Infographic: LSU's 3-4 defense, how it works, why everyone is doing it

[younghog]

A very nice read on the evolution of 3-4 defense and how Aranda's scheme is deception on its lineup. Details how they can shift to 3-4 3-3 and 2-4

We need another Aranda type mind to transform our defense to a Legendary Defense. It took them 7 months to get the LSU defense changed out and its still changing..

The LINK

GO HOGS

[lutherheggs]

Razorbacks need a 5-3-5 defense. If Bielema can install that and make it work in games, we will be all set.

[code red]

A very nice read on the evolution of 3-4 defense and how Aranda's scheme is deception on its lineup. Details how they can shift to 3-4 3-3 and 2-4

We need another Aranda type mind to transform our defense to a Legendary Defense. It took them 7 months to get the LSU defense changed out and its still changing..

The LINK

GO HOGS

I'll tell you why....a 3-4 works at LSU....STUDS.  ESP STUDS AT LB.  Which is the reason why it won't work here.

[Ragnar Hogbrok]

Razorbacks need a 5-3-5 defense. If Bielema can install that and make it work in games, we will be all set.

Hold on, let's see...carry the one...add the thing...errrrr...anyone have a calculator?

[code red]

Razorbacks need a 5-3-5 defense. If Bielema can install that and make it work in games, we will be all set.

I agree.  He also needs to implement the spread because if you can't emulate it in practice....you sure as heck can't stop it.

[younghog]

I'll tell you why....a 3-4 works at LSU....STUDS.  ESP STUDS AT LB.  Which is the reason why it won't work here.

Speed is what we need..

Just released Miss State Hires Todd Grantham from Louisville (bobby p) If they switch to 3-4 it will totally change the SEC landscape. Arkansas will be on the outside looking in. ~ Real Talk

GO HOGS

[code red]

Speed is what we need..

Just released Miss State Hires Todd Grantham from Louisville (bobby p) If they switch to 3-4 it will totally change the SEC landscape. Arkansas will be on the outside looking in. ~ Real Talk

GO HOGS

Arkansas will be in the outside looking in until they recruit.  Character is very important but sometimes you gotta take kids with some character issues....keep em in line and coach em up.  It's called life as a college football coach.  Uprooting defensive principles at this point will probably be CBB demise.  It will take at least a year for it to work.  I don't think he will have that much time unless he does something special next year.

[younghog]

Arkansas will be in the outside looking in until they recruit.  Character is very important but sometimes you gotta take kids with some character issues....keep em in line and coach em up.  It's called life as a college football coach.  Uprooting defensive principles at this point will probably be CBB demise.  It will take at least a year for it to work.  I don't think he will have that much time unless he does something special next year.

Principles matter as well as high character students.. If the right guy is brought in quickly. It can happen this year. I main area of need is speed. You can't teach speed.. But I bet I could teach a fast horse how to do things better than a slow mule..

GO HOGS

[GuvHog]

Arkansas will be in the outside looking in until they recruit.  Character is very important but sometimes you gotta take kids with some character issues....keep em in line and coach em up.  It's called life as a college football coach.  Uprooting defensive principles at this point will probably be CBB demise.  It will take at least a year for it to work.  I don't think he will have that much time unless he does something special next year.

Something special such as switching to the 3-4 defense this coming season???

[12247]

Luther, why settle for  a 5-3-5.  Why not a 10-10-10.  With our coaching, we still wouldn't be any good but at least some of the players who never get to show what they can do would get on the field.  We could be the showcase team in the NCAA thus allowing us to use more players on the field.  If any player showed promise in the 10-10-10, maybe he could transfer somewhere where they choose to play football at a higher level and make good.

[SemperFi]

Razorbacks need a 5-3-5 defense. If Bielema can install that and make it work in games, we will be all set.

At times it looked like we had a 1-1-1 defense and could have used the extra players to stop the opposing offense.

I want this 3-4 defense in a bad way. Speed or lack of is what was killing us this year and adding two more Linebackers that can support the run and help in pass coverage would be huge in stopping or slowing down the spread. With this style of defense you can blitz from so many different angles and really disrupt a play. I think that we've got the DL to do it, but not sure about the LB's. I still think that this needs to become our new base defense regardless of the quality or depth of our Linebacking corps.

[Tusks]

Aranda is a fricken defensive genius.  Check the D stats at whisky before and after he got there, amazing.

LSU may not have upgraded their HC but that have 2 outstanding coordinators.

[King Kong]

Like what the 3-4 can do against spread teams.

However, we done incorrectly or without the correct personnel... and you come up with terrible defense. See Sal Suneri at UT or Peter Sirmon st Miss State

[Sportster365]

I'll tell you why....a 3-4 works at LSU....STUDS.  ESP STUDS AT LB.  Which is the reason why it won't work here.

Rather you mean you'll need studs on the defensive line.

[East TN HAWG]

A very nice read on the evolution of 3-4 defense and how Aranda's scheme is deception on its lineup. Details how they can shift to 3-4 3-3 and 2-4

We need another Aranda type mind to transform our defense to a Legendary Defense. It took them 7 months to get the LSU defense changed out and its still changing..

The LINK

GO HOGS

"Scheme is deception on it's lineup"!!  Deception won't work here.  We have integrity.  It's uncommon.  We don't disguise blitzes, we execute what we show.   

[DeltaBoy]

You got to do what Jimmy Johnson did find some more RB and convert them to LB.

[LZH]

"Scheme is deception on it's lineup"!!  Deception won't work here.  We have integrity.  It's uncommon.  We don't disguise blitzes, we execute what we show.   

"Coach, how do you feel about your team's execution today?"

"I'm all for it."

[onebadrubi]

Hold on, let's see...carry the one...add the thing...errrrr...anyone have a calculator?

Lol I think that was the point

[bennyl08]

At times it looked like we had a 1-1-1 defense and could have used the extra players to stop the opposing offense.

I want this 3-4 defense in a bad way. Speed or lack of is what was killing us this year and adding two more Linebackers that can support the run and help in pass coverage would be huge in stopping or slowing down the spread. With this style of defense you can blitz from so many different angles and really disrupt a play. I think that we've got the DL to do it, but not sure about the LB's. I still think that this needs to become our new base defense regardless of the quality or depth of our Linebacking corps.

How many LB'ers have we ever had that were actually an asset in pass coverage? How many LB'ers have we had that were able to blitz and get to the qb?

3-4 can certainly disguise things, but it requires very complex schemes to do so. How often have we seen marked improvement from our defense when coaches went out of their way to simplify things? How often have we see players who were slowed down by having to think too much?

Not saying it can't work, but simply throwing out that in recent history, the biggest advantages of a 3-4 have been our biggest weaknesses on defense. Each year is a new year, so maybe 2017 will be the year that such constant problems become no more.

[PorkSoda]

At times it looked like we had a 1-1-1 defense and could have used the extra players to stop the opposing offense.

I want this 3-4 defense in a bad way. Speed or lack of is what was killing us this year and adding two more Linebackers that can support the run and help in pass coverage would be huge in stopping or slowing down the spread. With this style of defense you can blitz from so many different angles and really disrupt a play. I think that we've got the DL to do it, but not sure about the LB's. I still think that this needs to become our new base defense regardless of the quality or depth of our Linebacking corps.

blitz? whats that?

[code red]

Rather you mean you'll need studs on the defensive line.

No....I mean you need LB...our depth at Dline is not an issue.  In order for a 3 4 to work LB need to fill gaps....they can't be gun shy.  I helped run one for years.  I don't like em because unless your lb's aren't completely sold to reading keys, big plays are in the works. LB's are the key.  If they don't buzz around then its the DC job to blitz almost every play.  I can see us being worse in a 3-4 actually.

[code red]

Something special such as switching to the 3-4 defense this coming season???

You can apply the word "special" in many different connotations.

[Pork Twain]

Razorbacks need a 5-3-5 defense. If Bielema can install that and make it work in games, we will be all set.

Either this or a 5-2-6 would really help us close that talent gap.  Who wouldn't want to play on and dense that could get extra players on the field

[ballz2thewall]

perhaps i'm an idiot,

but i don't care too much about the scheme, per se. it's what we do with the players on the field. now; if the "scheme" name dictates certain conduct, then i care.

but it really doesn't. it's an implication rather than a mandate.

like someone posted "carry the one" . . . , then scratch your ass....

just get aggressive. 3-4, 4-3, 5-2. what real difference does it make?

get aggressive in the pursuit. get pressure.

[hawginbigd1]

Some of you don't understand we have 2 perfect OLB's for a 3-4 defense right now. One is almost a DE in size but very athletic, the other is really a safety playing LB(these traits and versatility is why there is a 3-4 defense) We have at least one young ILB that is going to be a stud, and several others who can play the WLB that because of a 3-4 alignment will have fewer responsibilities, and less ground to cover. The 3-4 actually suits our personnel better than the 4-3. It will actually let us shift and move a lot more than the 4-3 without leaving the middle of the field vacated as we have done far too often in our 4-3. Mostly because IMO we were trying to cheat to make up for Ellis' lack of speed against the spread. Now the issue that we have is you cant play it effectively without better play from the safeties. you need to be able to stay in this personnel package unless it is an obvious long passing down.

[Iwastherein1969]

there's no magic elixir, only the ingredients (players) can make the difference no matter what defense you choose to run

[31to6]

there's no magic elixir, only the ingredients (players) can make the difference no matter what defense you choose to run

If we roll out in a 3-4 and then the defense sits back on it's heels trying to react to the offense most of the time, we will continue to get abused by good offenses.

The key to any good defense is taking the initiative away from the offense on as many downs as possible.

You don't have to blitz every down. But you do have to make the offense wonder "what are they going to do this snap", every snap. Tendencies get you burned and passivity gets you run over.

The 3-4 will put some more speed on the field. It can also make us less predictable since every down you can rush anywhere from 2 to 5 players, creating imbalances in blocking or overloading in coverage.

And, on some level, putting a big dude in the very middle of the DL will mean that we should see fewer camera shots where Trevor Knight has a 10' gap in the middle of the defense all the way to the EZ.

[Sooie71923]

Any defense will work with top 10 players.

[NotSoFastMyFriend]

Rather you mean you'll need studs on the defensive line.

Nailed it. Need two heavy ends (Marshall, Agim) and a space-eating NG to really make it work. B. Jackson and A. Capps are good fits inside but I worry about the depth behind them.

LB actually becomes easier to recruit because you can hide slower thumpers on the inside spots and keep the outside manned with either Randy Ramsey hybrid types (to the boundary side) and Dre Greenlaw types (to the field side). If you can find athletic ILBs then the system goes from good to elite really quick. De'Jon Harris should thrive next year if the Hogs go 3-4.

[ballz2thewall]

i hear all this stuff............

and i think we have a head coach that prefers a lay back defense.

[bennyl08]

there's no magic elixir, only the ingredients (players) can make the difference no matter what defense you choose to run

2012 not ring a bell? Put those same players with Petrino still as the HC and we were still overranked being #8, but that was definitely an 8-9 win team, not a 4-win team. The horses were same, but the coaching change made a big difference. Same year, check out what difference Sean Peyton makes for the Saints. 13-3 the year before, 7-9 in 2012 without Peyton, and then 11-5 the next year. Coaching makes a difference.

[LSUFan]

Great players make great coaches.

I see this defense approaching the level of the 2003 NC team's defense.

[MissippHog]

"Coach, how do you feel about your team's execution today?"

"I'm all for it."

"Can't stop a pass, or a run...otherwise we're in great shape."

[code red]

Great players make great coaches.

I see this defense approaching the level of the 2003 NC team's defense.

There is no doubt LSU will be trending upward next year.  I was impressed with Etling in the bowl game.  Guice is no doubt a freaking stud.  Combine that with a defense that held Bama to 10 points....look out.

[LSUFan]

There is no doubt LSU will be trending upward next year.  I was impressed with Etling in the bowl game.  Guice is no doubt a freaking stud.  Combine that with a defense that held Bama to 10 points....look out.

And the Heisman winner to 9 points.

Next year, Laynard Fornette will be coming off the bench, he's better than Guice and Leonard, should prove to be interesting along with the defense coming together.

[Josh Goforth]

Aranda is a fricken defensive genius.  Check the D stats at whisky before and after he got there, amazing.

LSU may not have upgraded their HC but that have 2 outstanding coordinators.

Arkansas hired the wisoncin head coach, LSU has the two best coordinators from Wisconsin. Really like Arandas version of the 3-4.

[ballz2thewall]

...... i mean, how do you guys think our defensive discussion went.......

cbb: "dammit robb; i want more cowbell."
crs: "sorry coach; we don't have the horses. we can't pressure."

is this even close to right?

[Hogwild]

And the Heisman winner to 9 points.

Next year, Laynard Fornette will be coming off the bench, he's better than Guice and Leonard, should prove to be interesting along with the defense coming together.

I live in New Orleans, I've seen him play at St. Aug and that is total BS.  Laynard won't be in LSU top 3 RB rotation, that's assuming yall don't sign a HS stud.

[Inhogswetrust]

"Coach, how do you feel about your team's execution today?"

"I'm all for it."

John McKay was perhaps the most quotable football coach ever!

He said " emotions in football are overrated. My wife is emotional as hell but she can't play football worth a damn."

[ThisTeetsTaken]

I agree.  He also needs to implement the spread because if you can't emulate it in practice....you sure as heck can't stop it.

I've thought that myself.  The spread seems to hide some deficiencies in depth charts.  I'd also like to see a breakdown of offenses that chunk the ball more than 15 yds down field a high percentage of downs and see what their success rates are.

[younghog]

I've thought that myself.  The spread seems to hide some deficiencies in depth charts.  I'd also like to see a breakdown of offenses that chunk the ball more than 15 yds down field a high percentage of downs and see what their success rates are.

Our offense is fine..

[Josh Goforth]

If we roll out in a 3-4 and then the defense sits back on it's heels trying to react to the offense most of the time, we will continue to get abused by good offenses.

The key to any good defense is taking the initiative away from the offense on as many downs as possible.

You don't have to blitz every down. But you do have to make the offense wonder "what are they going to do this snap", every snap. Tendencies get you burned and passivity gets you run over.

The 3-4 will put some more speed on the field. It can also make us less predictable since every down you can rush anywhere from 2 to 5 players, creating imbalances in blocking or overloading in coverage.

And, on some level, putting a big dude in the very middle of the DL will mean that we should see fewer camera shots where Trevor Knight has a 10' gap in the middle of the defense all the way to the EZ.

Only difference in the middle for the "big dude" is moving about a foot over to head up on the center, and possibly trying to play 2 gap. a 3-4 look with an OLB as a rush end looks almost identical to a 4-3.

[31to6]

Only difference in the middle for the "big dude" is moving about a foot over to head up on the center, and possibly trying to play 2 gap. a 3-4 look with an OLB as a rush end looks almost identical to a 4-3.

So, the last line was humor...

[ThisTeetsTaken]

Our offense is fine..

2nd half offense?