One big advantage of Tampa-2

[Eskimo]

We have a big advantage if we are running a scheme that puts an emphasis on players that other teams may not rate quite as highly because no one else is running the scheme. I think a big part of the reason we flipped to 3-4 in 2005 was that not many teams were running it and it made it easier to fine tweener pass rushers. Pittsburgh used this advantage for many years to find their OLBs cheap. Maybe we can do the same thing with players schemed for this defense. Anyhow just my .02 on the subject.

I do like the fact that we have brought in some top defensive minds with skins on the wall (Kiffin, Marinelli) and I also like that we kept Eberfluss. I'm not sure about Henderson because our pass defense was so bad. I do suspect at least part of this was Ryan not letting him play his guys like he wanted. I do like the way Mo and Carr improved through the year and I also like the way Church had improved over the offseason (for the two games we saw him play).

It'll be interesting to see how it works out. I do agree that with our existing personnel and the way we play the 3-4 with Ware rushing 80% of the time and using a lot of 1-gapping upfront and without a massive NT that we may as well be playing a 4-3 scheme.

 

[proline]

Isn't this kind of like saying that the good thing about switching our military to all bows and arrows is that at least there won't be any problem finding feathers?

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Isn't this kind of like saying that the good thing about switching our military to all bows and arrows is that at least there won't be any problem finding feathers?

No. It's nothing like that.

 

[Cowboys22]

Good football players are good football players. Many teams run a 4-3 and will be interested in the same players. What is really different besides zone coverage from the CBs requiring at least one good coverage safety? We already have our CBs and every team in the league reguardless of system will be interested in coverage safeties. We need good pass rushing DEs and DTs. What team doesn't like and want those type of players? I see no advantage in the way you are stating.

 

[jobberone]

Players play and coaches coach. There's a reason for that saying.

If things are roughly equal then the right scheme at the right time (or play) is important. It's all important at that level but you still have to beat your guy.

 

[jjktkk]

Isn't this kind of like saying that the good thing about switching our military to all bows and arrows is that at least there won't be any problem finding feathers?

Huh?

 

[Eskimo]

Players play and coaches coach. There's a reason for that saying.

If things are roughly equal then the right scheme at the right time (or play) is important. It's all important at that level but you still have to beat your guy.

This is true but if everyone is looking for one kind of player and saying another won't fit well into their schemes then it gives you a bit of an advantage. When not many players were playing 3-4 you could get a DeMarcus Ware outside of the top 10. Right now with so many teams playing 3-4's it may be easier to get standard 265-275 pound DEs that are too big to be OLBs but also too small to be considered 5-Techs in the 3-4. I do also wonder if we may have an easier go finding smaller LBs with the speed to cover in this scheme compared to a traditional 3-4.

Anyhow, it is just a thought and it'll be interesting to see if we can pick up some underrated defenders now. I happen to think that Hatcher and Ratliff will be good 3-Techs, Brent could be a good 1-Tech if he is playing next year, Lissemore and Hatcher could both play LDE. I think Albright is a bit of a question mark and may be asked to bulk up for DE, too. I like Wilber best for SLB for next year.

Our biggest problem IMO is safety play which has been very poor the last couple of years.

 

[Cowboys22]

There are still plenty of teams running a 4-3 that will want players with the same exact abilities that Dallas will be wanting. We said the same thing when they switched to the 3-4 and they were still unable to draft a big NT. If they are the only team looking for certain types of players, then something is very very wrong with what they are doing. Good players are just that in any system and every team wants them.

 

[Eskimo]

There are still plenty of teams running a 4-3 that will want players with the same exact abilities that Dallas will be wanting. We said the same thing when they switched to the 3-4 and they were still unable to draft a big NT. If they are the only team looking for certain types of players, then something is very very wrong with what they are doing. Good players are just that in any system and every team wants them.

The idea is not so much that we want a player that others do not want. Just that we will put a different value on different sets of skills that they bring. For example, we no longer need to look for 255-265 pound OLBs that are 6-3 to 6-5 and run in the 4.55 to 4.70 and have passrush skills which are in vogue all over the league and hard to get outside of the top 20 picks. Instead we can look for qualities of speed, coverage ability, tackling skills and running game instincts in a 230 pound package which are much more readily available later in the draft.

The truth is at the end you have to get players to line up, play hard and make plays. The only point I'm making is only one other team is running this scheme which may make it easier to find specialists for this scheme cheaper than classic 3-4 players.

 

[slomoxn]

There are still plenty of teams running a 4-3 that will want players with the same exact abilities that Dallas will be wanting. We said the same thing when they switched to the 3-4 and they were still unable to draft a big NT. If they are the only team looking for certain types of players, then something is very very wrong with what they are doing. Good players are just that in any system and every team wants them.

I don't know if they we're unable to draft or at least find a big NT as much as they never really looked because of Ratliff. Much to my chagrin.

 

[xwalker]

We have a big advantage if we are running a scheme that puts an emphasis on players that other teams may not rate quite as highly because no one else is running the scheme. I think a big part of the reason we flipped to 3-4 in 2005 was that not many teams were running it and it made it easier to fine tweener pass rushers. Pittsburgh used this advantage for many years to find their OLBs cheap. Maybe we can do the same thing with players schemed for this defense. Anyhow just my .02 on the subject.

I do like the fact that we have brought in some top defensive minds with skins on the wall (Kiffin, Marinelli) and I also like that we kept Eberfluss. I'm not sure about Henderson because our pass defense was so bad. I do suspect at least part of this was Ryan not letting him play his guys like he wanted. I do like the way Mo and Carr improved through the year and I also like the way Church had improved over the offseason (for the two games we saw him play).

It'll be interesting to see how it works out. I do agree that with our existing personnel and the way we play the 3-4 with Ware rushing 80% of the time and using a lot of 1-gapping upfront and without a massive NT that we may as well be playing a 4-3 scheme.

Good idea, it might help a little but mostly it just shifts the focus around a some. In the Rob Ryan defense it was extremely difficult to find a player at the Anthony Spencer position of SOLB. You had to have someone that I call a 3-tool player (run defense, pass-rush and coverage). Now they just split those duties between the SLB (run defense, coverage) and the SDE (run defense and pass-rush).

On the flip-side, the Rob Ryan defense could get by with Kenyon Coleman at the Strong Side DE and Josh Brent at NT. Those players are not quick enough in the Kiffin style defense. Even the 1-tech in Kiffin's defense is expected to have some pass-rush agility.

 

[Birch_Wood]

I'd like to see us slide Rat over between the RT and RG and get a little bigger at the NT. Now is the time to do it whilst making the transition to 4-3.