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The 3-4 defensive system had been developed in the 1940’s by Bud Wilkinson, then with the University of Oklahoma. The defense consists of 3 down linemen with 4 linebackers. Using quick linebackers gives the defense the opportunity to close gaps in the defensive line as they appear. The contention had been that although the defense might stop a good passing team, a rushing offense would get more opportunities and more gains against this type of line.
In 1972, the Miami Dolphins used the 3-4 defense to manufacture the only perfect season in NFL history. The Pittsburg Steelers have used the defense consistently for over 2 decades. This season, 2014, 13 NFL teams are using the 3-4 defense.
The experiment is working in Green Bay. In two pre-season games, the Packers have forced nine turnovers and seven sacks on their way to producing two wins and the number one defense in the league. It doesn’t hurt to have the number 1 offense in the game, but the defense has given Quarterback Aaron Rodgers many more opportunities to excel, which he has. During the first two games, Green Bay has scored five touchdowns in six possessions and Rodgers is 13-of-19 with 3 TD’s. The offense has accomplished this against Cleveland, using a 3-4 defense and Buffalo with a 4-3 defense.
In the season opener, against the Cleveland Browns, the 3-4 defense stopped the Browns offense cold, holding them to 11 first downs and 191 total offensive yards, not to mention a shutout on opening night of the exhibition season before the home crowd. The Browns could only manage 1 rushing first down in the game against a defense that had been ranked 26th against rushing the previous year.
The second game of the season was held before a crowd of 68,908 at Lambeau Field and the large crowd was not disappointed. Safety Nick Collins tipped a pass to teammate Brady Poppinga, defensive end Johnny Jolly and forced Buffalo QB Edwards to fumble which linebacker A.J. Hawk recovered. Defensive end Cullen Jenkins stopped running back Fred Jackson, causing the Bills star to fumble, which was recovered by Poppinga, all within the first 9 minutes and 16 seconds of the game.
Head Coach, Mike McCarthy, was pleased with the turnovers and attributed it to the team’s confidence in the defensive system and each other.
“We're playing with more vision to the football than we did in the past, and we're off to a good start,” McCarthy added.
The offense was sparked by the multiple turnovers, taking the ball after Hawk’s recovery, QB Aaron Rodgers hit Gregg Jennings with a short pass for the first score of the game.
Rodgers followed up with the longest drive of the game, moving the ball 79 yards in six plays. Tight end Jermichael Finley was the recipient of two passes, gaining 18 and 21 yards and then Rodgers found Donald Driver who gained 21 yards and was brought down at the 3 yard line. Running back Ryan Grant took the ball into the end zone to make the score 14-0.
Poppinga’s second turnover of the game put the ball on the 41 yard line in Buffalo’s end where Ryan Gant moved the ball 31 yards on three carries and a screen pass. Rodgers found Donald Driver with a 5-yard pass after a scramble to his right and a hurried throw. Driver made a nifty sliding catch and managed to stay inbounds.
After two games, the Packers defense has nine turnovers and seven sacks. Substitutes are adding to the consistency with stellar play as well. Linebacker Brad Jones sacked the QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and knocked the ball loose in the second quarter. Desmond Bishop recovered the fumble at the Buffalo 26 yard line to set up a 36-yard field goal, kicked by Mason Crosby, making the score 24-0 to end the first half.
The Bills broke the shutout with a score with a minute left in the third quarter when Fitzpatrick tossed a nine yard pass to Jonathon Stupar. Xavier Omon ran for a touchdown for the Bills as did Bruce Hall and the eventual score was 31-21, in favor of the Packers.
The season has yet to begin, but in Lambeau Field in Green Bay Wisconsin, the fans are talking SuperBowl, or at least a return to respectability. The 3-4 defense has yet to be tested by a strong rushing team and the real numbers only matter after the opening game, but as of this moment, Mike McCarthy and his defensive coach, Dom Capers, have to be pretty pleased with the 3-4 experiment in Green Bay.
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