS everyone is. Granted, the Pats run this better than a college team but you get the point. I think it is going to be fun to watch.

And steelers, Ravens, Broncos, Green Bay