3-4 Run Defense: Part IV

This is Part IV, and the final installment of a series on run defense in the 3-4 scheme. Today, we look at defending the running game from 10 personnel.

In the Big 12 right now, most teams runs some version of the spread offense, which means we'll be seeing 10 personnel a lot. The advantage for the defense against 10 personnel is that you're only being asked to account for six possible gaps, because there is no tight end on the field. The advantage for a 3-4 defense against 10 personnel is that there are five men on the LOS facing five blockers, and the defense is aligned in a seven-man front, so it is seven-on-seven inside. The disadvantage for the 3-4 defense against 10 personnel is that this a mainly a passing personnel group, and you have two extra LBs on the field to cover two extra receivers. We're only looking at stopping the running game today, though.

Let's look at 10 personnel facing a 3-4 alignment:

3-4 Defense Vs 10 Personnel (click to embiggen)

You will notice that we've moved both OLBs to wide-9 techs, while keeping the DEs in 3-techs, and the NG is a strong1-tech. Our alignment is 9-3-1-3-9 across the front. The wide alignment of the OLBs allows them to halve the distance between the OTs and the slot receivers, so they are available to easily drop back into coverage and cover the flat-curl area and stop the screen game in pass coverage. The wide alignment also makes it difficult for the OTs to outflank them on the edge, making it easier for the OLBs to force the run back inside.

This alignment gives the offense a look at 5 defenders in the middle aganst 5 offensive linemen, which means the offense would want to run the ball. We want to entice them to run the ball, because that is what we're geared up to shut down first. Against 10 personnel, you would expect to see Zone (Inside and Outside), Zone Read, Midline (if you're facing Oregon), Speed Option, and Power to the strongside. You can't really run Counter, because you don't have enough blockers. Against this alignment, you can't run Outside Zone, because you can't reach the OLBs, so that play is out. You'd expect to see a lot of Inside Zone to the strongside, but the SDE and SOLB would be stuffing most of that. Your best play would really be Power to the strongside, but it wouldn't be long before that would be shut down. If you don't have a mobile QB, you can't run Zone Read, Midline, or Speed Option. Against a 3-4 defense, there really isn't all that much you can run from 10 personnel, which is why it is an ideal scheme against spread teams.  

10 personnel is more of a passing personnel grouping, but we'll get into stopping the passing game from the 3-4 at a later time.