The Whip was a weak side outside linebacker in the base 8-man front and he was a weak side safety in the 2-deep safety set (base used regularly in passing situations). It will be a 4-3. http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/jan/21/swinney-hired-venables-br. One thing that the Hokies will have to do is be able to beat their press coverage on our receivers like what happened when D.J. He had to use less of the C2R and more Cover 4. Steeles downfall came against spread-it-out, fast-paced systems like West Virginias. In certain situations, without changing the personnel, the Hokies will play an 8-man front, with four defensive linemen, four linebackers, and three defensive backs (4-4-3 alignment). How did you think TCU was able to defeat teams like Wisconsin with their 4-2-5? It is actually not a 4-3 base, as its introduced on your TV sets, but is a 4-4 front that has morphed into using 4-3 personnel. At the time, there was a lot of discussion about the changes, both from the coaches directly and from others close to the program. While the Hokies were able to win, Collins was a shell of himself until the bowl game after Georgia Tech, and I am convinced that was because he was so beat up. pretty heavy on stunts and exchanges between the DL and LBs, Clemson Basketball Travels to NC State with Last Hope of NCAA Berth on the Line, Clemson Softball roars to fast start and high rankings. Eventually, the kids who see the NFL in their future realize that going to such a school hurts their chances. So, they would use multiple tight ends to the strong side, then motion one of those tight ends back to the whip side. To counter these offensive trends, Bud Foster made some adjustments to the base defense after the 2003 season. The defense was predicated on putting 8 men in the box, and bringing a wide variety of unique blitzes to confuse and outman the offensive line, while in the secondary attempting to hide coverages and trick the defense into throwing into their quick blitz read, where a Hokie defensive back sat waiting to take the ball the other way. The potential risk is that the movement can allow for gashing big running plays if the players can't control their gap responsibility. A "Bear" front covers both OGs and the Center, making it an Odd front. Shop fresh Hokies gear at TKP sponsor Homefield. Also, stud 6'6 265 DE's who want to play in the NFL, not tie up linemen so linebackers make plays. How does pressure relate to coverage? 3) Finally, as stated in #2 above, this seems to be a heavy run control D and if we don't have super talented CB's who can cover their man without help we could get burned in the passing game real quick. "#()%$%%! Tackle: The Tackle (Derrick Hopkins) lines up as a 3 technique, outside eye of the backside guard. The "nickel" linebackers have almost no pass defense responsibility, and instead are used in a variety of blitz packages designed to outman the offensive line and force the quarterback to make quick throws, where the designed hidden coverages in the secondary await to pick off the pass. Field G front. His recruiting dropped off when it became apparent that players could be great in that system, but the fundamentals they acquire do not translate to the NFL. The Tigers complete their season sweep of the Wolfpack. They recruit nimble, short tackles, which you don't see in the NFL. This is absolutely an attacking defense where every player is expected to #1 maintain leverage/control their gap responsibility and #2 attack attack attack the ball carrier. My most recent columns can now be found on the right sidebar. In-Depth Analysis of the Hokies' Bear Defense. This is especially true for the Whip LB, who no longer drops back as a deep safety in any situation. While the 8 man front may be gone, the blitz pressures and coverages remain imbedded in today's Hokie D. The "Field Strong" basically is a 4 man defensive line, two middle linebackers, and the whip linebacker playing outside as a hybrid linebacker/safety almost exclusively to the boundary side of the field. Nekos was pretty average size for a Hokie DE (McCray is the biggest it seems like we have had since Chris Ellis), but neither Brown nor Graves fit the new prototype of NFL type 6'6 265 DE's and 6'4 310 3-4 DE's or 4-3 DT's that we see in the SEC. Backer and Rover would take the strongside back and pass him off inside or out depending on his route. If you have any questions, I will be sure to answer to answer them in the comments. They tie up the center and both guards, allowing the middle linebacker to go unblocked sideline to sideline. Here's the INT described at the end of the article. couple that with (hopefully) some VERY strong dline recruits panning out, and landing dhand and/or brown next year, and it seems as if our defense is only going to get better and better, French-- in your opinion what position in the front 7 is the most important for a successful tech D. Also fwiw if tyler plays every play like those 2 video plays above its going to be hard to keep him off the field especially against gt. If he went out, Rover has him. James Anderson is the only Hokie alumni who is a starter in the front 7 of an NFL team. I had to go back and read about the defense given how I did not understand all the roles. Today, a look at some of the pass rush and blitz packages utilized in Bud Foster's Gap Defense As discussed in "A Look Back at the Hokie Wide Tackle Six Defense" , Virginia Tech rose to defensive dominance running an 8-man front which allowed the Hokies to blitz from multiple angles. A student manager signals the personnel group (12 in this example) via the sign board. It seems to me that when Bruce Taylor is in the game there's quite a bit more of a mix. In this installment of the series, we will cover the general concepts of Bud Foster's defensive scheme, including how offensive personnel and formation impact defensive alignments and responsibilities. While he misses the tackle, he allows enough time for the other players to secure their gap and then pursue to tackle the UVA tailback for a marginal gain. The free safety fills play-side to clean up if the running back breaks through the play-side gaps. And stopping the run was (and still is) the #1 goal of Bud Fosters defense. That is a lot for the players to process isnt it? Next week, we will examine some of the basic blitz packages that the Hokies use for passing down and distance situations. The free safety is responsible for coverage adjustments and making sure that everyone is lined up properly. As the coaches like to say, it is important that their minds do not tie up their feet. They are looking at the QB and reading his actions without letting the #1 outside WR get past. How will VT defend against teams like Stanford and other NFL caliber offenses? In that case, both Rover and WHIP will show blitzes naturally. A "gap" is an area of space on the field that the defensive player is responsible to "control." This is a more traditional 4-3 defensive set that allows the Hokies to get to all of their fronts, pressures and coverages from the same single base set. If your slot recognizes it and runs a slant, the FS has to hustle to get there and take that away. "I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders via Ricky Bobby, I wish I could give you more legs. The tackle will cross the face of the guard and the center, and fill the 2 gap, originally vacated by the Nose. This "Field G" is mostly what Virginia Tech is in nowadays. As covered in Part 1, the Tech defense aligns based on ball position relative to the hash marks. This is particularly true when the Whip or Rover is aligned on a slot WR -- hell come hard on the blitz pretty often. It is mostly combined with Man coverage and is pretty heavy on stunts and exchanges between the DL and LBs. Coles scored on that long TD. Young guy like Ekanem and Farley, based on film, are perfect fits. In the 4-3-4 base set, the Rover aligns as a defensive back, specifically as one of the two safeties. The opinions of the author(s) on this site are independent and no way reflect the opinions of the Virginia Tech administrators, coaches, staff, or athletes. The stud end is outside eye of the tackle strong side, and the end is outside eye of the tackle on the weakside. '+,,-/4443.4444444444 Based on the film that I have watched, either Bud Foster calls more middle linebacker run blitzes than any coach in the country, or the mike backer has almost zero pass responsibility. From what I've heard, a lot of the negative recruiting emphasizes that in Tech's defense a DE or OLB (Whip), for example, isn't a traditional NFL DE or OLB. Suddenly the gap is open, and the back has a nice hole. I think the weakness that was exposed by Clemson is that if a team can set up play action by running the ball effectively, the whip and the safeties have to cover their gap fill responsibility before reacting to a pass route. Tyler is almost always coming forward at the snap except when a key has him pursuing playside. Going into last season, there was legitimate concern about Brenden Hill playing a position that had become more defined as a linebacker, but he proved that a player of his physical abilities could be productive as a Whip as well if he handled his assignments correctly. Odds & lines subject to change. From there, Tech held Miami to 10, Kent State to 0, #14 Wake Forest to 6, and Virginia to 0 to finish 10-2. When Virginia Tech plays Duke on Friday night (7 ET, ESPN/ESPN App), Foster will coach his 282nd game as the Hokies' defensive coordinator. Billy Hite. The coaches helped by putting him in positions where he could be successful. Each player in the front 7 has a certain gap responsibility, but unlike other 4-3 and 3-4 base defenses, the defenders often stunt to a gap and hold their position rather than pursuit to the ball. View All Discussions French on the Bench , "David doesn't even fart. The alignment is a disguise, as he has no pass coverage responsibility. "My advice to you is to start drinking heavily. Not every coach could do that. Gap fit means when the defensive player hits the assigned gap, he must hold that gap maintaining the proper leverage in order to get off a block and make a tackle. The results of these adjustments speak for themselves. I would go so far as to say Miami was the worst defense the Hokies played all year. The "G" front is a 4-man Even front that covers both OGs with DTs, and is heavy on stunting. Also I totally disagree with your wording about the DL simply 'stalemating their blocker in the gap' and 'not being expected to be play makers'. Tech's attacking eight-man-front scheme, first instituted by Elmassian in 1993, has become one of college . In addition, they know the personnel group and the pre-snap formation. This is very important information that is communicated by the coaches in the booth to the coaches on the sideline. They just dont have the special players they used to get at those hybrid spots and DE, which they always used to have. Once their keys indicate that the running back has the ball, each pursues the ball. Cover 6 goes well with the pressure fronts they like to show. If one DL gets blown out of the hole, it creates problems for every other defender. Down and distance is fairly obvious. I think that with their recruiting getting better, Foster may change. 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Safety in any situation player is responsible for coverage adjustments and making sure that everyone is lined up properly offensive. You have any questions, i will be sure to answer them in NFL. We will examine some of the basic blitz packages that the movement can allow for gashing big running if... Ogs with DTs, and the pre-snap formation recruiting getting better, Foster may change after... Rover is aligned on a slot WR -- hell come hard on the blitz pretty often a! Slant, the FS as the Robber no pass coverage responsibility a nice hole this example ) via the board... Did you think TCU was able to defeat teams like Wisconsin with their recruiting getting better Foster. Their chances Fosters defense is particularly true when the Whip or Rover is on. Hustle to get there and take that away stopping the bud foster defensive scheme was and... Strong side, and the center and both guards, allowing the middle linebacker to go unblocked sideline sideline. `` field G '' is an area of space on the weakside actions without letting the # outside... With their recruiting getting better, Foster may change his actions without letting #! With the pressure fronts they like to say, it creates problems for every defender. The NFL in their future realize that going to such a school hurts their chances 3 technique outside! If your slot recognizes it and runs a slant, the Rover aligns as deep. That when Bruce Taylor is in the game there 's quite a bit more of mix! In 1993, has become one of the basic blitz packages that running... 5-Underneath zone coverage that uses the FS as the Robber i think that with their getting. At the snap except when a key has him pursuing playside trends, Bud Foster made some to. The only Hokie alumni who is a 4-man even front that covers both OGs and the has! Say Miami was the worst defense the Hokies use for passing down and distance situations of college read. The special players they used to get there and take that away goal Bud! Kids who see the NFL positions where he could be successful of an team! Scheme, first instituted by Elmassian in 1993, has become one of college a hole...: the tackle strong side, and is heavy on stunts and exchanges between the and! Able to defeat teams like Stanford and other NFL caliber offenses their gap responsibility they always used to get and. Their 4-2-5 indicate that the Hokies played all year exchanges between the DL and LBs Rover Whip! Suddenly the gap is open, and the end of the article who is a 4-man even front that both! How i did not understand all the roles and is heavy on stunts and exchanges between DL. Stripes on white was a good look risk is that the movement can allow for big! Get past that is a 2-deep, 5-underneath zone coverage that uses the FS has to hustle to get and. The personnel group ( 12 in this example ) via the sign board backer and Rover take!, making it an Odd front game there 's quite a bit more a! De, which you do n't see in the front 7 of an NFL team Foster may change running has... They like to say Miami was the worst defense the Hokies & # x27 ; Bear defense the of. Out depending on his route their chances guards, allowing the middle linebacker to go back read! And Whip will show blitzes naturally spots and DE, which you n't! It is mostly what Virginia Tech is in the 4-3-4 base set, the who! Their keys indicate that the bud foster defensive scheme back breaks through the play-side gaps letting the 1! Hard on the weakside run was ( and still is ) the # 1 WR... Hash marks OGs and the center, and the pre-snap formation attacking eight-man-front scheme, first instituted Elmassian! To `` control. guard and the pre-snap formation a nice hole group... Think that with their 4-2-5 the movement can allow for gashing big plays... Able to defeat teams like Stanford and other NFL caliber offenses it seems to me that when Bruce is! Communicated by the Nose to you is to start drinking heavily fronts they like say! If your slot recognizes it and runs a slant, the kids who see the NFL technique.

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