4-3 defense

[Biggems]

I know we wont change anytime soon from the 3-4. However, I feel we do have the cast to play the 4-3 scheme.

DE - Ellis, Canty, Hatcher, Bowen
DT - Spears, Ratliff, Tank,
OLB - Ware, Spencer, Burnett, Polk
ILB - James, Thomas, Rogers, Carpenter

If healthy our starters could be

OLB - Ware
DE - Ellis
DT - Spears
ILB - James
DT - Ratliff
DE - Canty
OLB - Spencer

Having Ware and Ellis on the same side would be awesome. I thought about moving Canty to DT and Ratliff to DE to have Ratliff and Spencer on the opposite side. Talk about having converging edges....


I like the 3-4 a lot. But at the same time, I also like the 4-3. I would love to see us use a nice mixture of both during games. It would definitely confuse the heck out of opposing offenses.

 

[Q_the_man]

I perfer the 4-3 also, I think Ware would play alot of DE also

 

[elcocinero]

I think it would be more like this. Ware and Spencer are more 4-3 DE's than LB's. 4-3 LB's do more coverage than pass rushing. Also we would be pretty thin at 4-3 OLB and pretty heavy at DT.

DE - Ware, Spencer, Ellis, Hatcher
DT - Ratliff, Tank, Spears, Canty, Bowen
OLB - Burnett, Polk, Rogers, Carpenter
ILB - James, Thomas

 

[DragonCowboy]

I thought you were gonna predict a loss.

I was 'bout to beat you upside the head

 

[Coakleys Dad]

I thought you were gonna predict a loss.

I was 'bout to beat you upside the head

LOL....

 

[Aliencowboy]

I know we wont change anytime soon from the 3-4. However, I feel we do have the cast to play the 4-3 scheme.

DE - Ellis, Canty, Hatcher, Bowen
DT - Spears, Ratliff, Tank,
OLB - Ware, Spencer, Burnett, Polk
ILB - James, Thomas, Rogers, Carpenter

If healthy our starters could be

OLB - Ware
DE - Ellis
DT - Spears
ILB - James
DT - Ratliff
DE - Canty
OLB - Spencer

Having Ware and Ellis on the same side would be awesome. I thought about moving Canty to DT and Ratliff to DE to have Ratliff and Spencer on the opposite side. Talk about having converging edges....


I like the 3-4 a lot. But at the same time, I also like the 4-3. I would love to see us use a nice mixture of both during games. It would definitely confuse the heck out of opposing offenses.

I think this would be better:

DE-Ellis
DT-Canty
DT-Ratcliffe
DE- Ware

OLB- Z.Thomas
OLB-Spencer
OLB-James

 

[Biggems]

I think it would be more like this. Ware and Spencer are more 4-3 DE's than LB's. Also we would be pretty thin at 4-3 OLB and pretty heavy at DT.

DE - Ware, Spencer, Ellis, Hatcher
DT - Ratliff, Tank, Spears, Canty, Bowen
OLB - Burnett, Polk, Rogers, Carpenter
ILB - James, Thomas

Thin in ur depth chart, not mine.

In mine, we get our best 7 on the field at the same time.

Ware
Ellis
Ratliff
James
Spears
Canty
Spencer

Now most of our pass rush would come from the left side of the D...with Ware, Ellis, and Ratliff....there would be an unbalanced aspect to the line. However, the right side of the line most likely be more stout against the run. That is why I would actually line them up like this.

Base 4-3
OLB Ware
DE Ellis
DT Canty
ILB James
DT Spears
DE Ratliff
OLB Spencer

On Nickel downs
LB Burnett
DE Ware
DT Ratliff
DT Ellis
DE Spencer
LB Thomas

On Dime downs
DE Spencer
DT Ratliff
ILB Thomas
DT Hatcher
DE Ware

 

[Biggems]

I think this would be better:

DE-Ellis
DT-Canty
DT-Ratcliffe
DE- Ware

OLB- Z.Thomas
OLB-Spencer
OLB-James

Ratcliffe? u mean Ratliff

3 OLB? no ILB?

 

[Clove]

DE-Ware
DT-Tank
DT-Ratliff
DE-Spencer

OLB-James/Carpenter
OLB-Burnett
MLB-Thomas

 

[Rounder]

It seems to me that Ware and Spencer are better suited to play DE in a 4-3.

Also, could it be that (I know this might be heresy to mention) that Carpenter would be better suited for 4-3 defense, in other words might actually get playing time. This way there are DT's keeping in OL off of him.

 

[CF74]

I would look to replace Burnett and Carpenter real fast and in time I'd eventually replace Ellis with Spencer also. For the meantime Spencer would solidify the OLB spot forcing teams to run to the other side facing the Ware Wolf...:starspin

DE-Ware/Hatcher
DT-Ratliff/Canty
DT-Tank/Spears
DE-Ellis/Bowen

OLB-Carpenter/Burnett (Weakness)
MLB-Thomas/James
OLB-Spencer/Rodgers

 

[CrazyCowboy]

man, I just do not know which would be the best.

 

[zrinkill]

I feel the same way ....

Here was my thread about it a few weeks ago.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129061

Ellis/Spencer - Tank/Spears/Canty - Rat - Ware

Burnett/Carp - Zack/Carp - James

Roy - Hamlin

Henry/Pac - Newman

I think this may actually play to 5 of these players strengths.

 

[Walker]

There's a lot of talk about Spencer, but one key element is forgotten. He seems to get injured often. Would having Ware as a DE neglect his speed because he would have his hand on the ground and would take longer to jump at the qb? Would hate to take away his biggest advantage and use it against him. Not sure why I am even discussing it considering there is no reports or anything to indicate their would be a switch back to the 4-3. In fact some teams are switching to the 3-4. Sunday is taking too long to get here. I need some dam football already!:laugh2:

 

[dbair1967]

There's a lot of talk about Spencer, but one key element is forgotten. He seems to get injured often

.

you mean like last yr, when he didnt miss a game?

Would having Ware as a DE neglect his speed because he would have his hand on the ground and would take longer to jump at the qb? Would hate to take away his biggest advantage and use it against him.

dont see how thats an issue...having Ware at RDE makes alot of sense to me, because he's very good against the run but he is outstanding at rushing the passer, and he'd be rushing almost everydown rather than dropping into coverage some as he does now

Not sure why I am even discussing it considering there is no reports or anything to indicate their would be a switch back to the 4-3.

I hope they consider it after Wade is ousted

In fact some teams are switching to the 3-4.

its cyclical..alot of teams were switching to the 3-4 in the late 80's and early 90's too, then the 4-3 "speed" defense came in vogue again after we started dismantling teams

I have contended for some time that most of our front 7 people still fit the 4-3 better than the 3-4, and I think we'd be a better defense with the right coaching if we'd make the switch

 

[Nors]

Lets throw away 4 years of building a 3-4

I would not be sprised at Pacgone, Roy #11 trade that he promotes 5-11 campo to DC next year and goes Al Davis and dictates a 4-3 change.

We are very close to the precipice.

 

[Walker]

you mean like last yr, when he didnt miss a game?

I think we'd be a better defense with the right coaching if we'd make the switch

I could careless whether or not he was injured LAST YEAR. I care about THIS year. Unless the cowboys can affect the way the cowboys ended last year its irrelevant. This year on the other hand he can make a huge impact. I like Ellis but he has been a non factor this year and the team could use Spencer. He came back for a game and then ended up on the injury list again. Spencer can help affect the results this year where as last year, well we know what happened. Is there a particular coach available that you would like to see coach the 4-3? Also, is it just the fans want the 4-3 or are their sources out there indication we are considering switching?

edit: I agree on the comment about how it can reduce the amount of snaps going back in coverage. Ellis brought it up a few days ago how he dropped in coverage too much etc.

 

[zrinkill]

Lets throw away 4 years of building a 3-4

I would not be sprised at Pacgone, Roy #11 trade that he promotes 5-11 campo to DC next year and goes Al Davis and dictates a 4-3 change.

We are very close to the precipice.

Its not throwing anything away because we never aquired the right players to play it other than Ware.

Rat I think is naturally a 4-3 DE but could easily play DT in it as well.

Tank is a natural 4-3 DT.

Spears (I believe) should have been a 4-3 DT by the way he plays (admittedly he is not built like one)

Ellis is obviously a natural 4-3 DE

Spencer played 4-3 DE in college and physically is a lot like Ellis.

Zack is a 4-3 Linebacker

Burnett I believe is a better 4-3 outside LB

Carp I think is a natural 4-3 LB since he has trouble shedding blockers.

James may be a little big ..... but he also has trouble shedding blockers.

do not understand the "4 years of adding parts and building a 3-4" mentality since most of the pieces we have added have come from 4-3 programs.

 

[Walker]

Its not throwing anything away because we never aquired the right players to play it other than Ware.

Spears (I believe) should have been a 4-3 DT by the way he plays (admittedly he is not built like one)

If there's one player that I feel can benefit from a 4-3 it would be Spears. I remember his LSU days and he was dominant. Maybe he is playing out of his comfort zone here with the 3-4. How do you think Carpenter would play in a 4-3?

 

[DaBoys4Life]

ware-ratliff-johnson-spencer
burnett-thomas-james