Best defensive base in college?

[Jakopo]

With so many teams going to spread offenses that throw 70% of the time, it seems the base 4 - 3 is becoming more and more obsolete in NCAA.

If your team had enough players to field any base defense (and assuming all would be graded the same -- ie. you would have exactly the same talent level to play each defense equally well), which base would you emphasize and adopt as your "set" (obviously the defense you call on any particular play would be dictated by down/distance and opponent's offensive package)?

In addition to the traditional 4 - 3 and 3 - 4's, there are some pretty cool variants out there right now:

4 - 2 - 5 (two SS's - TCU uses this)

3 - 3 - 5 (generally with two SS's)

[TomatoVSC]

VT runs the 4-3 beautifully...I wouldn't change a thing. :)

[Jakopo]

VT runs the 4-3 beautifully...I wouldn't change a thing. :)

I guess that brings up another question that maybe I was at a rush to brush aside...are LB's becoming so fast nowadays that teams like Va Tech and Ohio State can still run their 4 - 3's against teams that try to spread the field?

[nensey_zy]

I guess that brings up another question that maybe I was at a rush to brush aside...are LB's becoming so fast nowadays that teams like Va Tech and Ohio State can still run their 4 - 3's against teams that try to spread the field?

CA tech and Ohio State are going to be able to. They've got the speed and athleticism to keep up with anyone.

[TomatoVSC]

I guess that brings up another question that maybe I was at a rush to brush aside...are LB's becoming so fast nowadays that teams like Va Tech and Ohio State can still run their 4 - 3's against teams that try to spread the field?

Xavier Adibi for VT plays the same kind of role that Derrick Brooks does for Tampa Bay....an instinctive player who doesn't lose a step when it comes to pass coverage.

[The Future]

CA tech and Ohio State are going to be able to. They've got the speed and athleticism to keep up with anyone.
No we dont (Ohio State) didnt you see what happened to us when we went up against a fast team like Florida. They tore us apart. Oneal is a great FS, we have a great LB core. We will have a solid defense, but there is no way we could keep up with everyone. Our cupcake schedule this year, wont help my point though.

[UCLABUCSFAN]

No we dont (Ohio State) didnt you see what happened to us when we went up against a fast team like Florida. They tore us apart. Oneal is a great FS, we have a great LB core. We will have a solid defense, but there is no way we could keep up with everyone. Our cupcake schedule this year, wont help my point though.

Yeah, their non-conference schedule is ridiculously easy.

[Jakopo]

Yeah, their non-conference schedule is ridiculously easy.

This year it is, but lately it has been good (home and away at Texas), the next few years have home and aways with USC, Miami, Cal and Va Tech.


As for the speed of the OSU defense in the nat'l championship game, I thought it had a lot more to do with scheme than pure speed. OSU sat back in a nickel and never attacked. If you don't force the issue (like LSU did vs. Fla), Leak will pick you apart, the field is too big.

[dawgland]

FSU has ran the base 4-3 perfectly for awhile now



but don't be amazed to see a lot of 3-4 schemes in college.

Mickey Andrews has toyed around with it, and its not like the 3-4's in the NFL which rely on bigger players, they still use the same LBs and defensive line they normally do, but have more speed in the box