A scheme come true.

If you're a defensive coordinator, you won't be relaxing much this offseason. Not after opposing offenses made your life miserable on an almost weekly basis in 2002.

Just look at the 69-point spectacle that was the Super Bowl. Sure, the defense provided 21 of the Bucs' 48, but haunting memories of countless other spinning scoreboards during the season already have defensive staffs brainstorming ways to stop the bleeding. There are no easy answers, but I have one suggestion: Consider the 3-4 defense.

Only a handfull of teams used the 3-4 regularly in 2002--Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Houston--but more are on the way. Jim Haslett is giving it serious consideration in New Orleans, and Marvin Lewis was talking about using a 3-4 in Washington before he became Cincinnati's coach. Lewis thought it would be a great way to feature LaVar Arrington, New Minnesota coordinator George O'Leary says he occasionally may use the scheme, and I'm sure other coaches are thinking about it.

I love the 3-4. It allows you to get more athletes on the field--usually an extra linebacker but occasionally a defensive back--at the expense of a tackle. The extra speed and athleticism are critical against an increasing number of West Coast-based schemes that feature multiple weapons. The 3-4 allows you to match skill against skill.

The 3-4 is a good defense for calling run-blitzes, especially if the opposing offensive linemen aren't particularly good at reading and blocking on the run, ...