Time to go back to the 3-4

[neosapien23]

I know this will seem like a knee jerk reaction but this team is much better of in a 3-4. Lets say the team finishes out at 8-8. They will finish with a decent draft pick and way too many holes to fill. As it is right now people (including myself) are advocating blowing all top 4 picks on the Dline and an outside linebacker. While this necessary to run the 4-3, it is not to return to the 3-4. Pieces are in place right now to run the old defense even if Ware is cut. The draft would look have to look like this and cheap FAs could be brought in.

1st round Stephen Tuitt This guy was made for the 3-4. He has the same size and speed ratio as Hageman but actually produced this year with 6 sacks. Good thing is he already plays in a 3-4 and should make an easy transition.

2nd round Michael Sam OLBer Again this guy already plays a DE/OLB position. He is having a monster year and has already gotten 10.5 sacks. He would be a great fit to replace Ware.

3rd round DaQuan Jones NT This guy is a little small as a NT at just 6'3 318 lbs, but he would get a very good push up the middle as a passrusher.

4th round Stanley Jean Baptiste CB I know what everyone is thinking, but the guy is 6-2 220 lbs. He could easily be moved to FS as Johnson continues on his trend of always being hurt. He has enough height and weight to play the position.

5th round DeAndre Coleman DT. The guy is 6'5 and weighs 315 lbs. He hasn't really done much in college but Dallas will need another body to transition back to the 3-4.

FA to bring in:
NT Linval Joseph He is very young at 25 years and would bring in a really good push up the middle. Like Jones he is a little light for a NT at 6'4 and 323 lbs, but he would bring some heat. That would be the only FA I would bring in. He and Jones would be able to rotate to keep each other fresh.

Even though Bass and Crawford will make fine DEs in a 3-4, Dallas should still invest heavily. This year should have taught us that depth on the Dline is absolutely necessary. Having Joseph, Jones, Bass, Tuitt, Crawford, and Coleman would set the starters and give good depth. Depth is not only needed in case of injury but also to keep lineman fresh. The reason Dallas is not getting a passrush anymore like they were earlier in the year is because the starters are worn out. You need depth to play at a high level all the way till the end.

Defense would look like this
DE Crawford NT Joseph DE Tuit
OLB Sam ILB Carter ILB Lee OLB Wilber
CB Carr CB Claiborne SS Wilcox FS Baptiste
This defense would be more than solid and Coleman, Bass, and Jones would ensure that our starters remain fresh. Even if Dallas loses a Dlineman, the season won't be over. Also Martez Wilson would make an excellent backup at the OLB spot with his size and speed ratio. Holloman still has good size to play ILB. To stay in the 4-3 would require even more picks to fix the defense.

 

[xwalker]

I don't see how the existing personnel fit the 3-4 better than the 4-3.

Ware: He is on the decline due to health/age. He rushed from a 4-man line in the 3-4 on obvious pass downs. He can't beat 1-on-1 blocking to OTs anymore in that exact same alignment.
Wilber: Maybe, but he is having more success at LB in the 4-3 than he had last year in the 3-4.
Crawford: Can play either.
Martez Wilson: Had the most success in a 4-3. Was cut in NO when they changed to 3-4.
Selvie: Not a fit in a 3-4.
Nevis: Not a fit in a 3-4.

Lee: Can play either.
Carter: Maybe, but he played 4-3 in college. His issues seem to be more than just the scheme.
Holloman: He was a college Safety. Those usually translate best to 4-3 OLBs.

NT(3-4): The Cowboys don't have any on the roster. Josh Brent and Ratliff are gone.

CBs: The Tampa-2 scheme might be an issue, but many 4-3 schemes use man coverage.
Safeties: Not scheme dependent.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Keep the 4-3 and draft legitimate NFL defensive linemen.

 

[davey999]

I would go back to 3-4 but it won't happen.

 

[CaptainMorgan]

Time to get NFL quality players!

This group hasnt been succesful in any scheme

 

[Clove]

I like the 4-3 but you have to have playmakers no matter what. And you have to have guys doing things they are good at. If a guy is good at bump and run, don't have him mostly in a zone or playing off. You need pass rushers, and not just edge rushers. You always need guys who can push or disrupt the middle. And no matter what scheme you have, you need those things.

 

[xwalker]

1st round Stephen Tuitt This guy was made for the 3-4. He has the same size and speed ratio as Hageman but actually produced this year with 6 sacks. Good thing is he already plays in a 3-4 and should make an easy transition.

2nd round Michael Sam OLBer Again this guy already plays a DE/OLB position. He is having a monster year and has already gotten 10.5 sacks. He would be a great fit to replace Ware.

3rd round DaQuan Jones NT This guy is a little small as a NT at just 6'3 318 lbs, but he would get a very good push up the middle as a passrusher.

4th round Stanley Jean Baptiste CB I know what everyone is thinking, but the guy is 6-2 220 lbs. He could easily be moved to FS as Johnson continues on his trend of always being hurt. He has enough height and weight to play the position.

5th round DeAndre Coleman DT. The guy is 6'5 and weighs 315 lbs. He hasn't really done much in college but Dallas will need another body to transition back to the 3-4.

FA to bring in:
NT Linval Joseph He is very young at 25 years and would bring in a really good push up the middle. Like Jones he is a little light for a NT at 6'4 and 323 lbs, but he would bring some heat. That would be the only FA I would bring in. He and Jones would be able to rotate to keep each other fresh.

I didn't mention it in my first post, but I like all of your draft picks and they could all play in the 4-3.

Stephon Tuitt: 6-6, 312, est: 4.89 forty
Could play 1 or 3 tech DT in 4-3

Michael Sam: 6-2, 255, est: 4.74
Weak-Side DE

DaQuan Jones: 6-3, 318, est: 5.18
1-tech DT

Stanley Jean Baptiste: 6-2, 220, est: 4.56
CB or Safety, The Cowboys need some size in the secondary.
There are huge receivers all over the league now.

Deandre Coleman: 6-5, 315, est: 5.12
1-tech DT or maybe SDE like Red Bryant in Seattle

 

[Brooksey]

I know this will seem like a knee jerk reaction but this team is much better of in a 3-4. Lets say the team finishes out at 8-8. They will finish with a decent draft pick and way too many holes to fill. As it is right now people (including myself) are advocating blowing all top 4 picks on the Dline and an outside linebacker. While this necessary to run the 4-3, it is not to return to the 3-4. Pieces are in place right now to run the old defense even if Ware is cut. The draft would look have to look like this and cheap FAs could be brought in.

1st round Stephen Tuitt This guy was made for the 3-4. He has the same size and speed ratio as Hageman but actually produced this year with 6 sacks. Good thing is he already plays in a 3-4 and should make an easy transition.

2nd round Michael Sam OLBer Again this guy already plays a DE/OLB position. He is having a monster year and has already gotten 10.5 sacks. He would be a great fit to replace Ware.

3rd round DaQuan Jones NT This guy is a little small as a NT at just 6'3 318 lbs, but he would get a very good push up the middle as a passrusher.

4th round Stanley Jean Baptiste CB I know what everyone is thinking, but the guy is 6-2 220 lbs. He could easily be moved to FS as Johnson continues on his trend of always being hurt. He has enough height and weight to play the position.

5th round DeAndre Coleman DT. The guy is 6'5 and weighs 315 lbs. He hasn't really done much in college but Dallas will need another body to transition back to the 3-4.

FA to bring in:
NT Linval Joseph He is very young at 25 years and would bring in a really good push up the middle. Like Jones he is a little light for a NT at 6'4 and 323 lbs, but he would bring some heat. That would be the only FA I would bring in. He and Jones would be able to rotate to keep each other fresh.

Even though Bass and Crawford will make fine DEs in a 3-4, Dallas should still invest heavily. This year should have taught us that depth on the Dline is absolutely necessary. Having Joseph, Jones, Bass, Tuitt, Crawford, and Coleman would set the starters and give good depth. Depth is not only needed in case of injury but also to keep lineman fresh. The reason Dallas is not getting a passrush anymore like they were earlier in the year is because the starters are worn out. You need depth to play at a high level all the way till the end.

Defense would look like this
DE Crawford NT Joseph DE Tuit
OLB Sam ILB Carter ILB Lee OLB Wilber
CB Carr CB Claiborne SS Wilcox FS Baptiste
This defense would be more than solid and Coleman, Bass, and Jones would ensure that our starters remain fresh. Even if Dallas loses a Dlineman, the season won't be over. Also Martez Wilson would make an excellent backup at the OLB spot with his size and speed ratio. Holloman still has good size to play ILB. To stay in the 4-3 would require even more picks to fix the defense.

It's not going to happen, theres no turning back now. The draft is pretty deep in 4-3 DE's and DT's. A veteran safety makes more sense while Wilcox and Johnson mature.

 

[Alexander]

You only go back if you can get a good coach for it. That is one drawback to the 3-4. It is not a defense that a lot of coaches are cut out for and understand. It is not widely used at the college ranks and you are limited with the options from the professional ranks since it is still popular.

Sadly if we had been patient, Ray Horton, who is doing a fine job in Cleveland, could have been had.

 

[neosapien23]

I didn't mention it in my first post, but I like all of your draft picks and they could all play in the 4-3.

Stephon Tuitt: 6-6, 312, est: 4.89 forty
Could play 1 or 3 tech DT in 4-3

Michael Sam: 6-2, 255, est: 4.74
Weak-Side DE

DaQuan Jones: 6-3, 318, est: 5.18
1-tech DT

Stanley Jean Baptiste: 6-2, 220, est: 4.56
CB or Safety, The Cowboys need some size in the secondary.
There are huge receivers all over the league now.

Deandre Coleman: 6-5, 315, est: 5.12
1-tech DT or maybe SDE like Red Bryant in Seattle

If Dallas stays in the 4-3, I would change Tuitt to Trent Murphy to get more heat from the DE position. I do not like Sam in the 4-3 as he is a little short. In the 2nd round I would then draft Ray Drew or Kon Ealy who could get some pressure from the strong DE side. Jones would still be a 1 tech, and I would have Crawford gain some weight to get back into the 300 lbs range again. Between Crawford, Bass, and Nevis there are more than enough canidates for the 3 tech position. Would still sign Joseph to rotate with Jones and would change Coleman to a more traditional DE like Kareem Martin or an OLBer like Jonathan Brown for depth purposes.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Time to get different coaching, players, scheme....

 

[theebs]

never should have left it.

Should have hired todd bowles in 2011. We would be 3 years into him running the defense and helping find players to play in it. Ware would still be a stand up olb.

had a chance to hire him again this year, nope. Jerry listened to his old cronies and we end up with kiffin.

now we have a mess. its like 2004. We have have the talent to play each scheme and need to make a heavy investment resources wise into fixing it.

and we are already stuck with dead weight in Claiborne and apparently carter.

 

[Common Sense]

I still think it was a mistake to switch to the 4-3, but because it was an obvious setback for a team that supposedly wishes to be a contender. Why initiate a three-year rebuilding process on one side of the ball if that's the case?

That said, I don't prefer one front over the other. I like teams that use multiple fronts in interesting ways, whether it's New Orleans, New England, Seattle, etc. Technically, Seattle is a 4-3 team that employs a lot of 3-4 personnel and concepts (Contrary to popular belief, it's not nearly as close to Kiffin's or Marinelli's Ds as people like to think).

 

[Seven]

Yeah. Just in time for a new staff so they can start all over, over again.

NOTHING changes until Jerry's gone. 18 years of exactly the same not telling enough for you? Couple more years to send it home?

 

[Wheeltax]

guarantee this defense as it is now is zero better in a base 3-4.