The 3-4 defense was originally devised in the late 1940s by Bud Wilkinson at the University of Oklahoma. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships which made him popular during his time.
Bill Arnsparger of the Miami Dolphins developed the 3-4 defense, according to former Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano. However, the Miami Dolphin team of the early 1970 did not apply the 3-4 scheme that much. Arnsparger only helped popularize this scheme by his success in using it.
Chuck Fairbanks, another major figure, was the one who brought the 3-4 defense to the NFL. He learned the scheme when he was in college and brought it when he became coach of Oklahoma. He used the 3-4 defense as his team's base defense using it on almost every down during his second season as head coach of the New England Patriots in the year 1974.
Bum Phillips was also one of the first who brought the 3-4 defense to the NFL. He used the scheme when he was defensive coordinator of the Houston Oilers.
The late Hank Stram, who was in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won a championship 40 years ago using the 3-4 defense. But he did not stick with the scheme.
Another pioneer of the 3-4 defense would be Joe Collier. He used the scheme in the pros when he was defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills 45 years ago. But like all the others, he didn't use the 3-4 defense that much.
Since the 3-4 defense has been used a lot by different personalities, it has a lot of versions and styles.
Dick LeBeau, Defensive coordinator of the Steelers, was the kind that wants action and created the 3-4 defense that attacks from all angles and directions. Since this style forces single coverage all over the field, it leaves a great risk to his units if all rushers are picked up.
In the late 1980's, the New York Giants, under Defensive Coordinator Bill Belichick, won two Super Bowls using the brutal 3-4 defense. They had two HOF linebackers in Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor. It was said that he used the success of the Giants to catapult himself as head coach for the Browns in 1991. In the previous year, the 3-4 defense gave the Browns a 462-point record. The genius of the 3-4 defense, in fact, helped Belichick grab the Cleveland job. It is the same scheme used by Romeo Crennel during his four seasons with the Browns.
Earlier this decade, the 3-4 defense helped Belichick, Crennel, and Mangini bag three Superbowls with the Patriots.
The big names mentioned here, Bill Arnsparger, Chuck Fairbanks, Bud Wilkinson, Bill Belichick, they all revised and popularized the 3-4 defense. But even though the 3-4 defense has been through a lot of revisions, it is still one of the best defenses in football today.
Bill Arnsparger of the Miami Dolphins developed the 3-4 defense, according to former Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano. However, the Miami Dolphin team of the early 1970 did not apply the 3-4 scheme that much. Arnsparger only helped popularize this scheme by his success in using it.
Chuck Fairbanks, another major figure, was the one who brought the 3-4 defense to the NFL. He learned the scheme when he was in college and brought it when he became coach of Oklahoma. He used the 3-4 defense as his team's base defense using it on almost every down during his second season as head coach of the New England Patriots in the year 1974.
Bum Phillips was also one of the first who brought the 3-4 defense to the NFL. He used the scheme when he was defensive coordinator of the Houston Oilers.
The late Hank Stram, who was in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won a championship 40 years ago using the 3-4 defense. But he did not stick with the scheme.
Another pioneer of the 3-4 defense would be Joe Collier. He used the scheme in the pros when he was defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills 45 years ago. But like all the others, he didn't use the 3-4 defense that much.
Since the 3-4 defense has been used a lot by different personalities, it has a lot of versions and styles.
Dick LeBeau, Defensive coordinator of the Steelers, was the kind that wants action and created the 3-4 defense that attacks from all angles and directions. Since this style forces single coverage all over the field, it leaves a great risk to his units if all rushers are picked up.
In the late 1980's, the New York Giants, under Defensive Coordinator Bill Belichick, won two Super Bowls using the brutal 3-4 defense. They had two HOF linebackers in Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor. It was said that he used the success of the Giants to catapult himself as head coach for the Browns in 1991. In the previous year, the 3-4 defense gave the Browns a 462-point record. The genius of the 3-4 defense, in fact, helped Belichick grab the Cleveland job. It is the same scheme used by Romeo Crennel during his four seasons with the Browns.
Earlier this decade, the 3-4 defense helped Belichick, Crennel, and Mangini bag three Superbowls with the Patriots.
The big names mentioned here, Bill Arnsparger, Chuck Fairbanks, Bud Wilkinson, Bill Belichick, they all revised and popularized the 3-4 defense. But even though the 3-4 defense has been through a lot of revisions, it is still one of the best defenses in football today.