When football types, and analysts, used to speak of the “hybrid defense” they were specifically talking about a defense that shifted around between 3 or 4 down linemen and 3 or 4 linebackers. Changing defensive fronts was the key to the hybrid formula. Some teams even varied on the heavier side with 5-2 fronts. Which was basically just admitting your outside linebackers were going to be rushing the passer. And that was that. Some looks worked better against different teams, some looks worked better against certain personnel groupings and defensive coordinators could cause a chaos of looks for the offense to figure out.
What is this new hybrid defense they speak of?
