News: Bucky Brooks: Cowboys to use some 3-4 looks

That’s a well written article thanks for sharing. Glad to see some creative defensive schemes coming in again.

I have trouble seeing Lawrence as a 2 point edge guy tho. His game seems to be leverage, hand fighting and power, not speed.

I think something like the old 49er elephant defense is what we see some of. 2 DT, a DE and a wide 2 point edge on the weak side.
 
jazzcat22 said:
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/brooks-expect-cowboys-to-use-some-3-4-looks

Nice article from Brooks, explaining a few different defensive alignments and the players that for those roles.
Click to expand...

I sometimes feel that local media read this board...

Brooks is the 1st media person I've seen reference the triple threat or "3 tool" player concept that I've often used to describe some 3-4 OLB positions.

I've often posted about how Spencer in the Wade and Rob Ryan defenses had to be a 3-tool player (Stop the run, coverage and pass rush).

DWare rarely dropped into coverage (about 1/4th as often as Spencer).

DWare was great against the run but had less run contain responsibilities than Spencer in Wade's scheme.

In the Rob Ryan scheme DWare had more run contain responsibilities which was a dumb scheme idea. RR often had DWare in a read & react mode.

Fans dogged on Spencer, but he was very valuable in those defenses and hard to replace.

Backups such as Victor Butler actually looked decent when playing DWare's spot, but struggled to play Spencer's spot.
 
jazzcat22 said:
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/brooks-expect-cowboys-to-use-some-3-4-looks

Nice article from Brooks, explaining a few different defensive alignments and the players that for those roles.
Click to expand...

  • I've posted several times about Nolan running a multiple front.
  • I've also posted often about Belichick running a multiple front, with it becoming a big focus in recent years.
    • Despite winning the Super Bowl for the 2018 season, Belichick switched his base defense (1st down defense) from a 4-3 to a 3-4.
  • Recently I've started reviewing the 2019 season Super Bowl winner's defense (Chiefs). They also used many multiple front concepts.
  • All 3 of Nolan, Belichick and KC had a lot of similarities. Big, multiple fronts often used to stop the run with "7 in the box" and with some similar coverage concepts.
    • Both KC and Belichick often used their SS as a Nickel CB (i.e. covering the slot WR). Nolan also did it to some extent.
  • The 3-4 is really a run stopping alignment. Many fans think it's a pass rush alignment intended to disguise who is rushing but in reality it's primary function is as a run stopping defense.
    • In obvious pass rush situations, most 3-4 teams go to a 4-man DL. All 3 of Nolan, Belichick and KC fit into that category.
    • Sometimes it's identical to a 4-2-5 but one DE standing up making it technically a 3-3-5 but the alignment of the stand-up DE really determines if it more like a 4-man or 3-man DL.
    • KC used Frank Clark as a 3-4 OLB. Clark had been a 4-3 DE in Seattle. Clark measured in at 6-3, 271 at the combine. That's a big "OLB".
 
the_h0wey said:
That was pretty much known the day McCarthy announced his staff
Click to expand...
Yes, but it's a good comprehensive article explaining some details.

It makes the "articles" previous written by Broaddus look like they were written by a Kindergartner that was failing.
 
xwalker said:
I sometimes feel that local media read this board...

Brooks is the 1st media person I've seen reference the triple threat or "3 tool" player concept that I've often used to describe some 3-4 OLB positions.

I've often posted about how Spencer in the Wade and Rob Ryan defenses had to be a 3-tool player (Stop the run, coverage and pass rush).

DWare rarely dropped into coverage (about 1/4th as often as Spencer).

DWare was great against the run but had less run contain responsibilities than Spencer in Wade's scheme.

In the Rob Ryan scheme DWare had more run contain responsibilities which was a dumb scheme idea. RR often had DWare in a read & react mode.

Fans dogged on Spencer, but he was very valuable in those defenses and hard to replace.

Backups such as Victor Butler actually looked decent when playing DWare's spot, but struggled to play Spencer's spot.
Click to expand...

Interestingly, the Cowboys couldn't decide his long-term value........they franchised him twice.
 
the_h0wey said:
That was pretty much known the day McCarthy announced his staff
Click to expand...

yes I know that, but It was not explained in as much detail. Not for now players would be used.
I never heard of a 0 or 5 gap / tech position or however he stated it.
 
jazzcat22 said:
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/brooks-expect-cowboys-to-use-some-3-4-looks

Nice article from Brooks, explaining a few different defensive alignments and the players that for those roles.
Click to expand...

It will be interesting. I think Jaylon Smith could be one of the key players in the ability to shift schemes because of his versatility as a pass rusher.

Let's say we start off with a 4-3 look with Aldon Smith, Poe, McCoy and Lawrence on the line and Lee, LVE and Jaylon Smith at linebacker. We could shift into a 3-4 by dropping Aldon Smith or Lawrence to linebacker and lining Jaylon Smith up as the other OLB. The main question for me would be whether Smith and Lawrence can drop into short-area coverage. If they can, then it will make it more difficult for the offensive line to read the pressure.

We could 1) rush Aldon Smith or Lawrence for a traditional pass rush; 2) rush Jaylon Smith instead; 3) rush Aldon Smith/Lawrence and Jaylon Smith as a blitzer; or 4) rush someone else like LVE as a blitzer with either Aldon Smith/Lawrence dropping into coverage or Jaylon doing it ... unless we wanted to rush six.

I am hoping that we have the personnel to go 5-2 some with Aldon Smith, Crawford, Poe, McCoy and Lawrence being the primary candidates right now for that front since they give us a mix of players who can put some pressure on the passer but also play the run well. We could even have Smith or Lawrence bail to drop into a 4-3, if they can handle that role. (Smith has shown that he can, but he's put on quite a bit of size since then.)
 
I wonder who plays OLB if they go 3-4. Lawrence? Nah. Gregory. Maybe. Smith definitely. Anae will get looks there. I think Poe, Gallimore and McCoy will make a nice 3-4 DL. Just not sure about those LBs.
 
Praxit said:
..I hope Jaylon can handle it. Sometimes he looks mentally challenged out there. :huh:
Click to expand...

Sometimes?

I was thinking more A Smith not the J Smith. I just don’t see Jaylon Smith as a viable 3-4 OLB.
 
The question is not which concept is good as they all have deficiencies, but rather do we have the correct players to successfully run those concepts. If healthy our front 7 can be really good, lets hope it comes together that way on the field.
 
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