Defensive Depth Chart in New 3-4/Multiple System
I did a little research on the type of defense that the Ravens run to try and get a better feel for our group next year. Baltimore's defense has always been held in high esteem, but I didn't realize that they sort of reinvented parts of it a couple years ago and it's WORKED. Mainly I wanted to know, where do our guys fit? Is Dax Hill going to be Marlon Humphrey? And what are we going to do with the Vipers? To be honest, I still don't know, but based on weight and skillset, I can at least guess.
The biggest thing I learned is this is like the anti-Don Brown defense. It's flexible, it's adaptable, "hybrid" is mentioned more than once. Whether that's good or bad is up to you.
Some links:
- https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-baltimore-ravens-defensive-changes-2019#:~:text=Overall%2C%20the%20Ravens%20have%2012,two%20linebackers%2C%20and%20two%20safeties.
- https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-defense-has-many-disguises-and-a-desire-to-dominate
- https://footballfilmroom.com/2019/12/06/ravens-defense-tough-to-decipher/
- https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/11/15/20965903/baltimore-ravens-offense-lamar-jackson
DE (coached by Shaun Nua):
1. Aidan Hutchinson
2. Julius Welschof
3. Braiden McGregor / Gabe Newberg
5. TJ Guy
NG (coached by Shaun Nua):
1. Transfer
2. Mazi Smith
3. Dominick Giudice
DT (coached by Shaun Nua):
1. Chris Hinton
2. Donovan Jeter
3. Mike Morris
4. Kris Jenkins
5. George Rooks
RUSH (coached by TBD):
1. Taylor Upshaw
2. David Ojabo
3. Jaylen Harrell
4. Kechaun Bennett
MLB (coached by Brian Jean-Mary):
1. Josh Ross / Kaleel Mullings
3. Cornell Wheeler / Jaydon Hood
5. Ed Warriner
WLB (coached by Brian Jean-Mary):
1. Michael Barrett
2. Nikhai Hill-Green
3. Anthony Solomon / Junior Colson
5. Joey Velazquez
SLB (coached by Brian Jean-Mary):
1. Ben VanSumeren
2. Adam Shibley
3. Tyler McLaurin
CB (coached by Maurice Linguist):
1. Gemon Green
2. DJ Turner
3. Andre Seldon
4. Ja'Den McBurrows
5. Eamonn Dennis
CB (coached by Maurice Linguist):
1. Vincent Gray
2. Jalen Perry
3. Darion Green-Warren
4. George Johnson
NB* (coached by TBD):
1. Daxton Hill
2. Sammy Faustin
3. Darion Green-Warren / Ja'Den McBurrows
FS (coached by George Helow):
1. Daxton Hill
2. Makari Paige
3. Sammy Faustin
4. Quinten Johnson
5. Rod Moore
SS (coached by George Helow):
1. Brad Hawkins
2. RJ Moten / Jordan Morant
4. German Green
*NB for the Ravens seems to be a CB/S hybrid, not a slot CB. Otherwise, I'd put Seldon on there.
If this the formation, we need not one but TWO NGs from the transfer portal. We also need a RUSH and a SLB. Last, we need TWO CBs. We're not going to get all of this, but there are some glaring holes we need to work on. Can't wait for spring ball!
January 30th, 2021 at 8:47 PM ^
"Multiple" is just coachspeak for your guys trying to outnumber their guys because they're too heavy and slow to gain leverage one-on-one.
It rarely works in the NFL, but I suppose with competent coaching it could work in college.
January 30th, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
Well, maybe our offense will score a lot of points...
January 30th, 2021 at 8:58 PM ^
not looking good, we'll need some freshman or transfers to step up
January 30th, 2021 at 9:05 PM ^
The lack of talent is alarming. Hutchinson is the real deal. Hill is very athletic. Did you miss any DT's....
January 30th, 2021 at 9:23 PM ^
I am simply a novice but our defense is stacked with 4 star players. To me, it appears talented as hell.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:26 PM ^
Yeah, I'm really confused about these reactions here. Are people just assuming that every player we recruited the last two years is going to be the talent equivalent of a MAC level backup?
January 30th, 2021 at 10:17 PM ^
This is the assumption until you can jump on the bandwagon without much fear of looking dumb, or basically once everyone else does
January 30th, 2021 at 10:58 PM ^
I agree with you at most spots, but CB and SS worry me
January 31st, 2021 at 5:02 PM ^
I would actually say those are 2 of the stronger positions. CB started abysmally last year but Green turned it completely around and Grey was serviceable. Brad Hawkins is a little slow but in his 6th year should provide leadership and Moten and Morant were solid 4 stars.
Keep in mind the OP did his best guessing as to what schemed will be run and whom plays where.
MacDonald does stress a hybrid style and has talked about a basketball approach where you have 5 athletes as opposed to a PF C PG, etc.
So I see Dax playing a lot of nickle, and a lot of rotation at the linebacker position, especially on the outside. Soloman and if we land Dixon would both be good options at nickle as well.
Junior Colson is a smart versatile talent. I could see him at both Sam or Will.
Shibley got some playing time and accounted well at times but was also over-matched at times. I agree if he is the 2 deep behind Ben VanSumeren that will spell trouble. Fortunately, I doubt that happens.
The biggest issue is Nose. Mazi Smith hasn't showed much promise to be the type of that can anchor a defense. Guidice certainly doesn't have an NT body and probably won't see the field until his junior or senior year. Jeter's body type is more conducive to the position. Rooks is a little tall and better suited to a 3 tech.
Right now, I'm not sure wee have the personnel to consistently play traditional 3 man front.
February 1st, 2021 at 12:38 AM ^
I'm right there with you on the NB spot.
I see a lot of what looks like 4-2-5 or 3-3-5 with Dax, Paige and Hawkins all in together.
Paige to me will be Marlon Humphrey, he'll play all over the place...he has to. Bring him down in the slot, play him single high or two deep, blitz him. I'm looking forward to see how they use him.
That said, we still need a starting NG, LB (SAM), I see Dixon as a WLB...and CB from the transfer portal. That's a lot.
January 31st, 2021 at 7:36 AM ^
I’m with you. I count 7 four/five stars in the secondary. They just happen to be young
January 31st, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
It comes down to production. Don’t care about stars. Many are worried because the product on the field has looked concerning.
2020 was a crazy wacky year, but let us. It forget we were the worst or second to worst team in the entire B10.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
I feel like this defense is better suited for Jeter. Wasn't he recruited by ND to play NG? And didn't Welschof play DT last year? Also why are we assuming that Smith won't start?
I actually feel kinda good about this (at least relative to the doom and gloom people seem to expect). There is so much depth at corner, I have no idea what you're talking about needing transfers there. One big man up front and a linebacker or two would be needed. Beyond that I think this looks pretty decent.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:11 PM ^
Jeter has the size of a space-eating nose. But man he doesn’t have the strength of one
February 1st, 2021 at 12:40 AM ^
Yup.
He is heavy enough, but not strong enough at the point of attack.
He was recruited as a DE and gained weight. Similar to George Rooks or Rayshaun Benny.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:57 PM ^
I wonder if the term "unorganized" in our recruiting applied to having tons of players at one position and hardly any at another. Seems we have too many WR, OG, DE, CB, S, and little at DT, LB, OT.
January 30th, 2021 at 10:22 PM ^
Yes, but also some transfer issues or people with injuries etc. Every program goes through it, I'm just mentioning that it can have the effect of leaving a hole/holes. Some of the issues stem from the position groups being crowded with various types of players from the various coaching regimes. The Greg Frey tackle experiment, the grow a DT from hidden 2 and 3 star DE types, etc. And I'm not complaining about any of these kids we have on the roster, just pointing out that there is a little bit of a hodgepodge where some of these kids are sticking around after their coordinator leaves or position group changes shape and they get lost in there a bit
January 31st, 2021 at 8:22 AM ^
The Greg Frey experience gave us Ryan Hayes and Jalen Mayfield... So, maybe he's not the example you were looking for? LOL!!
But certainly, the 'grow a DT' project has been a miserable failure, as has the 'clone 'em all' approach we took with CB's the last couple of years.
January 31st, 2021 at 5:44 AM ^
Well 2 LB's just left in the transfer portal, and we are fine at T. We just got one in the TP. DT, you are correct.
January 31st, 2021 at 8:29 AM ^
While there are plenty of CBs on the roster, the 'depth' concern is that only three of them have seen the field for any appreciable time. And two are both a step slow (Gray and Turner), if not okay at coverage. I can freely admit that Gray improved considerably as the season progressed, and Gemon Green was a notable happy surprise. The knock on all of these guys is that they're all a step behind the better WR in athleticism, and that is largely true. So yeah, they can cover, but maybe not all alone all day long. So any talk of a transfer would be for someone with proven capability and athleticism.
For me, the LB's group seems really weak because of the transfers the last couple of seasons. But even then, those guys aren't exactly lighting it up at their new place so far as I can tell. I'm really hoping that Hinton and Smith step up big at DT...
February 1st, 2021 at 12:51 AM ^
Welchof played a rush 3rd down DT in a 4-3...which is basically a SDE who slides inside (even Gary did this from time to time).
He can probably add weight and play DT, but there is no need. We have depth there.
With Mazi Smith, I'm assuming because he hasn't done ANYTHING to suggest he would start. I wish I was wrong, but even when guys got knocked out due to COVID, he never took advantage.
We need a transfer NG in the WORST way.
What are you talking about depth at corner? We have bodies...who in that group is an All-B1G player? None of them.
Green is a solid #2 CB, put Ambry Thomas in that group and THEN it's solid. We need a bonafide #1 CB, Lewis, Hill, Long, Thomas...NFL level players.
That group was abysmal this year. At least we've seen positive things from Ross, Mullings and Barrett...Green is the only CB who has shown anything.
TLDR?
We have to stop thinking bodies/recruiting = depth or talent. It doesn't. If you want to compete with the big boys, you need All-Conference guys, All-Americans and 1st and 2nd day draft picks. Not bodies.
If your name isn't Hutchinson or Hill, you can get can and should be replaced if you don't get better. Hinton would be the next closest, but even he has work to do. We have 2.5 starters on D.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:16 PM ^
Let's say we get Diallo and Dixon, do you put them at NG and Will?
January 30th, 2021 at 10:24 PM ^
Diallo isn't a nose guard tho right? Isn't he explicitly more DT shapen? Not sure if what you meant was do you START them at NG and Will, or if you mean what position do they fit in the hypothetical roster
February 1st, 2021 at 12:55 AM ^
I don't know enough about Diablo.
Dixon is definitely a WILL. I like having him, but Barrett is solid.
We need a SAM and a RUSH more than MIKE or WILL.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:21 PM ^
Cornerback: lots of players, but only one proven player.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
If Van Sumeren and Shibley are the top 2 at any position, you have problems!
January 30th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
That is not a daunting defensive roster. Oh, boy.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:41 PM ^
God our defense is going to be bad
January 31st, 2021 at 2:47 AM ^
It’s full of a lot more talent than at least 11-12 teams in the conference are putting together, so there’s that for what it’s worth.
January 31st, 2021 at 5:13 PM ^
If this new staff can't do better than bad considering this is still more talent than the majority of Big 10 teams, then they suck.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:42 PM ^
Does Aaron Donald have any eligibility left.
I guarantee you we could get a go fund me for his NIL to crush what his current contract is.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:50 PM ^
One legit playmaker in that entire bunch: Hutchinson. The rest are just guys. Hill has the athleticism to make plays, but he looked lost last year. Some unexpected guys are going to have to really improve to even have an average defense. Cause let’s be honest, that defense looks worse than last year.
January 30th, 2021 at 10:39 PM ^
Hill hasn't had a coach in a year...
January 31st, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
this is the defense from last year. literally.
January 31st, 2021 at 12:01 PM ^
I doubt the defense will be worse than last year--and, if so, it will be because of poor coaching or transition costs--but this can't "literally" be the same defense without Paye, McGrone, and Kemp.
January 31st, 2021 at 5:16 PM ^
Hill was not lost, didn't produce the big plays we wanted to see but he was the only db in position and actually playing the ball on passes downfield last year. And sorry this is still more talent than the majority of Big Ten teams, the new staff if they are worth a darn should have it at least average.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:52 PM ^
Martindale runs that defense...no guarantee that MacDonald does. Has there been any insight from him yet ? Though I would imagine he does.
January 30th, 2021 at 11:39 PM ^
So, if I understand correctly, we're going to a 3-4 that relies on a planetoid, 2-gap NG to clog up the inside. This is a player we've neither had nor recruited during Harbaugh's time at Michigan, and the current projected starter is a transfer player to be named later. Am I missing something?
January 31st, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
The NG in most base 3-4 defensive philosophies is what you mention. However, if you don’t have the immovable object (ala Ted Washington, Casey Hampton) then you can play a single gap slant approach. Remember, this defense played an odd front sporadically the last two years. They will need to recruit for a cycle to get this position on campus.
January 31st, 2021 at 11:03 AM ^
Victory Vaka anyone?
January 31st, 2021 at 2:45 AM ^
I really like your list except there is nearly a 0% chance that Van Sumeren is starting at a linebacker spot, and an even lower chance that Shibley is right behind him. Also, the Ravens defense really doesn’t apply being as he wasn’t the Ravens DC and expectedly has at least a slightly different philosophy. I appreciate your work, though!
January 31st, 2021 at 11:06 AM ^
I thinks he starts but not on the outside actually see him being pretty good as a guard reading gap filling ‘backer. Not everyone can be “sideline to sideline” like Devin Bush and honestly Mcgrone got to the sideline last year just in time to Eiffel at grabbing the back of a jersey.
January 31st, 2021 at 8:18 PM ^
“Eiffel”?
February 1st, 2021 at 1:04 AM ^
I personally think you'd see more NB (Dax Hill) with Paige playing FS and no SAM on the field.
So this could still be the depth chart for the SAM and BVS doesn't start.
As for Shibley, I just put him there because he's too slow to play MLB or WLB in this style of defense.
Shibley is great insurance, but he should never see the field expect for special teams. You need Devin Bush's in this D. Fast guys.
January 31st, 2021 at 5:50 AM ^
Let’s not forget that GERG had some first year success changing the defensive alignment...
January 31st, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
It was mainly the stuffed beaver on the sideline.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:23 AM ^
Have we had any sort of confirmation that McDonald plans to run this defense? I mean, it's not really his defense or his choice in Baltimore, right?
January 31st, 2021 at 9:25 AM ^
Who knows? We seemed to do a really crappy job developing players the last few years. DPJ for example has drawn rave reviews from people who cover the Browns for his improvement over the season. Onwenu looked pretty good at M, but no one would have predicted the success he has had with NE. Maybe the new coaches can bring out the ability of the recruits better than the old guys did.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:34 AM ^
Brad Hawkins is still on this team? Seems like it is his 6th or 7th year.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
de Aiden Hutchinson
nt Jeter or Smith
dt Chris Hinton
ilbs kalel mullings and Josh Ross
olbs lance dixon and michael barrett or quavaris crouch/tn transfers
safeties dax hill and Brad Hawkins or makari paige
cbs gemon green Vincent gray
nickle andre seldon or dax hill
we also have ojabo, Upshaw, Harrell etc at edge...maybe a freshman will step up. not a bad unit. my guess is there will be a lot of ups and downs but maybe a few surprises. By the end of the year I think will be much improved. there is some Talent on this team!