Chopper0080
2021 - Prove It
So, this is all my opinion off of what I have read, and what I have seen over the past two years. It may be that we are playing this way due to a lack of personnel, but I tend to believe it is because of a difference in scheme.
First things first, what scheme is Todd Bowles using. We all understand that the Cardinals run a base 3-4 defense. Most of us understand that this is a one-gap scheme which differs from the traditional Steelers 2 gap. K9 posted an article that shows what that means (http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/grantlands-robert-mays-breaks-down-run-defense-212703.html), but essentially this means that each player in the front 7 has a gap, rather than each defensive linemen being assigned 2 gaps, and the LBs being free with no gap responsibility. The Cardinals run primarily man coverage on defense which puts more pressure on the LBs because it requires them to understand their drop zones, while also being able to run to cover RBs and QBs out of the backfield. In passing downs the Cardinals will typically have two DEs and two DTs, but will stand one DE up. It's technically a 3-3 over.
Now, let's look at historical usage. In 2013, the Cardinals top 11 defensive player snaps went to...
Campbell-89%
Dockett-79.9%
Abraham-79.8%
Shaughnessy-66.4%
Dansby-99.6%
Washington-73.8% (92.5% if you add Brinkley's snaps)
Peterson-99.3%
Powers-95.2%
Bell-98.9%
Mathieu-72.1%
Johnson-57.3%
*Breaking that down, you can say that the Cardinals ran 5 DB formations about 55% of the time in 2013. You can also say that the Cardinals ran a defense with two ILBs on it roughly 90% of the time. In fact, the LB positions whose usage fluctuated the most were the OLBs, and those OLBs with the most usage were those who played DE in passing downs.
Now, let's look at 2014 so far.
Top 11 defensive players
Campbell-94.4%
Kelly-65%
Foote-100%
Shaughnessy-69%
Peterson-98.5%
Cromartie-86.3%
Powers-75.6%
Johnson-100%
Jefferson-90.4%
Bucannon-59.4%
Acho-47.2%
Shocking to see, but the Cards have 6 DBs on the field for roughly 55% of defensive plays, and 5 DBs for roughly 72% of plays. Campbell is getting about the same usage, as is Shaughnessy. Kelly is a bit below Dockett's usage, but that is to be expected. Dansby and Foote are largely a wash. Where the Cards show a difference is between Abraham in 2013 and Acho in 2014. There is a 32% snap difference between the two, which makes sense if you believe Acho is a base OLB only. Where you also see a difference is at the ILB spot Washington played in 2013. If you combine Washington & Brinkley's snap % in 2013, it totals 95.5% of defensive snaps which isn't too far of a stretch because they were rarely on the field at the same time. Bucannon's is the main player getting snaps this year without an equal comp in 2013. That is unless you view him as mostly an ILB. If you are looking for players who are making up the snaps lost by Washington/Brinkley (95.5%), look at Bucannon/Minter, whose combined snap % is 98.5%. If you figure some of those snaps were combined, you still end up around that 95% number.
So we have the scheme and we have the usage, what does it tell us. It tells us that Bowles prefers a physical base defense, and a quicker nickel defense. He will typically move the NT out in nickel packages, and slide both DEs inside to DT positions. He will move down our OLBs to DE's, with one standing and one in a 3 point stance. Shaughnessy is normally one of these players, and this year Bowles has used Kareem Martin and Thomas Kaiser in this role while leaving Acho as the base OLB. It tells us that Foote never leaves the field, and Bowles is using Minter/Bucannon to make up for Washington, moreso Bucannon.
One last thing before I start make definitive statements, the most important formation/play in this defense is the double A gap blitz out of our nickel package. Bowles uses this anytime his defense needs pressure to disrupt the flow of the game, or in 3rd and longs where Bowles wants to force the QB to get the ball out of his hands.
OK, time for me to make some statements.
1-The OLB position in this defense is fairly irrelavant. 55% of the time (roughly) that player will be playing a DE rush role in nickle packages. More than that, it is almost exclusively a sub position at one spot (Acho), and has an entrenched starter (Shaughnessy) at the other. I would argue that what the Cardinals really need to add is a rush DE can stand up at times in a 3-4 as an OLB more than a 3-4 OLB who can play at times with his hand down.
2-From a pass rush standpoint, the ILB is far more important because of Bowles's significant usage if the double A gap blitz to generate quick, interior pressure. This is why Bucannon might be the answer to the Cardinals pass rush problems. Clearly the Cardinals prefer to have speed on the field in nickel packages, and they are clearly more confident in Bucannon's ability to cover than they are in Minter's. So, Bucannon will be the player being given the opportunities to blitz and put pressure on the CB, and his ability to do so could be the key to the Cards improving their pressure on opposing QBs in passing situations.
side note...I'm sorry if this comes off sloppy and disjointed. I had a tough time putting it together, but wanted to get it out while it was fresh in my mind.
First things first, what scheme is Todd Bowles using. We all understand that the Cardinals run a base 3-4 defense. Most of us understand that this is a one-gap scheme which differs from the traditional Steelers 2 gap. K9 posted an article that shows what that means (http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/grantlands-robert-mays-breaks-down-run-defense-212703.html), but essentially this means that each player in the front 7 has a gap, rather than each defensive linemen being assigned 2 gaps, and the LBs being free with no gap responsibility. The Cardinals run primarily man coverage on defense which puts more pressure on the LBs because it requires them to understand their drop zones, while also being able to run to cover RBs and QBs out of the backfield. In passing downs the Cardinals will typically have two DEs and two DTs, but will stand one DE up. It's technically a 3-3 over.
Now, let's look at historical usage. In 2013, the Cardinals top 11 defensive player snaps went to...
Campbell-89%
Dockett-79.9%
Abraham-79.8%
Shaughnessy-66.4%
Dansby-99.6%
Washington-73.8% (92.5% if you add Brinkley's snaps)
Peterson-99.3%
Powers-95.2%
Bell-98.9%
Mathieu-72.1%
Johnson-57.3%
*Breaking that down, you can say that the Cardinals ran 5 DB formations about 55% of the time in 2013. You can also say that the Cardinals ran a defense with two ILBs on it roughly 90% of the time. In fact, the LB positions whose usage fluctuated the most were the OLBs, and those OLBs with the most usage were those who played DE in passing downs.
Now, let's look at 2014 so far.
Top 11 defensive players
Campbell-94.4%
Kelly-65%
Foote-100%
Shaughnessy-69%
Peterson-98.5%
Cromartie-86.3%
Powers-75.6%
Johnson-100%
Jefferson-90.4%
Bucannon-59.4%
Acho-47.2%
Shocking to see, but the Cards have 6 DBs on the field for roughly 55% of defensive plays, and 5 DBs for roughly 72% of plays. Campbell is getting about the same usage, as is Shaughnessy. Kelly is a bit below Dockett's usage, but that is to be expected. Dansby and Foote are largely a wash. Where the Cards show a difference is between Abraham in 2013 and Acho in 2014. There is a 32% snap difference between the two, which makes sense if you believe Acho is a base OLB only. Where you also see a difference is at the ILB spot Washington played in 2013. If you combine Washington & Brinkley's snap % in 2013, it totals 95.5% of defensive snaps which isn't too far of a stretch because they were rarely on the field at the same time. Bucannon's is the main player getting snaps this year without an equal comp in 2013. That is unless you view him as mostly an ILB. If you are looking for players who are making up the snaps lost by Washington/Brinkley (95.5%), look at Bucannon/Minter, whose combined snap % is 98.5%. If you figure some of those snaps were combined, you still end up around that 95% number.
So we have the scheme and we have the usage, what does it tell us. It tells us that Bowles prefers a physical base defense, and a quicker nickel defense. He will typically move the NT out in nickel packages, and slide both DEs inside to DT positions. He will move down our OLBs to DE's, with one standing and one in a 3 point stance. Shaughnessy is normally one of these players, and this year Bowles has used Kareem Martin and Thomas Kaiser in this role while leaving Acho as the base OLB. It tells us that Foote never leaves the field, and Bowles is using Minter/Bucannon to make up for Washington, moreso Bucannon.
One last thing before I start make definitive statements, the most important formation/play in this defense is the double A gap blitz out of our nickel package. Bowles uses this anytime his defense needs pressure to disrupt the flow of the game, or in 3rd and longs where Bowles wants to force the QB to get the ball out of his hands.
OK, time for me to make some statements.
1-The OLB position in this defense is fairly irrelavant. 55% of the time (roughly) that player will be playing a DE rush role in nickle packages. More than that, it is almost exclusively a sub position at one spot (Acho), and has an entrenched starter (Shaughnessy) at the other. I would argue that what the Cardinals really need to add is a rush DE can stand up at times in a 3-4 as an OLB more than a 3-4 OLB who can play at times with his hand down.
2-From a pass rush standpoint, the ILB is far more important because of Bowles's significant usage if the double A gap blitz to generate quick, interior pressure. This is why Bucannon might be the answer to the Cardinals pass rush problems. Clearly the Cardinals prefer to have speed on the field in nickel packages, and they are clearly more confident in Bucannon's ability to cover than they are in Minter's. So, Bucannon will be the player being given the opportunities to blitz and put pressure on the CB, and his ability to do so could be the key to the Cards improving their pressure on opposing QBs in passing situations.
side note...I'm sorry if this comes off sloppy and disjointed. I had a tough time putting it together, but wanted to get it out while it was fresh in my mind.
