4-3 or 3-4?
 

I think this will be a topic of discussion while we wait for our coach to be hired, so I thought I'd make a poll.

I prefer a 3-4 for a few reasons...

1) Not a ton of teams run it, meaning it's marginally more time consuming to prepare for.
2) The blocking angles are a lot tougher to deal with.
3) It can be very multiple.
4) I love the different blitzes that can be run out of it, including zone blitzes. I think these work better from a 3-man front.
5) I believe the front 7 athletes for a 3-4 are easier to find. The D-linemen are tougher than LBs, but also aren't as highly paid. There seem to be tons more tweeners coming out of college. And if it's a well-run system, it can be plug-and-play to a certain extent.
6) You get faster athletes on the field.


I know we don't have the personnel for it right now, but as has been said in another thread...we rally don't have great personnel for the 4-3, either.

I meant to make this a poll...
...my bad.

uh

Let's see who our coach is first...huh?

I thought it was a better discussion pre-coach, as once we have him in place, we'll pretty much know.

I like the 3-4 and would love to see the switch

I like the idea of a 3-4 but I don't know where Dorsey would fit in to it. He's definately not a noseguard because he's not big enough, and theres no way he could play DE. If we didnt have such a high pick invested in him i would support it.

Also I think 3-4 LBs are easier to find than 4-3 because they can specialize a little bit more. i.e. you can have a pass rushing LB or a coverage LB

I like the 4-3. Basically its either find a big fat ass for the middle of a 3-4 or a stud pass rusher at DE for a 4-3. Its easier to get a pass rusher than the fat ass.

You think so?
I don't know...I'll have to think about that, but my gut reaction is that it's pretty equal.

Lots of teams have multiple pass rushers, very few have the special NG required for a 3-4.

I been screaming for a 3-4 for years. Everyone has said we don't have the talent for a 3-4 yet Vonnie Holiday, who we cut, is playing well in a 3-4.

Though Dorsey would have to be moved to end and not tackle.

Whatever Pioli wants.

I said this in the other thread, but I like Dorsey a lot. I really want to see him succeed. But I simply don't think you build a defense around a 2nd year player who, while showing flashes, had a disappointing year. I don't see him fitting at 3-4 DE...but maybe going back to a full-time 2-gap style would benefit him.

How many have tried to cultivate one?

I dont think we should have let Holiday go when we did. That was a poor job of talent evaluation IMO.

I don't care. I just want a defense on the field.

Either way our front 7 needs to be completely rebuilt.

ok hypothetical here we said we are gonna make moves

we sign Terrell suggs
we sign Scott from Baltimore

on D

Suggs plays LB/DE
Scott plays other LB/DE
we draft Curry or Maauluga from Usc ILB
we tried Derrick JOhnson there this year other ILB

now the line i'm wondering but as a bama fan i remember Dorsey playing NT in a 3/4 and destroying oponents.

other De Tamba Hali
other De more inside the kid from Ten

could it work?

That's what the Packers said.

Three of the four teams still playing right now use the 3-4 as their base defense fwiw. Baltimore, Arizona, & Pittsburgh.

Personally I like the ability to be able to switch between both...