Quote Originally Posted by HOKIE-SAN View Post
It wasn't Cal specifically, but the proliferation of the passing spread offenses in CFB. Even if VT didn't get torched by Cal, I believe Bud would have still implemented the same personnel and schematic changes. And really, the D is a 4-3 only in name. It is still a 4-4. The run fits are still based on the same 4-4 principles. The biggest change was really to the rover position. The rover, in the base look, dropped back to give a 2-high safety look, but the run responsibilities are mostly still the same. The rover also needed to be a different type of player, not the SS/LB hybrid, but more of a true SS that emphasized coverage skills.

The other change is really in philosophy. When you take a look at the outcome of every football, there are two stats that jump out which has the highest correlation to winning and losing games--turnovers and big plays. I think Bud realized that limiting big plays was key and the risk/reward of the aggressive, attacking style D was too much on the risk side. So in 2004, you did see mostly 2-high safeties and mostly zone defenses; cover-2, and a lot of quarters coverage that VT did not normally employ in the past. That trend continued to about 2009. VT has gone back to a bit more aggressive style of late. Of course still not the bring-the-kitchen sink style of pre-2004, but I do see a lot more 8-man fronts, a lot more man coverage, and a lot more blitz packages over the past few years. I think that is largely personnel related. We may see more of the rush four and drop 7 because we have some good emerging, play-making DL that are ready to bust out.
It was a Direct response to counter the rise of the Spread offense that was putting more athletes in space and bud realized he needed to have athletes out there with them or else there was a serious mismatch. I think this style actually fits the type of player we recruit as well.

I loved the article that either Raliegh or Will or Chris posted following the bowl game against Tennessee that described how Lane Kiffin must have been pulling his hair out after the game because twice now he has seen Bud alter his D and really give him fits. First in 2004 against USC when we moved to this new look and then when he was against Tenn when Bud basically went back to the old style because he knew Lane lived and died by the run game.