The Bills “Firm Five” Must Outsmart the 3-4 Defense

By anello1960  |   Friday, August 07, 2009  |  Comments( 255 )

Buffalo Bills
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The Bills had one win against nine losses last season when matching up against teams that deployed a 3-4 defensive strategy. They were 6 up and 0 down against teams using a base 4-3 defense. For the team to have success this year (for this Bills team, “success” begins with reaching a playoff spot as a minimum) it must learn to outplay and outsmart the advantages inherent within a successfully executed 3-4 defensive set. Double up on the critical factor when considering that all three of the Bill’s divisional “foes” play the 3-4 and the Bills were winless in all six attempts last year. Swept by all three division rivals- not so good. Here’s how the “numbers” crunch up:

Bills vs. the 3-4
Sacks allowed per game- 2.6
Passing yards per game- 153
Interceptions allowed per game- 1.3

Bills vs. the 4-3
Sacks allowed per game- 2.1
Passing yards per game- 240
Interceptions allowed per game- 1


The Bills “reconstituted” offensive line consisting of Messrs (from left to right) Walker, Levitre, Hangartner, Wood and Butler (The Firm Five?) must bring their full complement of academic smarts and mean attitude when lining up against their fearless opposition.

How do they do it? The 3-4 defensive set gives a team many options when matching up against a given offensive formation in either a running or passing situation. The line is basically a five man front with three interior lineman and two outside linebackers. The 3 lineman are to stop the run and are the base package of a pass rush. The outside linebackers can either rush the passer of drop back into pass coverage. If the 3 D-lineman can get good pressure on the passer, the rest is “gravy” by allowing the outside linebackers to drop back into pass protection and yield a serious barrier against pass completion. When additional oomph is needed, one or both of the outside linebackers can rush. This situation resulted in several huge game changing plays for the opposition last year. The key strategy for the Bills offensive line will be to understand their most likely blocking assignment against a given team in a given situation. Take notes during those film review sessions, gentlemen. In addition, it will be crucial for Messrs Walker and Butler to not get too occupied by an opposing defensive end who may be able to take advantage of the Bill’s young guards and run scrimmage for the outside linebackers and thus allow them a clear shot at the quarterback. The quarterback can learn to be more effective against the 3-4 as well.

It will serve Trent very well to better understand whom might be attacking him (and from where they might come) on any given play when facing a 3-4 “scheme”. Again, copious note taking is recommended for Mr. Edwards during film time. Given that Trent and his “Firm Five” buddies have a very high aggregate academic achievement profile, it could be possible for David to “outsmart” Goliath.
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