Thoughts and questions on the wide 9 and a new Defensive Coordinator

by howard is better than pujols on Jan 5, 2012 5:35 AM EST

Hey guys this is my first post. I have been following BGN for yearS, and commenting sporadicly. I love reading the post here, they are so insightful.

So to get to the point, I have been seeing a lot of questions about Washburn and the wide 9 preventing Spags or another Defensive Coordinator from signing with the Birds. From what I understand, the wide 9 is just a slight variation on a 4-3 defense that has the DE's line up so that they have a better route straight to the QB. I have heard a lot of people (friends and many people on sports radio, including show hosts) say that we should go back to a 4-3 defense instead of a wide 9. That's seems very stupid seeing that the wide 9 is just a way that the DE's just line up and not a base defensive scheme

What I do not get is why so many people think that a defensive position coach has so much power. A head coach makes all of the decisions on position coaches. I dont think a Dline coach would make much of a difference in the decision of a new Defensive Coordinator. It is such a small part of the whole defense ( I know that a dline is very important but I really do not see the lining up of the DE's to be such a major part of a full defensive scheme). People seam to be putting way to much importance in to something that is a small( still important though) part of a full defensive scheme.

Anyway the wide 9 has seen our dline return to being one of the most feared lines in the game. Babin had 18 sacks and Cole had 11. Both our primary DE's had double digit sacks. How can anyone complainan about that? And our run D got much better as the season went on and the linebackers got more comfortable in their roles, so people really cannot complain a out that

So basically what I am saying is that people need to back off on the thought that the wide 9 or Washburn, would get in the way if a new Defensice coordinator. And they need to learn that is is just a small part if the defense, and that it works wonderfully of it is paired with good linebacker play and sound tackling.

As I said before this is my first post so if I made any mistakes (in formatting or thought process) please point it out but, dont be a dick about it and troll me.

And as always GO EAGLES!!!!!!!

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If...

Wait, make it “when”. As in WHEN the Eagles draft adequate LB’ers to fill the void and Washburn is kept, the Wide 9 is very effective.

However, one issue is if we get Spags, will he keep the Wide 9 or scrap it and go back to a 4-3 defense.

by EaglesForever20 on Jan 5, 2012 6:46 AM EST reply actions

Good post, well written.. Here's the thing though

In the wide 9, there usually isn’t much blitzing, or any stunts… The 4 DLmen go through their assigned gap, and try to beat their man… There are stil 2 gaps free while rushing 4 (against just 5 OL, no TE) and that’s where u can generally blitz from..

Its almost like the wide 9 becomes its own defense,(fIrst level) and the LBers and secondary become their own defense(second level).. Comprende?

Now Spags runs a zone blitz 4-3.. This means his DL is dropping into coverage, shifting, doing stunts, and he’s bring 2 players in through the same gap.. Basically in this d, the whole defense is one unit, since at any time a safety/cornerback can be in the backfield while a LB is 30 yards downfield covering a WR and a DE is playing a shallow zone…

So the question is, can the wide-9 and a zone blitz scheme work together?

I think it would be really cool is the DEs become washburns (always line up in the wide 9 on passing plays) and then everyone else either zone blitzes (spags) or the dts line up wide 9 too

Just wait until December..

by maximdim on Jan 5, 2012 9:46 AM EST via mobile reply actions

The first part is so wrong in every aspect. Blitzing have nothing to do with the wide 9, but simply the philosophy of the DC. Also we used tons of stuns this year and when Haynesworth had his break out season, a major part of that was because of the stunts they could do with a player like him.

by Anders Jensen on Jan 5, 2012 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

People are stupid.

The issue we’re having with the Wide-9 has nothing to do with ‘scheme’ or ‘blitzing’, it’s that we don’t have a quality Wide-9—type middle linebacker.

Don’t pay attention to those morons. If anybody tells you we need to scrap the Wide-9 and play a 4-3, tell them they just did a phenomenal job of revealing their ignorance.

Veritas Liberabit Te

by DSmith215 on Jan 5, 2012 11:40 AM EST reply actions

Our dline is not feared

It lOoks great on paper but I am pretty sure rb’s laughed at our line. S. Jackson ran through in game one. Marshawn beast destroyed it. Frank gore made our whole defense quit.

by Saidrick on Jan 5, 2012 12:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

QBs were shitting their pants thinking about the dline

I'm great like Gatsby.

by Clint Eastwood on Jan 5, 2012 12:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Pretty sure

Brady’s pants were sparkley clean after he scoreboarded our feared d-line.

by Saidrick on Jan 5, 2012 12:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

So we’re going to forget every other QB right? Cole and Babin both have double digit sacks. That’s not going to worry a QB?

I'm great like Gatsby.

by Clint Eastwood on Jan 5, 2012 8:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

QB’s shit their pants. RB’s salivate at the mouth.

by BrandonB on Jan 5, 2012 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

Except for Brady.

Who just shits in our mouth.

God Damn you, Andy Reid.

The fat queen has failed us again. Reid must go.

by EvilBanner on Jan 5, 2012 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Let's be honest

He’s shat in a lot of mouths over the years…

by teezy33 on Jan 5, 2012 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I'm great like Gatsby.

by Clint Eastwood on Jan 6, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

Did you watch that game?

If you did, you saw Trent Cole get blatantly held on pretty much every play in the first half?

Nope.

by bigmeanie08 on Jan 7, 2012 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

Wide 9 D

people do think its a defensive scheme they dont realize its just a 9 technique defensive end. Wide 9 is just a slang term last year they played the 7 technique and I think DTs have been playing the 3 technique.

Heres a good read to educate yourself on the Wide 9 aka where the DE lines up not the defensive scheme

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/08/12/defensive-line-techniques-the-prototypes/

by StevenKerwood on Jan 5, 2012 2:38 PM EST reply actions

I think your underestimating the importance of the alignment of the defensive line. Anyone who knows football will tell you the game starts at the line in the trenches. Everything else is predicated on what happens there. The difference between a defensive end lining up in a 9-technique or a 5-technique, although only a few feet, could be a RB running for 10 yards.

Spagnuolo, for example, has no or little experience in a defense with a line using a 9-technique. He won the Super Bowl in New York with a defensive line aligned in his way. His defensive line coach answered to him and had no problems telling the d-line to align in any way Spagnuolo saw fit. Spags was the total boss of the D. If he became a DC for the Eagles or any other team for that matter he may want to do it his way, just like the way he did for the Giants. He may not want to be sold on the merits of using the wide-9, he already has 1 Super Bowl ring without using it.

Additionally, Washburn is known as a rather firey guy that can butt heads sometimes with other coaches, as he did with Morningweg this year in 1 game.

https://twitter.com/#%21/Jeff_McLane/status/153873348051468288

by BrandonB on Jan 5, 2012 7:07 PM EST reply actions

Bottom Line

I am not underestimating the importance I like DL and OL are huge part exactly why Im fine with the 9-tech

Passing league and no1 in the NFL came close to rushing the passer as good as the Eagles did
Babin and Cole are 1 and 3 in pass rushing 4-3 DEs
Jenkins is 4th best pass rushing DT and Landri was at 10

Im fine with Washburn using 9-tech for DEs

Also Eagles DTs are in a 1-tech

1 tech designed to clog up A gap and command a double team AKA block OG/C from making his way to 2nd level to block LBs

So why wouldnt more blame be put on DTs and LBs not getting off blocks ya know?

people just always think they know better just let the coaches coach they forgot more then we know

by StevenKerwood on Jan 5, 2012 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Well I think people don’t have as much as a problem with Wash and the wide-9 as they do with Juan’s playcalling. The problem is however, a better DC, like Spags, may only come here on the condition that the wide-9 is scrapped and Wash is presumably fired.

by BrandonB on Jan 5, 2012 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Why? There is nothing in the way Spags have learned defense there suggest he would have anything against the wide 9. Remember Spags learned defense from Jim Johnson and while Jim Johnson blitzed alot to counter and confuse offenses, he also believed in pressure from the d-line alone

by Anders Jensen on Jan 6, 2012 4:01 AM EST up reply actions

Just speculating, but he already has 1 Super Bowl ring without using it. He may believe he doesn’t need it to run his scheme.

by BrandonB on Jan 6, 2012 9:20 AM EST up reply actions

https://twitter.com/#%21/Jeff_McLane/status/153873348051468288

by BrandonB on Jan 5, 2012 7:07 PM EST reply actions

What the Wide 9 needs

Is a 4 LB alignment with 2 CB and a S over the top. In this formation you can blitz from any angle and still cover the TE and/or an extra WR. This is what worked in Tennesse. You need a run stopper as one of the middles and a coverag LB as the other constantly switching sides to accomadate the offensive alignment. The 2 OLB are speedy and sure tacklers this takes away the outside runs. DT’s are one gap (no read and react). This is how the wide 9 is supposed to be run.

I would love to blow up Texas Stadium... With team still in it
36 plus years of rooting for the Eagles I think are comming to fruition this year.
I am not a FAN.... I am a FANATIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by eaglelover1 on Jan 6, 2012 5:46 PM EST reply actions