The New England Patriots generally run a modified Erhardt-Perkins offensive system and a Fairbanks-Bullough 3–4 defensive system, though they have also used a 4–3 defense and increased their use of the nickel defense.

Erhardt-Perkins offensive system[edit]

The Patriots run a modified "Ron Erhardt-Ray Perkins" offensive system^[1] first installed by Charlie Weis under Bill Belichick. Both Ron Erhardt and Ray Perkins served as offensive assistant coaches under the defensive-minded Chuck Fairbanks while he was head coach of the Patriots in the 1970s.^[1]

Running game[edit]

The Erhardt-Perkins system traditionally had a reputation^{[citation needed]} of being a smash-mouth offense that maximizes a team's time of possession and does not frequently call upon its running backs to serve as receivers.^[2] Erhardt often said, "throw to score, run to win."^[3] This may have been especially true during the years Bill Parcells ran this system as the head coach of the New York Giants.^[4]

Passing game[edit]

With the addition of Randy Moss and Wes Welker to the Patriots offense in 2007, the Patriots placed an emphasis on a wide open passing attack (with record setting results).^[5]

Similar offensive systems[edit]

Many teams coached by members of the Parcells-Belichick coaching tree currently use this system, such as Notre Dame during Weis' tenure. The Pittsburgh Steelers also continued to run this system during the Bill Cowher years, from when Ron Erhardt was their offensive coordinator.^[6]

Comparison to "West Coast" and "Air Coryell" offenses[edit]

In the view of some experts, there are only approximately five or six major offensive systems run in the NFL today.^[1]

The nomenclature of the Erhardt-Perkins system is very different from the Bill Walsh West Coast offense. Formations under the West Coast offense are commonly named after colors (i.e., Green Right).^[7] The west coast offense commonly utilizes high percentage, short slanting passes and running backs as receivers. It prefers to have mobile quarterbacks (since its running backs may not be available to block) and large receivers who are able to gain additional yards after the catch.^[8]

Innovations[edit]

Around 2011, Bill Belichick increasingly adopted an up-tempo, no-huddle offense for his team.^[9]

In 2014, Belichick implemented creative substitution tactics in the playoffs versus the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts.^[10] On three plays against the Ravens, the Patriots used four offensive linemen, but had a skill-position player (RB Shane Vereen twice, TE Michael Hoomanawanui once) in the position of an offensive lineman; in each case, Vereen and Hoomanawanui reported as an ineligible receiver, but split wide on the line, confusing the Ravens on which players to cover, similar to the A-11 offense. Taken by surprise, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh protested, but was told by the NFL that the formations were legal, and had been reported properly before each play. After the season, the NFL imposed rule changes prohibiting such substitutions; players who wear eligible numbers at ineligible positions must now place themselves closer to the center.^[11]

Fairbanks-Bullough 3–4 defensive system[edit]

The New England Patriots run a modified base 3–4 Chuck Fairbanks-Hank Bullough system^[12] installed by Bill Belichick. The term 3–4 means that their base formation consists of 3 defensive linemen (defensive end, nose tackle, and defensive end), 4 linebackers (outside "Will" weak side linebacker, middle "Jack" weak side linebacker, middle "Mike" strong side linebacker, and outside "Sam" strong side linebacker), and 4 defensive backs (cornerback, free safety, strong safety, and cornerback).^[13] The theory of the system is that a 3–4 structure gives the defense the greatest amount of flexibility because the linebackers are versatile players on defense, capable of rushing the quarterback, tackling runners or dropping into coverage. By mixing the roles of their linebackers from play to play, the Patriot's defense seeks to cause confusion on the part of opposing offenses. At times the Patriots will also shade their defensive linemen different ways, creating "over" or "under" defenses. "Over" and "under" defenses simply refer to the shift of the defensive linemen to the strong or weak side of the offense, respectively, and the rotation of the linebackers in the opposite direction.

The "Fairbanks-Bullough" 3–4 system is known as a two gap system, because each of the defensive linemen are required to cover the gaps to both sides of the offensive lineman that try to block them.^[14] Defensive linemen in this system tend to be stouter, as they need to be able to hold their place without being overwhelmed in order to allow the linebackers behind them to make plays. This is the reason that defensive linemen such as Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork do not always rack up sack and tackle statistics despite their critical importance to the team.^[15]

The system is at times more conservative than certain other defenses currently in vogue in the league,^[16] despite the constant threat of its potent linebacker blitz.^{[citation needed]} The Patriots defensive system generally places an emphasis on physicality and discipline over mobility and risk taking^{[citation needed]} and is sometimes characterized as a "bend but do not break defense".^[17] The Patriots are also known for putting a great deal of emphasis on the front seven (defensive line and linebackers) but less so on the secondary.^{[according to whom?]}

History[edit]

The 3–4 defense was originally devised by Bud Wilkinson at the University of Oklahoma in the late 1940s.^[18] Former Patriots and Oklahoma coach Chuck Fairbanks is credited with being a major figure in first bringing the 3–4 defense to the NFL in 1974.^[19] It is unclear if the Patriots under Fairbanks or the Houston Oilers under Bum Phillips were the first team to bring the 3–4 defense to the NFL.

Patriots defensive coordinator Hank Bullough made significant further innovations to the system.^[20] Parcells was linebackers coach under Ron Erhardt as head coach of the Patriots in 1980 (after Fairbanks left for Colorado in 1978 and Bullough lost out on the head coaching position). When Parcells returned to the Giants as defensive coordinator under Ray Perkins in 1981, he brought the 3–4 defense with him.

Bill Belichick was initially exposed to the 3–4 defense while working as an assistant under Red Miller, head coach of the Denver Broncos and a former Patriots offensive coordinator under Fairbanks. Joe Collier was the defensive coordinator under Red Miller at the time,^[21] and his Orange Crush Defense was very successful at stifling opposing offenses. The Broncos had decided to adopt the 3–4 in 1977. Bill Belichick subsequently refined his understanding of the 3–4 as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator under Parcells with the Giants. Belichick returned the 3–4 defense back to New England when he became coach of the team in 2000.^[20] Romeo Crennel subsequently became defensive coordinator for the team.

In a 2007 press conference Belichick said the following of Fairbanks: "I think Chuck has had a tremendous influence on the league as well as this organization in terms of nomenclature and terminology and those kinds of things. I'm sure Chuck could walk in and look at our playbook and probably 80 percent of the plays are the same terminology that he used - whether it be formations or coverages or pass protections. We were sitting there talking yesterday and he was saying, 'How much 60 protection are you guys using? How much 80 are you using?' All of the stuff that was really the fundamentals of his system are still in place here even, again, to the way we call formations and plays and coverages and some of our individual calls within a call, a certain adjustment or things that Red (Miller) and Hank (Bullough) and Ron (Erhardt) and those guys used when they were here".^[22]

Other teams running similar defensive systems[edit]

Bill Parcells ran the Fairbanks-Bullough 3–4 defensive system during his coaching years.^[23] He served as an NFL head coach for 19 seasons, coaching the New York Giants (1983–1990), New England Patriots (1993–1996), New York Jets (1997–1999) and Dallas Cowboys (2003–2006). Parcells, who won 2 Super Bowls with the Giants in 1986 and 1990, earned a reputation for turning teams that were in a period of decline into postseason contenders. He is the only coach in NFL history to take 4 different teams to the NFL playoffs and 3 different NFL teams to a conference championship game. Parcells enjoyed more successful seasons when Bill Belichick served as his defensive coordinator. In 2013, Bill Parcells was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Many teams coached by members of the Parcells-Belichick coaching tree currently run similar defensive systems,^{[citation needed]} such as the University of Alabama under Nick Saban and the Cleveland Browns under Eric Mangini from 2009–2010.

Comparison to other 3–4 systems[edit]

The "Phillips 3–4", a one-gap version of the 3–4, was also brought into the league by Bum Phillips, head coach of the Houston Oilers in the 1970s. The Phillips 3–4 defense is currently run by the San Diego Chargers as well as the Dallas Cowboys formerly coached by Wade Phillips, the son of Bum Phillips. Wade Phillips replaced Joe Collier as defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos in 1989. The modern Phillips 3–4 is largely a one-gap 3–4 system, meaning that the defensive linemen are often only responsible for one gap between the offensive linemen. The linemen can afford to be more aggressive because they receive more support from the linebackers in performing their roles. This system generally prefers relatively lighter, more agile lineman better able to perform aggressive slants, loops and gap charges in order to directly attempt to sack the quarterback and make tackles.^{[citation needed]}

The 3–4 zone blitz defense was developed by Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. Prior to becoming defensive coordinator of the Bengals, LeBeau was tutored by Bengals defensive coordinator Hank Bullough. LeBeau's system commonly calls upon linemen to be mobile enough to drop back into zone coverage in place of blitzing linebackers.^[24] Elements of the 3–4 zone blitz defense have been incorporated over time into the modern Phillips 3–4.

Changes to New England's defensive scheme over time[edit]

Over time,^[when?] New England has also used a 4–3 defense and increased its usage of nickel defense.^[25] Belichick believes that teaching the techniques and fundamentals of his defense is more important than what alignment his defenses use, noting that he used a 4–3 defense when he coached the Cleveland Browns.^[26]

Special teams[edit]

The Patriots' special teams strategies have not been as widely studied. Because of the team's offensive success, the team ranks near the bottom of the league in number of punts executed. Of note, the team has consistently employed left-footed punters (including one, Chris Hanson, who could kick with both legs); there has been no discernible statistical advantage to doing so, and the hypothesis that the ball's spin in the opposing direction makes it more difficult to field has never been verified.^[27] The Patriots have shown willingness to exploit some of the more esoteric special teams rules; they considered a fair catch kick during Super Bowl LI (opting against it because it was deemed too risky)^[28] and have used the drop kick several times: scoring the only known point off a drop kick in the modern era in the last game of the 2006 regular season^[29] and using the maneuver at least twice (both unsuccessfully) on onside kick attempts, in 2011^[30] and 2015.^[31]

Influence[edit]

Under Erhardt's, Perkin’s and Bullough’s stints as coordinators and head coaches across the league after developing the scheme in collaboration with head coach Chuck Fairbanks, the systems developed in New England in the 1970s would begin to see historic use. Influence spread, especially under their coaching tree in Bill Parcells’ schemes as head coach of the New York Giants in the mid-to-late 1980s, after serving as a linebacker coach for the Patriots in 1980. Parcells would come back to New England as head coach in 1993 and re-install the system used in the 1970s and 1980s, re-uniting with Ray Perkins as WR coach. Parcells own coaching tree would use the scheme created in New England as well, especially Belichick, once he was named as head coach after years of being an assistant to Parcells with the New York Giants, the Patriots, and the New York Jets.^[32]

Philosophy[edit]

The New England Patriots are noted for the following characteristics under Belichick's tenure, dubbed as the "Patriot Way":

• Their self-critical, perfectionist, and militaristic approach;^[33]
• Their emphasis on team,^[34] equality among players and lack of individual ego;^[35]
• Their strong work ethic, intelligence and high level of focus and preparation for each individual game;^[36]
• Their versatile players, able to play multiple positions;^[37] and
• Their multiple schemes intended to take advantage of their opponent's weaknesses.^[38][39]

Since 2000, the philosophy in making personnel decisions and in game planning has focused on the "team" concept,^[40] stressing preparation, strong work ethic, versatility,^[41] and lack of individual ego.^[42] This approach, which has led to six Super Bowl victories under Belichick, was analyzed in the 2004 book Patriot Reign as well as the 2021 documentary miniseries Man in the Arena.

For example, in Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots' defense used an aggressive bump and run nickel and dime package instead of their base 3–4 to disrupt the timing of the highly touted Air Coryell system employed by the Rams under Mike Martz (also known as "The Greatest Show on Turf"). This modifiable aspect of the Patriots system is in stark contrast to simpler systems like the Tampa 2 defense, in which the same scheme is often run repeatedly with the emphasis being on execution rather than on flexibility.^{[citation needed]}

In his book How Football Explains America, Sal Paolantonio noted the many parallels between the Patriots' philosophy and military training taught at West Point. This is likely the result of Bill Parcells' having coached at West Point for four years and Bill Belichick's close ties with the Naval Academy.^[43]

See also[edit]

• American football strategy

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• 1997 New York Jets Bill Belichick Defense