Will Muschamp Quotes

A little more movement of the defensive side of the ball, some rules that will be unnoticed, but a big rule will be allowing the jack linebacker to move out of the box sideline to sideline.

When I'm lined up in the middle, it's a lot of freelancing and blitzing.

The thing that's always struck me about Coach Marinelli's defenses is how fast and aggressive they play.

It actually took me a year to learn how to play running back - to understand what they were doing defensively and then what our guys were doing every single play.

Rex Ryan does a lot of the same kind of stuff that we do in terms of how they play in the secondary and what they do.

When we had a great defense at Tampa Bay, we always measured our defenses against the best quarterbacks.

Having a good defensive line allows you to play better because it's less stressful in terms of defending.

A defensive coordinator is always going to try to throw you something different and get you out of your element, and I have to do better with the pass protection.

I personally like the way John Stones plays because I think he's a great defender.

You have different schemes for different teams. Some teams blitz a lot, and some teams drop eight in coverage.

Obviously, teams are passing a lot more, and there are rules that... allow the offense to be more explosive, so you want to have as many defensive players and defensive playmakers and defensive backs that you can.

Playing an ultra-defensive side is very difficult.

The important thing to understand, from my point of view, is if the opponents break our lines and they are attacking our box, something has gone wrong, and it is me who has to fix it. But fouls in football are normal. You have to do it sometimes.

Defensive lineman in the 3-4 isn't a glory position. He is supposed to tie up as many linemen as possible in order to free the linebackers.

I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.

Rafa Benitez was keen on defending - all dropping back together if you lose the ball.

I would prefer to play for and against an attacking team, but I am now used to playing against defensive teams.

You can't be wrong in the three-tech position. I like that. It allows a lot of freedom.

That's how you get better on defense; not just 'oh, man, my guy beat me,' but you have to think about, 'okay, my man beat me, so I either have to pick up the next man, or I'm going to give somebody a foul.

When I've watched teams that play with five at the back and wing-backs, I've looked at their starting positions and positions out of possession because that comes a little bit more unnaturally to me.

That's something you want to preach throughout the whole defense - getting the ball back to the offense.

What Liverpool do really well is they try to get you inside but then close you down.

Playing the nickel is something I'm very, very comfortable doing and I enjoy doing, but also, I know what me playing the safety position means to the entire defense.

I think a goalkeeper has to participate at the back of the defence and come off the line to play.

Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the goal and block him with multiple players while being as close to him as possible. He is too quick, too fast, too intense with the ball.