D Tackles: Nose vs. Three Technique

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Not a bad article by JLC, better than the one where he was talking about 4WR & 2TE sets.

The Skins play primarily a 4-3 defense . In a four man front the terminology of a NT is also called a 1. The numbers for the DTs come from the position where they line up in relation to the Guards. A 1 technique is inside shoulder (or what the Skins call the NT) a 2 would be head-up and a 3 outside shoulder.

In a formation that is strong to the right, the 1 (or NT) lines up on the inside shoulder of the LG and the 3 lines up on the outside shoulder of the RG. Because of where the 1 lines up he often gets double teamed from the LG & C. The 3 is not normally going to see a double team on passing downs, inside runs or runs away from his side. On any off-tackle or outside runs to his side the RT may block down on the 3. So if you have a 3 that can rush the passer, he is one-on-one with the RG, if he wins that battle consistently it's a huge help to the DEs and will force the offense to hold in extra personnel for protection.

If things work out for us, we have three legit pass rushers; AC, JT and Griffin (our 3). You can't double team more than one without keeping a back or TE in. This should help our secondary a great deal. If AC & JT hold up against the run and we stay healthy, we should be a top-level D this year.

A true NT is used in a 3-man front and he sits head-up over the C and is expected to force a double team from one G or the other or collapse the pocket by driving the C into the backfield.

Interesting article. I always thought that a NT was only used in the 3-4 defense, I don't think I had heard the term NT used in a 4-3 defense.