Analysis: The Fangio Defense

[Sparkey]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/theathletic.com/3311028/2022/05/24/vic-fangio-defense-analysis/%3famp=1

Breaking down the Fangio Defense.

It is a good read and gives some insight into why MLF wants that defense.

[texaspackerbacker]

I guess Joe Barry is considered a disciple of Fangio hahahaha. I don't remember those Bear defenses under Fangio or anybody else for that matter using D Linemen basically to block like O Linemen to allow ILBs space to make tackles on run plays. I also don't recall Fangio Bear Ds using those ILBs as the primary coverage people in the short middle zone. I do recall Fangio D going all out for pass rush, often getting beat by smart and/or mobile QBs like Rodgers (or DeVito or Mayfield hahahaha). On that last one, I guess you could say Barry does do it like Fangio, but that's not a selling point.

[NewsBruin]

II also don't recall Fangio Bear Ds using those ILBs as the primary coverage people in the short middle zone..

I can't argue with the rest, but that sounds a lot like what they used Urlacher for.

[texaspackerbacker]

True, but Urlacher was gone long before Fangio came along (2015-2019) for the Bears.

[Fritz]

I guess Joe Barry is considered a disciple of Fangio hahahaha. I don't remember those Bear defenses under Fangio or anybody else for that matter using D Linemen basically to block like O Linemen to allow ILBs space to make tackles on run plays. I also don't recall Fangio Bear Ds using those ILBs as the primary coverage people in the short middle zone. I do recall Fangio D going all out for pass rush, often getting beat by smart and/or mobile QBs like Rodgers (or DeVito or Mayfield hahahaha). On that last one, I guess you could say Barry does do it like Fangio, but that's not a selling point.

Jesus had disciples, too. Some were worse than others. If Vic Fangio invited his to supper, the family photo would show Joe Barely sitting at the edge of the kids’ table.

[ThunderDan]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/theathl...lysis/%3famp=1

Breaking down the Fangio Defense.

It is a good read and gives some insight into why MLF wants that defense.

That article should be thrown in the Garbage Can if you know what I mean.

[Joemailman]

Jesus had disciples, too. Some were worse than others. If Vic Fangio invited his to supper, the family photo would show Joe Barely sitting at the edge of the kids’ table.

Someone posted stats on twitter this past week stats on how DC's running the Fangio defense are doing this year. The only one doing really well is Fangio.

Found It:

Wendell Ferreira
@wendellfp
Fangio-style defenses by DVOA:

Dolphins: 13th
Rams: 21st
Eagles: 22nd
Panthers: 27th
Chargers: 28th
Packers: 29th

If your scheme needs a combination of Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald or Fangio himself to succeed, I bring you some bad news.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Where the duck is Nutz? I think he’s defensive coordinator for an all-white suburban Wisconsin high school.

I’d like to ask him about the “pistol force” and why defensive coaches refuse to take out inside linebackers are obvious passing downs. There are rare exceptions but inside linebackers are usually slow and can’t cover. Having an inside linebacker in on an obvious passing down is just asking to be exploited.

On Madden, my “nickel” consists of Gary Ligtbody, Wyatt, Cletidus and Vanilla Ice in the trenches. The DBs are J-Alex, Stokes, Nixon, Savage and Ford. The “linebackers” are Owens and Zayne Anderson.

My “dime” consists of all of the above except sub Clark and Wyatt for P-Smith and Enagbare, and sub Anderson for Valentine.

I am allowing less than 12 points a game against online opponents while blitzing on 82% of the downs.

[run pMc]

Joe Barry is actually a Tampa-2 Marinelli guy.

He's landed with teams like the LAR who were running the Fangio scheme and is basically being told by MLF to run it. This scheme is handpicked by MLF.
I don't think it comes naturally to Barry. I also think Barry is one of those "Peter Principle" hires -- probably a good ILB coach but not a good DC.

Any pro coach who can qualify for a DC job can copy and run a scheme. IIRC there are (chunks of) old Fangio playbooks out in the Interwebs. I think you have to have a deeper understanding of the concepts, and also firm grasp on the finer points of it (e.g., why DBs have to line up at exactly X yards, etc.) in order to make it work.

There's also the fact that anytime a defense appears to be successful, it gets copied by other teams, and also deconstructed by offensive minds in the offseason. The Fangio defense is not doing as well this year because teams are starting to figure it out.

[run pMc]

Where the duck is Nutz? I think he’s defensive coordinator for an all-white suburban Wisconsin high school.

I’d like to ask him about the “pistol force” and why defensive coaches refuse to take out inside linebackers are obvious passing downs. There are rare exceptions but inside linebackers are usually slow and can’t cover. Having an inside linebacker in on an obvious passing down is just asking to be exploited.

On Madden, my “nickel” consists of Gary Ligtbody, Wyatt, Cletidus and Vanilla Ice in the trenches. The DBs are J-Alex, Stokes, Nixon, Savage and Ford. The “linebackers” are Owens and Zayne Anderson.

My “dime” consists of all of the above except sub Clark and Wyatt for P-Smith and Enagbare, and sub Anderson for Valentine.

I am allowing less than 12 points a game against online opponents while blitzing on 82% of the downs.

You're running a pressure defense with a blitz rate higher than anything done in the NFL currently. Very risky, especially if your job depends on it. Still, I kind of like it.
There's some talk that the pendulum will swing away from zone coverage that forces long drives down the field back to pressure defenses.

I agree playing 2 ILBs in nickel on a 3rd and 12 is iffy -- I'd think you'd want speed and coverage ability on the field.

The danger of taking your backers off the field is something like a screen where they can get 250-300 pound blockers on your 200 pound CBs. That's a mismatch. Still, I'd think you'd play more dime than nickel in those situations. Barry likes nickel.

[Joemailman]

There's also the fact that anytime a defense appears to be successful, it gets copied by other teams, and also deconstructed by offensive minds in the offseason. The Fangio defense is not doing as well this year because teams are starting to figure it out.

Some people also think part of the problem is that college football isn't producing the kind of ILB's who can cover to make the system work. Packers had that with Campbell in 2021, but he's not that guy now. They drafted Walker hoping he would be that guy.

[run pMc]

Fangio had Urlacher and Briggs playing for the Bears, those guys could and did cover. They also made a lot of tackles. Can you name the DL from those teams without Googling?

[run pMc]

Some people also think part of the problem is that college football isn't producing the kind of ILB's who can cover to make the system work. Packers had that with Campbell in 2021, but he's not that guy now. They drafted Walker hoping he would be that guy.

They aren't producing a lot of good DL anymore either. Run defense is going to be a problem for teams, I think you'll see a (minor) revival of RBs and running games as a result.
If you can get 7ypc, why not mash a defense down the field. It's 6 minutes and 11 plays... right up MLF's alley.

[RashanGary]

Fangio had Urlacher and Briggs playing for the Bears, those guys could and did cover. They also made a lot of tackles. Can you name the DL from those teams without Googling?

Wasn’t Peppers on some of those teams? And a Tommy Harris I believe, and I thought they had a fat guy named pat or something

[Joemailman]

Fangio had Urlacher and Briggs playing for the Bears, those guys could and did cover. They also made a lot of tackles. Can you name the DL from those teams without Googling?

I thought so too until I looked it up. Urlacher and Briggs were during the years Lovie Smith was the HC with the Bears. Fangio came a few years later.