This is probably the smoothest most beginner-friendly intro to the 46 that I've seen. I"m not a coach or player nor have I ever been. Just a fan who wants to learn the 46 just enough to appreciate the X's and O's on the field.

This is my first year coaching 8 man football. Had a game vs an opponent a month ago and they scored 40+ points on us with a strong QB running to the outside -we won but struggled. I used this video, and your other video "defending the zone read" to make some changes as we had a rematch this last weekend. They scored 14 points, and one of the TD's was on a broken play/fumble. Thanks for the great work

Actually, Planck's role in the 46 wasn't just hard-hitting, but what Ryan felt to be the vital adjustment that made the defense possible, which was increased versatility from the strong safety position, coming up closer to the line and into the box in order to present as either a blitzer in a role normally meant for a linebacker, or as a covering safety that first feigns blitz. In classical Sun-tzu fashion, Ryan's firmest fundamental was to confuse and undermine the opposing offense's plans, just as much as move fast and hit hard, and this is why the 46 dominated the league from 1983-1985, before the rest of the NFL had digested enough film to understand the principles of how to best try to stop the attack, by getting rid of the ball very quickly before the blitz can get home.

We are a run heavy I formation team. As a result, we frequently saw teams give us a bear look during our first 2 years. Today, we see more 44 defenses. You said that the Bear is hard to trap but that was the play that force our opponents to get out of the Bear. I don't know why it was any different than what you described but when we faced Bear defenses we were able to trap the poop out of it. Maybe it was personnel, that is either we had very good linemen or they had very bad defensive linemen, but we finished the season 2 - 8 and they finished 7-3, so I doubt it was personnel. Yet we beat them 27 -12. When we saw the three inside linemen and LB's out wide, my players started salivating. Playside guard (PG) blocks down (Seal) to prevent penetration by the zero tech, center blocked back to replace pulling guard on the backside 3 tech again prevent penetration (Seal block) and Backside guard trapped the playside guard. Since the trap hits quick the Seal Blocks do NOT have to get much movement, instead just get in the way of the backside zero and 3 tech long enough for the fullback to get to the LOS. The play really comes down the pulling technique. Pulling guard must pull flat to allow center to clear find the PG's butt and "S" turn off the PG's butt (meaning dip upfield and turn out on the playside 3 tech being trapped). With the wide LB's, once you crease the LOS you have a minimum 10 yard again.

I believe some people have had success running a 46 nickel vs the spread, they have some articles on it over at Brophy.

Thanks for this presentation. I don't know the game like those who have played or coached it. Someone explain the role of the wide 9 player. He seems like something of an outside linebacker. I'm just amazed at all the opportunities to rush the passer as well as containing the run. The ends, the wide 9, all three LBs and at least one safety can potentially tear into the backfield.

Actually the 46 was not Buddy's original idea. The oringinator for the 46 was Neill Armstrong, Dc of the Vikings from 1970-1977 before moving on to the Chicago Bears. He took buddy with him to be his DC as he was a DL coach for Bud Grant in the 70s.

Thanks. always wanted that explained....

So for the second diagram, you mentioned the Will linebacker is liable for the x side tight end. In a passing situation, do you still keep the Will linebacker across from the tackle and have the 9-tech on that side shed him to slow down an outside route or line the Will linebacker across from the tight end?

Can you tell me what software program that is ??

Hey coach I def. love the info.

Is it just me or is the TE arrow a real difficult route to defend because of the rub

do one for the 3-4

Should have written it all out first to save time and make easier to follow

Is the Sam LB just containing.. blitzing.. zone coverage..?

The Sam played on the inside of the te and the Will played on the outside.

Nice i subbed ... An didnt even watch a video yet

Wide Nine? 46 D. dude. two different things. You do knot get a 46 from a wide nine. stop being to cool for the room. a traditional 46 is a front four. lbers stacked on any side. wide nine is your left or right defensive end split way outside the the tackle. getting the rush off the edge. wide 9 is based on speed. 46 is on power.

Is Buddy Ryan and Rex and Rob Ryan relatives??

This was informative but would have been much much better if the text was just typed on there. It would have flowed better and wouldn't have required less rambling to fill the time as he wrote things out. It would me more like he prepared slides ahead of time rather than preparing his presentation while we watched. The first 9 minutes should have taken 1 minute. Then spent more time or responsibilities. I can't read half the writing anyway.

Impossible to watch. Twenty-three minutes of a computer cursor clumsily spelling out exactly what the host is verbally presenting. Any data about the 46-defense is utterly lost in this hapless, fumbling mess of a video.