3-4 Peso Defense

[kchusker_chris]

I definitely hear where you are coming from here. I also believe if we didn't have injuries at the DL, we would have different starters in there. LB crew, we should definitely have younger guys getting some playing time.

But we always have those too. Every team does. What happens when you lose your star defensive linemen? Do you plug in someone 5 levels below him and act like it's just going to be the same? Or do you adjust the scheme to try and compensate? It doesn't seem like Bo EVER adjusts. He probably does, and because I'm just a guy watching on TV I don't notice. But whatever his adjustments are they are ineffective thus far.

 

I have see 2 changes this year. 1) The DL is on the line of scrimmage finally. They were against Ohio State anyways. 2) Bo added a 5th DLinemen during the second half of the Wisconsin game and we shut them down. We haven't seen that since. Otherwise it is status quo in regards to the scheme...with a heavy dose of "failed execution" to explain the defficiences.

 

And this isn't the first time for Bo. It's recurring. We don't adjust mid season defensively, and we certainly don't adjust mid-game. It's why he's frequently out coached in the second half.

[The Maudfather]

OP, if you're running a 3-4, then there is no peso. I feel like peso is becoming a hot button word that some husker fans just like to throw around because it sounds cool and they likely don't understand the meaning, which is certainly the case here. The peso, is, in essence, the nickel....the only difference in our brand of the nickel (the peso), we don't have a true DB lined up as the nickel back. We have a bigger, more physical body that can slide in and stop the run, if necessary. Eric Hagg, the original peso back, was 6'1" and 205. Now, in order to be a nickel defense, you must have 4 down lineman, 2 linebackers, and 5 DBs (one of which is the "nickel back"). It looks like this.

 

 

So, if you're running a 3-4 with two hybrid DB/LBs, then that is not a Peso, that is a wacky version of the 3-4.

[kchusker_chris]

So, if you're running a 3-4 with two hybrid DB/LBs, then that is not a Peso, that is a wacky version of the 3-4.

...to make up for the inability of your LBers to cover a cross route. Or to make up for the lack of 3 quality LBers (on the entire team). Or just desperation because we give up 600+ so frequently now.

[Undone]

I believe there are that there might be players who are not on the field that could make a difference. Such as Santos.

 

Fixed it for you.

[The Maudfather]

So, if you're running a 3-4 with two hybrid DB/LBs, then that is not a Peso, that is a wacky version of the 3-4.

...to make up for the inability of your LBers to cover a cross route. Or to make up for the lack of 3 quality LBers (on the entire team). Or just desperation because we give up 600+ so frequently now.

Touche

[HuskerShark]

But here is the thing; Bo’s scheme has a well documented history of struggles against mobile quarterbacks. Is that the scheme or is that execution?

 

It is possible that there is no black and white here. It could and appears to me to be both scheme and execution problems.

 

I think if you give Bo the talent that Bama has on defense (or LSU, Florida, Texas, etc.) he would have an incredible defense that doesn't have these problems. The problem on D is just that: lack of athleticism and play-makers. I think we will see huge improvement in that category in the next couple of years. We've got some stud D-Linemen and LBs that are true freshmen that are either redshirting currently or have played limited snaps and will continue to develop and become integral pieces to the defense. (or at least I'm hoping)

 

I'm willing to give Bo a little bit of a pass on how his defense has played over the last couple of seasons because I think he has a bright future coming soon, and I hope he proves me right.

Then how does Tech have a top ranked defense that just shut down one of the most prolific offenses in CFB. Or how does Bill Snyder with his hodgepodge of defensive players put together a top 20 unit in a conference known for putting up a ton of points? Talent is an issue but plenty of coaches are doing a lot more with a lot less. If we are waiting for Bo to gain the level of talent seen at Bama, LSU, Florida, or Texas then we are going to be waiting for a long time.

 

And we always have stud D-Lineman/LBers that are freshman. Every year. They are right next to that stud backup QB. And 3 years down the road we're just finally seeing them, and 4 years down the road they can't tackle and we're talking about our next crop of signee's/freshman. It's perpetual. It's not entirely recruiting. It's developing the players you have, and coaching around the talent you possess. You have to compensate for deficiencies (we will always have them at NU), if you don't...you have Nebraska 2012.

 

I think people that buy in on hype usually say that there is a stud LB/DT/DE who will step up, but I don't think that was ever a realistic point of view coming into this year. There was no way that we were ever going to replace Lavonte David and not miss him going forward. He was an enormous part of our team, from both a lead-by-doing standpoint, and also a playmaker on the field. It's pretty obvious that he was the glue that held the defense together last year, and we are missing him a lot right now.

 

For next year, I think it will take some time for the LBs to get in the groove. I think we might end up having Trevor Roach start at MLB and maybe have Rose come in later in the year. But Rose, Afalava, and Brown will all take some time to adjust to the game and become effective play-makers. 2014 will be their time to shine.

 

The D-Line could also decline a little bit next year. We lose Steinkuhler, Cam, Caveman, and Carter after this season. The starters game 1 in 2013 will likely be Ankrah, Moss, Randle, and Rome/Curry/Valentine/Williams. There is hope there, but once again, I don't see them coming on until 2014 when the younger guys are upper-classmen. At Safety, we will probably be breaking in a couple of new guys next year; likely Cooper and Harvey Jackson. If it is those guys, they are both playing solid time this year, so we should be alright, but once again - their time to play better will probably be 2014.

 

This is why I am being patient with Bo. I see the younger guys he has that have either shown a lot already or are drawing good reviews from the coaches in practice, and I see a really bright future for the defense.

[HuskerNationNick]

 

For next year, I think it will take some time for the LBs to get in the groove. I think we might end up having Trevor Roach start at MLB and maybe have Rose come in later in the year. But Rose, Afalava, and Brown will all take some time to adjust to the game and become effective play-makers. 2014 will be their time to shine.

 

The D-Line could also decline a little bit next year. We lose Steinkuhler, Cam, Caveman, and Carter after this season. The starters game 1 in 2013 will likely be Ankrah, Moss, Randle, and Rome/Curry/Valentine/Williams. There is hope there, but once again, I don't see them coming on until 2014 when the younger guys are upper-classmen. At Safety, we will probably be breaking in a couple of new guys next year; likely Cooper and Harvey Jackson. If it is those guys, they are both playing solid time this year, so we should be alright, but once again - their time to play better will probably be 2014.

 

This is why I am being patient with Bo. I see the younger guys he has that have either shown a lot already or are drawing good reviews from the coaches in practice, and I see a really bright future for the defense.

 

I think we will see Jonathan Rose in at Safety next year, the Auburn transfer. From what I have read, he would have started this year if it wasn't due to him having to sit out for the transfer rule.

[Maxconvert]

And we always have stud D-Lineman/LBers that are freshman. Every year. They are right next to that stud backup QB. And 3 years down the road we're just finally seeing them, and 4 years down the road they can't tackle and we're talking about our next crop of signee's/freshman. It's perpetual. It's not entirely recruiting. It's developing the players you have, and coaching around the talent you possess. You have to compensate for deficiencies (we will always have them at NU), if you don't...you have Nebraska 2012.

 

Bingo!!! The "we have no talent" line is really just an easy excuse for poor results. And it would make a lot more sense if, for example, our signing class national rankings fell from top 5 to the top 50 range over the time Bo has been here, but that also hasn't happened. As much as people want to talk about "Bo winning with Callahan's awesome recruits", Callahan only had a single class that was top 10, and many of the high-star signees then didn't pan out, such as Harrison Beck.

[B.B. Hemingway]

Looking at a way to stop Offenses with mobile qb's I have developed a new hybrid defense designed specifically to stop spread offenses with mobile QB's, using the players that we currently have I call it the 3-4 Peso defense.

 

First off I would as my lineman. 3 DT or DT/DE hybrids. NT would be Thad Randle he is a bit undersized for NT but I will explain more of that later on. at DE/DT I would put Steinkuhler , and I would actually put another DT there to force the issue of stopping the run. Stopping the run has been a huge concern for us in these situations cause spread teams have basically been spreading us out and running right at us. You have the option of placing your DT/DE anywhere from on top of the Gaurd to on top of the Tackle or anywhere in between. On the DT/DE I would even run a two gap with these guys to remove the chances of mistakes made by any of the above..

 

For my linebackers I would place Will Compton and Eric Martin. Martin actually has great size for an inside linebacker. Many of you understand why Compton is at middle linebacker but not so much Martin. Martin is the perfect size and candidate for middle linebacker. He can tackle, blitz, cover, and make big plays. If you still don't believe go look at his size and compare it with Manti Te'o. Martin projects as a linebacker in the NFL he is more of an OLB in a 3-4 but in this offense he is perfect, and he makes up for us having a slightly smaller DT (I told you I would get back to that) 3 DT's and those two Middle linebackers, try running up the gut now!!

 

For my outside linebackers. I would put Stafford, and Jackson. Yes I said that right. I would put my best two Safety Linebacker hybrids here. Some say Stafford isn't the best choice for safety linebacker hybrid, but he is. Have you seen the hits he is capable of making? These two would have the jobs of double spying on the QB. Using DE's to chase down players like Robinson, and Miller just isn't going to work, and putting Linebackers there isn't going to work either. They are just to fast. You need your fastest and best downhill and open field tacklers against those guys. If the QB's want to run we will make them run all day. OT's would have problems all day with that speed, and I would even run stunts with your OLB and DT/DE to keep them honest. This will do two things i will keep pressure on the QB not giving him a lot of time to throw it, and will force him to make plays in the pocket. This QB's are most dangerous passing when they get outside the pocket. If they do want to travel outside the pocket, their OT's will stand no chance. there will be one or two people in his face all day. If the QB is starting to make a few passes in the pocket, feel free to send Martin, I would expect to see Martin to still get a couple of sacks.

 

For my secondary I would would play man, generally you have 3 WR's in a spread. I would use Mitchell, Green, and Evans and play them man, they shouldn't have to hold there coverage to long with the type of pressure we will have on the QB, plus we have the ponies to do it. for my free safety PJ Smith. A two saftey covers isn't really necessary against this type of defense anyways, cause a lot of passes made by these passers are outside the pocket. If he wants to throw backside and crossfield all day by all means go for it.

 

On 4 WR sets I would keep in Martin cause we are just not going to allow them to run on us, and use a DB in place of Compton, and continue with the man scheme. It the want to change their offense and go to two TE, by all means go ahead you would be playing into our hands by doing so.

 

Anyways this is how I would use my defense against the spread offenses we are facing against. I don't think we are going to give up 600 plus yards or 60 plus points using this defense to say the very least.

 

Do you think that you have offered any scenarios that Bo has not already ran over through his head multiple times?

[HuskerShark]

 

For next year, I think it will take some time for the LBs to get in the groove. I think we might end up having Trevor Roach start at MLB and maybe have Rose come in later in the year. But Rose, Afalava, and Brown will all take some time to adjust to the game and become effective play-makers. 2014 will be their time to shine.

 

The D-Line could also decline a little bit next year. We lose Steinkuhler, Cam, Caveman, and Carter after this season. The starters game 1 in 2013 will likely be Ankrah, Moss, Randle, and Rome/Curry/Valentine/Williams. There is hope there, but once again, I don't see them coming on until 2014 when the younger guys are upper-classmen. At Safety, we will probably be breaking in a couple of new guys next year; likely Cooper and Harvey Jackson. If it is those guys, they are both playing solid time this year, so we should be alright, but once again - their time to play better will probably be 2014.

 

This is why I am being patient with Bo. I see the younger guys he has that have either shown a lot already or are drawing good reviews from the coaches in practice, and I see a really bright future for the defense.

 

I think we will see Jonathan Rose in at Safety next year, the Auburn transfer. From what I have read, he would have started this year if it wasn't due to him having to sit out for the transfer rule.

 

Ah, I forgot about him. I hope he lives up to the hype. Our young guys on defense have me excited, and if a few of them emerge as elite players, we could have a defense playing at a caliber close to what we had in 2009. I will definitely take my usual wait-and-see approach with that though.

[HuskerNationNick]

 

For next year, I think it will take some time for the LBs to get in the groove. I think we might end up having Trevor Roach start at MLB and maybe have Rose come in later in the year. But Rose, Afalava, and Brown will all take some time to adjust to the game and become effective play-makers. 2014 will be their time to shine.

 

The D-Line could also decline a little bit next year. We lose Steinkuhler, Cam, Caveman, and Carter after this season. The starters game 1 in 2013 will likely be Ankrah, Moss, Randle, and Rome/Curry/Valentine/Williams. There is hope there, but once again, I don't see them coming on until 2014 when the younger guys are upper-classmen. At Safety, we will probably be breaking in a couple of new guys next year; likely Cooper and Harvey Jackson. If it is those guys, they are both playing solid time this year, so we should be alright, but once again - their time to play better will probably be 2014.

 

This is why I am being patient with Bo. I see the younger guys he has that have either shown a lot already or are drawing good reviews from the coaches in practice, and I see a really bright future for the defense.

 

I think we will see Jonathan Rose in at Safety next year, the Auburn transfer. From what I have read, he would have started this year if it wasn't due to him having to sit out for the transfer rule.

 

Ah, I forgot about him. I hope he lives up to the hype. Our young guys on defense have me excited, and if a few of them emerge as elite players, we could have a defense playing at a caliber close to what we had in 2009. I will definitely take my usual wait-and-see approach with that though.

 

 

Well, as far as I have heard and read, he would have started this year if he was eligible. Huge difference between the practice field and the real thing though.

[4skers89]

OP, if you're running a 3-4, then there is no peso. I feel like peso is becoming a hot button word that some husker fans just like to throw around because it sounds cool and they likely don't understand the meaning, which is certainly the case here. The peso, is, in essence, the nickel....the only difference in our brand of the nickel (the peso), we don't have a true DB lined up as the nickel back. We have a bigger, more physical body that can slide in and stop the run, if necessary. Eric Hagg, the original peso back, was 6'1" and 205. Now, in order to be a nickel defense, you must have 4 down lineman, 2 linebackers, and 5 DBs (one of which is the "nickel back"). It looks like this.

 

 

So, if you're running a 3-4 with two hybrid DB/LBs, then that is not a Peso, that is a wacky version of the 3-4.

 

I think the OP has something. A 3-4 with peso or nickel. 3+4+5=12. That'll stop'em.

[DTrain2020]

At first I was really feeling this 3-4 peso defense.. And then I read past the first word 🙈🙉🙊

[ndobney]

OK I will address some of these comments even though many of them are rude.

 

1st I am not a football coach just an X's and O's guy

 

2nd Mitchell and Green beat out Seisay even though I love seisay and I think he would play beautiful in this system. Evans is our Nickle

 

3rd I post at 3 am because that is when I get off of work, not sure why my bedtime is an issue for you but moving on

 

4th I am not trying to change the scheme here just some personel. Bo has ran a 3-4 this year. I am not saying he should change his 2 gap scheme (which I like BTW) or even his man coverage scheme, simply putting players in places where they can be more successful.

 

5th Thank you for explaining the peso however most of us already know what the peso is, and it does not need to be ran by a 6-1 205 guy either. Bo has basically called Evans the peso guy this year. He's 5-11 185. I am not interested in their size I am interested in what they can do buddy. In addition to that, you are trying to explain to me what a Peso "IS". This defense is not a "PESO" It is a 3-4 peso. Gets its name for a couple of reasons first we are switching from a peso to a 3-4 so we have a mixture of some style we are having here. Even though some of our Seniors are more 3-4 guys. We have a lot of playable DB's right now that is due to the high volume of recruiting them from the Peso era. It is a hybrid of both a 3-4 and a peso. It is like a peso in the way that all you are doing is replacing a lineman (basically a DE) and replacing him with a Safety/linebacker hybrid. we have a few of those. 2nd you are bringing down the SS and putting him in the box for the 2nd OLB position. Bo pelini brought down the safety quite a bit when running the peso. Other than that the DB's and nickle play the same your FS plays FS. Your lineman still play the 2 gap. So your post was rude and all it did was show you have a hard time counting to 11 cause that would be 11 players not 12. To correct you on your commit that 12 would work, I am going to remind you cause I am not sure you know this but having 12 players would be a penalty. Just want to make sure you know that, cause for all I know you could be trolling from the Iowa board. Some of those guys have a hard time counting to 11 as well.

 

Anyways point is this defense would stop Michigan.

 

NOW I AM GOING TO SLAM IT IN YOUR FACE!!!!!!

 

31 ./ 6 / 14 those numbers average out to 17

 

63 / 44 / 45 those numbers average out to 50.67

 

 

What are those numbers? Top is what Michigan's offense has done against teams 3-4 defenses.... The bottom is what they have have done against teams with 4-3 defenses.

 

What else do the 3-4 teams have in common they have 250 lb middle linebackers. So teams don't run it don't there throat and they don't allow 600 yds or 60 points a game.

 

You want a blow out bud? You'll get it!!!! you send our DE's like cam who runs a 4.8 against Dennard who thinks he is faster than Bolt and has reportedly ran a 4.1 you'll get your 600 yds and 60 points in one game. I like my option better!!

 

And one more thing here little buddy I know your having problems with Math today so let me spell it our for ya! A 4.1 40 is fast

[T_O_Bull]

I'm so smart I should be coach. Chile pleeze.

T_O_B