When it comes to schematic innovation and effectiveness, you’ll generally hear more about the things done on the offensive side of the ball.
There will be occasional odes written to the greatness of Buddy Ryan’s old 46 defense, for example. But you’ll hear far more about the West Coast offense and the development of the three-digit passing game from Sid Gillman to Don Coryell to Mike Martz than you will about the zone blitz or the advent of the nickel defense as a base concept.
It’s time to change that and give the NFL’s best defensive minds the credit they deserve.