46 defense

The 46 defense (also known as the "46" or the 46) is an American football defensive formation popularized by Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan who later became head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. The formation comprises four down linemen, three linebackers, and four defensive backs.

The name "46" originally came from the jersey number of Doug Plank, who was a starting safety for the Bears when Ryan originally developed the defense, and typically played in that formation as a surrogate linebacker. [Mackall, Dave. [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/highschool/info/s_475489.html Q&A with Doug Plank] (October 19, 2006), The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved on February 16, 2008.] It also refers to the idea that the cornerbacks often play bump and run coverage and blitz, acting almost like two extra linebackers (i.e. "4" signifying 4 defensive lineman and "6" representing 6 effective linebackers).Fact|date=February 2008

History

The "46" was an innovative defense with a unique defensive front; designed to confuse the quarterback. The line was shifted dramatically to the weak side (opposite the Tight End), with both Offensive Guards and the Center "covered" by the Left Defensive End and both Defensive Tackles. This front forced offenses to immediately account for the defenders directly lined up in front of them, making it considerably harder to execute blocking assignments such as pulling, trapping, and in general, pass protection. Moreover, the Right Defensive End would align outside of the Left Offensive Tackle, leaving him "on an island" when trying to block him.

Another key feature of the "46" is that both outside linebackers play on the same side of the formation. The linebackers line up behind the linemen two or three yards from the line of scrimmage. The primary tactic is to rush five to eight players on each play, either to get to the quarterback quickly or disrupt running plays.

The formation was very effective in the 1980s NFL because it often eliminated a team's running game and forced them to throw the ball. This was difficult for many teams at the time because most offensive passing games centered around the play action pass.

Currently, the "46" is rarely used in modern professional and college football because of the emergence of the West Coast Offense, popularized by San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh, and other offensive schemes that rely on short, timed passes from formations that use multiple receivers (though it should not be forgotten that the Chicago Bears won the NFC championship for 1985 with their famed "46" right in the middle of Walsh's tenure with the 49ers). A major weakness of the "46" is that too many defensive players line up near the line of scrimmage to blitz, leaving areas wide open for receivers to catch passes. Also, the short, timed passes are thrown before the players blitzing have a chance to reach the quarterback. Another problem is that most teams do not have enough impact players to run the "46" as effectively as the 1980s Bears did. Those teams fielded some of the best front-seven defenses in the history of football, including such players as Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, and Wilber Marshall.

In Super Bowl XX, the Bears coincidentally scored 46 points in their victory against the New England Patriots.

The ideas of the "46" defense are more often used in today's game by bringing a fourth defensive back (usually the strong safety) up closer to the line of scrimmage (an eighth man in "the box" to help stop the run). This is done without the radical shift in formation seen in the "46" defense. Defenses today may also run safety blitzes and corner blitzes at crucial moments without committing wholly to the "46" defense.

Lining up

Many people get confused on where the individuals line up. Here is a written example of where everyone would line up against a normal I-Formation offense.

Defensive Ends. The weak side defensive end lines up 2 yards off of the tackle. The strong side defensive end is lining up directly in front of the strong side guard. The object of the weak side defensive end against the run is to protect against reversals and counters. Otherwise on pass plays he goes after the quarterback. The strong side defensive end is to make sure the offensive guard in front of him does not push him inside and does not get released to block the linebacker.

Defensive Tackles. The weak side defensive tackle lines up in front of the guard. The other defensive tackle essentially becomes a nose guard and lines up in front of the center. The main objective for the weak side guard is the same as the strong side defensive end. Do not get pinched inside and do not let the guard release to block the linebacker.

Linebackers. The jack linebacker lines up on the outside shoulder of the strong tight end and just like a defensive lineman he lines up on the line of scrimmage. He ensures nothing gets outside of him on the run. He can do multiple coverages on the pass or he can blitz. The weak linebacker will line up on the line of scrimmage and on the inside shoulder of the tight end. As you can tell it'll be hard for the tight end to get a good release. The middle linebacker will line up a couple yards off the line of scrimmage and he'll be lined up directly in front of the strong offensive tackle.

Safeties. The strong safety lines up a couple yards off the line of scrimmage and will stand directly in front of the weak side tackle. The free safety will stand about twelve yards away from the line of scrimmage and will stand directly in front of the weak side guard.

Cornerbacks. They will line up in front of their receivers.

When three or more receivers join the offense the defense is altered. The weak side linebacker will step back to where the middle linebacker was. The middle linebacker will move to where the strong safety was and the strong safety will move in a cornerback stance in front of one of the new receivers. If there was a fourth receiver the middle linebacker would line up in front of center and the weak side linebacker would cover the wideout.

See also

* Glossary of American football
* 1985 Chicago Bears season

References

* Schweitzer, Preston & Tornabene-Zalas, Art. " [http://www.sportscombine.com/thezone/Defense/46_Defense/46_Defense.htm 46 Defense - Correcting the Flaws] " (May 6, 2000), "The Zone". Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
* Stoltz, Jeremy. " [http://chi.scout.com/2/646395.html Chalk Talk, The 46 Defense] " (May 24, 2007). Retrieved on February 16, 2008.
* Tom Worgo. " [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCL/is_3_35/ai_n15657209 A blast from the past: remember Chicago's 46 defense? It's back again—this time in Baltimore, where Ray Lewis is trying to make it hum] " (November 2005), "Football Digest", Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
* ESPN.com. " [http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/bestNFLdefense.html The List: Best NFL defense of all-time] ", "ESPN Page2" , Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
* ESPN.com. " [http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/football/teams/greatest.html Greatest NFL teams of all time] ", "ESPN Page2" , Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
* Miller, John. " [http://en.allexperts.com/q/Chicago-Bears-274/Bear-46-defense.htm Chicago Bears: Bear's 46 defense] " (September 2, 2004), "AllExperts.com", Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
* ESPN SportsCentury, "Bears' 46 Defense" (2004) [TV] . ESPN. Released on January 29, 2004.
* Zimmerman, Paul. " [http://ag.nfl.com/ A Brilliant Case for the Defense] " (February 3, 1986), Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on February 16, 2008.

External links

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FIH/is_9_75/ai_n17212588 Information on utilizing the 46 Defense]
* [http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=354398 Dusting off a classic]
* [http://bears.scout.com/2/646395.html Chalk Tallk: 46 Defense]
* {http://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Footballs-Defense-Art-Science/dp/1585182346/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222451340&sr=8-1}