The Foundation Of A Great Defense

One of my friends asked me though question a few days ago. The question was: what is the most important part of a defense? The lineman, the linebackers, or the defensive backs?
I couldn't give an answere to his question that day, but then I thought some more about it...

The defensive backs (corners and safeties) have the primary job to stop the pass.

The defensive linemen have the primary job to stop the run.

... while the linebackers have to do a little bit of both.

So does that mean that linebackers are the most important part since they're kinda an hybrid between defensive backs and defensive linemen - the complete defensive player. My friend thought so.

I think that the defensive linemen are the most important part. There is a common phrase: "the battle are fought in the trenches", and I think that's partly correct. The foundation of a strong run stopping defense is a solid line, just look at the Vikings. It is almost impossible to run against the "Williams Wrecking Crew". However, the D-line is also a bigger factor against the pass than most people think. They don't cover, but their responsibility is to put pressure at the quarterback, which is really important when there is a Manning, Brees, or Brady under the center. A half of a second longer time to stand in the pocket and read the field could be the difference between a TD or a sack or interception.

You could look at it in another way. Imagine that your defense consists of only average players, excluding the linemen which are:




R E








D T











D T












LE
Jared Allen

Kevin Williams

Albert Haynesworth

Aaron Kampman


... or at the linebacker position you had:





O L B










I L B








I L B









O L B
Shawne Merriman

Brian Urlacher

E.J. Henderson

DeMarcus Ware


... or in the secondary you had:




C B







F S







S S









C B
Champ Bailey

Ed Reed

Troy Polamalu

Antoine Winfield


I guess we can all agree that either of those three options would be a kick-ass defense.
:)

The line-up you had is very good.
But to get back to the question, we have had a very good front four but the rest of the defense was questionable.
I would think that the foundation would lie in the linebacker corps.
They could help stop the run and give help with the coverage on pass routes.
No they can't cover the long ball, but they could shut down the short pass as well as stop the run for a minimal gain.

I would say it would be the LB's. Since the MLB is the QB of the defense and he is the guy who is responsible for making the calls, getting guys where they are supposed to be etc. then I feel every other position falls in line behind him.

The D-line hands down. Ray Lewis once talked about having great guys in front of him allowing him to roam freely and make plays. If you look at his decline...it came after he lost a couple great Linemen. This year his line is back and he is making plays like he was in his prime.

I like LB's...they are responsible for helping stop the run and dropping back to cover the pass.

I'd go for the line just because they have an effect on all other positions regardless of the play call....

Without a good D-line, great LBs won't be able to roam free and great DBs will have to cover for too long.

Leadership and the d-line.
Make the offensive field general sweat and fear for his life.
Not really a good question though, they all have to work together or the defense will suck.

I don't know why I'm discussing this.

You almost want to go back to; 'you can't have one without the other'.

Seriously you will be able to discuss this for ever. Of course there will be no pickoffs in the backfield, if there is no pressure. The LB's will rely on the DL to get gaps for blitz or run stopping. The LBs will get the most tackles. Etc. etc.

So in the end it's a moot point.

I'm sorry that I made no sense again

It's easily the d-line.
The one you mentioned would be sick.

For the D-backs, I would switch Winfield out for Scrabble.