The Saints will welcome back an old friend this season.
The 3-4 defense returns to New Orleans for the first time in a while.
You remember the 3-4, right?
The last time we saw it here was during Rob Ryan’s otherwise forgettable tenure as defensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016. But even then, Ryan only dabbled in the scheme. The Saints haven’t run it full-bore since the 1990s, when the famed Dome Patrol ruled the Superdome under head coach Jim Mora.
But the 3-4 will be back in all its glory this year, as Brandon Staley has installed the scheme in his first season as defensive coordinator.
The new defense doesn’t have an iconic name or cool poster like the Dome Patrol yet, but there is a direct connection between the two. Staley learned the scheme from legendary defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who served as the linebackers coach for the Dome Patrol teams under coordinator Steve Sidwell.
Staley grew up in Cleveland, but he has a healthy appreciation for the Dome Patrol. He’s studied film of the unit and can effortlessly rattle off the names and playing styles of the starters throughout the lineup.
“It’s kind of cool being in this city and knowing the history of the team and the Dome Patrol,” Staley said. “There’s a history of defending in this city, and I love that.”
While Staley is still in the embryonic stage of implementing the scheme, local reporters have had a chance to see glimpses of what the new-look defense during offseason workouts. Fans will get their first chance to see it at the team’s open mini-camp next week. Some of the differences will be conspicuous, even to casual observers.
Former defensive ends Carl Granderson, Chase Young, Cam Jordan and Isaiah Foskey are now outside linebackers. They’ll be positioned on the edges and often aligned in a stand-up, two-point stance rather than a traditional three-point stance with their hands “in the dirt.” Essentially, they’re the Rickey Jackson and Pat Swilling of this iteration of the 3-4 defense.
To accompany the position switch, Young and Granderson have changed their body compositions. Both will play at about 265 pounds, which is closer to their natural playing weight. The idea is to enhance their speed and mobility so they can better pursue ball carriers sideline to sideline. The hope is it will also help the Saints improve their defense against mobile quarterbacks, whose scrambles and designed runs have been a major bugaboo in recent years.
Defensive tackles Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders are playing nose tackle and will often line up directly across from the center. Defensive ends Brian Bresee, Jonah Williams and Vernon Broughton will flank the nose tackle.
Inside linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner and cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Isaac Yadom and Quincy Riley won’t experience much change to their alignment or responsibilities in the new defense.
The player who could benefit the most from the scheme change is Alontae Taylor, who will man the nickel back or “star” position. Derwin James and Jalen Ramsey made the Pro Bowl as the “star” during Staley’s stints with the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams, respectively.
“We see that position (star) as a feature position in the defense,” Staley said. “And I think what people will remember is the two edge players are the tone setters for the defense, and then those two inside linebackers were the commanders of the defense. And that versatility that those two position groups provide just really multiplies the looks that the offense has to prepare for.”
Staley’s 3-4 will differ from the Dome Patrol 3-4 largely because today’s NFL is different. The league is ruled by wide-open, pass-first offenses. NFL defenses are in their base alignments with 4-3 or 3-4 fronts only about a quarter of the time these days. Instead, they regularly employ sub-packages, with an extra defensive back on the field in place of a linebacker or lineman, to combat the multiple-receiver lineups offenses throw at them. So, the 3-4 or 4-3 quickly morphs into a 4-2, 3-3 or even 5-1 front with five defensive backs.
You’ll see Staley’s defense in varied alignments across the line of scrimmage. They’re likely to field four defensive linemen as often as they do three. Sometimes the edge players will be standing up. Other times, they’ll be in a traditional three-point stance. Sometimes they’ll rush the passer. Other times, they’ll drop into coverage.
“It’s driven by matchups, which is the NFL game,” said Steelers quarterbacks coach and longtime Staley mentor, Tom Arth, to The Athletic for a 2020 story, describing Staley’s defense. “It can be what it needs to be, when it needs to be that. He does a great job and makes it really difficult for opposing offenses.”
When everything is working properly, the Saints will stuff the run with their powerful interior linemen and funnel everything to the edge, where their linebackers can flow and make plays in pursuit. The ability to stop the run is key because it will allow the Saints to play Justin Reid and Tyrann Mathieu in a split-safety look in centerfield. The shell coverage will theoretically limit big plays in the passing game by forcing quarterbacks to work routes underneath the safeties.
Another hallmark of the 3-4 is the ability to rush the passer from multiple positions, including the secondary. Staley’s units regularly ranked among the league leaders in sacks and pressures.
“When I think of 3-4 defense, I think of balance,” Staley said. “I think of top run defense, top pass, defense top. When I say pass defense, pass, rush and pass coverage and eliminating explosive plays and the way to eliminate explosive plays to be able to play split safety, some version of it because that keeps the ball in front of you in the secondary. We want to put a roof on the defense.”
Improvement is needed. The Saints defense plummeted to 30th in total defense and 31st in run defense last season.
There is reason for optimism. Dramatic defensive turnarounds are scattered throughout recent NFL history. The Eagles went from the 31st defense to first last year in their first year under Fangio. It took Fangio a few years longer to fix the Bears defense, but he eventually took it from the bottom of the league to the top in four seasons. Staley helped the Rams vault from No. 17 to No. 1 in his first season as coordinator in 2020.
“All timelines are different,” Staley said. “What I've learned is that it's not about where you (rank). What’s important is making sure you're building the right way. When you see the group together (in training camp), I think you'll be able to see that this group will be up and running pretty quickly.”