The 46 Defense:

[Gen_Man]

Buddy Ryan who was the defensive coordinator for Chicago in the earlier to mid 80s created the 46. Coach Ryan got the name 46 defense from safety Doug Plank who wore the number 46. In the 1985-86 season Chicago won Super Bowl XX. Chicago's defense was one of most dominating defenses the NFL has seen in its history.

What made the 46 defense so successful was the Defensive Ends would line up on the outside shoulders of both Offensive Tackles. This allowed the Defensive Ends to get a good angle for a pass rush on the opposing team's Quarterback. When you add blitzes from the Linebackers or Strong Safety, it only adds more trouble for the offensive line.

The 4-6 defense is weak against multiple receiver sets, since it is designed to stop offenses with conventional formations, such as the I-Form Normal. If the offense is in a multiple receiver set, it forces the 4-6 defense to spread out. This will leave 1 on 1 coverage with both Cornerbacks and only the Free Safety helping deep. If the defense is not able to get pressure on the QB quickly, then the 46 defense can be burned.

The 46 defense is still run in the NFL today. Tennessee has had the most success with running it, but last year their pass defense slipped to last in the NFL. Most of that was due to injuries rather than the 46 defensive scheme itself.

Source: http://www.vgsportsinc.com/playsample.html

[UC]

nice break down

[ladyr8r]

Very interesting-right on...

[Robadidas70]

great Breakdown

[RandytheRaider]

why dont we use the 46 defense?

[j4ever]

cause rob ryan isnt rex ryan (who was our first choice)

[Gen_Man]

Originally Posted by RandytheRaider

why dont we use the 46 defense?

We do use the 46. For example, the preseason opener aganist the Niners, Oakland camed out in a 46 base on different occasion. The problem with the 46 is that it cannot be used on a regularity unless you have a quick line which can create pressure from the get go (Eagles and Bear of the 80's).

Best way to break 46 is to use a spread offense such as a West Coast for instance.

[RandytheRaider]

you know your **** bro, thanks

[AlDavis]

My HS team is switching to the 46 this year. For the 46 to be effective you have to have great corners, because often times they are placed in 1-1 coverage. As mentioned earlier, it is not ideal against the pass, especially with multiple reciever sets. It also often leaves a big hole open in the middle of the field. This is just my expierence with it so far. Im a corner, so I get to see first hand how hard it is for the secondary.

[Gen_Man]

Originally Posted by AlDavis

My HS team is switching to the 46 this year. For the 46 to be effective you have to have great corners, because often times they are placed in 1-1 coverage. As mentioned earlier, it is not ideal against the pass, especially with multiple reciever sets. It also often leaves a big hole open in the middle of the field. This is just my expierence with it so far. Im a corner, so I get to see first hand how hard it is for the secondary.

Good post..

[RaiderBrat]

The main priority of the "46" defense is to create mismatches by which the defense has more pass rushers than the offense has blockers. This usually allows someone to come free very early in the play to disrupt the offensive game plan.

This is how my dad explained the 46 defense to me, made it very easy for me to understand and to watch it unfold. The Rams used this to pull out all the stops to keep their opponents under 46 points and give themselves a chance to win.

The Titans do use this defense off and on, however losing so many of their vets this season, I just wonder how effective they will be.

[JTMoney]

why dont we use the 46 defense?

a lot of teams run parts of the 46 at times.

defense is more of a concept thing than just the front and coverage they line up...the main concept of the 46 has a nose tackle over center and two tackles over the guards, which ties up the 3 interior linemen. the pats ran that front a lot when they had teddy washington, it came out of a double eagle front. anyway the middle of the line is pretty much clogged up.

it's a 3-man secondary, a deep safety and 2 corners who as someone else said are generally in tight coverage.

generally the tackles are uncovered, but the elephant end lines up outside the weakside tackle and is a pure pass rusher, and the tight end is shaded by two defenders, a defensive end and a linebacker/safety who usually is only responsible for taking the TE out of the play.

from there you can have the 2 LBs lined up anywhere behind the line and responsible for covering 2 backs.

so you have a 5-man rush in base and 5 defenders in coverage and 1 free man. but there's always the threat for an 8-man all-out blitz.

it's not so much blitzing but it's just a basic fact of having more defenders than blockers as he said,

The main priority of the "46" defense is to create mismatches by which the defense has more pass rushers than the offense has blockers. This usually allows someone to come free very early in the play to disrupt the offensive game plan.

most of the time a team is in a true 46 they'll only send one blitzer - but presnap, the offense has to account for everyone.

the main reason no one can run a true 46 all the time is just that everyone runs spread offenses now - all you have to do it split out an extra WR, and then a LB is forced to leave the box, and you end up with something like a 6-1. and with the 3 linemen in tight you can widen the line splits to open them up and run all kinds of traps at them, esp. if there's only one linebacker left.

but as i said many teams use the concepts - covering the center and 2 guards, crowding the line with potential blitzers, etc.