Do Cowboys switch to the 4-3 now?

[tm1119]

IF we switch to the 3-4 I let Spencer walk. I don't see him being a big enough impact at DE to warrant the 9M a year, or whatever he will get.

Also, I would have no problem with a Lee, Carter, and Albright linebacker combination. I think Albright is going to turn into a nice player.

That leaves D-line with Ware and Hatcher as the only guys slated to start. Rat is up in the air and I don't think Lissemore is a starting caliber player. We would need to draft/sign a DT and 2 DE's (1 for depth).

[dwmyers]

Why stick with a sissy defense like the 4-3? I say we go 7 diamond and dare folks to pass on us!!1!

D-

[hra8700]

If we go 4-3 having bobby Wagner and Brockers and resigning mike Jenkins looks a hell of a lot better than just Morris Claiborne (as great a player as I think he'll be)

[RamziD]

Originally Posted by hra8700

If we go 4-3 having bobby Wagner and Brockers and resigning mike Jenkins looks a hell of a lot better than just Morris Claiborne (as great a player as I think he'll be)

Good point on the front 7, but I wouldn't want to keep Jenkins on this team no matter what defense we run.

[TheFinisher]

It really depends on what kind of 4-3 we'd be running.

Lee and Carter can play whatever scheme you want them to.

Outside of that we'd have a ton of work to do in the front 7. Hatcher/Spencer would be out of place, and Spears/Coleman are aging vets who are past their prime. Same could be said for Ratliff, but he might have something left as a rotational 3Tech.

Crawford could be a decent strong side end and Wilber is a more natural fit in space as a Sam than he was as a stand up guy in the 3-4' so those would be positives.

I'm sure Ware would still be effective as a rush end, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to start stockpiling some young prototypical guys through the draft.

I would say we'd definitely need at least 1 true DE and UT to get this kick started , as those are the toughest positions and most important ones to fill for a successful 4-3 front.

Then there's the issue of the secondary, are we looking more at a Tampa 2 or a press man scheme? If its Lovie Smith and the Tampa 2 then we better get some new safeties, because the range we have currently back there will not cut it.

Just too many questions right now, we'll have to wait and see who they bring in as DC.

[honyock]

Nice thread and I appreciate the opinions on how our personnel do/don't fit in a potential 4-3. I've been thinking 3-4 for so long that I've forgotten how different the positions and needs are. In particular I'm curious about the young guys - if Crawford would flourish in a 4-3, and if would help Wilber at all - he seemed a little lost this year.

[gmoney112]

Originally Posted by TheFinisher

It really depends on what kind of 4-3 we'd be running.

Lee and Carter can play whatever scheme you want them to.

Outside of that we'd have a ton of work to do in the front 7. Hatcher/Spencer would be out of place, and Spears/Coleman are aging vets who are past their prime. Same could be said for Ratliff, but he might have something left as a rotational 3Tech.

Crawford could be a decent strong side end and Wilber is a more natural fit in space as a Sam than he was as a stand up guy in the 3-4' so those would be positives.

I'm sure Ware would still be effective as a rush end, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to start stockpiling some young prototypical guys through the draft.

I would say we'd definitely need at least 1 true DE and UT to get this kick started , as those are the toughest positions and most important ones to fill for a successful 4-3 front.

[View Full Quote]Then there's the issue of the secondary, are we looking more at a Tampa 2 or a press man scheme? If its Lovie Smith and the Tampa 2 then we better get some new safeties, because the range we have currently back there will not cut it.

Just too many questions right now, we'll have to wait and see who they bring in as DC.

Interesting take on Wilber. I haven't really looked at any of the few plays he was in, but he ran a 4.86 at the combine. Don't know if covering a tight end which he'd have to do as a Sam, fairly often, would be his best position. He'd need to add some bulk to play DE but he's a young guy so it's possible, we'll see what they do with him.

You're right about Crawford. I think he could turn out to be an above average strongside DE. That'd allow you to take a Hankins in the first. Sheldon Richardson is an interesting prospect who could play the 3 technique in case, for some reason, Ratliff walks. I think you could also slide him out to strongside DE.

We invested quite a bit in press man corners so I don't think we'd be going to a Tampa 2 scheme. Plus our safeties are terrible, although we do have Sean Lee at mike where he'd excel.

Going to be an interesting offseason, that's for sure.

[IAmLegend]

If we switch tot he 4-3 then bring in Lovie Smith as DC! (he'll most likely get a HC position but I can dream)

[fishspill]

I'm with TheFinisher on how personel breaks down.

Lovie, though seemingly a far-fetched notion to me, would be great. He would know how to use Lee and Carter for sure.

Lots of holes yet to fill but a solid unit can be put together if injuries are avoided.

[Pessimist_cowboy]

RDE: Spencer , Wilbur
DT : Ratliff , lissemore (if 4-3 we keep rat)
DT: Spears , Hatcher
LDE: Ware , Albright

OLB : Carter , Lemon
MLB: Lee , Sims
OLB: ??? , Conner

CB : Carr , Scandrick
SS : Church , Johnson
FS: ???????, Frampton
CB: Claiborne , Moore

Actually we have adequate personal for. 4-3 . We would have less holes and be able to draft BAP . I'm all for it we would need another staring LB and FS other then that we are good .

[tm1119]

Originally Posted by Pessimist_cowboy

RDE: Spencer , Wilbur
DT : Ratliff , lissemore (if 4-3 we keep rat)
DT: Spears , Hatcher
LDE: Ware , Albright

OLB : Carter , Lemon
MLB: Lee , Sims
OLB: ??? , Conner

CB : Carr , Scandrick
SS : Church , Johnson
FS: ???????, Frampton
CB: Claiborne , Moore

Actually we have adequate personal for. 4-3 . We would have less holes and be able to draft BAP . I'm all for it we would need another staring LB and FS other then that we are good .

I really think Rat and Spears are done here. I want to keep moving forward, been there and done it with those guys and it just hasn't worked. Its not '09 anymore, Ratliff and Spears haven't been earning their contracts for quite some time. Thanks for the work guys but its time to move on....

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, regardless of what defense we play, we will need two good safeties. That's universal.

However, if we go to a 43, that does help us a great deal with regards to cap. We can afford to let Spencer go and the impact is much less IMO. Carter played outside and inside in College so that's not really an issue. Lee can also play inside or outside. Sims, IMO, is a good fit for a 43 as well and he would be a much cheaper sign I'd imagine. Those three could start for you. What you would really need is a very good 3Tech. Rat would really work well in that position but he's gone IMO. I think we would need to make 3tech DT a priority.

[Future]

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

Well, regardless of what defense we play, we will need two good safeties. That's universal.

However, if we go to a 43, that does help us a great deal with regards to cap. We can afford to let Spencer go and the impact is much less IMO. Carter played outside and inside in College so that's not really an issue. Lee can also play inside or outside. Sims, IMO, is a good fit for a 43 as well and he would be a much cheaper sign I'd imagine. Those three could start for you. What you would really need is a very good 3Tech. Rat would really work well in that position but he's gone IMO. I think we would need to make 3tech DT a priority.

Agree with everything here. Lots of speed and athleticism at LB, and if another DT can be brought in to eat up some double teams, they could really excel.

[xwalker]

I think that there are bigger differences between some 4-3 defenses than there are between some 3-4 vs 4-3 defenses.

Mike Zimmer's 4-3 is significantly different than the 4-3 that the late Jim Johnson used with the Eagles.

Here is a blurb from Bob Sturm:

"Some will say that the Cowboys just wanted to move to the 4-3. And maybe that is all it is. But, if you read this column, you know that I have been saying they have been running a modified 4-3 for Ryan's entire run here. At least half of the game every week is either in an actual 4-3 (nickel defense on 3rd Downs and other passing scenarios) or a modified 3-4 where Ware rushes 88% of the time getting him defined as a DE in a 4-3 defense and the front 3 is just a DE and 2 DTs."
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/01...1&feedID=10194

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[ABQCOWBOY]

Originally Posted by Future

Agree with everything here. Lots of speed and athleticism at LB, and if another DT can be brought in to eat up some double teams, they could really excel.

It's possible that we already have that guy on the roster. Calloway is a big DT. He could probably play 1Tech.