The 4-3 defense in football is the premiere formation. It is by far the most common seen throughout all levels of play. The four implies there are four down defensive linemen (DL). The three designates the number of linebackers (LB). This leaves four defensive backs (DB). It is a common formation due to its great balance. There are enough people on the line to hold a run and also attack on pass plays. The linebackers are able to step up on the run and back off on passes. Meanwhile, there are enough defensive backs to prevent getting burned deep by fast receivers, but not too many that an offense can manhandle the defense by running the ball. It is a good base from which to adapt to alternative formations depending on the situation. Because of this, it is probably the best defense to teach younger kids who are just learning the game. It focuses on the fundamentals on which everything else builds. Read the rest of this entry »