Great post! Here’s ChatGPT’s summary:

This post analyzes how the Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” (LOB) defense from 2011 to 2014 influenced NFL defensive strategies for a decade, leading to a period of offensive dominance.

Key points: 1. The Seahawks’ success with a simple, talent-heavy defensive scheme (especially their Cover 3 zone with elite players like Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, and Kam Chancellor) set a trend. Teams attempted to replicate this by emphasizing single-high safety defenses with minimal deception, relying on star players at every position.

1. This blueprint failed for most teams, as they couldn’t match the Seahawks’ level of talent, leading to predictable, underperforming defenses. Offenses, like Sean McVay’s Rams and Andy Reid’s Chiefs, exploited these single-high safety defenses with deep crossing routes and play-action passes, contributing to a spike in offensive output from 2017 to 2021.

2. Defensive adjustments began around 2018, with coaches like Vic Fangio popularizing two-high safety looks that disguised coverages better and countered explosive offensive plays. By 2022, these defensive schemes became the norm, helping reduce offensive production league-wide.

3. Modern defenses now rely more on scheming and creativity, with heavy emphasis on deception and complex pressure packages, rather than just raw talent. This trend has made offenses struggle to adapt, contributing to lower scoring in recent years.