I think our defensive personnel fit the 4-3 better than the 3-4.

[AtlCB]

Looking at our defense, we have more talent on the DL than at LB. Ware is discounted, since he would be on the DL in a 4-3 and would be a LB in the 3-4. Ferguson would play NT in either scheme. Canty has shown that he is a better DT in the 4-3 than he is a DE in the 3-4. Our problem is at LDE and MLB. In the 3-4, we had prolems at LOLB and at both ILB positions. If Ellis is health, he is a better 4-3 DE than 3-4 OLB. I also believe Hatcher would excel at DE in the 4-3. Spears and Ratliff would be good backups at DT. Ratliff would probably be a decent backup at NT in the 4-3. We would have seven capable players at the four DL positions. I would hope Carpenter, Burnett, Ayodele, or James will be able to play MLB. If not, we will need to draft a couple. We would be stocked at OLB. Burnett and Carpenter would both excel at OLB in the 4-3. Both have good speed and tackle well.

 

[theogt]

Ellis is a better 4-3 DE than 3-4 OLB? By what measure? He was on pace to set a personal sack record at 3-4 OLB and that is with the added duties of coverage, etc.

 

[baj1dallas]

When saying Canty is a good DT because he did good there against Detroit, you're completely discounting the fact that Detroit had the worst interior line in the league, based on Gryphon's ratings..

 

[stealth]

When saying Canty is a good DT because he did good there against Detroit, you're completely discounting the fact that Detroit had the worst interior line in the league, based on Gryphon's ratings..

ya and boy oh boy did detroit play like crap that day too...oh wait

 

[CATCH17]

I think the 3-4 is a far superior defense to the 4-3 and I hope that we dont get away from it but its lookin like we are.

 

[dallasfaniac]

When saying Canty is a good DT because he did good there against Detroit, you're completely discounting the fact that Detroit had the worst interior line in the league, based on Gryphon's ratings..

Gryphon's ratings asside, Detroit took so many sacks because of their offensive philosophy, not because of the personel per se. They were always looking for the deep ball as opposed to safer high percentage passes.

 

[superpunk]

Canty has shown that he is a better DT in the 4-3 than he is a DE in the 3-4.

When did this happen?

 

[AtlCB]

When did this happen?

Detroit game.

 

[Cochese]

Detroit game.

And how many starters were they missing on that line?

One game doesnt prove any sort of point.

 

[JPM]

When did this happen?

For 1 game

 

[dallasfaniac]

I'm just tired of switching defenses. When we were toying with changing to the 3-4 most of us were saying we didn't have the personnel to run it, which was true at the time. We then went ahead and drafted/signed 3-4 talent and made the switch. Sure we have the personnel to run either, but I just wish we would settle on one and go with it. I don't care what formation we run, put players in positions that they will excell in, not just suffice.

 

[superpunk]

Detroit game.

I think all he proved there was that he can play against Detroit. I hardly expect Ware to get 48 sacks in a 4-3 next year. (Exaggeration, but you understand.) That second DT position would be tough to fill. Ratliff might just be our best bet to do the interior pass rushing.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Looking at our defense, we have more talent on the DL than at LB. Ware is discounted, since he would be on the DL in a 4-3 and would be a LB in the 3-4. Ferguson would play NT in either scheme. Canty has shown that he is a better DT in the 4-3 than he is a DE in the 3-4. Our problem is at LDE and MLB. In the 3-4, we had prolems at LOLB and at both ILB positions. If Ellis is health, he is a better 4-3 DE than 3-4 OLB. I also believe Hatcher would excel at DE in the 4-3. Spears and Ratliff would be good backups at DT. Ratliff would probably be a decent backup at NT in the 4-3. We would have seven capable players at the four DL positions. I would hope Carpenter, Burnett, Ayodele, or James will be able to play MLB. If not, we will need to draft a couple. We would be stocked at OLB. Burnett and Carpenter would both excel at OLB in the 4-3. Both have good speed and tackle well.

You don't use a NT, or a zero technique, in a 43. You typically use a one gape alignment in a 43. This means that you don't have a DT lined up on the nose of the center. Typcially, you have a 1 technique who lines up in the A gape shoulder of the Center. You also have a 3 technique that is lined up on the shoulder of the Right Guard or B gape. This isn't always how it works but in a standard 43, it usually works this way. You can play a two technique which is heads up on the Guard or any combination of the above but that's usually how it works.

I do not believe that Canty can play DT in a 43. He may be able to but he's really tall and his pad level is bad for this. He doesn't play with the kind of leverage you'd like to see from a DT. I think he's a rotation DE, probably LDE. We will see I suppose.

 

[theogt]

Wasn't Canty going up against Peterman in the Detroit game? I'll have to go back and watch that.

 

[TEK2000]

In my mind, the Middle Linebacker position is the most important position in the 4-3.... and... that would be the biggest question mark for us if we go to the 4-3.

Do you really trust Bradie James to be able to play sideline to sideline or cover the entire middle of the field himself on passing plays?

 

[smarta5150]

I dont like this talk about going back to the 4-3 at all.

A couple questions for those ho do:

#1 You want to see one of, maybe the best 3-4 LBs (Ware) turn into a 1-dimensional player like that juice head in SD?

#2 Who is going to play MLB... Bradie James? I feel real comfortable with him

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I think that Ware, Hatcher and Ellis (if healthy) are a great 4-3 DE tandem but Fergie is the only guy with experiecnce at taclkle and even if both Spears and Canty successfully transition to the 3 technique we still dont have depth.

Also saying we have better depth at DL over LBer is suspect as well.

 

[theebs]

Looking at our defense, we have more talent on the DL than at LB. Ware is discounted, since he would be on the DL in a 4-3 and would be a LB in the 3-4. Ferguson would play NT in either scheme. Canty has shown that he is a better DT in the 4-3 than he is a DE in the 3-4. Our problem is at LDE and MLB. In the 3-4, we had prolems at LOLB and at both ILB positions. If Ellis is health, he is a better 4-3 DE than 3-4 OLB. I also believe Hatcher would excel at DE in the 4-3. Spears and Ratliff would be good backups at DT. Ratliff would probably be a decent backup at NT in the 4-3. We would have seven capable players at the four DL positions. I would hope Carpenter, Burnett, Ayodele, or James will be able to play MLB. If not, we will need to draft a couple. We would be stocked at OLB. Burnett and Carpenter would both excel at OLB in the 4-3. Both have good speed and tackle well.

Gregg ellis would disagree with you. He was on with mike doocy sunday night and said this team cant go to a 43 because it would need alot of change and would take more than a year...

so ellis thinks we cant...

time will tell

 

[Carl23]

regardless of the Ellis debate, I've always felt that we had the talent to switch between a 3-4 and a 4-3. I do believe that Ferguson is too large to be effective in the 4-3...

 

[AtlCB]

You don't use a NT, or a zero technique, in a 43. You typically use a one gape alignment in a 43. This means that you don't have a DT lined up on the nose of the center. Typcially, you have a 1 technique who lines up in the A gape shoulder of the Center. You also have a 3 technique that is lined up on the shoulder of the Right Guard or B gape. This isn't always how it works but in a standard 43, it usually works this way. You can play a two technique which is heads up on the Guard or any combination of the above but that's usually how it works.

I do not believe that Canty can play DT in a 43. He may be able to but he's really tall and his pad level is bad for this. He doesn't play with the kind of leverage you'd like to see from a DT. I think he's a rotation DE, probably LDE. We will see I suppose.

The scheme that we ran under Zimmer before the switch put the NT directly over the center. Tampa ran the same scheme when they went to the superbowl.