What if? Potential 3-4 alignments

[Jumbo075]

So, I know that Mike McCarthy has said that the Cowboys will have a base 4-3 defensive front. But it has also been discussed that Mike Nolan like running multiple fronts, and that they are considering moving Jaylon Smith to OLB, and have him rush the passer more often. Finally, I don't remember exactly when or where (so don't ask for a link), but I seem to recall rumors that the Cowboys will consider moving DE Jalen Jelks to OLB. Lastly, the Cowboys drafted Bradlee Anae, who is more than a little undersized at DE, but could be a better fit as a stand-up pass rusher in a 3-4 front.

If that happens, and if both Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are reinstated, what do you think the Cowboys defense will look like when in a 3-4 front?

Some ideas:

3-4 Defensive Alignment Depth Chart
RDE 5-Tech - Aldon Smith, Tyrone Crawford
NT - Dontari Poe, Antwaun Woods, Neville Gallimore
LDE - 5-Tech - DeMarcus Lawrence, Joe Jackson

ROLB - Randy Gregory, Bradlee Anae
WILB - Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch
SILB - Leighton Vander Esch, Joe Thomas
SOLB - Jaylon Smith, Jalen Jelks

I'm not sure where all the other linebackers and Dlinemen get played, but a "starting" 3-4 alignment of Aldon Smith, Poe and Lawrence, with Gregory, Jaylon Smith playing OLB, and Vander Esch, Lee playing ILB is pretty intriguing, if only from a pass rush POV.

 

[BigTimeBlues]

Where does Gerald McCoy fit in at?

 

[JoeKing]

So, I know that Mike McCarthy has said that the Cowboys will have a base 4-3 defensive front. But it has also been discussed that Mike Nolan like running multiple fronts, and that they are considering moving Jaylon Smith to OLB, and have him rush the passer more often. Finally, I don't remember exactly when or where (so don't ask for a link), but I seem to recall rumors that the Cowboys will consider moving DE Jalen Jelks to OLB. Lastly, the Cowboys drafted Bradlee Anae, who is more than a little undersized at DE, but could be a better fit as a stand-up pass rusher in a 3-4 front.

If that happens, and if both Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are reinstated, what do you think the Cowboys defense will look like when in a 3-4 front?

Some ideas:

3-4 Defensive Alignment Depth Chart
RDE 5-Tech - Aldon Smith, Tyrone Crawford
NT - Dontari Poe, Antwaun Woods, Neville Gallimore
LDE - 5-Tech - DeMarcus Lawrence, Joe Jackson

ROLB - Randy Gregory, Bradlee Anae
WILB - Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch
SILB - Leighton Vander Esch, Joe Thomas
SOLB - Jaylon Smith, Jalen Jelks

I'm not sure where all the other linebackers and Dlinemen get played, but a "starting" 3-4 alignment of Aldon Smith, Poe and Lawrence, with Gregory, Jaylon Smith playing OLB, and Vander Esch, Lee playing ILB is pretty intriguing, if only from a pass rush POV.

Mike Nolan is not going to go against what Mike McCarthy has already said... this will be a base 4-3 defense. There will be variations off of that but it will be rare. Last season they were in nickel a good part of the time so I'm thinking that will continue to happen. Jourdan Lewis thrives in the nickel defense.

 

[Jumbo075]

Where does Gerald McCoy fit in at?

McCoy fits in the base 4-3 defense. The purpose of THIS THREAD is to discuss possible off-base uses of the 3-4 alignment the Cowboys may use a minority of the time, and how it may affect their personnel choices.

 

[Maxmadden]

I understand what you are getting at.

It sounds a lot like the offense we ran last year where Amari Cooper watched from the sidelines in crunch time.

 

[AbeBeta]

McCoy fits in the base 4-3 defense. The purpose of THIS THREAD is to discuss possible off-base uses of the 3-4 alignment the Cowboys may use a minority of the time, and how it may affect their personnel choices.

McCoy has played a good bit of DE in 3-4 alignments

 

[fivetwos]

I think on an obvious passing down you might see something like Gregory and Lawrence with their hand on the ground with one tackle in between them...with Smith and/or Anae standing up behind them...with one or both rushing...

But they arent running a base 34, nor should they.

Theres square peg after square peg on that depth chart.

Nothing at all wrong with mixing it up....its the anti Garrett and we should all be on board.

 

[charron]

You can always show a standard 4 man front then use Jaylon as a rushing sam and have him walk down to the line before the snap. Nolan varies his alignments and scheme to fit his players much more than Rod did. Doesn't mean it'll be better but will be different for sure.

 

[fivetwos]

I just want to see it mixed up....teams will have no idea who may rush and who may cover on a given play.

Should have some success there, especially early on when theres no film on it....then when there is...mix it up some more.

We have the rushers to do it...assuming good news on suspensions.

 

[darthseinfeld]

So, I know that Mike McCarthy has said that the Cowboys will have a base 4-3 defensive front. But it has also been discussed that Mike Nolan like running multiple fronts, and that they are considering moving Jaylon Smith to OLB, and have him rush the passer more often. Finally, I don't remember exactly when or where (so don't ask for a link), but I seem to recall rumors that the Cowboys will consider moving DE Jalen Jelks to OLB. Lastly, the Cowboys drafted Bradlee Anae, who is more than a little undersized at DE, but could be a better fit as a stand-up pass rusher in a 3-4 front.

If that happens, and if both Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are reinstated, what do you think the Cowboys defense will look like when in a 3-4 front?

Some ideas:

3-4 Defensive Alignment Depth Chart
RDE 5-Tech - Aldon Smith, Tyrone Crawford
NT - Dontari Poe, Antwaun Woods, Neville Gallimore
LDE - 5-Tech - DeMarcus Lawrence, Joe Jackson

ROLB - Randy Gregory, Bradlee Anae
WILB - Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch
SILB - Leighton Vander Esch, Joe Thomas
SOLB - Jaylon Smith, Jalen Jelks

I'm not sure where all the other linebackers and Dlinemen get played, but a "starting" 3-4 alignment of Aldon Smith, Poe and Lawrence, with Gregory, Jaylon Smith playing OLB, and Vander Esch, Lee playing ILB is pretty intriguing, if only from a pass rush POV.

Lawrence isnt a 5 Tech. In a 3 man front he would be a SOLB. Jaylon Smith isnt a a true pass rusher, he would be an ILB with LVE. Despite his current weight, Smith's skill set would have him playing OLB, not 5T. Gallimore isnt a NT

You're 5 Techs would likely be McCoy and Crawford.

We really dont have the personell right now to do much in an odd front.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I just want to see it mixed up....teams will have no idea who may rush and who may cover on a given play.

Should have some success there, especially early on when theres no film on it....then when there is...mix it up some more.

We have the rushers to do it...assuming good news on suspensions.

I think we can run odd front occasionally, but I think we are another offseason away before we can expect that to be a real package.

We can be creative with what we have now. But its not sustainable IMO. We need a couple more key pieces to be able to have a legitimate odd front package

 

[JPM]

Where is DiNucci ?

 

[darthseinfeld]

Where is DiNucci ?

?

 

[buybuydandavis]

So, I know that Mike McCarthy has said that the Cowboys will have a base 4-3 defensive front. But it has also been discussed that Mike Nolan like running multiple fronts, and that they are considering moving Jaylon Smith to OLB, and have him rush the passer more often. Finally, I don't remember exactly when or where (so don't ask for a link), but I seem to recall rumors that the Cowboys will consider moving DE Jalen Jelks to OLB. Lastly, the Cowboys drafted Bradlee Anae, who is more than a little undersized at DE, but could be a better fit as a stand-up pass rusher in a 3-4 front.

If that happens, and if both Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are reinstated, what do you think the Cowboys defense will look like when in a 3-4 front?

Some ideas:

3-4 Defensive Alignment Depth Chart
RDE 5-Tech - Aldon Smith, Tyrone Crawford
NT - Dontari Poe, Antwaun Woods, Neville Gallimore
LDE - 5-Tech - DeMarcus Lawrence, Joe Jackson

ROLB - Randy Gregory, Bradlee Anae
WILB - Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch
SILB - Leighton Vander Esch, Joe Thomas
SOLB - Jaylon Smith, Jalen Jelks

I'm not sure where all the other linebackers and Dlinemen get played, but a "starting" 3-4 alignment of Aldon Smith, Poe and Lawrence, with Gregory, Jaylon Smith playing OLB, and Vander Esch, Lee playing ILB is pretty intriguing, if only from a pass rush POV.

I could see them going bigger at DEs up to McCoy and Gallimore, and playing Lawrence at OLB sometimes. That's the thing for 3-4; Lawrence is a poor fit.

I don't know that I see any of those OLBs but Jaylon who I'm comfortable with in coverage, although we did it with Ellis sometimes, so I guess there are ways to manage.

 

[quickccc]

So, I know that Mike McCarthy has said that the Cowboys will have a base 4-3 defensive front. But it has also been discussed that Mike Nolan like running multiple fronts, and that they are considering moving Jaylon Smith to OLB, and have him rush the passer more often. Finally, I don't remember exactly when or where (so don't ask for a link), but I seem to recall rumors that the Cowboys will consider moving DE Jalen Jelks to OLB. Lastly, the Cowboys drafted Bradlee Anae, who is more than a little undersized at DE, but could be a better fit as a stand-up pass rusher in a 3-4 front.

If that happens, and if both Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are reinstated, what do you think the Cowboys defense will look like when in a 3-4 front?

Some ideas:

3-4 Defensive Alignment Depth Chart
RDE 5-Tech - Aldon Smith, Tyrone Crawford
NT - Dontari Poe, Antwaun Woods, Neville Gallimore
LDE - 5-Tech - DeMarcus Lawrence, Joe Jackson

ROLB - Randy Gregory, Bradlee Anae
WILB - Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch
SILB - Leighton Vander Esch, Joe Thomas
SOLB - Jaylon Smith, Jalen Jelks

I'm not sure where all the other linebackers and Dlinemen get played, but a "starting" 3-4 alignment of Aldon Smith, Poe and Lawrence, with Gregory, Jaylon Smith playing OLB, and Vander Esch, Lee playing ILB is pretty intriguing, if only from a pass rush POV.

if Poe gets injured, then we are down to 310 Antwuann Woods at NT ?
whether Gallimore or Hill, i'm not enamoured with 305 lb DTs as NTs.
i'm surprised and disappointed we didn't have more NT and safeties candidates brought in as undrafted rookie FAs. maybe those types may come thru
via vets by the time camp is going on.

i dont like the sound of Dlaw starting inside in a 3-4 as a end in that alignment. at 260. he's not near big and powerful enough for that role at DE
and he's not fluid and flexible to be a true 3-4 OLB. Probably why McCarthy has repeatedly said we are going to be a 4-3 scheme, (base)

BTW, Joe Jackson would be more idea inside as a 3-4 end, and in the nickel rush DT in the 4-3 on nickel downs.
the wider he is lined up or further ground he has to pursue, the more his lack of speed and athleticism tend to show up (per preseason tape)

 

[quickccc]

I just want to see it mixed up....teams will have no idea who may rush and who may cover on a given play.

Should have some success there, especially early on when theres no film on it....then when there is...mix it up some more.

We have the rushers to do it...assuming good news on suspensions.

+1

i have heard prominent QBs and coaches stress that it why the better 3-4 teams can be the more difficult defenses to go against.
Dunno who/which side will rush ...or who lines up to rush but suddenly drops back into coverage pass lanes.
i think Gregory has excellent agility, quickness and skill set to do the 3-4 rush or drop scheme.

 

[ESisback]

I just want to see it mixed up....teams will have no idea who may rush and who may cover on a given play.

Should have some success there, especially early on when theres no film on it....then when there is...mix it up some more.

We have the rushers to do it...assuming good news on suspensions.

Any thoughts on how we’d do it if Goody says “no” to one or both?

 

[fivetwos]

Any thoughts on how we’d do it if Goody says “no” to one or both?

Nope...like your GM, I'm pretty much counting on it sir.

 

[MaaS]

Horrible. D-Law would be an awful 3-4 end. OLB's don't fit well at all. Poe, Crawford, and LVE fit, but that's about it.

 

[stilltheguru]

When did Mike Nolan become Bill Belicheck?
Run the 4-3 and stop being cute