That being said if a team can trap us with one back on third and long multiple times and successfully convert we probably are getting embarrassed and don’t deserve to win (at least from a defensive perspective)

Chris:

When you are discussing the over front, I feel that the play side end (strong side end) should play the 9tech while your DTs are in the 3tech and nose. Put your backside DE in a 7tech

Since I cannot see the receivers in said picture I am going to assume that we are looking at 11 personnel in a pro/twin gun weak set. Depending on how alignment of the nickel is determined, i.e. does he go to the passing strength via the secondary call for the run strength via the LBs, will cause two variations in alignment. Since, in this example I am assuming we have a pro/twin set, 1 WR and TE to strong side and two WRs to the weak side, I am going to assume the passing and run strength are both to the TE side.

If the above scenario is the case, then you would have your nickel in the box in the bubble between strong side end and tackle. MLB would be in the backside bubble between the NT and backside end. The WLB would be splitting the difference between end man on the LOS and the #2 WR to his side.

Let your strong side safety cheat down a little giving you 7 in the box since, assuming a basic quarters coverage here, he would be able to play closer to the line, at 8 yards or so due to lining up over a TE not a WR.
The safety also gives you numbers on the strong side, while allowing you Nickel to flow fast is the play goes weak due to the Safety being in the box and having the ability to play cut back.
If the offense runs counter to the weak side you still have 1 on 1s unless they pull in which case they would be playing in to Houston strength of speed at chasing the play down backside while running the heel line.

IF the formation we are looking at is 11 personnel Tryps Gun weak, the nickel would be out of the box and the backside backer would be in, and the MLB would be in the bubble between play side end and tackle. The backside safety could cheat down since he has to either bracket number #1 to his side on an inside route or carry the vertical of 3 which again is a TE allowing him some flexibility and recovery time.

The principles are the same, but I believe our ability and faith in the secondary will allow us to bring a safety in the box and play both the run and pass comfortably…. The extra man will relieve much of the pressure on our DTs and LBs.

My 2 cents.

I think we will see a lot of stunts and blitz next season. SPEED will be the key.

I want to see Norton step his game up and have a HUGE year.

Kindle is a destructive force.

I trust Muschamp to get these guys ready.

D-LINE play is going to be really really important.

HJ,

Yuk it up all you want, right until some fat white guy from Plano gouges us for a long run on a trap up the middle that would give Don Shula a hard on.