Is a 3 Safety defense new?  

You can play it a bunch of ways or in other words different flavors. That defense is going to spin post snap. 
 

The version Spetch runs at Cincy St X that middle safety is his adjuster. The try to get him as the free hitter all the time. 
 

Iowa St who kind of made the defense popular does something similar. That middle safety is a hybrid player. He is the box fitter. They can roll the coverage to whatever. It also allows them to play a Tampa 2 type defense without the pressure of a LB getting sucked up and dropping. Iowa St also based out of the Tite front so they are playing with a lite box. They are going to try to spill to those safeties. 
 

Long post short the presentation presnap is different but post snap it’s still like what Homer and Sid Gilman taught. 0-1-2 or MOFO/MOFC. 

1 hour ago, barrel said:

You can play it a bunch of ways or in other words different flavors. That defense is going to spin post snap. 
 

The version Spetch runs at Cincy St X that middle safety is his adjuster. The try to get him as the free hitter all the time. 
 

Iowa St who kind of made the defense popular does something similar. That middle safety is a hybrid player. He is the box fitter. They can roll the coverage to whatever. It also allows them to play a Tampa 2 type defense without the pressure of a LB getting sucked up and dropping. Iowa St also based out of the Tite front so they are playing with a lite box. They are going to try to spill to those safeties. 
 

Long post short the presentation presnap is different but post snap it’s still like what Homer and Sid Gilman taught. 0-1-2 or MOFO/MOFC. 

I'd agree. This was basically brought about to counteract the rise of the spread and especially RPO's. Offenses were putting more speed on the field and putting the extra "speed guy" at the second or third level (replacing a lineman) forces offenses to make short throws rather than giving them downfield looks. It allows defenses to play corners very aggressively, and let's that third safety be able to defend the pass better while playing the run downhill from depth. Offenses can't attack linebackers in coverage like they could if that linebacker in the Tampa 2 style defense wasn't a freak athlete. And it completely frees up the Sam LB to play the run because there is now a safety behind him, taking him out of conflict. So once the ball is snapped, it really still boils down to a traditional look in the secondary.

It's funny you bring this up @ChiefSmoke, I kind of went down a rabbit hole the other day after wondering about an aspect of the Bear 46.  With a few hours of research and youtube watching, that I didn't plan for, I came to realize the 46 was basically a 52 Monster.  Anyway.......

With the combination coverages being used now, I suppose three safeties are seen, even if it doesn't look like there are three safeties with some corners dropping to a deep zone and linebackers covering underneath.  

Appreciate the comments and participation.

This past season, did some work/scouting for St. X. Saw some really good football(St. X, Elder, Male, Manual, Ballard, Trinity, etc.) in terms of coaching, scheme, talent, fundamentals.

But, did not see anything I would say was "NEW." In fact, three of the best things I saw reminded me of Alvis Johnson's offense (Harrodsburg HS 70's), Bobby Dodd/Knute Rockne's offenses and Ben Pumphrey's offense (Nicholas, Paris, Mason... 1960s thru the 1990's).

Yes, football does evolve. But, it is also cyclical. 

 

From Twitter. Much different from BGPreps poll!

3 High Safties have been a thing of the past. It just evolved in the Big 12 since there are a ton air raid/spread teams.

 

21 hours ago, ChiefSmoke said:

Yes, football does evolve. But, it is also cyclical. 

 

Look no further than the use of the TE position. Prime example. Went away for a while, now every offense in the NFL has 3 of them.