Talent Depletion Could Almost Force A Switch To The 3-4

[Robb4242]

Lofton is not slow and he sheds blocks fine

yeah, not sure where that is coming from. Lofton is fine in the running game, it's when he's given deep middle coverage in our Tampa 2 that there are problems with him.

[Zodiac]

in all honesty, that would be one of the worst defenses in the league.

NT is the most important position in the 3-4 along with OLBs and ur just FILLING in those spots.

NT is one of the easiest found positions, especially with the recent surge of 3-4 teams their are many 3-4 NTs floating around on the market this year.

[meyerbudNYG]

NT is one of the easiest found positions, especially with the recent surge of 3-4 teams their are many 3-4 NTs floating around on the market this year.

a true effective nose tackle is one of the hardest things to find

if ur going to have a subpar/average NT you better be talented in other spots of your 3-4. DEs in the 3-4 are the easily found spots, not the NT

Especially when your OLBs would be so weak. See how effective Witherspoon will be when he has an average NT in front of him that can't keep blockers off him

[atlGM]

yeah, not sure where that is coming from. Lofton is fine in the running game, it's when he's given deep middle coverage in our Tampa 2 that there are problems with him.

Part of the reason he can't cover the deep middle is his speed

[Statick]

Lofton is not slow and he sheds blocks fine

Lofton can't pass cover. That's his problem.

[FlyHighFalcons]

Just because they are free agents, doesn't mean they are gone. I doubt we let Abe walk when he's our pass rush. Lofton will be back.

[A-TowN.-]

Who the **** said Abraham is gone? Quit reading after that first sentence.

And the switch would be hard

[meyerbudNYG]

Look, the 34 defense is the best way to stop a spread offense, which is exactly what guys like Green Bay and New Orleans are running. Drew Brees is going to be in this division for another 5 years, and Rodgers is going to be in this conference even longer, and we need to get to them as much as possible. That is NOT going to happen with our current defensive line, especially if Abraham isn't back here.

having a pass rush and a secondary is the best way to stop a passing offense....

it doesn't matter in what way the front 7 are lined up

[Zodiac]

a true effective nose tackle is one of the hardest things to find

if ur going to have a subpar/average NT you better be talented in other spots of your 3-4. DEs in the 3-4 are the easily found spots, not the NT

Especially when your OLBs would be so weak. See how effective Witherspoon will be when he has an average NT in front of him that can't keep blockers off him

Antonio Garay, Aubrayo Franklin, and Shaun Rodgers are all FA NTs. Not to mention Josh Chapman could be there in the 3rd and Donatari Poe could fall our 2nd

[meyerbudNYG]

Antonio Garay, Aubrayo Franklin, and Shaun Rodgers are all FA NTs. Not to mention Josh Chapman could be there in the 3rd and Donatari Poe could fall our 2nd

okay - so my point still stands.

Who out of that group is anything more than average?

[Guest King Shot]

New Orleans runs a Multi, not an actual 3-4

Well said.

I have no idea why I typed New Orleans. I meant Houston.

[Knight of God]

I have no idea why I typed New Orleans. I meant Houston.

Oh!!! That's cool Bro! Houston ran a Multi last year.

[PeytonMannings Forehead]

Perfectly stated. Jay Ratliff was an anchor at Nose Guard for Wade Phillips' 34 scheme, and he was 296 lbs. Shaun Cody is his current anchor, and he's 301 lbs. You don't need fatass Gravy Jackson in the middle of your line all the time to make a 34 work.

Do you know what the common denominator is in both those cases? Wade Phillips.

Wade Phillips runs a 3-4 defense that is wholly unique from the rest of the 3/4s around the league. He actually uses 4-3 principles and shades the nose similar to the way you would in a 4-3 instead of playing him at the 0 technique in a traditional 3-4. It's a more 1 gap scheme than the 2 gap scheme that is commonly used in the 3-4. If you noticed, Ratliff's production dropped off quite a bit this year being forced to play a more space-eating role in Ryan's system, vs. the quick, penetrating one he played in Phillips's.

So, unless Wade Phillips is coming back to Atlanta, you will need a fatass to plug in the middle of line if you want a 3-4. And not just any fatass will do, a true franchise fatass who can stay on the field.

[meyerbudNYG]

Do you know what the common denominator is in both those cases? Wade Phillips.

Wade Phillips runs a 3-4 defense that is wholly unique from the rest of the 3/4s around the league. He actually uses 4-3 principles and shades the nose similar to the way you would in a 4-3 instead of playing him at the 0 technique in a traditional 3-4. It's a more 1 gap scheme than the 2 gap scheme that is commonly used in the 3-4. If you noticed, Ratliff's production dropped off quite a bit this year being forced to play a more space-eating role in Ryan's system, vs. the quick, penetrating one he played in Phillips's.

So, unless Wade Phillips is coming back to Atlanta, you will need a fatass to plug in the middle of line if you want a 3-4. And not just any fatass will do, a true franchise fatass who can stay on the field.

well i would have to say it is more to that, but excellent point.

I mean quite frankly having a DeMarcus Ware who was built for the 3-4 and then having Mario-Ryans-Cushing makes a huge difference

[Guest King Shot]

Oh!!! That's cool Bro! Houston ran a Multi last year.

Wait, you messed me up, I thought I made a typo by typing New Orleans instead of Houston in a post talking about the 3-4. You actually made the typo by typing 3-4 instead of Spread.

I meant what I meant! lol

Edited January 10, 2012 by King Shot

[DirtyBirdDynasty]

6'3 295 (Peters) and 6'2 296 (Babs) is perfectly fine for DE in a 34, I don't know where you guys are getting the impression that you need to be 6-8 or something like that. DE in a 34 is all about penetration and gap control, and Peters and Babs are both really good in that respect.

I don't understand why some of you just assume that the NT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO come from someone already on this roster.

You can continue your delusion about 6'2 players being able to play 3-4 DE all you want, your repetition of this falsehood doesn't grant it any validity. 3-4 DEs need to engage OTs who are 6-5+, a 6'2 player has no chance

[meyerbudNYG]

You can continue your delusion about 6'2 players being able to play 3-4 DE all you want, your repetition of this falsehood doesn't grant it any validity. 3-4 DEs need to engage OTs who are 6-5+, a 6'2 player has no chance

Weight is more importantant than height