Something I just realized

[50cent]

The player with the most experience in our 3-4 defense is Canty. Here is the list of players either in their 1st year starting and/or 1st year in the 3-4:
Ware
Pepper
Spears
Coleman
Ratliff
Fuljita
Singleton
Shanle
Fowler
BJ
Burnett
Roy
Thats 12 guys that started for us and are new to the 3-4 or new to starting period. Thats scary when you think about they have to get better, especially when it comes to our schemes. Notice I only mentioned guys that I expect back next year and not CBs because their job doesn't change in any defense.

 

[TheHustler]

Roy's job doesn't change either.

 

[sago1]

I'd also delete Singleton cause I believe Cowboys will/must upgrade his position to take the heat off Ware. To help Ware move his game to next level, we've got to add an OLB who legit threat opposite Ware to pressure the QB. At this point, opponents know Ware only LB threat & can "handle" him. That must change. We either sign quality vet FA LB (cost big bucks) or, since this good LB year draft an OLB (or DE to convert to OLB like Ware himself did) like Manny Lawson, Bobby Carpenter or DE like Elvis Dumervil (not my first choice), Mark Anderson, Quentin Groves, etc. BTW: Most of the DE's I've mentioned would be available in 2nd or later rounds since they undersized as DE but excellent for 3-4 defensive scheme teams.

 

[jterrell]

The player with the most experience in our 3-4 defense is Canty. Here is the list of players either in their 1st year starting and/or 1st year in the 3-4:
Ware
Pepper
Spears
Coleman
Ratliff
Fuljita
Singleton
Shanle
Fowler
BJ
Burnett
Roy
Thats 12 guys that started for us and are new to the 3-4 or new to starting period. Thats scary when you think about they have to get better, especially when it comes to our schemes. Notice I only mentioned guys that I expect back next year and not CBs because their job doesn't change in any defense.

I think the list is a little too big unless you mean NFL 3-4 experience.

I believe Bradie James, Spears, Fujita, Coleman all have some 3-4 experience. A lot of the other guys have 4-4 or similar experience from college a la Shanle.

Our defense is simply young. Especially the front 7. While BP has whiffed on the OL he has been studly in drafting DL.

 

[lspain1]

Some good insight there 50cent! I would like to think all of this adds up to a much better defense over time as players get more comfortable with the scheme.

What I don't want to happen is to reverse our course and try to go back to a 4-3 based approach. Regardless of the outcome our direction is set because of the players we acquired last year. To go back now would undo some of that work. We have to 'stay the course' and finish the task of building the defense.

Those who stated that the transition would mean we lost some good players were correct. We aren't done with this yet.

 

[Murph80]

But it's Zimmers fault. Whatever

 

[AbeBeta]

Of the guys who will be with us next year, that list is mostly young players. Of course Canty has the most 3-4 experience -- that will always be the case - the 3-4 is not all that popular in college and only recently came back into widespread use in the nfl.

But honestly, worrying about whether our players understand the 3-4 is kind of silly. The D played pretty well last year. The exact same D with a slightly better offense is in the playoffs and maybe still alive.

 

[50cent]

Roy's job doesn't change either.

It does when you consider him playing deep as opposed to closer to the line. Beasue of our deep coverage woes again, he had to play deep alot more this year once again.

 

[50cent]

I think the list is a little too big unless you mean NFL 3-4 experience.

I believe Bradie James, Spears, Fujita, Coleman all have some 3-4 experience. A lot of the other guys have 4-4 or similar experience from college a la Shanle.

Our defense is simply young. Especially the front 7. While BP has whiffed on the OL he has been studly in drafting DL.

Spear and James played some 3-4 in college, but were primarily 4-3 guys, not to mention this is their 1st year as starters in the NFL. Fujita was quoted as saying this would be the first time playing ing the 3-4 when we traded for him. Can't recall Coleman or UCLA running the 3-4, but I could be wrong. Don't know if he ran it in Oakland either.

 

[50cent]

Of the guys who will be with us next year, that list is mostly young players. Of course Canty has the most 3-4 experience -- that will always be the case - the 3-4 is not all that popular in college and only recently came back into widespread use in the nfl.

But honestly, worrying about whether our players understand the 3-4 is kind of silly. The D played pretty well last year. The exact same D with a slightly better offense is in the playoffs and maybe still alive.

Its never silly to worry about players picking up new schemes and fundamentals. You can't take anything for granted in this sport. Ware was getting murdered to the outside his first couple of weeks in the season. Once he recognized his responsibilities, he was able to play faster and react. Thats what should happen to everyone of these guys next year. We should have more guys reacting instead of waiting to not make mistakes. That makes for a much faster defense ala the Steelers.