Chiefs: The Strength of 3-4-3-1
by David Bell
Craig Stout of Arrowhead Pride has expounded upon the 4-2-5 defensive alignment which he likes. I am not saying it won’t work but a format for the straight up 3-4-4, or 3-4-3-1 if you will, would fit as well. That single high works well for the Chiefs — especially when Eric Berry returns. Which could be today.
The 3-4-3-1 Physical
The way I see it is that the Chiefs have physical power if they use 3 down linemen: Here I am suggesting that Derrick Nnadi is that force in the middle which is missing. When Dontari Poe was the NT, he played the run an occupied 2 blockers on the pass rush situation. He did this with his low center of gravity and strength in his lower trunk and legs. Nnadi has a similar physique.
By using Nadi inside Bailey and Jones it makes the ability to run inside the tackles a matter of using 4 blockers to tie up 3 men. Behind this the two ILBs are set to challenge the gaps because of the opposition has to use 4 blockers to take on 3 defenders, the ILBs become the strength of stopping the run. To Stop the run altogether, the OLBs on each side have to set the edge — turn the play inside in other words. If the man with the ball is not deeper than an OLB, he cannot get the outside seam on either side, even with lead blockers.
Again the read and fill by the ILBs should power to the ball with the OLB turning the play in, and the linebackers and by this time the single high should have read that the QB doesn’t have the ball and it is not a pass play, he comes up for run support as well as the cornerback who is most likely fending off a block by a WR and working to fill in run support and help stop the run short.
I am a big proponent of keeping things simple and the standard 3-4 with a single high is effective at both pass defense and stopping the run. However, Bob Sutton isn’t using it, nor is he using Craig Stout’s favored 4-2-5, which Sutton has used, but less than Craig Stout would like I am sure.
In the last game, Derrick Nnadi finally earned a larger role as a down lineman. It was about 25% of the defensive snaps versus the Steelers. Before Dontari Poe drifted on his way, he filled a huge middle with his size and strength. Then, there was no one to back him up and give him rest. He was doing every defensive snap and that hurt him in the end. The Chiefs now have two men and that problem should be alleviated. My answer is to simplify the defense, use a closer to 3-4 standard and utilize the Nose Tackles (NT or “zero technique” sometimes called “0” tech) personnel that we are blessed with. You can say that Xavier Williams has game snap experience and Derrick Nnadi has shown he can handle the NFL Game.
Chiefs Defensive Goal? 17 Points or Less
Down linemen should be pressuring the blocking and you cannot achieve that in a 2-man front. The Chiefs use of Jones and Bailey for example, in what appears to be a 5-man front might work, if the Chiefs use Breeland Speaks in this mix. The pass rush is a major component which is having difficulty putting pressure on opposing QBs. For the past 2 seasons, the problem is that the Chiefs have not deployed the basic 3-4 or a variation. Rather, what they do is a deviation and I don’t support the 2-down linemen construction: it just doesn’t carry enough weight because the NT is not on the field.
David Bell’s Rules
1. No pass defense by an OLB takes place unless an ILB is blitzing
2. Houston best fits the SAM and is big enough to fend blockers with his size rather than Ford who fits the JACK
3. Variation alignment can easily be achieved and still cover pass happy NFL opponents
4. Employ the blitz 5-8 times per game… or more!
The Chiefs personnel appear to be molded to the the 3-4 standard front. You have size for the front three and even speed. You can swap out Allen Bailey for speed as well with Breeland Speaks. Speaks is agile, has good feet and fights with his hands like an OLB so he could fit a “3-4 Light” setup (or 3-4 “Phillips” if you will… as in Bum Phillips), and give you a pass rusher from a front 3 player with his hands in the dirt. Up the the middle as a “0” tech or a shade to the 1-gap gives you the Poe effect and Derrick Nnadi appears to be the answer there. A swap here could occur as Xavier Williams is a lighter NT with more speed so you can adjust the front 3 easily and use Jenkins in that mix to rest the Defensive Ends.
[Attention Bobby? Hybrid off of this aggressive 3-4 set, use your NTs and use OLB to do the standard job of setting the edge and/or rushing the passer].
Using Justin Houston as the heavy OLB or SAM and Dee Ford is the JACK should work well if both are rushing at the same time. If using the 3-4 Light, Sutton could then substitute speed at a down lineman position using Speaks. Use Ragland as the MIKE with Anthony Hitchens as the WILL. With a multi-tech down lineman in Speaks, you all that you need to mount ILB blitz’s. Add Speaks or Kpass to the mix ensuring Jones is at one DE position for a very aggressive but standard pass rush.
How Sutton can hybrid off of that would be then, added strength with many looks. The opposing QB could see the player set but not know which coverage is being used — Press/man or cover 3 hybrid with the corners Man Up. This is where the next three new players can fit: Watts, Smith and Dorian O’Daniel. They don’t have to be in the game for a large number of snaps but using their strengths for certain sets and giving other players a breather.
Why Watts and Smith Fit
[Bobby? I hope something like the following is what you’re going to do with Tremon Smith and Armani Watts in Game 3]
Armani Watts has many traits and reading/reacting to the offense is one of them. He can play back as a single high zone or he can play up in the box. He does a good job of making contact and stopping an opposing RB or WR. As long has he refrains from trying to lay the wood on and/or whiffs… he is going to be more than okay.
Tremon Smith has a longer path but as noted, he has proven he can handle NFL level game speed. He needs to slowly expand his snaps and get coached in the nuances as we go. When Eric Berry is back it will aid his progression a great deal. It is my view that Brett Veach brought two excellent prospects to the Chiefs with a draft picks lower than round 3 (Armani in the 4th and Tremon in the 6th). Smith could also play in the slot. Tremon Smith has all the attributes that are desired for a Cornerback. He has speed, agility, SAQ and is a student of the game. He reads defenses and is flexible for the zone or press/man coverage, mirroring his opposing aerial target. He is a good hitter and a ballhawk.
Truly, I cannot wait for Berry to get back because I think the Chiefs then have the personnel to get the defensive play level up in the 10-15 ranking level of play. It won’t reflect in the final ranking because we have young guns (call them newcomers) to get up to speed – Watts, Smith, Nnadi and Williams. With Berry back, it will be far easier by far mix for Sutton to match off the standard or aggressive 3-4 than he has been since Poe was here.
In this Andy Reid Era
Now, we can talk historically in the Reid era, go back and look: Parker & Berry were effective at the back end. Bailey, Howard and Poe at the front end. The cornerback role was filled by several players but our primary was Sean Smith who departed for more money as Peters was brought on with the draft in 2015. When you look at the effectiveness of that defense, I think you can visualize it. Smith had his best season in 2014 but was due more money than the Chiefs were willing to anti up. Then look again: The other Safety roles were filled by “experienced veterans” such as Husain Abdullah and others but were nothing to write home about. Sean Smith’s career has apparently ended during the 2017 season — hasn’t played since.
Going for the Show: an Aggressive 3-4-3-1
In all of this, I am using the basic starting personnel. Add Ben Niemann and Dorian O’Daniel to that mix and bring back Dirty Dan, hopefully by week 10 and the defense is going to show up far stronger with newcomers broken in. Vets will be back in the mix with new players fulfilling the tasks at hands with OJT.
The Chiefs front three are basically standard size men unless Nnadi is on the field as NT at the “0” or “1” tech. One of the DC’s that gets admiration from many is a “Bum Son!” He has had lighter front 3 personnel who have speed and not bulk so his methodology would be called an aggressive 3-4 or an “over” plus hybrid… and he uses the blitz frequently and that hearkens back to Dick Lebeau.
My Personal Recommendation
So what do I want? I want the aggressive 3-4 more like Phillips and less like what we are seeing. I don’t think we have the right horses for the 4-2-5. To really use it we would need two Chris Jones and we don’t have two of him. We do have Allen Bailey, and the base 3-4 is where he fits. Going stronger across the front gains us nothing so far nor does the 5 man front. I want to see Sutton use the blitz about 5 or 8 times per game.
Lastly, while we are talking effectiveness of the secondary, I want the pass rush to hurry Jimmy Garoppolo each aerial snap and I want to see his butt on the ground and that will tell me if we are being aggressive enough. I don’t know what I don’t know. I know I don’t know all that I don’t know, but I do know what I think would be more effective.
Know what I mean?
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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