3-4 201: More Defensive Education For Tech And Georgia Fans

As both our FBS schools are switching to the 3-4 this year, it's time to make sure we're well-versed. Following up on Doug's excellent translation of Coug Center's 3-4 intro into Dawgese, here's a list of 12 great 3-4 resources from elsewhere around the SB Nation neighborhood:

Overview

• Mile High Report's Modern 3-4 Defense Systems: A FAQ on the 3-4, its variations, and some misconceptions.
• Niners Nation's Football University: The 3-4 Defense: The history of the formation, a rundown of personnel concepts, and alignment screen shots from an NFL game.
• From The Rumble Seat's Talking 3-4 With Michael Felder of In The Bleachers: Felder, a former college safety (who played the 3-4 for UNC's scout team) turned blogger/podcaster, answers FTRS' questions about the 3-4. 
• Mile High Report's 3-4 Position Responsibilities and Blocking Theory (Part One): The specifics on which players line up where and what their jobs are.

Advanced

• From The Rumble Seat's 3-4 Linebacker Terminology: If you don't know jack about what a jack linebacker is, swing by FTRS.
• Mile High Report's 3-4 Position Responsibilities and Blocking Theory (Part Two): Learn what the big guys up front are supposed to be doing.

• 

  From The Rumble Seat's Tale of a Transitioning D: FTRS demonstrates how critical a great nose tackle is to the success of the 3-4 with some pretty clever charts.
• Buffalo Rumbling's Bills will need time to make transition to 3-4: And BR discusses how hard it can be to find a great nose tackle from among a roster built to run a 4-3. Dawg and Jacket fans, this challenge could determine much of how your season goes.

Adaptations

• Buffalo Rumbling's Which defensive scheme will we use?: Most teams choose one 3-4 variation as their base front, but it's common to see a mix throughout a game.
• Shakin' the Southland's The "Bear" Defensive Front: On adapting the 3-4 to stop a powerful running game.
• Niners Nation's Football University: Cover 3: Though much of this post is on the cover 3 in general, it does feature a section on using the cover 3 from a 3-4 look.
• Mile High Report's 3-4 Red Zone Adjustments: How the 3-4 can be an effective red zone defense, despite its thin-up-front appearances.

Next week, we'll also have a pair of articles on Tech's and Georgia's 2010 defenses written by some very knowledgeable guests. Stay tuned!