Amoeba Front - Miami Dolphins 2020

Call this front by any name. Miami has been running it fairly often, particularly as a 3rd down passing defense. In week 10 vs the Broncos, Miami called this 6 times, 5 of 6 on 3rd downs. 

Results of this call are:

1 INT

2 PBU

2 Allowed First Downs

1 Tackle short of the 1st

This front works well vs the pass thanks to the constant movement and shifting causing uncertainty in the QB and OL pass blocking call.

Typically Miami has their standard pass rushers in and does send them, but there is the possibility to run very light packages like the dollar to further hide who is coming and who is dropping. 

The dolphins often will run line twists or looping blitzes with this front, as well as overloading a single side of the line. 

The ability to drop or rush from various locations also lends itself to many different easily disguised coverages. 

1. 3rd&10, 1st quarter, INT

DOLLAR personnel. 4man rush, with a strong addon (sam-aligned player). Looks like a C3 variant. 

2. 3rd&9, 1st quarter, PBU

DIME personnel. 5man rush with strong addon (sam loops inside-out). C1 spy. 

3. 3rd&10, 1st quarter, 12yd scramble

QUARTER personnel. 4man rush, 3 strong. 3 deep 4 under. 

4. 3rd&5, 2nd quarter, 4yds

DIME personnel. 4man rush, strong slot blitz. C1 robber. 

5. 3rd&3, 3rd quarter, 15yd quick out

DIME personnel. 4man rush. C1 spy. 

6. 3rd&8, 3rd quarter, PBU

DIME personnel. 5man rush, Mike addon. C1 robber. 

Defensive Fronts: The Wide Front

 

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Defensive Fronts: The Wide Front

Generating Pass Rush Pressure From The Wide Front, Across The NFL.

Click here for cutup of wide front snaps

Matched Box Wide Front. Only backer in box (49) matches HB.

KEY POINTS

• This front is called strictly on anticipated passing downs. Called on 5% of all snaps sampled for this article, but more than 20% of 3rd downs. Nearly all on 3rd&4+.
• The wide front is a 4-down front, with center and both guards uncovered. (Tackles 4i/4/5, Ends 7/9 techniques)
• Advantages of the wide front are in creating four possible 1-on-1s (OTs, OGs), removing much of the impact of the Center sliding to either side, and opening space with wide alignments to be attacked with line games.