21 replies to this topic

[egoprime II]

Currently the Falcons are without a standout DE to rush the passer.  If we sign an expensive DE like Mario Williams in free agency we basically are committed to the 4-3 from here on in.

SIDENOTE: I know some here would say that Mario Williams can play OLB in the 3-4.  Yes he can, however conditioning for playing linebacker is different than for DE.  As a DE Williams used to weigh around 300 lbs, last season he was at 280-285.  So he needs to know ahead of time what position he would play.  Plus LBs are cheaper, much cheaper, to come by in both draft picks and salary.  So signing Williams to play OLB would in my opinion, be a mistake.

Another reason to go to the 3-4:  Since we have committed so much cap space to Grimes, it is obvious we will not have the money to get both a good LT and good 4-3 DE.   If the Falcons were to go to the 3-4 now, TD would then be able to start looking at nosetackles in FA and the draft.  Paul Solai might be had for about half the money Williams would want.   Corey Peters could rotate out with Solai.  From there, we would have to use our existing DL players to find our DE's.

We already have good LBs.  Dent Lofton and Peterson (if the last two re-sign) could play the middle, with Weatherspoon Nichols Adkins and Biermann outside.

This scenario changes if Grimes is traded or gets a deal with lower cap figures OR TD finds some more cap space.  As it stands, if Smitty and Nolan want to make this switch the time to do it is this off season.

[Falcon Fanatic]

I thought it was already decided by Smith and Nolan that we were going to be a predominately 4-3 team? What changed?

[egoprime II]

Falcon Fanatic, on 07 March 2012 - 10:09 PM, said:

I thought it was already decided by Smith and Nolan that we were going to be a predominately 4-3 team? What changed?

That is what Nolan said when he first came here.   But this is the off season, and coaches/FO types have been known to blow smoke in order to hide thier intentions regarding the draft and free agency.  Plus Nolan has had a chance to look at the lack of talent we have at DE.  And Nolan specializes in the 3-4.

All I am saying is, we do not need to use draft picks and cap space on 4-3 ends, then go to a 3-4 later on.  And with our cap situation we may be better off doing away with the need for 4-3 ends, anyway.

Edited by egoprime II, 07 March 2012 - 10:28 PM.

[Scott Carasik]

egoprime II, on 07 March 2012 - 10:26 PM, said:

That is what Nolan said when he first came here.   But this is the off season, and coaches/FO types have been known to blow smoke in order to hide thier intentions regarding the draft and free agency.  Plus Nolan has had a chance to look at the lack of talent we have at DE.  And Nolan specializes in the 3-4.

All I am saying is, we do not need to use draft picks and cap space on 4-3 ends, then go to a 3-4 later on.  And with our cap situation we may be better off doing away with the need for 4-3 ends, anyway.

Nolan specializes in all defenses not just 3-4.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

I kind of like the way the Giants ran their 4-3

[LookAboutFalcon]

Falcon Fanatic, on 07 March 2012 - 10:09 PM, said:

I thought it was already decided by Smith and Nolan that we were going to be a predominately 4-3 team? What changed?

Nothing, just people obsessing over a 3-4 scheme.

We dont have any players outside of Weatherspoon that can play a 3-4.

Stop with this nonsence

The Falcon Jedi Knight, on 08 March 2012 - 12:38 AM, said:

I kind of like the way the Giants ran their 4-3

Couldnt have said it any better.

[FalconsSD2]

we will be a base 4-3 d first but incorporate 3-4 in certain situations, Mike Nolan said hes not about comming in and saying were a 3-4 now but is about utilizing the players we already have and go from there...

[egoprime II]

LookAboutFalcon, on 08 March 2012 - 01:04 AM, said:

Nothing, just people obsessing over a 3-4 scheme.

We dont have any players outside of Weatherspoon that can play a 3-4.

Stop with this nonsence

A lot of folks said the same thing in 1980.  They were wrong.

Nonsense is going into next season with a DE rotation of Sidbury Edwards Biermann and Matthews.  As I said in opening, if we use up our cap on Grimes and (hopefully) at least one expensive starter on the O line, our chances of having enough cap space for a premium DE goes way down.

And we SURE do not want to sign a big time expensive DE, now, only to swith to the 3-4 later.

Edited by egoprime II, 08 March 2012 - 09:00 AM.

[delaigle]

egoprime II, on 08 March 2012 - 08:59 AM, said:

A lot of folks said the same thing in 1980.  They were wrong.

Nonsense is going into next season with a DE rotation of Sidbury Edwards Biermann and Matthews.  As I said in opening, if we use up our cap on Grimes and (hopefully) at least one expensive starter on the O line, our chances of having enough cap space for a premium DE goes way down.

And we SURE do not want to sign a big time expensive DE, now, only to swith to the 3-4 later.

I readily admit I'm not up on 3-4 defenses but from what I've read on these boards over the last year, to change to a true 3-4 Atl would need and entire new D-line (3 players) and at least 2 differennt LBs -- so a total of 5 players  --can you sign 5 quality players for the same price as that 1 quality DE?

[egoprime II]

delaigle, on 08 March 2012 - 09:22 AM, said:

I readily admit I'm not up on 3-4 defenses but from what I've read on these boards over the last year, to change to a true 3-4 Atl would need and entire new D-line (3 players) and at least 2 differennt LBs -- so a total of 5 players  --can you sign 5 quality players for the same price as that 1 quality DE?

Unfortunately our D linemen are not ideally suited for a 3-4.   We would definitely need at least a good nose tackle (Paul Solai?), even then he would have to be rotated out some.  Corey Peters could do that.  Then we would have to find two ends out of Perry, Walker, Sidbury and Edwards.

And Babineaux?  Of all of them he might be a good end but he is probably better trade bait.  A top pass rushing DT, Babs might fetch a good draft pick for us, maybe even a two, definitely a three.  That pick and maybe one other early in the draft could be used to obtain a good 3-4 end or DT if Peters is moved to end instead of the nose.

To sum up the D line, its tons easier and cheaper to find 3-4 guys than it is to find pass rushing DE's.

As far as linebackers, we have Lofton (if re-signed) Dent Peterson (if re-signed) Weatherspoon Biermann Matthews Adkins and Nicholas plus any players we draft.  We have a lot of LBs and again they are much easier to find than pass rushing DE's in the 4-3.

[Knight of God]

Would you prefer a 3-4 or a hybrid....think about that before you answer.

[Knight of God]

This scheme was based on what Nolan installed.

http://www.baltimore...e-ravens-hybrid

[madman88]

egoprime II, on 07 March 2012 - 10:26 PM, said:

That is what Nolan said when he first came here.   But this is the off season, and coaches/FO types have been known to blow smoke in order to hide thier intentions regarding the draft and free agency.  Plus Nolan has had a chance to look at the lack of talent we have at DE.  And Nolan specializes in the 3-4.

All I am saying is, we do not need to use draft picks and cap space on 4-3 ends, then go to a 3-4 later on.  And with our cap situation we may be better off doing away with the need for 4-3 ends, anyway.

uhhh no, nolan said straight up" im going to straight up say were not switching to a 34"

Thats not a statement to blow smoke, its that fact that ppl are blinding themselves cause they personally want a 34……… Were not going to be a 34 TEAM... This team is built for a 43.. not just starters but also dept on this team as well...  

In some crazy way we did swith this would be the WORSE time, we have no picks to start the conversion and would be a filed project....

[meyerbudNYG]

egoprime II, on 07 March 2012 - 10:07 PM, said:

Currently the Falcons are without a standout DE to rush the passer.  If we sign an expensive DE like Mario Williams in free agency we basically are committed to the 4-3 from here on in.

SIDENOTE: I know some here would say that Mario Williams can play OLB in the 3-4.  Yes he can, however conditioning for playing linebacker is different than for DE.  As a DE Williams used to weigh around 300 lbs, last season he was at 280-285.  So he needs to know ahead of time what position he would play.  Plus LBs are cheaper, much cheaper, to come by in both draft picks and salary.  So signing Williams to play OLB would in my opinion, be a mistake.

Another reason to go to the 3-4:  Since we have committed so much cap space to Grimes, it is obvious we will not have the money to get both a good LT and good 4-3 DE.   If the Falcons were to go to the 3-4 now, TD would then be able to start looking at nosetackles in FA and the draft.  Paul Solai might be had for about half the money Williams would want.   Corey Peters could rotate out with Solai.  From there, we would have to use our existing DL players to find our DE's.

We already have good LBs.  Dent Lofton and Peterson (if the last two re-sign) could play the middle, with Weatherspoon Nichols Adkins and Biermann outside.

This scenario changes if Grimes is traded or gets a deal with lower cap figures OR TD finds some more cap space.  As it stands, if Smitty and Nolan want to make this switch the time to do it is this off season.

how come every time I come on here this there is a thread like this?

You guys do not have the people for a 3-4

and Houston played a 3-4 this year and Mario was playing at a high caliber within it. 5 sacks in 5 games before he got injured. But thats besides the point, the only place i've heard of you guys making a switch was among the fans on this board - its not a reality

[NOVAFalconFan]

meyerbudNYG, on 09 March 2012 - 08:29 AM, said:

how come every time I come on here this there is a thread like this?

You guys do not have the people for a 3-4

and Houston played a 3-4 this year and Mario was playing at a high caliber within it. 5 sacks in 5 games before he got injured. But thats besides the point, the only place i've heard of you guys making a switch was among the fans on this board - its not a reality

Since you guys beat us in the playoffs and went on to win in the Super Bowl, I don't really care for the Giants or their fans, but I will point out that you have been on this board long enough by now to know that we don't allow things like reality to affect our threads.

[meyerbudNYG]

NOVAFalconFan, on 09 March 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

Since you guys beat us in the playoffs and went on to win in the Super Bowl, I don't really care for the Giants or their fans, but I will point out that you have been on this board long enough by now to know that we don't allow things like reality to affect our threads.

i love you too

<3

[egoprime II]

Knight of God, on 08 March 2012 - 12:08 PM, said:

Would you prefer a 3-4 or a hybrid....think about that before you answer.

(Apologies internet died on me but I do want to continue this thread ok   )

Actually since there is so much personnel switching, with nickel and dime defenses, aren't all NFL teams already hybrids?  So yes definitely would like to RUN a hybrid D, but seems to me we already are challenged to run a successful 4-3 because of our DE situation.

[egoprime II]

meyerbudNYG, on 09 March 2012 - 08:29 AM, said:

how come every time I come on here this there is a thread like this?

You guys do not have the people for a 3-4

and Houston played a 3-4 this year and Mario was playing at a high caliber within it. 5 sacks in 5 games before he got injured. But thats besides the point, the only place i've heard of you guys making a switch was among the fans on this board - its not a reality

I agree with the bolded statement.  But let me ask you this as one follower of football to another...do you look at our D and think we have the personnel to run a SUCCESSFUL 4-3?

We need better players all over the place to run a good 4-3.

We need better players all over the place to run a good 3-4.

One way or another we need more and better players, so regarding player acquisition what is the difference either way?

Edited by egoprime II, 10 March 2012 - 11:15 AM.

[egoprime II]

madman88, on 08 March 2012 - 12:16 PM, said:

uhhh no, nolan said straight up" im going to straight up say were not switching to a 34"

Thats not a statement to blow smoke, its that fact that ppl are blinding themselves cause they personally want a 34……… Were not going to be a 34 TEAM... This team is built for a 43.. not just starters but also dept on this team as well...  

In some crazy way we did swith this would be the WORSE time, we have no picks to start the conversion and would be a filed project....

I may be wrong and you right about the blowing smoke part ok.  And I do agree with you about this team being BUILT for a 4-3.  But look at what our defense needs.   Starting DE (some would say two...).  Starting MLB (Lofton is reported as a goner, unfortunately).  Nickel CB (practically a starter these days).  And you could make an argument that despite all the money devoted to CBs, we still have issues with our two starters.

Our team may have been BUILT for the 4-3, but with all those issues has it been built successfully?  There is a big difference.

Edited by egoprime II, 10 March 2012 - 11:24 AM.

[Faithful Falcon]

Babs would make a good 3-4 DE.