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The defense improved late in the season and has proven to be very good, but it still has holes. Once those holes are patched, it will become an even better defensive unit. The key to that improvement is a solid triangle consisting of the nose tackle and inside linebackers secures whether a 3-4 defense can be most effective:
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/triangleinteriorexample.jpg
Currently, our defensive interior consists of:
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/triangleCURRENTinteriorexample.jpg
Note: Bobby Carpenter was Zach Thomas’s backup. It does not mean that he will have the job in 2009, but with Thomas leaving it presents the opportunity for him to move into his slot.
When an offense attacks the interior of the 3-4 with its running game, it does so by first blocking the nose tackle. Regardless of gap assignment or the technique he is using in run defense, the nose tackle is both shielding the inside linebackers and disrupting the blocking assignments of the center and guards, thus allowing the inside linebackers to flow to the ball carrier both inside and from sideline-to-sideline more quickly.
Ratliff did a very good job anchoring the middle of the defensive line, but a more solid tackle can be an upgrade and allow Ratliff to be more flexible as a defensive end (even though he has previously expressed disinterest playing the position). Bradie James has the veteran experience to continue locking down one of the inside linebacker positions, but Bobby Carpenter does not. However, as a former first-round pick, he should be given the opportunity to prove that he can fill the bill, but this position especially needs first-string and/or depth insurance.
Offense also attack triangles in the defense with their passing attack outside of the interior triangle. Some examples of how an offense attacks these other triangles can be seen below:
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/triangleexamples.jpg
In a 3-4 defense, the inside linebackers have to be big, physical and fast to take on guards blocking and cover against the pass in the middle of the field. This is another argument for strengthening the position via the draft. Kevin Burnett has the speed, power and skill to defend against both the run and pass on the outside, but can he become big enough to weaken the argument of looking elsewhere to strengthen the interior triangle? In my opinion, he can’t and he will continue to provide depth at outside linebacker.
In the 3-4, the outside linebackers are the primary pass rushers, not the defensive ends. Ware has one of those positions locked down for the duration of his career, but the position opposite him has to get better. The only question left for Anthony Spencer to answer to move in front of Greg Ellis is whether he can defend against the pass well enough. In my opinion, he can be as good or better than Ellis in this area and will decrease the emphasis of drafting someone as starter competition or even fortifying the position which could continue with a rotation of Ware/Burnett and Spencer/Ellis. Another plus in Spencer’s favor is his untapped NFL-level potential (yes bad word) to rush the quarterback or put his hand on the ground defending against the run in any 4-3/4-6 packages which Wade Phillips began to experiment with more often this season.
Cornerback was strongly addressed in the last draft, so it will receive less emphasis. Safety is another question altogether. Ken Hamlin has been very serviceable as a free safety. If Roy Williams can convince the front office that he will be fully recovered for the upcoming season, I doubt that they will place great emphasis at drafting strong safety.
So, in my very early opinion, during the draft, Jerry Jones may target (if best player available coincides):
§ Minimum of one (1) nose tackle in the early rounds
§ Minimum of two (2) inside linebackers in the mid rounds
§ Minimun of one (1) safety in mid to late rounds who has played mostly strong safety in college
I can’t wait for April to get here.
:
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/triangleinteriorexample.jpg
Currently, our defensive interior consists of:
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/triangleCURRENTinteriorexample.jpg
Note: Bobby Carpenter was Zach Thomas’s backup. It does not mean that he will have the job in 2009, but with Thomas leaving it presents the opportunity for him to move into his slot.
When an offense attacks the interior of the 3-4 with its running game, it does so by first blocking the nose tackle. Regardless of gap assignment or the technique he is using in run defense, the nose tackle is both shielding the inside linebackers and disrupting the blocking assignments of the center and guards, thus allowing the inside linebackers to flow to the ball carrier both inside and from sideline-to-sideline more quickly.
Ratliff did a very good job anchoring the middle of the defensive line, but a more solid tackle can be an upgrade and allow Ratliff to be more flexible as a defensive end (even though he has previously expressed disinterest playing the position). Bradie James has the veteran experience to continue locking down one of the inside linebacker positions, but Bobby Carpenter does not. However, as a former first-round pick, he should be given the opportunity to prove that he can fill the bill, but this position especially needs first-string and/or depth insurance.
Offense also attack triangles in the defense with their passing attack outside of the interior triangle. Some examples of how an offense attacks these other triangles can be seen below:
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/triangleexamples.jpg
In a 3-4 defense, the inside linebackers have to be big, physical and fast to take on guards blocking and cover against the pass in the middle of the field. This is another argument for strengthening the position via the draft. Kevin Burnett has the speed, power and skill to defend against both the run and pass on the outside, but can he become big enough to weaken the argument of looking elsewhere to strengthen the interior triangle? In my opinion, he can’t and he will continue to provide depth at outside linebacker.
In the 3-4, the outside linebackers are the primary pass rushers, not the defensive ends. Ware has one of those positions locked down for the duration of his career, but the position opposite him has to get better. The only question left for Anthony Spencer to answer to move in front of Greg Ellis is whether he can defend against the pass well enough. In my opinion, he can be as good or better than Ellis in this area and will decrease the emphasis of drafting someone as starter competition or even fortifying the position which could continue with a rotation of Ware/Burnett and Spencer/Ellis. Another plus in Spencer’s favor is his untapped NFL-level potential (yes bad word) to rush the quarterback or put his hand on the ground defending against the run in any 4-3/4-6 packages which Wade Phillips began to experiment with more often this season.
Cornerback was strongly addressed in the last draft, so it will receive less emphasis. Safety is another question altogether. Ken Hamlin has been very serviceable as a free safety. If Roy Williams can convince the front office that he will be fully recovered for the upcoming season, I doubt that they will place great emphasis at drafting strong safety.
So, in my very early opinion, during the draft, Jerry Jones may target (if best player available coincides):
§ Minimum of one (1) nose tackle in the early rounds
§ Minimum of two (2) inside linebackers in the mid rounds
§ Minimun of one (1) safety in mid to late rounds who has played mostly strong safety in college
I can’t wait for April to get here.
:
