3-4 May be shelved by DL strength.

[NorthDalal]

As the preseason closes it becoming clearer to me (as a poster who speculated about the 3-4 being favored by BP very early on) that the 3-4 may be dead as our base defense and will be used as a changeup defense only.

Here's the case....

A clear overabundance of talent in the DL.

1. Thomas (don't call him Pepper) Johnson was singled out for praise by Parcells in this morning's DMN.
2. Glover has been perhaps the best player in camp BP has said the best players will get playing time.
3. Ferguson our most prominent pick up was ready to play last night.
4. Ellis was mentioned prominantly prior to last night's game as an important contributor.
5. Canty is a player.
6. Leo Carson's has a great camp and has been effective used a blocking back.
7. Although most against second stringers Spears was outstanding last night.

The young LBs haven't stepped up.

1. Parcells complained after the AZ game about the LBs being a cause for concern and then repeated it in a PC again this week.

2. Kalen Thornton has been hobbled and has made few plays.

3. Bradie James is not playing at a starters level.

4. Demarcus Ware is the second coming of Jevon Kearse he is a classic weakside DE.He is wasted out in space trying to cover the Tiki Barbers and Brian Westbrooks of the world. Ware is the answer to Donovan McNabb's scrambling-as a DE.

So......

Junk the 3-4 as the base defense install Burnett-Ngyuen-Singleton as the three LBs with Shanle and James as backups, and play a offset 4-3 (like they were trying to do with Willie Blade where Fergy plays over center) and Glover's on the field, with Ellis and Ware as the starters at DE.

I'd never cut better player's to worship at the altar of a system.

 

[Canadian BoyzFan]

Here we go again.....

 

[NorthDalal]

The free exchange of ideas should never be held captive to reactive advocacy.

I advocate only one kind of defense the one that stops the run and stops the pass.Form should fit the players not the coach.

 

[Hiero]

I agree. we have way too many dl's that could start to limit them to 3 instead of 4. on the other hand we have a lack of lb's instead of an abundance. I assume based on how people are playing and bp's praise of certain peoples, that 4-3 may end up being the majority of the time

 

[junk]

I wouldn't be surprised to see more 4 man fronts. However, I don't think it will fit the classic definition of a 4-3. Probably quite a bit of 4-3 over/under.

 

[Rezz]

I don't like your idea very much. I hope you are wrong...horribly wrong.

 

[Nors]

Yes, 1 week pre start of season lets scrap the 3-4 we have been running all camp. We drafted 3-4 pieces.

Stop holding out hope we don't run the 3-4.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes, 1 week pre start of season lets scrap the 3-4 we have been running all camp. We drafted 3-4 pieces.

Stop holding out hope we don't run the 3-4.

We are not going to scrap it but I still think we will run a lot of both 3-4 and 4-3.

 

[Eddie]

I think you're onto something. I thought the same thing just before. Our DL is strong and deep, while our LB's haven't played up to par.

There's NO way Glover should be benched in favor of Shanle. That's a joke.

The Best players get on the field. At this point, we have a solid DL with talent all across.

No one stands out at LB ... and I'm sure Dat, James, and Burnette can hold the fort while the DL causes havoc. I'd rather see Ware attacking QB's and stopping the run vs covering RB's and TE's. Ok ok ... great INT against Seattle. But he's more effective as an attacker than a defender.

We may start out as a 3-4 unit, but I bet we use more 4 man fronts than 3 man fronts this year. Until we get some more playmakers at LB.

 

[btcutter]

it may all depends on the opponent that we play against. i wouldn't be too surprised if we start with 4-3 against SD. 4-3 suppose to be more stout against running teams and they got one of the best in LT. 3-4 will be mixed in to confuse the offense during blitzes and 2 and long situations.

 

[Eddie]

Pat's played straight up 4-3 during the Super Bowl.

 

[NorthDalal]

Nors, Why not just be a Cowboy advocate. It looks like the "3" part we drafted for have worked out better than the "4" part.

I wrote 7 points about DL and 4 about LBs aren't they apparent and true?

Would you rather cut Johnson and Leo Carson and downgrade Ellis and Spears and keep Glover on the bench more in order to play Bradie James and Shanle and whatever big LB we would pick up on waivers.

 

[baj1dallas]

I actually agree that this team could be better suited for the 4-3 than the 3-4. You can start Ware, Glover, Ferguson, Spears/Ellis up front...I believe that would be one of the best four man fronts in the game.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I agree with everyone but what I was looking forward to is the sheme and philisophy differences with the 3-4. Although we know have better players our Zimmer 4-3 looked boring and predictable. 3-4 Teams like Pitt and N.E. thrive on flexibility speed and the element of surprise. I'm a little torn on this issue. I guess I would like to see a nice combo.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

it may all depends on the opponent that we play against. i wouldn't be too surprised if we start with 4-3 against SD. 4-3 suppose to be more stout against running teams and they got one of the best in LT. 3-4 will be mixed in to confuse the offense during blitzes and 2 and long situations.

Unfortunatly, decisions on who is kept and who is cut will play a role here, before we ever play our first game. It will interesting to see how this roles out.

 

[NorthDalal]

Remembering the experiment with playing Willie Blade directly over center with Glover as an offset tackle, that would be one way to utilize 3-4 concepts while keeping the best players on the field.

Watch the cuts-particularly Kalen Thornton/Thomas Johnson/Leo Carson situation to read BPs mind.

 

[junk]

Remembering the experiment with playing Willie Blade directly over center with Glover as an offset tackle, that would be one way to utilize 3-4 concepts while keeping the best players on the field.

Watch the cuts-particularly Kalen Thornton/Thomas Johnson/Leo Carson situation to read BPs mind.

Agreed completely on your concept of an offset tackle.

Check out this link: (I think this is about the 12th time I have posted it, its a great article)

http://www.phins.com/articles05/3-4defense.php

Saban indirectly falls off the Parcells' coaching tree. It utilizes 3-4 concepts, but with a 4 man front. Tell me thats not a great front seven (Ware, Spears, Glover, Ferguson, Ellis with Nguyen and Burnett as backers).

I've tried to get the article's author to come post here on this concept. I've chatted with him via email, he has a lot of very good information.

As far as the drafting 3-4 pieces drivel, its just that. Those guys were drafted because they are versatile guys that could play in either scheme. In fact, I'd wager that Ware, Burnett and Spears would be much more comfortable in a 4-3 type scheme than 3-4 since thats what the predominantly played in college.

 

[DLCassidy]

I think Parcells has been pretty clear on what he plans to do. We'll play a base 3-4 with some 4-3 looks. That's his plan and he's the coach. The DL strength just means we have the depth to rotate guys in and out and keep them fresh.