2021 NFL Draft Guide: NFC North Coaching Schemes

Welcome to another installment of the 2021 Coaching Systems analysis. Before we start breaking down the NFC North, be sure to check out the Overview of Coaching Schemes so you have a reference point for any terminology with which you might be unfamiliar. Probably makes sense to bookmark it for easy referral since we’ll be doing every division. If you missed any of the ones we’ve done so far, here are links to check them out as well:

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

Now let’s move on the next one!

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Offensive Breakdown: A disciple of the Andy Reid coaching tree, Matt Nagy continues to run a west coast offense that has a lot of complicated pre-snap motion to confuse the defense and relies on quick-hitting timing throws that get the receivers running in space and picking up chunks of yards after the catch. He’ll also utilize a number of deep routes to lure the safeties and linebackers into coverage to open up the middle of the field. While Nagy calls the plays, he’s adopted OC Bill Lazor’s desire to run a more up-tempo offense as well, so look for the pace numbers to stay up. This scheme and that style of play doesn’t exactly fit Andy Dalton, but it does bode well for rookie Justin Fields, who is expected to take over under center fairly soon. They’ll say there’s a competition in camp, but something tells me we’re looking at Fields coming off the bench in Week 4 to lead the Bears past the Lions. It feels like a nice confidence-booster of a game/moment. 

Nagy likes pass-catchers for running backs as that versatility opens up numerous options for him both on the ground and through the air. They use a zone-blocking scheme and a lot of inside-zone runs as the base, but while many use the ground game to set up the pass, Nagy likes to keep the defenses on its heels and, once the middle of the field is open, get his backs into that second level of the defense. 

Something to keep a close watch over during camp is the usage of David Montgomery. In a recent interview, Nagy stated that, depending on the game, he would like to get him 20 carries per game. While that sounds like lip service and coach-speak, Nagy did get a first-hand look at what Montgomery is capable of after Tarik Cohen went down with an injury. With the increased workload, Montgomery shined and finally looked like the back most fantasy owners hoped to see during his time in the NFL. If Nagy makes good on his word, even a little bit, the running back will definitely be worth a pick where his ADP sits, but be wary of the presence of Cohen and Damien Williams.

Overall, the only thing that is changing here is the personnel on the field. We know the system and we know the play-calling. Nagy may have a winning record as the Bears coach, but he can’t rest on that first year’s 12-win season as it’s been downhill ever since.

Players Who Best Fit the System: Justin Fields, David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, Damien Williams, Allen Robinson

Defensive System: 3-4 base with multi-front looks and Cover-2 mixed with some man-coverage

Defensive Breakdown: With the retirement of Chuck Pagano, the Bears will now be on their third defensive coordinator in three years. They’ve promoted from within, giving former safeties coach Sean Desai, the reins. Desai’s overall experience seems light for a coordinator, but he’s spent the last eight seasons with the Bears and learned from one of the best in Vic Fangio. 

The front seven is rock solid and Desai will bring pressure from all angles, especially with Khalil Mack and the rest of the linebacker corps. Akiem Hicks is outstanding against the run, so I expect more four-man fronts mixed in than we saw last year, and a healthier Robert Quinn should add to the rush on the other side. As for the secondary, Desai is likely to do exactly what Fangio used to do – start in Cover-2 but quickly go back-and-forth between that and press-man coverage. Disguising the coverage that way usually keeps the offense guessing and will prevent the secondary from getting carved up by the more-efficient quarterbacks. A stronger physical presence from the corners will be needed.

Players Who Best Fit the System: Khailil Mack, Roquan Smith, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Jackson

Detroit Lions

Offensive Breakdown: You’ve likely ready the Meet the New Boss article here in the Draft Guide and have an understanding of who new Lions head coach Dan Campbell is and how he is going to run this team. If not, I’ll give you a quick summary – he’s a motivator, not an innovator. He doesn’t design or implement his own schemes. Instead, he puts his trust into his coordinators and, for better or for worse, this is Anthony Lynn’s offense.

Now here’s the real problem – Anthony Lynn was the same kind of head coach during his four years in Los Angeles. He’s more of a player’s coach and motivator who entrusted his coordinators to design the scheme. So, this really pushes further down the ladder with this staff. The only thing Lynn mandates from his assistants is that they utilize a strong rushing attack. Lynn prefers a power-blocking offensive line, but line coach Hank Fraley who will basically be serving as the run-game coordinator, is installing a zone blocking scheme that utilizes both inside and outside zones. That should favor running back D’Andre Swift, but keep in mind that Lynn likes to rotate in his running backs and will probably ask for more of that as well. Jamaal Williams and rookie Jermar Jefferson could eat into Swift’s touches, so be wary.

The overall scheme is expected to be based in the Erhardt-Perkins system which means the run will set up the pass. That means a lot of play-action which suits Jared Goff well. Lynn also wants to include some elements of a spread offense as well which means we’ll see plenty of multi-receiver sets and a lot of shots downfield – the type of offense you’d expect to see from a team in constant catch-up mode. Whether they have the horses to run this scheme or not is yet to be seen, but they’re going to give it the old college try.

Players Who Best Fit the System: D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, T.J. Hockenson, Breshad Perriman

Defensive System: Multi-front stack with Cover-2

Defensive Breakdown: Aaron Glenn, a 15-year NFL veteran at the cornerback position, will head up the defense, though the team also brought in longtime defensive guru Dom Capers to serve as a senior assistant. Glenn is going to implement a scheme that is growing in popularity among some of the top programs in college, so consider it a work in progress. The trick is to go 3-3-5 and use the front six in a stack that will hopefully confuse the offensive line’s blocking assignments. The extra defensive back is supposed to be someone who is strong against the run but can also work out of man-coverage in the secondary if facing a multi-receiver set.

Using just six up front is where Capers comes in as he is a blitz specialist and made a career out of disguising where the pressure is coming from. He’ll send it from all angles and it could be a linebacker or is could be a cornerback. The safeties tend to stay high up in this scheme which works better for someone like Will Harris who may find himself in a starting role for the first time and going back and forth might make things difficult for him.

In truth, this defense is not supposed to be very good. They’ve added more pieces through the draft and there’s going to be a significant learning curve, so keep that in mind.

 Players Who Best Fit the System: Jamie Collins, Jeffery Okudah

Green Bay Packers

Offensive Breakdown: The biggest question here isn’t what style of offense Matt LaFleur runs as much as it is who is under center. The scheme is a west coast-based offense which uses the run to set up the pass. The ground game is predicated on a lot of outside zone runs and the passing is your typical short, quick timing routes to help move the chains with shots being taken downfield. Easy, right? Sort of. 

The offense will run just the same as it did last year if Aaron Rodgers is under center. LaFleur gives him complete autonomy at the line, so Rodgers is free to change any play as he sees fit. We saw a number of games where that was in effect, but overall, the two seemed to work in harmony. Rumors swirled of a behind-the-scenes rift the more Rodgers changed plays, but we never saw anything like that on the field. If Rodgers is the starting quarterback come Week 1, it’s business as usual.

The talk throughout the offseason has, once again, centered around Rodgers’ displeasure with current Packers GM Brian Gutekunst. He has nothing but kind words for his teammates and the coaching staff, but there are perpetual digs at the front office, most notably, his raving about how Milwaukee Bucks GM Jon Horst knows how to bring a championship home by surrounding his star, Giannis, with high-end personnel. An obvious dig at Gutekunst who has not drafted Rodgers a key offensive weapon in the last two drafts. As of Friday, July 23, there is another rumor circulating that Rodgers is going to retire and simply walk away as the NFL’s reigning MVP.

If that occurs, then we immediately usher in the Jordan Love Era. Love is a quality quarterback and should have limited obstacles in taking over this offense. He’s got the supportive ground game, the scheme is pretty basic and he’s got one of the best receivers in the game at his disposal. Where this offense could hiccup is in the play-calling. If Rodgers really did change up the plays as often as we are led to believe, then we’re going to need to see Love step it up and show us he can read defenses well enough in case there’s a hole in LaFleur’s game plan. Oh yeah. Nathaniel Hackett is still here as the OC, but clearly, he's not running much of anything. He's more in place for quality control.

Players Who Best Fit the System: Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, Davante Adams

Defensive System: 3-4 base with multi-front looks and Cover-2 zone

Defensive Breakdown: The Packers have moved on from veteran DC Mike Pettine and brought in former Rams LB coach Joe Barry who spent the past few seasons learning defensive schemes from Wade Philips. Barry does have some coordinator experience, but his time spent in L.A. hopefully washed off the Lions and Washington stank that led Barry to become a position coach once again. 

Barry will use a 3-4 scheme as his base, but will task his linebackers with the versatility of switching back and forth between rushing the passer and pass-coverage. Similar to what they did with the Rams, Barry will likely rush no more than four, but will rely on a heavy-blitz scheme to throw the opposing quarterbacks off-balance. Overall, this should be a more aggressive front seven than what Pettine was doing last season.

As for the secondary, they’ll use Cover-2 primarily with two safeties up top and Jaire Alexander locking down the opposition’s top receiving threat. Depending on where Alexander lines up on each play, the rest of the zones for the secondary will be established. The plan seems solid, but it’s going to require a lot of discipline by the rest of the secondary should they face a team with more than one stand-out receiver.  

Players Who Best Fit the System: Kenny Clark, Za’Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander

Minnesota Vikings

Offensive Breakdown: Similar to the Packers, the Vikings offense was easily identifiable just a mere 36 hours ago, but with news that Rick Dennison is out because he refuses the COVID vaccine, there is growing concern over what happens with the offensive line and its zone-blocking scheme. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer allows his offensive coordinator the autonomy in creating the scheme, but does demand a strong ground attack, particularly in short-yardage situations. Zimmer leaned on Kevin Stefanski and Gary Kubiak over the past few seasons and now looks to Klint Kubiak, Gary’s son, to follow suit.

Everything seemed like it was going to be business as usual for the Vikings offense as the younger Kubiak was simply going to carry on with his father’s scheme – a very heavy run-based offense that uses the ground attack to set up the west coast-style pass. The offense has been outstanding within this scheme as the Vikings run game has ranked in the top five of the league for the last two seasons and the passing attack has been a lot more efficient and productive despite the decline in pass attempts.

Should this rift with Dennison and ownership become a chasm and he truly is out, the team will promote from within and, hopefully maintain the exact same scheme. There is nothing to indicate Kubiak wants to change anything up and while Dennison’s expertise is unmatchable, the assistants learning underneath him are more likely to simply maintain their walk down his path. If something does suddenly change, you’ll be alerted here, for sure.  

Players Who Best Fit the System: Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Irv Smith Jr.

Defensive System: 4-3 base with multi-front looks and press-man coverage

Defensive Breakdown: Nothing changes here with the Vikings defensive scheme as this is Zimmer’s scheme and he calls the plays. His son, Adam Zimmer, and Andre Patterson will continue as co-coordinators, maintain the system the elder Zimmer mandates and work alongside longtime defensive specialist Paul Guenther who was brought in to help mentor the coordinators. He is very familiar with how Zimmer likes things run and will be a good addition for quality control. Expect the same 4-3 base for the front seven and look for a little more aggressiveness with regard to pressuring the quarterback. That was a shortcoming last season, possibly due to a rash of injuries, which in turn caused the secondary to struggle.

Zimmer likes using press-man coverage and he wants his corners to be physical. Without pressure on the QB, though, the receivers were able to break away from coverage a lot easier and the Vikings struggled to contain the pass. This season, with the help off added pressure, along with the addition of some veteran corners joining Jeff Gladney and Cam Dantzler, this unit should see improved results.

Players Who Best Fit the System: Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr, Harrison Smith