Was switching to the 4-3 a mistake?

[The Ominous]

 

[Direwolf63]

lol.

I'd probably take out a lineman or 2.

 

[wileedog]

The team was built for the 3-4, the team drafted/FA for the 3-4. Switching to the 4-3 was a knee-jerk reaction and I suspect to cover up other areas of concern(offense/Garrett)..

This is my biggest problem with it. Somebody had to get canned after last year's debacle, and Ryan was chosen as the sacrifice.

At that point, they didn't carefully study what players they had and analyze what strengths they represented at what positions and decide "Hey, this team should really be in a Cover 2." Instead, Jerry noticed that a 'name' defensive coach had come available in Monte Kiffin, hired him to make a splash, and then crammed all the existing players - whether they fit or not - into the new system.

Even Parcells didn't switch to his beloved 3-4 as soon as he got here, he waited until he had at least an offseason to start getting the right players in place before he switched. Jerry just decided to do it one day as a reaction.

I think YR makes a good point in this thread about the 4-3 being a better counter to the current offenses around the league. But that's not why we made the switch IMO. We made it because Jerry wanted to hire a specific coach who happened to bring with him a 4-3. And say what you want about all of the injuries this year, this time last year all we were talking about was all of the injuries on defense too and they were at least ranked 19th in the league, not historically terribad. Whatever the talent level of this team, it was clearly better suited for a different defense.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

And say what you want about all of the injuries this year, this time last year all we were talking about was all of the injuries on defense too and they were at least ranked 19th in the league, not historically terribad.

Last years defense gave up 30 points twice last season (not counting special team scores). This years defense has already given up 30 points 6 times. Stole that stat from dcfanatic.

 

[jnday]

So you knew that Spencer and Crawford were going to be injured before the draft. And that Bass even if not injured was worthless as depth. And that Ratliff would not play at all and eventually be released. Congrats to all you hindsighters. You are brilliant and every one else is stupid.

All you and others who spout this fecal matter do is show how little you understand the game and make us wonder how you got your special powers. How am supposed to take this stuff seriously. Now I wouldn't have had a single problem with drafting a pass rusher/DL early on. But I can at least understand why they didn't. You guys want to puff up and say I told you so when you couldn't possibly have foreseen the multiplicity of injuries coming down the road. And I haven't even mentioned Ware who was certainly seen by experts and given the green light to play.

You guys are so awesome that ii is beyond the greatest awesomeness that ever existed. I bow before your prescience oh mighty ones.

You should bow in their presence. The thing that you seem to overlook is that the dlinemen that they had was not good before the injuries. Rat has he washed up for three years. Crawford is a depth player and even Ware had shown signs of decline rue to constant injuries. There was no excuse to go into the season depending on older players with injury histories and untested backups with questionable talent. Did you really expect different results?

 

[The Ominous]

lol.

I'd probably take out a lineman or 2.

I just think it's hilarious because there's like 14 guys lined up for the Bears. And sometimes I swear with this pathetic pass coverage that there are like 8 receivers running around freely out there.

 

[CaptainMorgan]

they sucked in the 3-4 they suck in the 4-3.

Now whats the common denominator?

 

[The Ominous]

they sucked in the 3-4 they suck in the 4-3.

Now whats the common denominator?

We sucked a lot less in the 3-4, but not by much and I agree with you.

 

[Alexander]

I just think it's hilarious because there's like 14 guys lined up for the Bears. And sometimes I swear with this pathetic pass coverage that there are like 8 receivers running around freely out there.

It is not just the pass coverage. The rush is bad. It is a horrible combination when you have zero pass rush and the secondary has little to no confidence, especially against bigger more physical receivers.

Right now, our corners are shellshocked facing physical WRs.

We like to imagine Carr is a top shelf press cornerback, he really is not unless there is rush support. He does not have the swagger that kind of corner needs to have. It is fairly evident.

 

[Clove]

No it wasn't. What was a mistake was thinking that switching to the 4-3 was going to solve our nonexistent pass rush from the middle. For years, I have seen Dware come off the edge and almost get to the QB. All the QB does is step up and burn us. If we had been able to get consistent pressure from the middle, that QB couldn't step up and Dware would be the greatest pass rusher of all time. Doesn't matter what D we utilize, if we can't get to the QB we are toast.

This is one of the best responses I've seen on this board about any subject in a long time. Excellent post, something I mentioned the other day in the game day thread.

The guy gets up field more than anyone I've ever seen. Every time, the QB just steps up, why? Because he always has a clean pocket to step up into, but I guarantee you that if he were on the Detroit Lions team, he would get 20 sacks and people would talk about how they really didn't want to trade Ware.

Switching to a 4-3 was the right move. Switching to the Tampa 2 was an insanely dumb move made by an insanely dumb staff.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

they sucked in the 3-4 they suck in the 4-3.

Now whats the common denominator?

We didn't suck in the 3-4. We were an average defense, 14-16th in the league. Heck of a lot better than #32..

 

[CaptainMorgan]

We didn't suck in the 3-4. We were an average defense, 14-16th in the league. Heck of a lot better than #32..

dude we sucked. our defense hasnt been average in 4 years

 

[The Ominous]

It is not just the pass coverage. The rush is bad. It is a horrible combination when you have zero pass rush and the secondary has little to no confidence, especially against bigger more physical receivers.

Right now, our corners are shellshocked facing physical WRs.

We like to imagine Carr is a top shelf press cornerback, he really is not unless there is rush support. He does not have the swagger that kind of corner needs to have. It is fairly evident.

I was just referencing the picture. I completely agree that without any type of pass rush the secondary is at a horrible disadvantage no matter the scheme. That's obvious. We still can't cover anybody. Which is also obvious.

 

[jobberone]

You should bow in their presence. The thing that you seem to overlook is that the dlinemen that they had was not good before the injuries. Rat has he washed up for three years. Crawford is a depth player and even Ware had shown signs of decline rue to constant injuries. There was no excuse to go into the season depending on older players with injury histories and untested backups with questionable talent. Did you really expect different results?

I disagree. They had no choice but to depend on Ware and Ratliff because they had to go to cap hell for resigning and restructuring them. You can only spend so many resources in one area or you will have to go shopping for UDFAs otherwise. Or count on finding a gem at the bottom of the draft where the odds of finding a player is much lower. Many were concerned about Ware and Ratliff but not to the point of saying we need to have their replacements on board now because they aren't going to contribute this year.

Crawford may be a backup but that's not what they are thinking. The team thinks he's a player. We'll see. But I don't think many see him as just depth although he's not proven yet. He got some decent snaps last year. No one thought Spence wasn't going to play and he was our best DL last year. And Bass is not thought of as well as Crawford but they are looking for him to get some snaps.

There is no question you sign Ware and restructure. You can make a case to not resign Rat but at the time they basically were stuck.

And therein lies the problem which has gone on for years. You're in a hole and while you're trying to climb out they keep digging the hole or at least throwing dirt on you. Jerry is constantly trying to catch up. And when you put yourself in that position you have to keep plugging holes and you end up with paying for older players, you don't have depth on the team and you are unable to see which players in that depth can replace older and more expensive players.

 

[Wood]

I don't see that as reasonable. We lost Spencer, Bass and Crawford early on and after the draft.

Ratliff had been in and out of lineup for year-and-half before draft and was declining before injury. Nobody knew how Hatcher would perform in 4-3 defense.
3 of 4 starters were over age of 30. That screams for DL draft picks. Dallas didn't take one. They took what is at best a back-up RB and with Witten and Hannah on team...there was no need to take Escobar so early. Huge miscalculation by Dallas that is being felt as we speak.

 

[jobberone]

Ratliff hadn't been on the field in year-and-half and was declining before injury. Nobody knew how Hatcher would perform in 4-3 defense.
3 of 4 starters were over age of 30. That screams for DL draft picks. Dallas didn't take one. They took what is at best a back-up RB and with Witten and Hannah on team...there was no need to take Escobar so early. Huge miscalculation by Dallas that is being felt as we speak.

And we needed something on offense as it has failed for many years. And we needed something along the OL interior. And LBer and DBs esp safeties. You can only address so much at a time.

And if you look at the media at the time the DL was seen as a relative strength with Spencer, Ware, Hatcher (whom I've touted for years) and Rat. You can't tell me anyone predicted Rat would never play again. Certainly many thought he was a concern and who wouldn't.

It just so happens there was a run on OL and they had to reach some to get Fred and the board went ballistic. How'd that work out? Escobar hasn't contributed this year but as I told another, that is not unusual. If you argue we should have taken a DL there then you're playing the hindsight gain. Any DL you picked there could have been injured in TC, lost to off field problems and just busted.

You people act like we could and should have picked a DL and he would have been a sure contributor or starter. And that would really make a difference for this defense????

 

[dfan32]

I'm hearing a lot of fans from other teams complaining how bad their favorite teams defense is. It's beginning to look like a trend, a trend that the league wanted and may have gone to far in their pursuit of it. Rules changes to promote more offense and scoring enacted by the league over the last several years was the beginning. Offenses begin to learn to take advantage of them and then the safety rules, horse collar tackles, helmet to helmet hits, spearing and on and on piled on top of those....it's no wonder defenses are being gashed regularly.
I know there are still some teams that can stop opponents offense but they are getting fewer. Not making excuses for the Cowboys. Their defense is horrible this year but there is a definate swing in favor of offense. We are not the only team that is getting embarrassed when the defense is on the field.

 

[Wheeltax]

The switch wasn't a mistake, no. I honestly think we would be having the same problem right now under the 3-4.

Besides, it's not like we run only 4-3 formation, just like Rob Ryan never ran only 3-4. It comes down to personnel, and ours on the DL sucks. Fix the DL and you bring the rest of the defense with it.

 

[Dodger12]

Bass played in two games last year and had half a tackle. He's had more injuries than tackles in his NFL career.

Thanks. You saved me time looking it up. The way people were talking about Bass I thought he flashed some pro-bowl potential. Common sense....

 

[Dodger12]

Even Parcells didn't switch to his beloved 3-4 as soon as he got here, he waited until he had at least an offseason to start getting the right players in place before he switched. Jerry just decided to do it one day as a reaction.

And BP knew what he needed to make it work and drafted for it with Ware and Spears (before he made the switch), just that BP wanted them in a different order.