How will Nolan's 4-3 Alignment look like?

Cowboyny

Cowboyny

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We have heard many things throughout the off-season how our defensive alignment may look like. MM has stated multiple times that the defense will be a four man front, there will be a stand-up designated rusher and the team will be moving towards more press coverage on the outside. Nolan is going to run more of a hybrid scheme, in which there are going to to many alignment variations. Keeping it simple, here how their base defense may look like:

LE-DLaw
3T-McCoy
NT-Poe
RE-Crawford
SLB-Aldon Smith*
MLB-LVE
WLB-Jaylon
CB-Awuzie (Brown/Worley if he's moved)
CB-Diggs
FS-Dix
SS-Woods(Awuzie)

You would think against the pass Crawford is replaced with Gregory at RE and Poe comes off the field for our nickel CB.
 
DanA

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The D-Line

LDE: Lawrence
3T: McCoy
1T: Poe
RDE:A.Smith/Crawford

ROLB/WILL: J.Smith
MIKE: Vander Esch

That line can switch with Aldon Smith or Crawford shifting to a 3-4 DE role and Jaylon stepping up to rush the passer. Gregory can sub in as a designated pass rusher at RDE or ROLB.
 
DanA

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Cowboyny said:
Honestly, I like Lewis cause he has legitimate ball skills, but isn't the best cover CB by any means on this team.
Click to expand...

I think he is the best cover guy as long as the opposition isn’t too big.
 
Hawkeye0202

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Cowboyny said:
Honestly, I like Lewis cause he has legitimate ball skills, but isn't the best cover CB by any means on this team.
Click to expand...

I think read something the other day the implied Lewis is strictly a slot CB but a damn good one.
 
fivetwos

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Was Smith a 34 OLB in SF or did they run a 43 and he had his hand on the ground?

Anyone recall?
 
Kolemmitt

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YES! Someone that understands our defense is going to actually look different this year!
I have started a few posts a few days back about this, including some pics and videos etc.

In the base I think the front 7 will look like this:

SLB/DPR - Gregory*/Anae/Gifford
LE-Crawford/ Jackson/ Smith*
3T-McCoy/Gallimore
NT-Poe/Woods
RE-DLaw/Armstrong
MLB-LVE
WLB-Jaylon

Note: I moved the SLB to next to the LE since that is where they would line up on the field.
In the base, the LE is basically a 5T, which is actually a really good spot for Crawford and Jackson.
It's also interesting to note that the coaches have spoken to DLaw about rushing from a two-point stance, which is what the RE in this type of formation actually does.
I don't think they will have Smith at SLB/DPR because that position has to drop back into coverage occasionally and if its true that he is 290, I just don't see that, BUT, if he is reinstated, he might be the guy to move Crawford to the bench.

Nickel front 7(6):

This will look a little more like we are used to, except that both ends may be in two-point stances:

LE - DLaw, Armstrong,
3T - McCoy, Gallimore
NT(will play more like a 3T in nickel) Crawford, Smith, Gallimore
RE - Gregory, Anae, Gifford
LB - LVE
LB - Jaylon

I think if Gregory is not reinstated, the Cowboys will sign Clay Matthews or Golden to make sure we have a vet at that super important spot.

As far as the back 4/5, the two big rules we are looking at with this new D is that the outside CBs press and that both safeties can cover.

So...my guess is

CB-Diggs, Smith
CB -Worley, Robinson
Slot - Brown, Lewis
S-Dix/Thompson
S-Woods/Awuzie

I think we play a lot more split safeties, so the conventional FS/SS ideas will not quite apply. As far as who starts, I think we will have great competition and no one is penciled in yet. Also, I think it will be based on who we are playing.
 
Seven

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Nolan is the best addition to this team. MM on the other side of the ball......there's only one maniac that can ruin that.
 
xwalker

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fivetwos said:
Was Smith a 34 OLB in SF or did they run a 43 and he had his hand on the ground?

Anyone recall?
Click to expand...

Aldon Smith was a 3-4 OLB.

I just review the 49er vs Packers game from 2012 which is the year he had 19.5 sacks.

He played as the ROLB in the 3-4 and 3-3-5.

Many 3-4 teams go to a 4-2-5 in Nickel (The Cowboys generally did it with DWare) but Aldon Smith stayed standing up as a LB when the other OLB was replaced by a Nickel CB.
 

doomsday9084

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Based on everything I have read, the lineups are heavily rotated and situational dependent. TBH, in today's NFL the base package is the nickel anyways.

IMO, the most common unit will be:
DLaw / McCoy / Poe / Crawford
LVE / Jaylon
Awuzie / Lewis / Diggs
Dix / Woods
 
Cowboyny

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Hawkeye0202 said:
I think read something the other day the implied Lewis is strictly a slot CB but a damn good one.
Click to expand...

He is more suited for the slot. This year there is going to be fierce competition for all roles with some many numbers. I would like to see him earn that role.
 
Cowboyny

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DanA said:
I think he is the best cover guy as long as the opposition isn’t too big.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Still believe Awuzie is the best from the holdovers. Do you remember how poor he played on thanksgiving last year?
 
Cowboyny

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Kolemmitt said:
YES! Someone that understands our defense is going to actually look different this year!
I have started a few posts a few days back about this, including some pics and videos etc.

In the base I think the front 7 will look like this:

SLB/DPR - Gregory*/Anae/Gifford
LE-Crawford/ Jackson/ Smith*
3T-McCoy/Gallimore
NT-Poe/Woods
RE-DLaw/Armstrong
MLB-LVE
WLB-Jaylon

Note: I moved the SLB to next to the LE since that is where they would line up on the field.
In the base, the LE is basically a 5T, which is actually a really good spot for Crawford and Jackson.
It's also interesting to note that the coaches have spoken to DLaw about rushing from a two-point stance, which is what the RE in this type of formation actually does.
I don't think they will have Smith at SLB/DPR because that position has to drop back into coverage occasionally and if its true that he is 290, I just don't see that, BUT, if he is reinstated, he might be the guy to move Crawford to the bench.

Nickel front 7(6):

This will look a little more like we are used to, except that both ends may be in two-point stances:

LE - DLaw, Armstrong,
3T - McCoy, Gallimore
NT(will play more like a 3T in nickel) Crawford, Smith, Gallimore
RE - Gregory, Anae, Gifford
LB - LVE
LB - Jaylon

I think if Gregory is not reinstated, the Cowboys will sign Clay Matthews or Golden to make sure we have a vet at that super important spot.

As far as the back 4/5, the two big rules we are looking at with this new D is that the outside CBs press and that both safeties can cover.

So...my guess is

CB-Diggs, Smith
CB -Worley, Robinson
Slot - Brown, Lewis
S-Dix/Thompson
S-Woods/Awuzie

I think we play a lot more split safeties, so the conventional FS/SS ideas will not quite apply. As far as who starts, I think we will have great competition and no one is penciled in yet. Also, I think it will be based on who we are playing.
Click to expand...

Excellent post! Good points about Aldon/Lawrence/Jaylon
 
Satchel89

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Honestly would rather see Gifford or Lee at LB over Jaylon Smith but that's just me. Won't happen but just not a fan of the player. Maybe he plays better under Nolan...We will see
 
Cowboyny

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Kolemmitt said:
YES! Someone that understands our defense is going to actually look different this year!
I have started a few posts a few days back about this, including some pics and videos etc.

In the base I think the front 7 will look like this:

SLB/DPR - Gregory*/Anae/Gifford
LE-Crawford/ Jackson/ Smith*
3T-McCoy/Gallimore
NT-Poe/Woods
RE-DLaw/Armstrong
MLB-LVE
WLB-Jaylon

Note: I moved the SLB to next to the LE since that is where they would line up on the field.
In the base, the LE is basically a 5T, which is actually a really good spot for Crawford and Jackson.
It's also interesting to note that the coaches have spoken to DLaw about rushing from a two-point stance, which is what the RE in this type of formation actually does.
I don't think they will have Smith at SLB/DPR because that position has to drop back into coverage occasionally and if its true that he is 290, I just don't see that, BUT, if he is reinstated, he might be the guy to move Crawford to the bench.

Nickel front 7(6):

This will look a little more like we are used to, except that both ends may be in two-point stances:

LE - DLaw, Armstrong,
3T - McCoy, Gallimore
NT(will play more like a 3T in nickel) Crawford, Smith, Gallimore
RE - Gregory, Anae, Gifford
LB - LVE
LB - Jaylon

I think if Gregory is not reinstated, the Cowboys will sign Clay Matthews or Golden to make sure we have a vet at that super important spot.

As far as the back 4/5, the two big rules we are looking at with this new D is that the outside CBs press and that both safeties can cover.

So...my guess is

CB-Diggs, Smith
CB -Worley, Robinson
Slot - Brown, Lewis
S-Dix/Thompson
S-Woods/Awuzie

I think we play a lot more split safeties, so the conventional FS/SS ideas will not quite apply. As far as who starts, I think we will have great competition and no one is penciled in yet. Also, I think it will be based on who we are playing.
Click to expand...

After researching Quarters press defense the other day, our corners will be in essence in the box defenders, making more of a front 9 on a given play. Safeties won't be as deep, where each one acts independently and will line up based on their pre-snap reads.
 
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