46 defense

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46 Formation

The 46 defense (also known as the eagle front) is an American football defensive formation. The formation comprises four down linemen, three linebackers, and four defensive backs. It was popularized by Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, who later became head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, and used (as of 2009) by his son, Rex, coach of the New York Jets.

The name "46" originally came from the jersey number of Doug Plank, who was a starting safety for the Bears when Ryan developed the defense, and typically played in that formation as a surrogate linebacker.^[1][2]

Description

The 46 was an innovative defense with a unique defensive front, designed to confuse the quarterback. The line was shifted dramatically to the weak side (the opposite end from the offense's tight end), with both guards and the center "covered" by the left defensive end and both defensive tackles. This front forced offenses to immediately account for the defenders lined up directly in front of them, making it considerably harder to execute blocking assignments such as pulling, trapping and pass protection in general. Moreover, the right defensive end would be aligned outside the left offensive tackle, leaving the tackle 'on an island' when trying to block the end.

Another key feature of the 46 is that both outside linebackers play on the same side of the formation. To avoid confusion the strong side linebacker (who is no longer lining up on the strong side) is often renamed the 'Jack linebacker'. The linebackers line up behind the linemen two or three yards from the line of scrimmage. The primary tactic is to rush between five and eight players on each play, either to get to the quarterback quickly or disrupt running plays.

The formation was very effective in the 1980s NFL because it often eliminated a team's running game and forced them to throw the ball. This was difficult for many teams at the time because most offensive passing games centered around the play action pass.

Currently, the 46 is rarely used in professional and college football (with the exception of the New York Jets, who are coached by Rex Ryan, Buddy's son). This is largely because of the popularity of the West Coast Offense, used successfully by San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh, and other offensive schemes that rely on short, timed passes from formations with multiple receivers.

A major weakness of the 46 is that too many defensive players line up near the line of scrimmage to blitz, leaving areas wide open for receivers to catch passes. Also short, timed passes can be thrown before the players blitzing have a chance to reach the quarterback. Another problem is that most teams do not have enough impact players to run the 46 as effectively as the 1980s Bears did. Those teams fielded some of the best front-seven defenses ever, and included such players as Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, and Wilber Marshall.

The ideas of the 46 defense are more often used in today's game by bringing a fourth defensive back (usually the strong safety) up closer to the line of scrimmage, as an eighth man in "the box" to help stop the run. Defenses today may also run safety blitzes and corner blitzes at crucial moments without committing wholly to the "46" defense. Up front, teams still use the concept of the "T-N-T" front, where defensive linemen are lined up over the center and the two guards. This makes it difficult for the interior linemen to reach any of the linebackers on the second level.

Lining up

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This is where defensive players would line up against a normal I formation offense.

• Defensive ends: The weak side defensive end lines up 2 yards outside the tackle. The strong side defensive end lines up directly in front of the strong side guard. The object of the weak side defensive end against the run is to protect against reversals and counters. Otherwise on pass plays he goes after the quarterback. The strong side defensive end is to make sure the offensive guard in front of him does not push him inside and does not get released to block the linebacker.

• Defensive tackles: The weak side defensive tackle lines up in front of the guard. The other defensive tackle essentially becomes a nose guard and lines up in front of the center. The main objective for the weak side guard is the same as the strong side defensive end - to avoid being pinched inside or let the guard release to block the linebacker.

• Linebackers: The jack linebacker lines up on the outside shoulder of the strong tight end and, like a defensive lineman, lines up on the line of scrimmage. He ensures nothing gets outside of him on the run. He can do multiple coverages on the pass or he can blitz. The weak linebacker will line up on the line of scrimmage and on the inside shoulder of the tight end, making it difficult for the tight end to release easily. The middle linebacker will line up about 2 off the line of scrimmage and directly in front of the strong offensive tackle.

• Safeties: The strong safety lines up a couple yards off the line of scrimmage and will stand directly in front of the weak side tackle. The free safety will stand about twelve yards away from the line of scrimmage and will stand directly in front of the weak side guard.

• Cornerbacks: Corners will line up in front of their receivers.

When three or more receivers are used by the offense, the defense is altered. The weak side linebacker will step back to where the middle linebacker was. The middle linebacker will move to where the strong safety was and the strong safety will move in a cornerback stance in front of one of the new receivers. If a fourth receiver plays, the middle linebacker lines up in front of the center and the weak side linebacker would cover the fourth receiver.

See also

• Glossary of American football
• 1985 Chicago Bears season

References

External links

• Information on utilizing the 46 Defense
• Dusting off a classic
• Chalk Tallk: 46 Defense
• 1985 Chicago Bears Defense Playbook
• 1990 46 Buddy Ryan Defense Playbook