5 ways DC Brandon Staley unlocks DT Aaron Donald potential

V: 3-3 defensive fronts

Another unusual defensive formation used in some NFL defenses today is the 3-3 defensive front. In this formation, the defense sets up a standard nose tackle with a slant offset to either side and sets the linebackers to an off-set on the other side.  This gives defenses the option to play with an extra defensive back.  This is basically the 3-4 defense version of the nickel defense so popular with the passing offenses featuring four wide receivers and one running back.

The 3-3 defensive alignment gives the offense a different look to process.  It can appear to be a 2-4 front, a 3-4 front, or even a 2-5 front to the offense, depending on how players line up.  Staley will likely turn to the 3-3 defense to confuse quarterbacks.  The pair of solid safeties, either John Johnson or Taylor Rapp, gives the Rams options to switch up either to play as the deep middle or man defender out of single-high coverages. The other safety can transition close to the line of scrimmage to play shallow zones and man.

That flexibility is a tremendous advantage for the Rams defense. And that is exactly what will prove to be the difference-maker in 2020. Especially when we are considering the production of DT Aaron Donald.

Aaron Donald relied upon the talent level of his teammates to make plays in the Wade Phillips 3-4 scheme. For the most part, his production was solely dependant upon his talent, his strength, and his speed. In 2020, he will have what may prove to be his greatest ally yet, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.