Getting to know the Jim Johnson 4-3

[panthers55]

I'll be happy with anything that works. I don't care if it's blitz heavy with lots of bump and run man to man, or more cover two with zone blitzes that don't always look like blitzes. It doesn't matter to me as long as it produces wins.

It just kind of worries me that fans always want to blitz more and think that's the answer to everything. It is only the answer when it works.

Since teams like Pittsburgh are routinely deep in the playoffs and they blitz all the time it is natural to want to emulate them hoping for the same results.

[scpanther22]

I think we blitzed a lot this year..

it just didn't work a lot of the time.lol

[frash.exe]

There is a lot of good information in this thread, but do we know for a fact that were are running Jim Johnson's system, or is Rivera gonna dictate the system that he wants McDermott to run? He has already said that he will impliment some 3-4 elements, which could mean that he ultimately wants to run a true 3-4 once he gets the players he wants.

we're likely going to see all 31 flavors of defense. tampa 2 alignments, 3-4 looks, a variation of Buddy Ryan's 46, pretty much anything Rivera has picked up over coaching in his career, but i think based on the McDermott hire and the fact Rivera's said himself he's influenced by Jim Johnson, this is what we're going to run most of the time, again, i'm not overstepping by saying that.

Beason is too athletic to be forced into a straight up blitz/run-stop role.

Of course the other option is too move him to the Will, but he just isn't utilized best there either.

I suppose part of me is just being selfish because I wanna see the Beast continue to dominate, but at the same time, Beason is right there with Willis as the best in the league at their respective position, and I'd hate to see his abilities underutilized..

I just hope they can work something out to get the best of out of him.

Beason's your ideal Tampa 2 MLB, but between that and the JJ 4-3, the MLB's primary assignment is very different. One's dropping back into zone (mid-deep middle) most of the time and one's blitzing the interior line most of the time.

At the Will Beason won't rack up the tackle numbers as much but he'll still be hustling and doing his job in coverage, plus we won't be taking advantage of his athleticism so much starting him at Mike. Plus if we run some Tampa 2 packages we'll likely sub him in to play MLB and put someone smaller at the Will so we have more speed on our defense.

[Snake]

Rivera has worked with some good MLBs like brian urlacher so Im sure he will fit the system to Beason.

[frash.exe]

@ OP: Great analysis of Base D!

A couple of questions for you:

1- This is a breakdown of the Base only, and assumes only 2 WR's (or less) on the field, and assumes 1st and 10. Could you find any information on how JJ tended to substitute this scheme against 1 RB/1 TE/3 WR sets that have become more prevalent on first down in the NFL?

We'd run Rivera/McDermott's interpretation of a nickel package in that scenario. More blitzing will be emphasized as well as who's blitzing however. For instance, we could send the nickel on a blitz and drop the will into coverage (this is where Beason's speed comes in). I can't find any documentation of JJ's nickel defense

2- Since we have a great pairing of smaller LB's (Beason/Davis), wouldn't it make more sense to seek out (or keep) another LB to play the strong side, and simply make line adjustments when facing first down sets with only 2 WR's (or less), rather than try to make a round peg (Beason), fit into a square whole (larger LB who can take on direct blocks from Guards)?

that might be what they do. again i don't know if we keep Davis because of the CBA issue, but if we do, he's a much better pass rusher/blitzer than Beason and I think he would do very well at the Sam position.

Additionally, one could argue that the JJ defense was built around the larger MLB, so that he could plug A and B gaps primarily, and not have to cover middle and deep middle zones (large area) like a smaller/faster MLB (Beason) is expected to in a Tampa 2, and was not necessarily expected to be able to match RB speed on outside runs. We kind of built a our LB core out of guys to fit a Tampa 2. There's nothing keeping a Tampa 2 D from being aggressive... except the coaching staff...

I understand and it doesn't mean we aren't going to run some aggressive Tampa 2, but if you're suggesting we use Tampa 2 as a base formation because of the personnel at LBer, we would've just made Meeks DC again or hired somebody that had that kind of background. The hiring of McDermott and the fact that until this point he has spent his entire coaching career in their system suggests we are going in a different direction.

[frash.exe]

Rivera has worked with some good MLBs like brian urlacher so Im sure he will fit the system to Beason.

But Urlacher was/is much bigger and stronger than Beason and, in his prime, about as fast

[panthers55]

I think we blitzed a lot this year..

it just didn't work a lot of the time.lol

We didn't disguise them well at all. Blitzing too obviously especially with a cover 2 shell can be beaten by a high school quarterback. Blitzes work when they are unexpected.

[Tarheels23]

don't think we move beason from the middle IMO. johnson just found a way to utilize trotter's skills. beason, anderson, & davis have the speed to cover alot of field & give us versatility in our zone blitz schemes.

I totally agree! Also why would we look to the draft or FA to bring in a new starter at LB when we have 4 proven LB's?

[frash.exe]

I totally agree! Also why would we look to the draft or FA to bring in a new starter at LB when we have 4 proven LB's?

Because they're only proven in the system we've been running until now

[panthers55]

We'd run Rivera/McDermott's interpretation of a nickel package in that scenario.

I understand and it doesn't mean we aren't going to run some aggressive Tampa 2, but if you're suggesting we use Tampa 2 as a base formation because of the personnel at LBer, we would've just made Meeks DC again or hired somebody that had that kind of background. The hiring of McDermott and the fact that until this point he has spent his entire coaching career in their system suggests we are going in a different direction.

Jim Johnson ran cover 2, cover 4 etc. It was a zone coverage. Will it be similar to Meek's system for the secondary. I bet so since Meeks is going to be our defensive secondary coach. Johnson did blitz the safeties quite a bit and sometimes corners off the edge. So there wil be some differences. But overall the defensive shell under Johnson wouldn't be that different than the one that Meeks used. We will just attack more.

[Snake]

But Urlacher was/is much bigger and stronger than Beason and, in his prime, about as fast

That is true but when he was in SD both of his ILBs were under 250. So its not like a must to have a huge MLB/ILB. Beason with what is given is at 237 right now. I will expect him to put on muscle and be at prob 240 to 245 by TC. That not all that much of a jump for him and he will be in range to play MLB.

[panthers55]

Obviously I don't know but I really doubt we bring in a bigger linebacker at the Mike position. Size isn't the key factor as much as good instincts, fundamental skills, and speed. Sam Mills played in a 3-4 and went to a pro-bowl several times in that defense. Too much is being made of 20 lbs. Trotter was used primarily as a run blitzer because his coverage skills were suspect. Since Beason has better speed and cover skills, he won't be the blitzer every down. Should make it tougher for defenses to pick it up that way. If we going to emulate what Philly did we would put Connor at Mike and blitz him every down while we put beason at Will.

[frash.exe]

Well if they do keep Beason at MLB it'll be interesting to see how they play the linebackers differently

[Tarheels23]

Because they're only proven in the system we've been running until now

The CBA has nothing to do with whether a player will be here next year or not, because all 32 teams have the same CBA uncertainties. Also we have 3 probowl caliber LB's in Davis, Beason, and Anderson, so why would anyone f**k with that? If TD isn't a Panther next year it's because he chose to leave, which I doubt. I've heard several interviews with him, and he sounds to positive about returning, so I'm sure Big Cat has assured him of their plans to resign him. Anderson is the only LB out of the 3 with the possibility of not returning, so best believe barring any injuries Beason, and Davis will be 2 of the 3 starting LB's suiting up next year.