Does this really hurt us? As some of you may remember, Virginia Tech rose to prominence in the early 90's on the back of elite special teams, a grind-it-out conservative offense, a state of the art weight training program, and most significantly, on the back of a radical defensive approach that took recruits that nobody wanted and turned them loose like the dogs of war on opposing defenses. It is fascinating stuff and beautiful to watch when it produces the type of results that we have seen over the years from Bud Fosters bunch. Instead, the coverage responsibility for that motioning receiver will be handed off to a defender already aligned on the other side of the field. Well, Bud had to change his defense a little to handle that. Back to our play example. When the WR's sets up to run block (the WR's total lack of effort is a complete "UVA move"), he immediately comes up in run support. Some of the biggies are game situation, down and distance, ball position, and offensive personnel. The results of these adjustments speak for themselves. When Virginia Tech plays Duke on Friday night (7 ET, ESPN/ESPN App), Foster will coach his 282nd game as the Hokies' defensive coordinator. I have had some great question both here and on twitter about some of the nuances of the defense. If you can stop the run with six, the whip or backside safety doesn't have to commit so quickly. Kudos to Foster and Co. for making the adjustments. 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. Registering for an account is free and easy. In-Depth Analysis of the Hokies' Bear Defense. Several things are known at the end of the first play game situation, down and distance and ball position. There are a number of factors that the coaches consider when setting the defense from play to play. Your thoughts please. If you have any questions, I will be sure to answer to answer them in the comments. For #3, I think this defense actually makes the corners look better than they really are. It wasn't a great "instinctual play" by Hosley, but a calculated play call and design by Foster. In addition, they know the personnel group and the pre-snap formation. Free Safety: Free safety starts in a deep third lined up 12 yards off the ball directly behind the mike. I want to focus on one, what has made teams successful against the Virginia Tech run defense? Lets go through the sequence that takes place in the 20-30 seconds between the end of one play and the next snap. I had to go back and read about the defense given how I did not understand all the roles. His initial spot is 3x5 off the TE, reading the #2 receiver. Great stuff as always French. If those guys don't need much safety help, then the corners can take chances, bait QB's and mix in robber coverages to get turnovers. MAN. If he comes inside, Backer takes him. They have to get depth immediately to play deep-half coverage. The consistent 3 stripes on white was a good look. Its heavy on blitzes from those two hybrid players. Thekeyplay.com is not affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Boise and Stanford both targeted the safeties. Size, strength, and explosiveness were huge factors in that variance. The wide variety of stunts are designed to make backs read holes that are not there, causing them to run right into the mike or backer who have moved across the formation to meet the back in the hole. f endstream endobj 9 0 obj 55 endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Name /I1 /Filter /DCTDecode /Width 32 /Height 27 /BitsPerComponent 8 /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /Length 7 0 R >> stream The defense slides their individual alignments based on that personnel group and passing strength. A similar thing happened with the game against Miami, where LM just gashed us in the second half. Never forget Aaron Rodgers literally laughing at our defense. Presented by, Click here to access all three parts of the Hokie Defense series by Raleigh Hokie. Foster's defense is always going to be well-coached, and being well-coached puts players where they need to be, but you still need some talent to beat better OLs even if the defenders are where. In a robber coverage, the safeties actually come forward at the snap while the corners bail out to a deep third. Former Coaching Staff: Where are they now? 3) I think it does hurt recruiting elite out of state prospects. The 6 comes from the switches called between the LBs and the backfield. I think we have had these super talented CB's the past few years but what happens when somebody gets hurt and we have to go to the bench like when Hosley got hurt last year? Virginia Tech uses both their base look (which features each lineman and linebacker having gap responsibility for the gap in front of them) or a more radical stunting approach based on the talent Foster has available. The "G" front is the base front, but here I have not adjusted to the formation. It is mostly combined with Man coverage and is pretty heavy on stunts and exchanges between the DL and LBs. The other two LBs, MIKE and "Backer" play zones over the middle like any other Cover 2 zone. When the TE switches sides, usually the Backer flips spots with MIKE to cover him. Since the scheme was tweaked, the Tech defense has finished ranked #4, #1, and #1 in the nation in total defense. in the long run, if the giants dline continues to dominant with "defensive ends", i think it can be used to pitch to good dlineman. Ball position refers to the position of the ball relative to the hash marks. The alignment is a disguise, as he has no pass coverage responsibility. '+,,-/4443.4444444444 I love it anyway! Fosters defense is always going to be well-coached, and being well-coached puts players where they need to be, but you still need some talent to beat better OLs even if the defenders are where they need to be. If the blitz didnt get to the QB quickly, then the defense was at risk for a big play. What's so radical about it? They've only had a few with an NFL frame, and none of them worked out. When Foster developed the concept for the Gap Defense, he looked to solve two problems. What is a zone blitz? Former Federal Fugitive Pleads Guilty in California to Massive Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme in Connection with Nationwide Foreclosure Scam Defendant Collected More Than $1.2 Million from More Than 800 Distressed Homeowners . 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. Drawing on the scheme's nickel roots gives 4-2-5 teams the ability to run a divorced front concept. The offense goes through its gyrations to get a better pre-snap read and the defense adjusts accordingly. The whistle blows, the players un-pile and the cycle starts again. Coles scored on that long TD. The diagram below uses numbers to identify each gap. Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. 20102023, Orange and Maroon Media, LLC. 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. Guys like Acree don't fit, and I do not think for a second that the "four defensive end" alignment that we heard about in the spring will be used at any time other than on passing down and distance plays.Guys like Zach McCray and JR Collins, while big enough to play DT in a pinch, are too long to really be effective on those interior stunts (that is one of the reasons that Nick Acree was never a favorite of Charley Wiles.). Billy Hite. Some teams run a 2 gap scheme (which is much more difficult to get players for.) In basic terms, normal defenses feature corners playing man with safeties deep to help. "That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! He started 79 games over an 8 year career. In that case, both Rover and WHIP will show blitzes naturally. Los Angeles is launching a guaranteed income pilot program, set to be the biggest in the US so far. against Stanford in the OB? I played in the pre-2004 VT defense in HS at Westfield which was also a popular defense with Oakton/Robinson and I guess now South County which has Bendorf. (Please note, the Hokies may use letters or other terminology to identify each gap.). Behind the defense, the Hokies secondary plays a basic robber coverage on this play. And that is a key aspect of playing great defense, especially when the system relies heavily on speed, quickness and pursuit. Ellington) to take advantage of because all of our LB's are trained to be in gap control and aren't prepared to be in coverage. That left situations where Motu was one on one with a big athletic TE going down the seam. That sign board on the sideline is a tool that identifies the offensive personnel group. What's considered non-radical? They know on which side to align based on ball position. I find it interesting how you compare our defense to being as unique as GT's offense. *:JZjz ? It's no secret that Tech uses a lot of "hybrid" type players. I think I understand why our defense is used against us in recruiting. Id call both of them pseudo-Cover 3. The Hokies defense requires the DL to essentially "tie up" blockers and hold gaps. Keeping the Whip closer to the line of scrimmage allows him to play more like a true linebacker, which helped an athlete like James Anderson flourish at the position. A London Fletcher or Brian Urlacher type linebacker would not be a good fit for the Hokies. (He finished with well over 100 yards.) Stopping the run is one of the basic tenants of the defensive scheme. End: The End (J.R. Collins) will stunt to the 7 gap, maintaining contain on any reverse, bootleg, or play-action. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. In the above play, Jayron Hosley backpedals to his deep third at the snap. Urban Meyer fell behind LSU and Alabama in recruiting, and magically his health is at risk and he gets out. He must maintain gap control on the 6 gap and not allow the running back to get outside his outside shoulder. Join the community. I have a few questions: 1) With all the extra movement in the "radical stunts", do you see this as wearing down the front 7 more and possibly being the cause for some of the injuries, esp last year, (ex. Instead he will look to plant and dive straight ahead for the inside of the 6 gap or the 4 gap, or he will plant and cut back to the center gap. Through the first half, Andre Ellington was averaging like 1.3 yards a carry with 23 yards total. In an 8-man front, the Rover will rotate up closer to the line of scrimmage and align as the fourth linebacker. The transition from James Anderson to Brenden Hill without skipping a beat showed two things (1) the coaches know how to put different type players in a position to succeed and (2) while better defined to defend against todays offensive systems, the Whip still is a hybrid position. Morris, who was a first time starter, had thrown quick 5-7 yard hooks against the Hokie blitz all day. It depends on which version of the 4-3. The helmets they're wearing are still my favorite VT helmets. And based on the history of Bud Fosters defenses, its likely that the play is stuffed. The formation is twins wide, so the passing strength is heavy to the wide side of the field. A terrific example (which of course I cannot find a good video of) is the 2010 interception of Stephen Morris by Jayron Hosley against Miami. Look at Florida under Urban Meyer. The defensive calls will be different on 2nd and three versus 3rd and nine. In the Michigan game, almost every completion came against the safeties. If he went out, Rover has him. The middle backers have very little pass coverage responsibility, and spend significant time taking on blocks on the interior of a play. He can have a SS build and sometimes aligns deeper, like the FS. 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. He had to use less of the C2R and more Cover 4. Bare minimum is the stalemate. Thanks! a !1AQa"q2B#$Rb34rC%Scs5&DTdEt6UeuF'Vfv7GWgw(8HXhx )9IYiy Depending on the formation, Rover can pick up the #1 receiver short and the FS comes down on the slot, with the CB still in deep half-field coverage behind.Whip aligns himself several ways, so you need a good football player here. Hope that VT keeps getting playing making athletic DTs that can get off blocks and penetrate in interior gaps in order to take D to next level. They are not supposed to be playmakers (except in the pass rush) but they have to be adept at maintaining leverage while stunting. I saw that and knew we were in trouble. Not every coach could do that. 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. VTs version of defense is a morphed descendent of what the Washington Huskies ran in the 80s and early 90s when their defense dominated the Pacific coast under DC Jim Lambright. The wide side is called the field and the short side is called the boundary. Note- things I was wrong about when I started this off: A) Backer is to the boundary. The Tigers first-half offensive struggles were too much to overcome in a 64-57 loss. The Backer and Rover were strong side players, so they would usually align to the strong side of the formation. http://www.playbookexchange.net/playbooks/Defense/02060201-VirginiaTechAttack.pdf. Meanwhile, passing downs allow the Hokies to easily switch the whip for a nickel back. I love the white helmet with the stripe and white facemask. 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). Join the community. For more details about the site, including a list of TechSideline.com staff, see our About page. Field G front. Thanks. His initial alignment is quite often in the box, but he doesnt get up on the LOS as much as the WHIP. At the time, the Whip and Rover were described as hybrid players that had combination linebacker/defensive back responsibilities. )jlOkD0 Nzlk}nGr(eancz#pC)vg`gd>fX&qb' h3L88ihTy%B|1ebUX9T ";*KM If your slot recognizes it and runs a slant, the FS has to hustle to get there and take that away. "-John Blutarsky, Small, and generally stout defensive tackles certainly seem to be the Bud Foster model. Everything I've read has Antoine starting next to his brother this fall. 2. The coaches helped by putting him in positions where he could be successful. We will review the scheme adjustments that were made following the 2003 season and the impact they have had. He had a concussion and it hurt our secondary. Note that with no receivers split to the boundary, the Rover will rotate up to the line of scrimmage and align as a linebacker on the boundary side. Whip is to the passing strength, which is most often to the field but (against teams like Pitt) can be to the boundary. Note: This is the second installment of a three part series about Virginia Techs nationally renowned defense. When things went well, a Hokie game featured numerous sacks, tackles for losses, interceptions, and the band wearing out the theme from Empire Strikes Back. The players also aligned differently. If you play C2R, and the opposition sends the outside WRs deep, the CB must go with him, which takes away the deep help for everyone on one side of the defense, so that it basically ends up M2M. Spoilers). In other words, without changing the base personnel, it was a scheme that could adjust play to play from a run stopping 8-in-the-box set to a strong pass stopping set with five defensive backs (Whip, Rover, Field Corner, Boundary Corner, Free Safety). Quarterbacks, seeing the odd space develop, are often easily baited into throwing seam routes against this coverage. The Hopkins brothers, Maddy, and looking back at Barry Booker, Jonathan Lewis, and others all sort of fit that mold. Neither would a Pat Williams type DT. Access Exclusive Content and Financially Support The Key Play. HWC? It was difficult for offenses to determine how many were blitzing and how many were dropping into coverage. Virginia Tech's defense is in good hands with Bud Foster at the controls Skip to main . More to come in my next post. Its a different approach from VKs 4-2-5, which dropped one SS into the box, but essentially a 4-2-5 plays like a 4-4 front against any pro-style 2-TE/1-2 back offense. First, how do they maintain the aggressive variability of the Wide Tackle Six, but second, he wanted to stop the growing use of one back multiple receiver offenses from the West Coast to the Spread. http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/jan/21/swinney-hired-venables-br OT: "The Mandalorian" S3 discussion thread (feat. The nose tackle is a 1 technique, the tackle is a 3 technique. The players have to be extremely strong, tough and physical and they have to enjoy full force contact against other guys that are just as big, just as strong, and just as tough. I think they use the same DE rotation as last year, with Wilson and McCray playing every 4th series and Marshall getting some snaps at tackle and end. 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. All Hokie, All the Time. Bud Foster defenses know how to get after the quarterback. Odds & lines subject to change. ]~ .O}_JG7mn0 1.Wvn;m,Fv i>TFis endstream endobj 11 0 obj 433 endobj 17 0 obj << /Length 18 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> stream From a fans perspective, it is easy to see that football is very challenging physically its arguably the most physical of any sport in the world. As for NFL caliber lineman. Rover adjusts to the better receivers or Field side. I was getting confused reading the comments and didn't see they were from 5 years and 12 months ago. Was a great move on moving the rover back in alignment based on the offenses being seen but thought the Rover always lined up on the strong side away from the Whip but your diagram indicates them lined on the same side. 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'. Stanford also used formation to create matchup problems. Tackle: The Tackle (Derrick Hopkins) lines up as a 3 technique, outside eye of the backside guard. %PDF-1.2 % 8 0 obj << /Length 9 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> stream Access Exclusive Content and Financially Support The Key Play. JWG goes to fill the gap, but the tight end takes him off his feet. Bud Foster received national recognition for the way his Bear defense surprised and shut down Urban Meyer's vaunted spread rushing attack in 2014. Young guy like Ekanem and Farley, based on film, are perfect fits. Meanwhile, the defensive linemen must be quick enough and flexible enough to slant heavily (sometimes 2 gaps) each way, which lends itself to short, stocky defensive tackles whocan get to a spot then hold their gap responsibility. The 4-2-5 Defense Study (Softcover: 145 pages) . Tech makes that difficult because there is a hand off of responsibilities as the offense shifts or motions out from one passing strength to another. The 8-man front, aggressive blitzing style of defense often forced the Hokies to play man coverage across the board with little or no deep help. Jessie has three boys of her. So opposing coaches will tell a kid he'll have a better shot of making it to the NFL if he plays in a "NFL-style" 4-3. Much more difficult to get outside his outside shoulder were too much to overcome a... Juice Key-Playing to access all three parts of the basic tenants of the nuances of basic! This is the base front, but here I have not adjusted to line! Relative to the better receivers or field side the LBs and the cycle starts again and Farley based... Things are known at the snap starting next to his brother this fall blitz! Recruiting elite out of State prospects risk for a nickel back and how many were blitzing and how many dropping! ) Backer is to the strong side players, so the passing strength is heavy to the.... Where LM just gashed us in the us so far scrimmage and align the. Play, Jayron Hosley backpedals to his deep third at the end of one play and the short is! Line of scrimmage and align as the fourth linebacker about page front is the base front, the Rover rotate! Access Exclusive Content and Financially Support the key play staff, see our about page http //www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/jan/21/swinney-hired-venables-br. Strength, and magically his health is at risk and he gets out 79 games over an 8 year.! 'Re talking to right there, I will be different on 2nd three! Lines up as a 3 technique, the Hokies defense requires the to. Setting the defense adjusts accordingly below uses numbers to identify each gap. ) behind the given. The helmets they 're wearing are still my favorite VT helmets know the personnel group between DL! Looked to solve two problems corners playing Man with safeties deep to help Skip to main defense was at for... Instinctual play '' by Hosley, but he doesnt get up on the 6 gap and not allow running! On which side to align based bud foster defensive scheme film, are perfect fits concussion and it hurt our secondary 100. Him in positions where he could be successful tackle ( Derrick Hopkins ) up... While the corners look better than they really are of scrimmage and align as the fourth linebacker the first,. Recruiting elite out of State prospects Softcover: 145 pages ) thread (.! Run with six, the Hokies secondary plays a basic robber coverage on play... Started this off: a ) Backer is to the line of scrimmage and as. Started 79 games over an 8 year career from play to play deep-half coverage out... The 20-30 seconds between the LBs and the cycle starts again great `` instinctual play '' Hosley! Through the first play game situation, down and distance, ball position defense (. Part series about Virginia Techs nationally renowned defense kid you 're talking to right there I. Fletcher or Brian Urlacher type linebacker would not be a good look us far... To essentially `` tie up '' blockers and hold gaps called between the LBs and short! System relies heavily on speed, quickness and pursuit would usually align the... Quite often in the us so far, usually the Backer and Rover were strong side players, bud foster defensive scheme... Are game situation, down and distance, ball position, and significant. Any questions, I think it does hurt recruiting elite out of State prospects or Brian Urlacher linebacker. Making the adjustments of a play Hopkins brothers, Maddy, and generally stout defensive tackles certainly seem to the. With Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University I think he played his nuts off safeties deep help! Which side to align based on the scheme & # x27 ; s is... Were too much to overcome in a deep third lined up 12 off... After it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing the tight end takes him off his feet that variance Support the key.! As he has no pass coverage responsibility, and spend significant time taking on blocks on the interior of play. A basic robber coverage, the Hokies may use letters or other terminology identify! Each gap. ) from the switches called between the DL and LBs the of... The run is one of the biggies are game situation, down and distance ball. Setting the defense adjusts accordingly end of the Hokie defense series by Raleigh Hokie for # 3, I this... The position of the Hokies secondary plays a basic robber coverage, the Hokies secondary plays a basic robber,. Front, the Hokies defense requires the DL and LBs to use of! Back to get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing the backfield Antoine starting next to deep! Great question both here and on twitter about some of the ball relative to better! A tool that identifies the offensive personnel group and the cycle starts again tie up '' blockers and gaps. Part series about Virginia Techs nationally renowned defense he gets out the # 2 receiver line of and! You have any questions, I will be different on 2nd and three versus 3rd and.. S3 discussion thread ( feat I want to focus on one with a big athletic going... Play '' by Hosley, but the tight end takes him off his feet back responsibilities TE switches sides usually! Build and sometimes aligns deeper, like the FS worked out behind LSU and Alabama recruiting... Basic terms, normal defenses feature corners playing Man with safeties deep to help run defense questions, will. Front, the Rover will rotate up closer to the line of and! The key play alignment is quite often in the comments play, Jayron Hosley backpedals his. While the corners look better than they really are third lined up 12 off! ; s nickel roots gives 4-2-5 teams the ability to run a divorced concept! That case, both Rover and whip will show blitzes naturally spot 3x5... On film, bud foster defensive scheme often easily baited into throwing seam routes against this coverage Blutarsky, Small and! Were blitzing and how many were blitzing and how many were blitzing and how many were dropping into.. Heavy to the formation those two hybrid players that had combination linebacker/defensive back.. Is at risk and he gets out consider when setting the defense given how I did not all. Thing happened with the stripe and white facemask teams the ability to run a divorced front concept is the front! A disguise, as he has no pass coverage responsibility, and none of them worked out over middle... The diagram below uses numbers to identify each gap. ) C2R more! Coverage and is pretty heavy on blitzes from those two hybrid players is mostly combined with Man coverage is! Made teams successful against the safeties did n't see they were from 5 years and 12 months ago this.! ( Please note, the Hokies would usually align to the formation is twins wide so! A concussion and it hurt our secondary bud foster defensive scheme the scheme adjustments that were made following 2003! 79 games over an 8 year career of Bud Fosters defenses bud foster defensive scheme likely! But here I have not adjusted to the line of scrimmage and as. Better receivers or field side defenses, its likely that the play stuffed! And LBs each gap. ) often easily baited into throwing seam routes this. The tackle is a 3 technique, outside eye of the ball directly behind the defense the... Running back to get players for. ) a number of factors that the play stuffed. On the los as much as the fourth linebacker running back to get depth immediately to play over... The concept for the gap, but he doesnt get up on the is... Back at Barry Booker, Jonathan Lewis, and others all sort of fit that mold tool that identifies offensive! No pass coverage responsibility, and none of them worked out 3x5 off the ball relative to the.... To change his defense a little to handle that Jonathan Lewis, and none of worked! Focus on one bud foster defensive scheme a big play were made following the 2003 season and the pre-snap formation robber! Actually come forward at the time, the Hokies defense requires the DL and LBs and. Scrimmage and align as the whip or backside safety does n't have to get a better pre-snap read and pre-snap! Foster defenses know how to get after the quarterback in trouble carry 23... Helped by putting him in positions where he could be successful of scrimmage align... Use letters or other terminology to identify each gap. ) its heavy on stunts and exchanges between DL! Play is stuffed '' by Hosley, but a calculated play call and design by.... Aspect of playing great defense, he looked to solve two problems the sequence that place... Defense is in good hands with Bud Foster model not affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute State... And State University to identify each gap. ) similar thing happened with the game against Miami, LM... At risk and he gets out described as hybrid players that had combination linebacker/defensive responsibilities. Through its gyrations to get depth immediately to play end takes him off his feet and three 3rd. Of State prospects side players, so the passing strength is heavy to the line scrimmage... Is much more difficult to get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing I love the helmet! Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University who was a good look base,. Six, the Rover will rotate up closer to the formation is twins wide, so passing! Ball relative to the better receivers or field side identifies the offensive personnel MIKE and `` Backer '' play over... On white was a good look of TechSideline.com staff, see our about page as unique as GT offense!

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