With Ellis gone, back to true 3-4 or... 4-3?

[TwoCentPlain]

Jax players had said that with Ellis the Cowboys actually run a 5-2 and not a 3-4. Ellis' replacement will be a true LB who will asked to play DE at times as opposed to Ellis, a true DE asked to play LB at times.

Will the Cowboys go to a true 3-4 now? Or might the Cowboys be better off going to the 4-3 (if only for this game). I remember NE surprising a team by coming out in the 4-3. If it is 4-3, Canty, Spears, Ferguson, Ware(as DE) and Akin, James(MLB) and Burnett? Although, with these seven, we can easily audible out and change easily from 4-3 to 3-4.

Also, is there any possibility/benefit of moving Brady James to Ellis' position? Experiment at times this year and go full time next year?

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I must of missed that Jax talk about our 3-4 looking like a 5-2.......

 

[AbeBeta]

Bill won't change the D because of the loss of a single player

 

[Stautner]

Our defense often does look like a 5-2 with Ware and Ellis closer to the line than in a true LB's position. Maybe that will change to some degree - at least on non-passing downs.

As for the idea of James at OLB - James was a bust trying to play OLB in the 4-3 and never had any success until he moved into the ILB spot in the 3-4. The move just doesn't make sense - especially since he hasn't practiced there EVER, and since he is not a pass rusher.

 

[CowboyMike]

Remember Ayodele played OLB in a 4-3 at Jacksonville.

I think if we put either Carpenter or Singleton in Ellis' position, we could easily change in and out by putting Ware's hand on the ground as a DE.

Bradie would play the middle in a 4-3, it's his natural fit.

I love Greg Ellis, but it's true with him we were more like a 5-2. With a more versatile linebacker in there, we can show different looks and confuse easier.

 

[Doomsday]

Ive often wondered why our LBs played so close to the LOS, doesnt that make it easier for the Oline to pick their assignments? Ive noticed that Ware is almost always being blocked by a T. If he was lined up a few yards back you would think he would have more options to take a different path to the QB. For example James could take a wider angle and force a T to pick him up and Ware could come on a slight delay between the T and G. I guess it goes back to the Vanillaness of our defense in my opinion. Obviously Im no expert but it seems like when you watch SD and other 3-4 teams they are able to create more confusion and mismatches.

 

[chinch]

i'm almost as excited to see Ellis not play as i was to see Drew get benched. maybe i'll be proven wrong and realize our 3-4 is grossly different that what i expect in a real 3-4 that bill & bill coached for decades but i doubt it.

what is the point drafting all those LBers to see Ellis never leave the game and compromise a real 3-4. i think Tuna saying how "good" greg was doing all year was a mental thing for ellis (motivation) more than true evaluation.

 

[CF74]

Whatever we do we need to press the hell outa peyton:starspin