What kind of defense will we be running?

[MrGap92]

I did not get to see a whole lot of preseason since they are not local where I live, looking at the 53 we have 5 DL on their official chart, and Burns, Thibs etc are listed as LBs, which would seem to be 3-4, but I thought Bowen has typically run 4-3

How did it look in PS, just curious what this unit will look like.

[MightyGiants]

I think it could more technically be called a 2-4-5 defense (which is similar to what Wink ran)

It will be mostly Dex and Nacho/Chatman at the DT positions flanked by Burns and Thibs

The interior LBs will be Okereka and McFadden

The boundary CB will be Banks and Flott/McCloud/Hawkins

The slot CB will be Phillips/Simmons

The safeties will be Pinnock and Nubin


There will be much more zone and 2 high safety than we saw with Wink.  There will be more one gapping by the d front and less two gapping. 

Wink was about exotic blitzes

Bowen runs a more traditional NFL defense.  It will be more bend than don't break (more smaller gains and less big gains).  It's likely to generate more INTs since zone tends to be better at generating INTs (the defenders are facing the QB rather than the receiver).  I think the simplicity (especially as players get more comfortable in the new scheme) will allow them to play faster as they will have to think less.

[bamagiantfan]

Bowen's Defense was #2 against the run in 2021 (3.9 y/car), #1 in 2022 (3.4 y/car), and slipped to #13 (3.8 y/car) in 2023 where they spent most of the season playing from behind. They play more zone behind their fronts as well. The concept is pretty simple,

1. Stop the run.
2. Create 3rd and long situations.
3. Rush the passer with 4 and force sacks/punts.

This Defense has never been one to force a lot of turnovers so don't expect the numbers we saw under Wink.