2010 Defensive Coordinators and Schemes

This article will be updated throughout the off-season and contains valuable information pertaining to NFL defensive schemes. When selecting an IDP, it is important to not only know what position he plays, but also the defensive scheme he plays in as well. For example, having a SLB in a 4-3 defense is typically not a good idea since they have to get through an extra blocker to get to the ball and consequently have lower tackle numbers.

Here are the current situations around the NFL:

BASE DEFENSES
4-3: CIN, HOU, TEN, NYG, OAK, PHI, SEA, ATL, DET, TB, JAX
4-3/Tampa-2: IND, MIN, CHI, CAR
3-4: CLE, NE, SD, PIT, DAL, MIA, GB, SF, ARI, KC, DEN, BUF
Multiple Front: BAL, NYJ, NO, WAS

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Note: Anything listed in RED is a change from the 2009 season. Anything listed in GREEN is a 2010 in-season change.

AFC EAST
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Buffalo Bills	Chan Gailey	George Edwards	3-4 (probably 1-gap lean), some 4-3 and 44
Miami Dolphins	Tony Sparano	Mike Nolan	3-4 (probably 1-gap lean)
New England Patriots	Bill Belichick	Combination of DCs (including Belichick)	Multiple front, leaning 4-3 (2-gap leaning 3-4)
New York Jets	Rex Ryan	Mike Pettine	Multiple front, leaning 3-4

AFC NORTH
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Baltimore Ravens	John Harbaugh	Greg Mattison	Multiple front, leaning 4-3
Cincinnati Bengals	Marvin Lewis	Mike Zimmer	4-3
Cleveland Browns	Eric Mangini	Rob Ryan	3-4 (lean 2-gap)
Pittsburgh Steelers	Mike Tomlin	Dick LeBeau	3-4 (slight lean 2-gap)

AFC SOUTH
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Houston Texans	Gary Kubiak	Frank Bush	4-3
Indianapolis Colts	Jim Caldwell	Larry Coyer	4-3/Tampa-2
Jacksonville Jaguars	Jack Del Rio	Mel Tucker	4-3
Tennessee Titans	Jeff Fisher	Chuck Cecil	4-3

AFC WEST
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Denver Broncos	Josh McDaniels	Don Martindale	3-4 (1-gap), 4-3
Kansas City Chiefs	Todd Haley	Romeo Crennel	3-4 (lean 2-gap)
Oakland Raiders	Tom Cable	John Marshall	4-3
San Diego Chargers	Norv Turner	Ron Rivera	3-4 (1-gap with some hybrid stuff)

NFC EAST
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Dallas Cowboys	Jason Garrett (Interim)	Paul Pasqualoni (Interim)	3-4 (1-gap), some 46
New York Giants	Tom Coughlin	Perry Fewell	4-3 (possible multiple fronts)
Philadelphia Eagles	Andy Reid	Sean McDermott	4-3
Washington Redskins	Mike Shanahan	Jim Haslett	3-4 (1-gap with some hybrid stuff)

NFC NORTH
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Chicago Bears	Lovie Smith	Rod Marinelli	4-3 (Tampa-2)
Detroit Lions	Jim Schwartz	Gunther Cunningham	4-3
Green Bay Packers	Mike McCarthy	Dom Capers	3-4 (leaning 2-gap)
Minnesota Vikings	Brad Childress	Leslie Frazier	4-3, rare Tampa-2

NFC SOUTH
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Atlanta Falcons	Mike Smith	Brian VanGorder	4-3
Carolina Panthers	John Fox	Ron Meeks	4-3, some Tampa-2
New Orleans Saints	Sean Payton	Gregg Williams	4-3, some 3-4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Raheem Morris	Raheem Morris	4-3 , Tampa-2

NFC WEST
Team	Head Coach	Defensive Coordinator	Defensive Schemes
Arizona Cardinals	Ken Whisenhunt	Bill Davis	3-4 (leaning 2-gap)
St. Louis Rams	Steve Spagnuolo	Ken Flajole	4-3
San Francisco 49ers	Mike Singletary	Greg Manusky	3-4, rare 4-3 (1-gap)
Seattle Seahawks	Pete Carroll	Gus Bradley	4-3

Source: Footballguys - IDP Forum

Last Updated: November 11, 2010