SLEVEN Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I understand the 3-4 scheme to a point but I dont have a large amount of knowledge of it.I know Lofton and Spoon could play ILB's and im pretty sure Abe was drafted to be a 3-4 OLB.That leaves one OLB to add but what about the D-line. Do we have any players on our roster that could play DE or DT in a 3-4All this talk about bringing in Nolan has me wondering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky_Tom Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I understand the 3-4 scheme to a point but I dont have a large amount of knowledge of it.I know Lofton and Spoon could play ILB's and im pretty sure Abe was drafted to be a 3-4 OLB.That leaves one OLB to add but what about the D-line. Do we have any players on our roster that could play DE or DT in a 3-4All this talk about bringing in Nolan has me wonderingI don't think he was drafted to be a 3-4 OLB, but I know that he was playing 4-3 DE when we got him, and the big reason that he demanded a trade was that Mangini was bringing in a 3-4 and he didn't want to play OLB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBirdDynasty Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) How close? Not at all.The only players that would fit are Weatherspoon and Lofton and they are better as 4-3 LBsThere is no one big enough or strong enough to play NTThe only person tall enough for DE is Edwards and he's too light for that, too slow for OLB, our DTs are too short to play DE in the 3-4The only person who could play OLB is Abe and he left NY to avoid doing thatSo ya its a pretty bad idea Edited January 13, 2012 by DirtyBirdDynasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer2 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 First of all, Spoon would not be an ILB in a 3-4. But he could be a monster of an OLB in a 3-4. But the reality is with Smitty as HC, we are a looooonnnnngggg way from running a 3-4 regardless of personel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLEVEN Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 First of all, Spoon would not be an ILB in a 3-4. But he could be a monster of an OLB in a 3-4.But the reality is with Smitty as HC, we are a looooonnnnngggg way from running a 3-4 regardless of personel.I thought spoon was scouted as an ILB in the 3-4 and an OLB in the 4-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Would not be smooth at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeytonMannings Forehead Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) Yeah, Spoon wouldn't fit as a 3-4 outside backer. On running plays, he'd have to consistently set the edge, almost like a defensive end in the 4-3. And he's not a real edge rusher. Sure, he can blitz, but there's a difference between a called blitz in which you just rush a gap, and the handfighting, dipping, and footwork that an elite pass rusher employs when he'd one on one with a tackle.He's best when he is kept clean and can roam. In a 3-4, he'd be the weakside ILB. Think of the role that Sean Lee plays in Dallas. Edited January 13, 2012 by PeytonMannings Forehead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blizzard_falcon Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) How close? Not at all.The only players that would fit are Weatherspoon and Lofton and they are better as 4-3 LBsThere is no one big enough or strong enough to play NTThe only person tall enough for DE is Edwards and he's too light for that, too slow for OLB, our DTs are too short to play DE in the 3-4The only person who could play OLB is Abe and he left NY to avoid doing thatSo ya its a pretty bad ideaI don't agree with this assessment at all.Lofton and Dent would make an excellent inside linebacker tandem. Weatherspoon I'm not so sure about but I think we'd almost have to try him outside. The other outside linebacker spot could be manned by a rotation of Abraham and Biermann (who played standing up in college); if we don't bring Abe back, then we look for someone in the draft or free agency (Mario Williams?). Nicholas is probably the odd man out, though maybe he would play inside over Dent or rotate in on nickel packages because of his coverage abilities.On the defensive line, I think Ray Edwards could play DE in a 3-4 just fine. Babineaux and Peters are not "too short," but we would need at least one more DE who excels at stopping the run. The real weakness on defense right now in switching to a 3-4 is the lack of an NT... but there are 2-3 guys in free agency who could step right in and plug the middle.The secondary obviously would stay mostly the same, though I'd assume we'll try to upgrade DeCoud at FS and might consider cutting Robinson to free up cap space.I'm not saying I WANT to switch to the 3-4, but it's certainly doable with our current roster and a little fixing up. With us being tied to Mike Nolan, we might see a 3-4 or at least a hybrid defense in 2012. Edited January 13, 2012 by virginiafalcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBirdDynasty Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 First of all, Spoon would not be an ILB in a 3-4. But he could be a monster of an OLB in a 3-4.But the reality is with Smitty as HC, we are a looooonnnnngggg way from running a 3-4 regardless of personel.What experience does Spoon have playing as a 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE? Being fast doesn't mean you can hand fight 6-6 tackles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989Fan Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I think we would need quite a few peices, and the one that fits best (Lofton, ILB) is a free agent.If this team goes 3-4, better do it now and let Abe walk. And Beirmann.Babinueax could probably play end. He isnt super lanky, but played DE in the 4-3 for us as well. I 'think' he could hold it down for now. Not sure Peters would have a place, although I think he is very strong. Ratliff is a probowl NT, and is prolly the smallest NT in the NFL, and isnt big for a DT even.Spoon and Lofton would be sick ILB's. Nic wouldnt fit. Spoon could possibly play outside, and Peterson could come back to play inside, or Akeem Dent if he is ready.I would give Sidbury a tryout at OLB, but he would likely get eaten alive in coverage duties.Need to go sign Franklin from NO or Solia (sp?) from the Jets before even considering it. The NT is a must have.that said, I dont want to see the team go 3-4. the 4-3 is great, and they just need to have a way to get better production from the front 4 (outside of Abraham) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989Fan Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 and honestly, this team is better equipped than GB was when Capers came to town. They just had an AMAZING draft towards their 3-4 that made it all work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel City Falcon Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 We don't have the front 7 for it. Lofton and Dent could play the two inside spots but Spoon and Nic couldn't play the outside LBs.. At least in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I don't agree with this assessment at all.Lofton and Dent would make an excellent inside linebacker tandem. Weatherspoon I'm not so sure about but I think we'd almost have to try him outside. The other outside linebacker spot could be manned by a rotation of Abraham and Biermann (who played standing up in college); if we don't bring Abe back, then we look for someone in the draft or free agency (Mario Williams?). Nicholas is probably the odd man out, though maybe he would play inside over Dent or rotate in on nickel packages because of his coverage abilities.On the defensive line, I think Ray Edwards could play DE in a 3-4 just fine. Babineaux and Peters are not "too short," but we would need at least one more DE who excels at stopping the run. The real weakness on defense right now in switching to a 3-4 is the lack of an NT... but there are 2-3 guys in free agency who could step right in and plug the middle.The secondary obviously would stay mostly the same, though I'd assume we'll try to upgrade DeCoud at FS and might consider cutting Robinson to free up cap space.I'm not saying I WANT to switch to the 3-4, but it's certainly doable with our current roster and a little fixing up. With us being tied to Mike Nolan, we might see a 3-4 or at least a hybrid defense in 2012.I wouldn't say our DT's are too short. That is nonsense, but it would set us back by 3-4 yrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel City Falcon Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I think we would need quite a few peices, and the one that fits best (Lofton, ILB) is a free agent.If this team goes 3-4, better do it now and let Abe walk. And Beirmann.Babinueax could probably play end. He isnt super lanky, but played DE in the 4-3 for us as well. I 'think' he could hold it down for now. Not sure Peters would have a place, although I think he is very strong. Ratliff is a probowl NT, and is prolly the smallest NT in the NFL, and isnt big for a DT even.Spoon and Lofton would be sick ILB's. Nic wouldnt fit. Spoon could possibly play outside, and Peterson could come back to play inside, or Akeem Dent if he is ready.I would give Sidbury a tryout at OLB, but he would likely get eaten alive in coverage duties.Need to go sign Franklin from NO or Solia (sp?) from the Jets before even considering it. The NT is a must have.that said, I dont want to see the team go 3-4. the 4-3 is great, and they just need to have a way to get better production from the front 4 (outside of Abraham)If anyone were to play the NT position in the 3-4 for them I think it would be Vance Walker. With Babs and Peters at the ends.. But I dunno if either of them could play those positions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBirdDynasty Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 All of our DL are 4-3 DLAbe left NY to remain in the 4-3Edwards is heavy and slow for OLB too light for DEBabs and Peters are in the 6-1 6-2 range playing DE in the 3-4 means you need to engage OTs that are going to be about half a foot taller with longer arms. It doesnt workThere's no one to play NTItsbasically just a bad ideaThe 3-4 was great when a few teams ran it and they could easily get who they wanted now half or more do so the player availability advantage swings back to the 4-3 that all our guys were drafted for and have played inIn the playoff game the defense showed up to play and started the game with 3 and outs. It was the offense that didnt score a point and couldnt sustain a drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeytonMannings Forehead Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 There's barely enough size in the interior to hold up with the 4-3 over, 1 gap scheme that the Falcons run now. You can't take those same players and plug them into spots where they now have to play 2 gaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I actually think we aren't that far. Spoon is the same size as Lawrence Timmons so he could play ILB. We really just need a big NT. We have the perfect personnel to run a hybrid defense that can switch at any time and in any situation and not tell whether we have run D or pass D personnel on the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBirdDynasty Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 There's barely enough size in the interior to hold up with the 4-3 over, 1 gap scheme that the Falcons run now. You can't take those same players and plug them into spots where they now have to play 2 gaps.No but didn't you hear? It doesnt matter if none of your team has played in a 3-4, you don't have any NTs, your players who are tall enough to play DE are too light, those heavy enough are too short, and the only player who could fit as a good OLB doesnt want to play in that scheme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethanga62890 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Well if anything we'd run a hybrid the first 2 years before doing a full switch. Period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky_Tom Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 and honestly, this team is better equipped than GB was when Capers came to town.They just had an AMAZING draft towards their 3-4 that made it all work.They also had 2 1st rd picks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tootie Quivers Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 We are still quite a few pieces away from a good 43 defense. The 2nd hardest position to fill in football, in my opinion is a 43 DE and our best one is a 50 year old free agent. If you ever wanted to make the switch, now would be the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blizzard_falcon Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 We are still quite a few pieces away from a good 43 defense. The 2nd hardest position to fill in football, in my opinion is a 43 DE and our best one is a 50 year old free agent. If you ever wanted to make the switch, now would be the time.I kind of agree. It we get Mike Nolan, I see us transitioning into a hybrid defense like the Ravens run. The change may set us back a little in 2012, but by 2013 we could have damned good defense. Our best player on the 4-3 defensive line won't be around much longer, so it's a good time to make a switch. And I think our four young linebackers (Lofton, Spoon, Nic, Dent) are good enough that Nolan could utilize them all effectively in one way or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Doktor Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 We lack any beef at tackle to go to a 34. We desparately need bigger D lineman. We get zero penetration, we never collapse the pocket consistently so we leave our DEs to make plays unaided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethanga62890 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 We need an Ngata to clog the middle. Those don't grow on trees either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 In a 3-4 it would probably look like this?DE - J BabineauxDT- ? Walker?DE - Peters / JerryOLB - J AbrahamILB - LoftonILB - SpoonOLB - Edwards / Biermann / SidburyWe'd go 7-9 easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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