Is a 4-3 switch possible?

[GoCowboysGo]

If Parcells were here he would live & mostly die with the base defense– refusing to come out of it no matter what.

Ryan seems to look for reasons to get out of the base defense.

He did, lol, and look how that turned out...no play-off wins.

The complexity of today's Defenses makes staying in your base D a huge liability. I think it's why Wade's scheme was picked apart last year.

We must be constantly changing looks to keep the opposition guessing. It's the way pro defenses are run nowadays.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I dont understand and doubt anybody can explain to me the logic of Ratliff going down to 285 and being expected to man the nose.

That's a fair question.

The answer probably has much to do with the NT not playing a traditional 2-gap technique when he's on the field.

I would like to hear Ryan address it.

 

[casmith07]

When Ware retires.

 

[blindzebra]

Ware is the best 3-4 OLB in the NFL and would be the best 4-3 DE in the NFL if we switched.

 

[Eskimo]

OK I get that.

But don't you think the Cowboys, i.e. is going to compensate for Ratliff's lack of girth at NT?

I just can't see– If the Cowboy coaching staff truly thinks Ratliff is a liability at playing a 2-gap NT, that they would run that type of defense a great deal.

I'm also not sure about a 325lb NT whose obviously heavier, but most likely not nearly as quick as Ratliff being a net positive.

Draft, free-agency, undrafted free agents... Dallas hasn't exactly been beating the bushes looking for a 325lb NT, which leads me to believe they don't want one.

I guess we'll see how it all shakes out once the season begins as Ryan has probably played his cards pretty close to his vest to surprise his brother in week one.

I will say that if we are going back to a Parcells type two-gap 3-4 we are going to be destroyed in the rush defense. Our only hope will be to force turnovers and the odd big negative play to snuff out drives.

 

[Eskimo]

Ware is the best 3-4 OLB in the NFL and would be the best 4-3 DE in the NFL if we switched.

He can play DE on some downs but it would probably shorten his career if he had to play it every down.

He would probably have to spend an offseason trying to gain about 15 pounds for the role.

 

[theogt]

I dont understand and doubt anybody can explain to me the logic of Ratliff going down to 285 and being expected to man the nose.

Supposedly he was at the weight for years. I don't buy it though. He looks noticeably smaller. I don't mind Ratliff trimming down and working on being a passrusher. Just don't stick him at nose to do it.

 

[cowboys2233]

Two words, DeMarcus Ware.

That means no.

I've got two more words for you, Victor Butler. I don't care if you call it a 3-4, 4-3, or 5-2, it's about putting our best front seven on the field. That means Ware, Spencer AND Butler are out there for the majority of the snaps. The coaching staff just needs to figure out how to make that happen.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Why do some people seem preoccupied with going back to the 43? Is it because Jimmy ran it? Or Landry did?

I don't get it.

 

[Patton]

Why do some people seem preoccupied with going back to the 43? Is it because Jimmy ran it? Or Landry did?

I don't get it.

Probably because we've been so bad at running this defense.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Probably because we've been so bad at running this defense.

Two years ago we had the best defense this team has run in at least a decade.

 

[theogt]

Two years ago we had the best defense this team has run in at least a decade.

And the big difference was play of the backfield, not the front seven.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

And the big difference was play of the backfield, not the front seven.

You make a good point.

I think the front 7 dropped off some from 2009 to '10, but he DB's dropped off a whole lot.

 

[cobra]

, but without a true NT.

Yeah, no kidding.

He's only All-Pro at NT and one of the best DTs in the entire game.

But we should totally switch just because he isn't 330 lbs.

 

[Hostile]

i would like to see a 4-3 defense. hey hos why do think that ware would not be a effective end in a 4-3. he is a great passrusher who would thrive in any scheme.

As a 3-4 OLB he is a monster.

As a 4-3 DE he would be just above average.

 

[starfrombirth]

Yeah, no kidding.

He's only All-Pro at NT and one of the best DTs in the entire game.

But we should totally switch just because he isn't 330 lbs.

No we should switch because our front line gets pushed off the ball way too easily and over the course of the season, Ratliff having to hold up to that pounding wears him down. I think Ratliff is great. Check every post i've ever made about him, but he is too small to anchor the nose as often as he is asked too. Having a 4-3 puts another big body next to him on every down to help absorb some of that punishment while allowing him to shoot gaps, his strength, and being more stout against the run. What am i speaking heresy about? R u guys vested in the 3-4? Do you lose some retirement pay if we switch? As for DWare, I know that Hos said he would only be above average instead of a monster but I truly believe that having the extra body on the line would free him up even more, along the lines of Osi-tuck-strahan when they were on the field. That was a great line and i think ours could be the same. DWare-Ratliff-Spears-Hatcher with VBut-Lee-Spencer the linebackers. Thats our best front seven with albright, Brady, Lissemore, etc rotating in their respective spots. The 4-3 makes sense. Sorry if you are but hurt about the notion. It was just a question.

 

[Picksix]

As a 3-4 OLB he is a monster.

As a 4-3 DE he would be just above average.

I think Ware is a lot more like Charles Haley than Lawrence Taylor. Meaning that I believe he'd dominate in either one. I also think that every other lineman we have would be better in a 4-3. JMHO

 

[Kevinicus]

Ware has been playing essentially as a 4-3 DE the last few years anyway. He's called a LB, but he plays on the line for the most part.

 

[WhoDezWeDez]

To put it simply, No. Spencer and Ware at OLB are dangerous and J-Rat at nose tackle is great too. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I know the D wasn't great last year, but that was more on the secondary, IMO. It was also run by cupcake Wade Phillips, not a blitz-happy-hard-nosed coach in Rob Ryan.

4-3 D again? No.....

 

[jblaze2004]

bruce carter could be a beast in the 4-3 with that speed. hmmmm