How Modern NFL Defense Works

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[@ThinkingFootball]

Go to buyraycon.com/thinkingfootball for 20% off sitewide, plus free shipping! Out late this week but as you'll can see, pretty graphically intense vid, hope you enjoy! - Stef

[@garnet4846]

Pro sports are fake and scripted.

[@RollTide1987]

This is why you see so many break downs in coverages in the modern game. Each defender on the back end has so much to remember while covering a spread offense that there is bound to be some mistakes. You have to be equal parts athletic and equal parts intelligent to properly run this.

[@IamDevron]

Not really much to remember once you know your rules my old HS runs a Narduzzi inspired press quarters. This is 100x easier to play in than a more traditional man coverage shell imo

[@bpnation37]

Yup. We teach match zone coverage in the high school defense i coach in and there’s so so much more to think about than when i was a high school safety. But at least they will be more prepared for the next level

[@starkiller578]

@@IamDevronbro said high school 😂

[@hridayraj7865]

⁠@@IamDevrondude there’s also run fits to deal with and traditional man shell easily deals with those. But yeah it’s harder to play a dude one on one straight up if they’re talented with multiple good athletes which is a lot harder to find in HS.

[@hridayraj7865]

And with motions completely changing your rules that change your C4M fits

[@k23d]

This video boosted my respect for all defenders

[@MrWarrenRB]

Yup. Far more respect for NFL defenders now

[@Ghall2708]

Yea it’s crazy how my high school does nearly the exact same thing as this but not as deep. Gotta give respect to these guys just for this

[@thevoxdeus]

Think about the fact that this is just the pass coverage side and doesn't cover extra complexities from a blitz, or how to make run fits. By the time it all becomes second nature, the defender still has to actually execute it.

[@Oozywolf]

​@@thevoxdeusImagine getting the playcall "4-4 Base Y Double Wing" and you're trying to hear with 80,000 screaming fans ready to make fun of you of you or scream at you if you make a fool out of yourself. And you have 10 seconds to recognize where to be, what the offense is doing, when to pass coverages if needed on the playcall, then actually DOING all of that physically after the snap and having to mirror a guy like Justin Jefferson or Travis Kelce as they run at you at 18mph lmao. I'll stick to eating the wings and being one of the idiot fans in that scenario 😂

[@SegaGenesisEvangelion]

@@Oozywolfme, 30s, out of shape, bad back, ranch on my face: “shoulda tackled him, ya idiot” 😂

[@LateNightTableCo]

Yay! I finally get to start learning about actual football strategies. Would love a “Idiots Guide to the NFL” style video describing the different positions, explanation of o-line and d-line formations, etc. Something that goes just a bit beyond “The quarterback throws the ball, the running back usually runs, etc”

[@williamreed2062]

There's a channel called The QB School that has detailed and entertaining breakdowns from an ex player

[@LateNightTableCo]

@@williamreed2062 Sounds great!

[@blairpenny1526]

I learned the most about football playing Madden back in the day when it comes to coverages and route combinations

[@ChicagoPatriot123]

U r one of the few idiots here then

[@threezysworld8089]

I learned tons playing Madden. Madden then spurred me to learn more and they used to have shows on TV that went in depth on X's and O's. IMO if you really want to learn start playing Madden.

[@pjknows_]

We ran this my freshman year in college my brain was hurting the first couple weeks

[@jjrolltide]

Bro I respect how deep your team go into making this content . This was very informative , Nick Saban is the king of cover 7 lol

[@olafforkbeard4782]

Your daily reminder that NFL players are smart as fuck and elite visual processors!

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

Please. WWNFL sponsored by fan duel and draft kings. They’re just relying on idiots to dedicate their lives to watching millionaires play a kids game.

[@benny6466]

@@DaPoopIsInDaPudding found the miserable fuck

[@johntrelthomas841]

This is why I don’t care for the “soft” label that’s given to how defense is played. It’s had to evolve and adapt to the spread offenses, making the old approach to defense mostly obsolete. Regardless of how you feel about the rules favoring offenses, it’s impressive to see the transition from traditional spot zone coverages to a splendid blend of man/zone principles with the LB’s and DB’s who are able to excel in these systems. Heck Bill Belichick is using versatile DB’s (who can play both the S/CB positions effectively) and the dime package to cook up another high level defense.

[@threezysworld8089]

The only real deterrent for a spread is pass rush. You have to be able to scare the offense into keeping blockers in. Even still, tough QB won't care.

[@benny6466]

@@threezysworld8089 without blitzing...

[@300jet]

My goodness this so well produced. You have a gift to present complex concepts in a concise, basic format. 🤛

[@avery465]

No matter how many times someone explains pattern match to me I will never fully understand it lol.

[@kaipaxton9613]

It’s actually kinda hard to run. My team does it and in theory it works well. But when you are running full speed it can be difficult to react fast enough to underneath routs.

[@Ghall2708]

It’s damn near impossible to understand what everyone is doing unless your that DC who has been coaching those stuff for years and years. But if you lock in on one position then you can understand

[@ellispiper6313]

Coneptcially it's a cluster fuck. Only way I'd ever remember is with reps

[@TOoLoUd89292]

​@@Ghall2708basically learn your position responsibility then everything else will play its part cause if you understand your role you'll know what the others should be doing.

[@maskedman5657]

I appreciate this breakdown. I have a hard time readers Quarters and Quater half coverages alot.

[@toob_noob4381]

This is super cool! Would you mind doing more videos on the intricacies of NFL defenses? Like the responsibilities of a Middle Linebacker? Or maybe Pre-snap reads for a QB, and how defenses try to disguise their coverages? It's easy to love football a lot more when you can understand what you're watching, beyond the surface level.

[@austinlyons9493]

I would love to watch any of these videos!

[@geordiejones5618]

Grew up a Patriots fan and I always preferred the defensive side of things and the battle in trenches between the lines. I miss watching Brusci, Seymour, Harrison, Samuel, Vrabel, Wilfork and even Troy Brown when Bill started using him in all three phases. Those 03/04 Pats were special.

[@TheJayblaze3]

I was 22 in 03 when the Pats took it to another level with Troy Brown. 03 New Orleans!!

[@CaptainTrips560]

Don’t forget McGhinest

[@robertcurtis8919]

This was an absolutely incredible breakdown, well done gents

[@all_time_Jelly_Fish]

most detailed in overview of quarters i've ever seen. Great stuff man.

[@The_DGO]

I love watching videos on the current meta no matter the game, even one’s as violent and with as detrimental a penalty system as football. This is great high-level explanation for concepts I barely understood before

[@gabriel.hongkong]

I've only started watching the NFL recently. The first ever Superbowl I watched was 2015. This video analysis really helps casuals such as myself understand the game better.

[@keeplearning4L]

love these videos man, i love deciphering how things work

[@sensor4747]

This is quality content. Reading all of the assignments for pattern matching is dizzying.

[@JM-pg8qv]

This was great. First time seeing this channel.. immediate subscription. Thank you and good luck!

[@Liamitis123]

I miss the simple 4 / 3 Cover 0,1,2,3 from highschool in the 90s, when there was only one highschool running a spread in the whole county. Today's defenses are complicated. 😵‍💫

[@jeffbot6329]

Unfortunately with offenses getting so dynamic and getting more advanced you also have make your defense more advanced otherwise your just gonna get torched all game. I understand what your saying but I think it’s good for the game.

[@ianpatrick2472]

back in my days of flag football everyone got a man

[@t4d0W]

Blame the offenses. Defenses are always trying to play catch up to the advancements of the offense and how well the concepts endure and adapt. But in most cases man is still a good policy to play especially if you have the the CB to cover the opposing teams' number 1 receiver.

[@UncleJohn_GayisBad]

@@ianpatrick2472lol, and your team would get cooked these days

[@zTheBigFishz]

Always great stuff from you guys.

[@kobeindaklutch]

Need more of these advanced breakdowns

[@Redcruiser813]

Fantastic breakdown. The explanation was very clear and helpful.

[@kasjams2216]

Love NFL and these videos being back, great breakdown

[@descendency]

Yo! This video was amazing. l never played football, but I love watching it and I really want to understand the game better but it's hard to find really good breakdowns like this. I hope you make more of these kinds of videos.

[@bryannacaldwellsoccer]

That was excellent, thank you. I’m already seeing the field differently with the box & triangle.

[@CoachScott61]

Awesome breakdown. Much easier to teach after looking at this video. Better verbiage to make a player understand their individual role. Thank you

[@GabrealCodm]

This is insanely informative. Please. MORE

[@corey2232]

Coaching & scheme has so much more impact on the NFL game than almost any other sport. Your MLB manager or NBA coach have a role, but they're not nearly as vital to the play by play element of the sport. The constant chess battle of coordinators out scheming opposing coordinators has a HUGE impact every single play. That's not to say an MLB, MLS, NHL, NBA, etc. coach has a small role, but it's not nearly as critical to the team's success as it is in the NFL. It's why you can see a team like the 49ers fail for years, then have a Jim Harbaugh come & take a team with a "bust" QB to the NFC Championship game in one year, followed by a Super Bowl the next. It's why the 2023 Browns can be 9-5 (as of now), despite bouncing around 4 QBs... something that usually signals disaster.

[@WorldWokeApeCult]

Well said. 🫡🖖

[@mr3000sr]

Preciate the dissection of the modern defense Will be studying this no doubt

[@runawayprophet4164]

This is my new go-to video to show anyone who says American football is "not a real sport" or "just pure violence". The reality is, it's an intricate chess game that can only be played by the most intelligent, physically capable and toughest players.

[@tailor-mademedia1406]

Excellent breakdown. ✊

[@cmd31220]

This is a fantastic breakdown of the basics of quarters, and id recommend it to anyone trying to begin to understand what theyre watching on tv. I love using a version of cover-6 for my defense as a base coverage against pass-heavy teams because especially at the high school level qbs just cant process the information quick enough, and out of a 4-high shell its so easy to disguise an all out blitz as normal quarters. My scheme is essentially the cover-4 to the field side with inside leverage and the safety responsible for picking up any crossing routes past about 8 yards, but on the boundary side its essentially just man defense with the safety over the top protecting the deep ball and letting the underneath defenders jump anything short. Think how the Patriots let Stephon Gilmore and JC Jackson play hyper-agressive underneath because they were always shaded by Devin McCourty deep.

[@ThinkingFootball]

Where do you coach?

[@cmd31220]

@@ThinkingFootball small 6th division school in rural florida

[@sunshizzleyou]

Interesting, very cool. Just curious is “field side” essentially the wide side of the field? Boundary, being the short side?

[@cmd31220]

@sunshizzleyou yes. Traditionally the boundary side is whichever side of the formation is closer to the sideline and the field side is the side farther away. In high school and college it's more important to think about than in the pros because the hash marks are so much wider and thus the width of each side can me much different.

[@As_A________Commenter]

What an intelligent and detailed breakdown, hats off to you sir!

[@laffatlife]

Wow best NFL breakdowns I have seen..so intersting Love it!!

[@gimletinf69]

Belichick has designed the best secondary in the NFL!!🐐💯 Jalen Hurts was rolling out and going off script all game cause NO ONE was open…. The longest pass play the Eagles could muster all day was a 23 yard in cutting route by JACKED BATMAN😮‍💨

[@ThinkingFootball]

Pat's ran this to perfection last night

[@gimletinf69]

@@ThinkingFootball That secondary is going to allow for Mac’s growing pains while learning OB’s system. NOBODY is gonna drop a 40🍔 on that secondary…. So we will be in every single game💯

[@AniSage]

Pats played it perfectly but it also helps that it was their OC’s first ever time calling plays in the NFL. there were also times where Jalen was predetermining where he was going with the ball instead of taking what the defense gave them and it caused him to miss out on quite a few opportunities. Not saying this to downplay what the Pats did. They had a great defense last year and they will continue to have a great defense this year. This was moreso to point out that the Eagles ran a very vanilla gameplan which played right into the Pats’ script.

[@gimletinf69]

@@AniSage There’s nothing to take if the defense isn’t giving him nothing bud…. His only real completions were comebacks routes and short breaking routes cause NOTHING was open deep. A few times he chucked the ball up trying to let AJ go get it but he had 2 guys draped on him. It didn’t have anything to with play calling or Jalen not being able to go through his progressions. Bill has built and schemed up the best secondary in the National Football League…. plain and simple🐐💯 And Jalen is a great QB so he isn’t going to put the ball in danger by throwing it to someone covered. His only option was to rollout and hope AJ or Smith could improvise and find the open space. Which they did a few times. But this was a lock down effort by Belichick’s secondary

[@RJ-gk4rt]

His coverages are so nutty😭 in his bag is the best way to describe yesterday

[@justinhebert5155]

This was very high level. Nice job

[@choiyatlam2552]

That’s a really helpful video. I pretty much know the textbook coverages but don’t know how they are implemented and adjusted to suit the game.

[@philipbrackett443]

I had no idea defenses were this complex. Thanks for breaking it down like this

[@trumpwasbetter]

Dude awesome explanations!

[@toweypat]

This is first-class. Subbed.

[@goofygoob0373]

What a great channel! Football is back babyyy!!!

[@ToyeCalvin91]

Imagine trying to run “country” cover 3 in todays game 😂 you’d give up 1,000 yards passing.

[@mattskov2917]

Excellent video. I don’t know nothing about schemes and even I could follow along.

[@mjciavola]

At 11:30 in the video, the narrator erred by switching the description of the Fangio Cover 6. The Cover 2 side is played to the passing strength side and Quarters coverage is played to the weak side.

[@ThinkingFootball]

We always called that cover 8 rather than cover 6 Ideally you want the 2 deep protection to the passing strength

[@mjciavola]

@@ThinkingFootball You are correct that the name for it is Cover 8, which is what the players in the video are doing. However, the narrator erred by describing the flipped coverage, Cover 6.

[@ThinkingFootball]

In the system I learned we always called cover 6 quarters to the passing strength, which is what the narrator says I understand if you called this the other way round, as said in the video, these systems have nuance and not every team will run them the same or use the same verbiage

[@mjciavola]

@@ThinkingFootball Sorry that my terminology caused you to miss my point. If you watch the video, the narrator incorrectly states that quarters is being called to the passing strength side. However, you can see in the video that the players are playing quarters to the side with only ONE wide receiver, which is NOT the passing strength. The passing strength side (TWO wide receivers) is actually on the other side of the field and you can see in the video that Cover 2 is being played, NOT quarters as the narrator incorrectly states. Hope that's clear this time.

[@ThinkingFootball]

Ahhh! I follow our confusion now. It should just say 'strength' rather than 'passing strength' - I would still consider the strength of the broncos formation to be towards the near side here because of the threat of TEs and RBs in the passing game in modern football

[@mohammedosman4902]

Fantastic video. I learned a ton from it

[@imisskatelyn9517]

The complexity here shows why it is so easy to have a blown coverage.

[@FeinkinFreky]

You’re one of my favorite channels ❤

[@user-ie2ur4ry5t]

This video boosted my respect for all defenders. This was an absolutely incredible breakdown, well done gents.

[@davidaustad4821]

you know what your talking about. thanks for the authenticity something normally missing on youtube

[@spencertherren6806]

I remember Dad telling me cornerback was the most difficult position on the field. I loved it, but it takes skill, speed and football intelligence on a grand scale. Great video.✌️🇺🇲

[@Aggiebrettman]

Outstanding stuff.

[@jaroddodson2202]

Excellent. Very knowledgeable very articulate very well done!

[@tysonjimmie]

Great video awesome information for football guys

[@edp5226]

i got an eye for talent, keep doing what your doing and your channel will grow.

[@sunshizzleyou]

Well that humbled me extremely quick. The complexity of modern defenses shows why maybe 15-20 humans in this country can play QB at an elite level in the NFL.

[@chaunceychappelle2173]

I was confused for a bit, but you explained how we used to run goal line defense when I played college football. This is very complex. Probably why we ran it in special circumstances. The game has sped up tremendously.

[@hazevt04]

This is my favorite KZbin video I've seen today! 😁🏆

[@ellispiper6313]

with so much responsiblity placed on coverage, best counter is always gonna be a strong D-line. If I'm a D-cordinator, which I'll never be cause sounds like a major headache, I want a strong mike, corners, but especially safties behind a nice D-rush game.

[@shiverian5970]

quality stuff

[@iniu468]

This is great!

[@yeildo1492]

Great explanation. All modern coners start with defending 4 verts and you work down from there. Also a good point: I don't care what cover you are in, 4 verts turns into man. Your video is a good illustration of how important LBs being able to cover has become. Not just run players.

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

I've learned more about running a defense in an hour of watching your channel than I did in 20 years of just watching the game.

[@undrachevr]

Great video.

[@quor2243]

I always assumed all these years regardless of the play call, defenses had variation of every play based on pre and post snap reads. You're telling me this is all new or newish in foosball? Wow, I gave them way to much credit back in the day.

[@H8Magnet]

Should have showed McDaniels at the end. His fast motion mid-snap is creating chaos in defensive backfields. It's tough to designate because it's changing as they are trying to call it.

[@ThinkingFootball]

That's this week's video!

[@joeqmix]

excellent video. I am surprised to see that the narrator is not the author. He still delivers the information very clearly.

[@stevejones148]

Defense will always be at a natural disadvantage at the highest levels of play because QBs have improved immensely since 2000 and have kept improving to the point where we see 4 or 5 come out in the first round every year even in ‘down’ QB years. the rule changes have also opened the middle of the field up. Offense has multiple other advantages that you really just take for granted. Offense knows the snap count. Offense knows the plays and have built in hot routes, defense don’t really have hot ‘keys’ in the same way. One example of how crazy of a disadvantage defense has over offense is the holding call in the Super Bowl. Bradberry over commits on a route in which he is on an island, to get back to an ‘even’ position he grabs JuJu slightly on the jersey, pass is off by 7 yards over his head. Flag still comes out. Bradberry has to hold bc being a step behind against Mahomes usually means it’s gonna be a TD. Mahomes however sails the ball to uncatchable status, yet it still is a 5 yard, automatic first down, on a third and 7. Corners are expected to run stride for stride against receivers who know exactly what route they’re running and so does the quarterback, without grabbing, impeding, tripping, the receivers. Once the ball is in the air they then must turn their heads around, if not it’ll be a spot foul. Safeties can’t hit too high and must arrive at the same time as the ball. Players like Dawkins would have been suspended every other game. Playing coverage is miserable, so much has to go right and elite QB throws STILL beat elite coverage.

[@t4d0W]

Its not just the QB and their skillsets that can involve them in teh run game and skew the the whole run fit. Usage of timely motion in the NFL is similar to how various 2-3 man screen games are utilized in the NBA to freeze defenders for that short moment for the ball handler to make a read and get a pass to their teammate whose already on the move. Or other tactics like bunching WRs to keep the best receiver from getting jammed at the LoS so they really make the DBs work. Defenses in the NFL have always been working to catch up to the offense. And despite all this play with zones, the receiver at sideline area still get to play isolation vs the DB beyond 20 yards. And if they are good enough to win then the defenses gotta hand it to that.

[@AllUpOns]

There's one area where this advantage is flipped: the pass rush. The defensive rushers have every advantage over the pass protection.

[@speedlife301]

Not really they handicap the defense with rules . If they could play with the old rules a lot of these qbs would be average and most games would be low scoring . Most defenses are better than offense they just have so many rules handicapping them so points can be scored and entertain the fans.

[@s.r.345]

Nice Vid thanks

[@MisoSuwoop]

Send this to the MAdden Devs

[@jonathanhall2896]

ASAP!!!

[@terry7907]

Awesome breakdown.

[@ThinkingFootball]

Appreciate it!

[@bestbeekeeper8931]

i need a video that just serves as a football jargon glossary

[@cameronbadger]

The browns surprised me as a browns fan today

[@darthmalgus232]

I’m a Steelers fan. I hope you guys blow us out next week. The more we lose and lose badly, the more likely some change will happen in the Steelers front office for once. I’m so tired of being mediocre every season.

[@maskedman5657]

Y'all still not making it to the playoffs

[@SteelKreel]

Yea, I think everyone was surprised

[@userj11038]

@@SteelKreelbrowns always beat the bengals

[@SteelKreel]

@@userj11038 yea but I don’t think anyone expected it to be that bad

[@Davidscou]

I like how you showed Andy Reid, truly one of the greatest offensive geniuses in football history, but also famously the guy who gets shut down by Fangio and only Fangio defenses

[@obtusehistorian8946]

God damn this video was awesome

[@theodorixjohnson4336]

This is why I think so many college QBs struggle transferring skill to the NFL regardless of whether your Bryce young or Trevor Lawrence or whoever if you haven’t had enough experience against high skill high talent deep coverages

[@BarbellThor]

There are a couple of left open receivers in the square triangle coverage

[@dhess34]

Great video!I hope you can somehow utilize (read: monetize) your talent! Curious, would your dream job be working for a Pro or college team as a coach/analyst? Or as an analyst for a big TV network? Or maybe just by making full-time money via KZbin? Keep up the great work!

[@ThinkingFootball]

Pro scout / director of pro player personal

[@jessejordache1869]

This is deep, and is going to require multiple watches. I almost said "reads". Get out of my head, thinking football.

[@pe7143]

At the high school level this is only applicable in a very reduced form because at that level ingesting such is difficult. Particularly with limited practice time and with school being the primary focus. We hope…

[@taylortremel487]

This is a great video! Could you update it for 5 v 5 and 7 v 7 flag football? One of my questions is how to identify the Apex player when the center is ineligible receiver? And how to handle Bunch formations around the center?

[@21Kolb]

question: what do you think of the steelers defensive system?

[@xzavaire1]

I knew defending was hard but Inhad no idea. The Safety on the box side has to be a damn tactician

[@radballer5554]

Wish Madden had this depth

[@arickquinton1268]

If you love football in any capacity, Like and Subscribe. This feels like a training video at work.

[@spaniardprince]

Subbed

[@Dannyphantom22325]

Who’s here after Dallas won 40-0 let’s go dallas

[@ThinkingFootball]

26*

[@KingofHorror223]

26

[@ThinkingFootball]

@thinkingfootball 33*

[@huntermerrell8484]

I feel like my dbs ran this in high school but I guess that’s why one of them is in the nfl

[@Reeper123]

Do you have a beginner's guide video on defense?

[@kapriece]

I'm about back when I used to play Madden '06 All I ran was quarters defense and he used to piss people off😂.

[@justsomeguy9325]

Out-freakkn-standing analysis and breakdown! However, I now have a headache 🤣🤣🤣 What happened to "You, take the strong hook zone. You, take deep 1/3......etc etc " LOL I'd wind up blowing so many coverages, man

[@dangelo1369]

So it's like the blocking rules that O-linemen have except that it's dynamic not static; i.e. "Block "0" (Mike LB if lined up on the C) in, , if not, out"

[@yaknow5252]

😂 he forgot the best one and my favorite. Heavy run game! Beats coverage all day every day

[@edwardwong654]

My head hurts and I am not even playing. Wow.

[@joewyatt2269]

So if there are rules to running the defense, then the offense can exploit the rules if they know them. By running routes that put the rules in conflict. And they use motion to identify what coverage is being run. I've often wondered why defenses don't fake the response to motion by doing the opposite.

[@willhutton1516]

Pretty interesting how he used a lot of Lou Anarumo’s defense film. I know he’s a wizard, but getting too cute can make your defense easy to break.

[@gabrielkappenman816]

What a great video, turns out it isnt all about audibles on offence anymore!! 👍 👍 deception game is so much more fun now coaches get to play the chess game out there like they deserve! In other words Defence is = to Offense again somewhat. Fwheewee!

[@Musicdudeyoutub]

There's literally nothing worse for your ears than booming bass from loud earbuds.

[@pe7143]

Actually, this video misses what is beginning to be used and was invented by Belichick; Area Read Zone. It’s concept is landmark zone but it’s principles are pattern read. I’ve begun to use it in high school in California. This is, generally, vacating a zone to a route shared or uncovered in seams or holes in another zone. In other words; if a defender is assigned to the flat but no flat route appears, then the underneath defender slides to or even jumps the nearest route. The ‘over coverage’ is purely landmark on verticals (a corner has the ‘go’ or ‘flag’ route, the safety(ies) have post or deep seams). This is a basic and simplistic description but in essence it’s a combo or deep landmark and a variation of pattern read underneath.