Our future with the 3-4

[Smith22]

Our current depth chart:

Ellis -- Canty
Glover -- Ferguson
Coleman (YUCK) -- Spears

Singleton -- Fujita
James (YUCK) -- Shanle (YUCK)
Dat -- Fowler
Ware -- Burnett

Fujita is on a 1 year deal. Does he stay? Can he be moved to ILB if needed?

Glover == $4.5 million base salary next year, then is a FA the year after. What do we do at DT?

What is Burnett's future in this defense? Why play him behind Ware only to move him next year if he wants to start?

Ellis comes at a decent price over the next 2 seasons, with base salaries each year of $2.5 million or less. Do we keep him around? (I say yes, start Spears over Coleman)

James hasn't shown any big play ability as of yet and Shanle hasn't been able to beat him out. Do we look to improve at ILB via the draft or FA or can we move Burnett to the inside??

Singleton's base next year is $2.17 million next year, and with Burnett looking to start (we hope), he looks to be gone.

I know some of these questions will be answered by how this season plays out, just looking for some opinions on what direction you think we are headed and what the master plan is with the defense.

 

[blindzebra]

We will need upgrades at LB for this to really take off.

Right now Dat has been it, with a little help from Ware and Singleton. Hopefully, Ware starts making more plays like the Seattle game, and Burnett and Fujita can live up to expectations.

Even if they do, we have very questionable depth.

I'll be shocked if LB was not our first pick in 2006.

 

[Smith22]

BZ, what about Burnett? Why do you think we are playing him behind Ware at the moment? Do you think we move him later this season or do we leave him as is for now and take a wait and see approach?

 

[Justis]

We will need upgrades at LB for this to really take off.

Right now Dat has been it, with a little help from Ware and Singleton.

Hey man don't forget Fujita, last week he saved a touchdown, that would have been the game for us.

 

[blindzebra]

BZ, what about Burnett? Why do you think we are playing him behind Ware at the moment? Do you think we move him later this season or do we leave him as is for now and take a wait and see approach?

Because we lost Thornton, and Burnett has the pass rushing/coverage combo that Ogbogu doesn't. Fujita's size helps out on the strongside. Parcells is attempting to limit Ware's snaps in the 3-4 by using Burnett in that spot. We lose a little in pass rush but gain in run stopping and coverage. By using them both we have less drop-off than Ogbogu and Ware can have something left in the 4th quarter on his pass rush.

 

[Smith22]

BZ,

I don't disagree with anything you said, but with Fujita being on a 1 year deal and Singleton likely not staying around after this season, do you think we might try and move Burnett over to SLB and have either Fujita or Al sub in for Ware as needed?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We will need upgrades at LB for this to really take off.

Right now Dat has been it, with a little help from Ware and Singleton. Hopefully, Ware starts making more plays like the Seattle game, and Burnett and Fujita can live up to expectations.

Even if they do, we have very questionable depth.

I'll be shocked if LB was not our first pick in 2006.

Ware had two tackles for loss to ggo with that sack hes doing just fine.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

We will need upgrades at LB for this to really take off.

Right now Dat has been it, with a little help from Ware and Singleton. Hopefully, Ware starts making more plays like the Seattle game, and Burnett and Fujita can live up to expectations.

Even if they do, we have very questionable depth.

I'll be shocked if LB was not our first pick in 2006.

I was thinking FS.

Unless someone has a FA list?

 

[blindzebra]

BZ,

I don't disagree with anything you said, but with Fujita being on a 1 year deal and Singleton likely not staying around after this season, do you think we might try and move Burnett over to SLB and have either Fujita or Al sub in for Ware as needed?

I expect that we will try to re-do Ellis' contract to make it more cap friendly and keep our core intact on the DL.

Most likely other than Ware, Dat, and Burnett everyone else is playing for a job for next year. I would not be surprised if we handle LB just like we did the DL this off season by bringing in a FA...possibly re-signing Fujita...plus drafting at least 2.

I think where Burnett goes depends on how James, Shanle, and Fowler play the rest of the season and how the draft falls next year. If the above don't improve, and someone like Chad Greenway is there when we draft, I think Burnett moves inside.

Anyway you want to break it down, our goal will be to find playmakers at each spot, so that the guys heavily in the mix now return to more of a ST/back-up role.

 

[Anguillidae]

We need to draft Ahmad Brooks next year. Then we'll have Fujita-Brooks-Nguyen-Ware with Burnett backing up all the spots and playing full time in the nickle. That would be sweet!

The problem is that Brooks probably will be a top 10 pick, and I hope we don't get a top 10 pick (except maybe through a trade).

 

[junk]

I was thinking FS.

Unless someone has a FA list?

Working on a first run FA list....it takes awhile and its really boring. I have about half the NFC done.

I posted a thread asking for help and basically just got one condesending reply.

 

[Jarv]

I think we should move Ogbogu to the inside. That give us Dat, James, Ogbogu and ? for the inside next year. Leaving Ware, Burnett, Fujita, Thorton (next year) as the outside rotation.

Assuming 10 LB'ers next year, the rest of the guys can fight over the last two spots...Add in FA and draft next year into that equation.

 

[NorthTexan95]

Hey man don't forget Fujita, last week he saved a touchdown, that would have been the game for us.

Fujita seemed thrilled to be traded to a 3-4 defense. If he's still happy at the end of the year, for a solid offer he would probably re-sign. He's not the kind of player you see teams break the bank for so if Dallas wants him next year they should be in a position to do so.

 

[junk]

I think we should move Ogbogu to the inside. That give us Dat, James, Ogbogu and ? for the inside next year. Leaving Ware, Burnett, Fujita, Thorton (next year) as the outside rotation.

Assuming 10 LB'ers next year, the rest of the guys can fight over the last two spots...Add in FA and draft next year into that equation.

I think getting Ogbogu off the team will be a big step in improving the overall talent base of the LBing corps.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't think Dallas or most teams around the league will go solely with the 3-4 or the 4-3 but will use a combination of both. I think there is strength and weakness in both styles of defense and I think coaches realize this as well and will utilize it based a lot on the up coming opponent and or situations with in a ball game. You look at a team like the Pats who are a 3-4 yet in the SB against Philly almost went exclusively to the 4-3 because it provided better match ups for them

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Working on a first run FA list....it takes awhile and its really boring. I have about half the NFC done.

I posted a thread asking for help and basically just got one condesending reply.

How about simulating a season in Madden, and writing down the top 10-ish FA's available at each position (You can exclude positions we have no interest in to save time, RB, SS, CB, TE ect.)

 

[InDakWeTrust]

How about simulating a season in Madden, and writing down the top 10-ish FA's available at each position (You can exclude positions we have no interest in to save time, RB, SS, CB, TE ect.)

That would work except for the fact usually for the lower quality players (below 80 overall) their contract numbers are off. Do you think Duce Staley only signed a three year deal with the Steelers?
Also, they dont include extensions that are signed during the season.

 

[Zman5]

I think getting Ogbogu off the team will be a big step in improving the overall talent base of the LBing corps.

But then who would "protect this house" ?

 

[junk]

How about simulating a season in Madden, and writing down the top 10-ish FA's available at each position (You can exclude positions we have no interest in to save time, RB, SS, CB, TE ect.)

Madden isn't accurate that way.

It has Ellis as a FA after the season.

 

[Hollywood Henderson]

I think Burnett gets Dats spot when he gets injured (& he will)...

We need more speed & toughness on D...Something dat can't ever provide...

Burnett might also find himself back on the nickle...No way we can play Filthy with such SLOW guys at LBer like Dat & Shanle...