Thoughts on Defense (with Browns Rush Passer Playbook)

[SwimsWithPhins]

I just finished breaking down the Browns Rush Passer defensive playbook for my latest career. This is a new way of looking at a playbook, and I thought I'd share it as well as my latest thinking on defense.

I'll start with the breakdown in this post and share my thoughts soon.

For each position and each play, the assignment for that position is broken down into seven categories. They are:

1. Pass Rush, starting at the line
2. Blitz, starting behind the line or as a defensive back
3. Man Coverage
4. Flats Zone, the light blue zones
5. Under Zone, the pink or yellow zones underneath the coverage shell
6. Deep Zone, the dark blue coverage shell zones
7. QB Spy

The total number of assignments varies with position since not all positions are present in every formation (e.g. DT2 is not used in the 3-4 formation).

I didn't bother with special teams plays, but I did include Goal Line plays. The MS-Excel spreadsheet is enclosed.

-SWP

[SwimsWithPhins]

Positive Thoughts

So having created this spreadsheet for my playbook, I plan to build my roster around it.

(1) I know how many players I need at each position in the absence of fatigue and injury, and making allowances for fatigue and injury, I can balance my roster. In my case, I will make sure to have 2 FSs, a position where I might have only had 1 to leave room for other positions on the 45-man active roster.

(2) I know (well, I can guess) what skills are needed at each position, and how important they are. For example, I would not have thought that my LE needed man coverage skills (SPD/ACC and MCV). Since my LE is usually rushing in a 3-4, I want a LE that has everything: a 6'6", 300 pound jackrabbit . (Maybe I'll just delete that one play.) Also, it seems man coverage is a little more important than zone coverage for my CBs.

(3) I can also move players in my roster for best effect, my best pass-rushing LB should be moved to ROLB where he will have the most rushing and blitzing opportunities. Likewise, my best coverage LB should be moved to MLB to maximize coverage opportunities.

So I think this will be a very useful way to look at the defensive playbook.

Any other thoughts, suggestions, or advice?

Maybe tomorrow, I can share what I don't like about this breakdown, and what still concerns me.