Novice football fans can gain an understanding of the basics of defensive football by learning about two basic defensive formations, two types of pass coverage, and two specialized personnel schemes for passing defense. The four-three and the three-four are the basic building blocks of any defensive scheme in college and professional football. Man coverage and zone coverage are the two basic types of passing coverage. And finally, nickle and dime packages are special personnel groupings used on obvious passing situations.

First, and more widely used, is the four-three, or 43 defense. In a base 43, four down linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs are used. The defensive line will consist of two defensive tackles, and two defensive ends. It is the job of the defensive tackles to occupy the offensive guards and the center, penetrate the offensive line, and prevent the offense from running the ball through the middle of the defense. The defensive ends, on the other hand, must provide containment to the outside of the formation on running plays and rush the quarterback on passing downs.

The linebackers in the 43 defense are responsible for filling the gaps between the offensive linemen to prevent runners from penetrating into the rear of the defense. If, on a running down, the defensive tackles are doing their jobs and occupying the interior offensive linemen, the middle linebacker should be able to key on the ball carrier and make a tackle at, near or behind the line of scrimmage. The strongside and weakside linebackers will also provide run support, but they must also be wary of the pass and be able to cover running backs coming out of the backfield.

In a basic three-four defense, instead of four down linemen there will be three, and a fourth linebacker will be added to the formation. The defensive line will contain a nose tackle, who will be an exceptionally large defensive tackle, and two larger defensive ends. The four linebackers will need to be more athletic than those used in a 43, as they will be responsible for lateral movement from side to side to fulfill their run stopping responsibilities.

In both the 43 and the 34 defensive formation, four defensive backs will be utilized. This will normally consist of two cornerbacks and two safeties. The defensive back's primary responsibility is pass defense, and this can be accomplished by using one of two coverage techniques.

First is man-to-man coverage, and this is exactly what the name implies. Each of the defensive backs will have responsibility to cover a single offensive player. The other coverage is zone, where each defensive back will have an area of field to cover. On obvious passing downs, (usually 3rd and long,) a fifth defensive back will replace one of the linebackers. This is known as a "nickle" package. In situations where there is a virtual certainty that the offense will be running a pass play, a sixth defensive back will replace another linebacker. This package is known as "dime."

So there you have the basic concepts of the defense. From these, many other concepts can be introduced, such as blitz, zone blitz, Cover-2, and "eight in the box." But those can be saved for another day.

Learn more about this author, Tom Moilanen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Basic defensive football plays everyone should know?
We want to hear your view. Write now!