Was going back to the 4-3 Defense a huge mistake?

[Verdict]

It seems as though the fear that some of us had about going back to the 4-3 was well founded in that 4-3 defensive ends are very hard to come by. Here we are, several years into the process, and low and behold, we are having a hard time finding stud 4-3 defensive ends.

Moreover, our defense has been bad overall, and has been bad against the run. 3-4 defensive ends are much easier to find, and cheaper. This draft is chuck full of defensive linemen, mostly interior guys at the top end, and could easily be used to fill the interior of the DL, or do a complete overhaul and go back to a 3-4 if we chose to go that route.

Are we handicapping ourselves with the 4-3, and could this be the year we quietly decide we made a mistake and go the other direction? Even if we aren't doing that ..... SHOULD we be going back to the 3-4?

 

[Vinnie2u]

I don't think so. Ware left. Hatchet left. Spencer had micro surgery. Lee is Small.. Spread Offenses taking off..

 

[Fletch]

Nope. It all boils down to accountability, coaching, chemistry, and staying healthy. Either scheme can get the job done.

 

[Fletch]

I don't think so. Ware left. Hatchet left. Spencer had micro surgery. Lee is Small.. Spread Offenses taking off..

Lee is small? Lee is arguably one of the best LBers in the league when he's healthy. He's worth that risk. Lee is not even remotely needed mentioning in your post as a downer on the defense.

 

[Nexx]

Lee is small? Lee is arguably one of the best LBers in the league when he's healthy. He's worth that risk. Lee is not even remotely needed mentioning in your post as a downer.

lets see, lee is small has nothing to do with whether or not he is the best LBers in the NFL. i dont think that was his point.

 

[Idgit]

Nope. Not having better players has been tho.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Lee is small? Lee is arguably one of the best LBers in the league when he's healthy. He's worth that risk. Lee is not even remotely needed mentioning in your post as a downer on the defense.

Lee is small for a interior 3-4 LB. I'm not saying that Lee sucks. He's made for the 4-3. Protects him from the bigger OLine men.

 

[Verdict]

How big of a part has the Golden Cock been in the failure of this defense? If you replace the Golden Cock (we have already) with a starting quality player, and you add an above average player at safety to demote Church, how much better is this defense this year?

 

[Fletch]

lets see, lee is small has nothing to do with whether or not he is the best LBers in the NFL. i dont think that was his point.

You're right, but he's qualifying Lee's height as a weakness or disqualifying attribute as to why the 4-3 doesn't work or to why a shift to the 3-4 wouldn't work either. Absurd!

 

[Stash]

It seems as though the fear that some of us had about going back to the 4-3 was well founded in that 4-3 defensive ends are very hard to come by. Here we are, several years into the process, and low and behold, we are having a hard time finding stud 4-3 defensive ends.

Moreover, our defense has been bad overall, and has been bad against the run. 3-4 defensive ends are much easier to find, and cheaper. This draft is chuck full of defensive linemen, mostly interior guys at the top end, and could easily be used to fill the interior of the DL, or do a complete overhaul and go back to a 3-4 if we chose to go that route.

Are we handicapping ourselves with the 4-3, and could this be the year we quietly decide we made a mistake and go the other direction? Even if we aren't doing that ..... SHOULD we be going back to the 3-4?

I agree with you. Our fears of going back to the 4-3 and the days of Shante Carver, Ebenezer Ekuban and Marcellus Wiley have come to pass.

In my opinion, it's yet another mistake made in the hopes of fixing the biggest one, that being the appointing of the wrong guy as your answer for head coach. Every other thing about this team has been revamped or changed, with the same mediocre results. They've changed virtually every other coach, player, and scheme and ultimately, the results fail to change.

And not only did they go with the 4-3, but they went with aging coaches as well. Coaches that this game very well could have simply passed by. The results sure seem to suggest it.

And the team has invested two 2nd rounders and a 3rd rounder in the defensive end position as well as the big money roll-of-the-dice on Greg Hardy and all they've ended up with are questions and controversy. I found the lack of pass rush last year, given the investments, to be a head scratcher.

 

[Fletch]

Lee is small for a interior 3-4 LB. I'm not saying that Lee sucks. He's made for the 4-3. Protects him from the bigger OLine men.

I got ya. I still think Lee would work in a 3-4 alignment too. He's a playmaker.

 

[Stash]

How big of a part has the Golden Cock been in the failure of this defense? If you replace the Golden Cock (we have already) with a starting quality player, and you add an above average player at safety to demote Church, how much better is this defense this year?

If Hardy goes, I think you're strengthening one spot (1-tech), while greatly weakening another (defensive end).

So you fix one and break another.

 

[erod]

The 4-3 is the defense that should be played if you smartly draft. Especially now that cut blocks have been rendered all but illegal.

The 3-4 is too vulnerable to read options.

 

[DeaconMoss]

How big of a part has the Golden Cock been in the failure of this defense? If you replace the Golden Cock (we have already) with a starting quality player, and you add an above average player at safety to demote Church, how much better is this defense this year?

2/11 better or .18181818181818 percent

 

[Nexx]

You're right, but he's qualifying Lee's height as a weakness or disqualifying attribute as to why the 4-3 doesn't work or to why a shift to the 3-4 wouldn't work either. Absurd!

no the poster goes to say that he didnt think it was a mistake to go to the 4-3. Lee's size is better suited for Will in the 4-3 not the middle in the 3-4. not that he couldnt do extremely well in the 3-4 but taking into consideration the injury history Lee is in the right scheme now with the 4-3

 

[Denim Chicken]

Easier to find players for a 4-3.

 

[Doomsday101]

It seems as though the fear that some of us had about going back to the 4-3 was well founded in that 4-3 defensive ends are very hard to come by. Here we are, several years into the process, and low and behold, we are having a hard time finding stud 4-3 defensive ends.

Moreover, our defense has been bad overall, and has been bad against the run. 3-4 defensive ends are much easier to find, and cheaper. This draft is chuck full of defensive linemen, mostly interior guys at the top end, and could easily be used to fill the interior of the DL, or do a complete overhaul and go back to a 3-4 if we chose to go that route.

Are we handicapping ourselves with the 4-3, and could this be the year we quietly decide we made a mistake and go the other direction? Even if we aren't doing that ..... SHOULD we be going back to the 3-4?

I think both 4-3 and 3-4 are good schemes but I think changing back and forth can create problems. Cowboys need to do themselves a favor just stick with the 4-3 and get players to fit the scheme.

 

[CATCH17]

We just don't play defense in Dallas.


At our best we are a unit that doesn't allow a lot of yards but gives up whatever the offense wants in crucial situations.

 

[lostar2009]

It's harder to find 34 ends and DT on top of a DC that can call it. Besides that we really haven't invest quality picks towards this D yet.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I agree with you. Our fears of going back to the 4-3 and the days of Shante Carver, Ebenezer Ekuban and Marcellus Wiley have come to pass.

In my opinion, it's yet another mistake made in the hopes of fixing the biggest one, that being the appointing of the wrong guy as your answer for head coach. Every other thing about this team has been revamped or changed, with the same mediocre results. They've changed virtually every other coach, player, and scheme and ultimately, the results fail to change.

And not only did they go with the 4-3, but they went with aging coaches as well. Coaches that this game very well could have simply passed by. The results sure seem to suggest it.

And the team has invested two 2nd rounders and a 3rd rounder in the defensive end position as well as the big money roll-of-the-dice on Greg Hardy and all they've ended up with are questions and controversy. I found the lack of pass rush last year, given the investments, to be a head scratcher.

And AGAIN we go back to what Troy Aikman pointed out. That there is a lack of a true plan here in Dallas. Things change with the wind. Are we doing to be a running team, pass happy, 4-3, 3-4, zone secondary, man to man coverage with press corners?

Everything seems to be a year to year, on the fly, patch up the holes type mentality.