Falcons are not switching to a 3-4 defensive alignment

[Goober Pyle]

If DOL put it in print, it's got to be true.  Seriously though, what DQ says here makes sense, but it's probably not the total truth. I'm not sure we'll see the "true" Falcons defense until we play Minnesota

 

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said the defense is not switching to a 3-4 alignment.

There has been a lot of conjecture in cyberspace – from the self-anointed Twitter coordinators – that the team is switching to a 3-4 because Quinn has been experimenting with standing up the defensive ends. 

When asked if he was switching to the 3-4 on Thursday, Quinn told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “No.”

What Quinn is doing is getting the defense ready for eight games where they play mobile quarterbacks who run read-option packages or zone-read running quarterbacks. 

The Falcons play the Eagles (Carson Wentz) on Sept. 15, the Titans (Marcus Mariota) on Sept. 22, the Texans (Deshaun Watson) on Oct. 6, the Cardinals (Kyler Murray) on Oct. 13, the Seahawks (Russell Wilson) on Oct. 27, the Panthers twice (Cam Newton) of Nov. 17 and Dec 8) and Jacksonville (Nick Foles) on Dec. 22. 

 

‘”What’s happening so much more from the (late 90s and early 2000s) is that the tight ends move so much,” Quinn said. “Then with the element of some of the teams that are going to do zone-read with the mobile quarterbacks, it’s easier to play them up than from down.”

Quinn, who will call the defense this season, plans to continue to look at the tweak of the 4-3 alignment over the exhibition season. 

“I want them to see some things with all of this movement as opposed to being down and the crack (back) blocks with people trying to get the ball on the edge,” Quinn said. “We are going to try it and I’m not sure where I’m all the way at with it until I go through some (exhibition) season games.” 

 

[Flying Falcon]

LOL!!! I dont believe anything he says.

[ya_boi_j]

If D.Led typed it up, gotta take it with a grain. a huge one

[Goober Pyle]

10 minutes ago, ya_boi_j said:

If D.Led typed it up, gotta take it with a grain. a huge one

C'mon @ya_boi_j...you know D.Led goes hard in the paint!!

 

[ya_boi_j]

2 minutes ago, Goober Pyle said:

C'mon @ya_boi_j...you know D.Led goes hard in the paint!!

 

The Hawks go hard in the paint too. When's the last time they tasted success

 

 

 

 

Okay i'll see myself out

[Flyin' In DC]

I have to add they play the Saints twice and Taysom Hill, I bet will be playing even more snaps as "the QB" going forward. So I am sure DQ is trying to figure that guy out as well

[BoomGoesTheDynamite]

18 minutes ago, ya_boi_j said:

If D.Led typed it up, gotta take it with a grain. a huge one

[215FalconsFanatic]

we are running a 4-3 Under which is what Seattle has run and the front 7 alignment of those Monte Kiffin defenses.

4-3 Under is very similar to a 3 - 4. its like a 4-3 responsibilities with 3-4 personnel.

Edited July 25, 2019 by 215FalconsFanatic

[ya_boi_j]

2 minutes ago, BoomGoesTheDynamite said:

Will last a lifetime

[octoslash]

It's almost a pointless issue anyway considering we see all kinds of tweaks and wrinkles from every team defensively these days.  4-3, 3-4, 46,  whatever.  

Just get players who can get to the ball quickly and stuff the offensive when it matters most. 

[Spts1]

15 minutes ago, ya_boi_j said:

The Hawks go hard in the paint too. When's the last time they tasted success

 

 

 

 

Okay i'll see myself out

You mean getting punked in the paint...    Boogie said, " get your *** out my way..."

 

[vel]

DLed is so annoying. I just don't understand how he's employed. He's fragile. 

[Vandy]

Just now, vel said:

DLed is so annoying. I just don't understand how he's employed. He's fragile. 

.....and a poser. 

[ya_boi_j]

18 minutes ago, slickgadawg said:

You mean getting punked in the paint...    Boogie said, " get your *** out my way..."

 

Horford is so light in the ***

[Spts1]

3 minutes ago, ya_boi_j said:

Horford is so light in the ***

Horford is a good player but he is not physical.  I hated him playing center for the Hawks for that reason...

[The O.D.B]

I think we're going to see more Reamer fronts. 

[Vandy]

25 minutes ago, slickgadawg said:

Horford is a good player but he is not physical.  I hated him playing center for the Hawks for that reason...

True. But Having he and Josh on floor at same time required we play him there. 

[NWFALCON]

https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/falcons-stand-defensive-ends-more-give-looks/n76iOjIg8fYQRholuuIdRK/

 

Falcons to stand up defensive ends more, give 3-4 looks 

Falcons 

July 23, 2019

By 

• D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

FLOWERY BRANCH — 

The Falcons are working on using more 3-4 looks with a defensive end standing up. 

“There are certainly sometimes now that being up on our feet basically as a 3-4 outside backer, there are sometimes that there’s an advantage to that to edge set and be outside,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said on 92.9 The Game on Tuesday. “There are advantages to say I only have to deal with a certain type of play on this one. Like on a third-and-long, you’ll see the guys down.”

 

» More: Falcons sign Allen Bailey

The Falcons have been standing up defensive Takk McKinley. Teams will have to decide if he’s a defensive end or a 3-4 linebacker.  

“That was definitely one of the things that we explored through the offseason,” Quinn said. “Some of these guys who naturally played on their feet before, let’s look at that. We are going through that in training camp and evaluating some of that as well.”

McKinley is the main target of the experiment. 

 

 

 

 

 

Defensive end Takk McKinley led the Falcons with 7.0 sacks in 2018.

Photo: Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

“So, far and in the spring, he was definitely one of the players on the defense that made the biggest jump,” Quinn said. “He was into that conversation for sure.”

 

In college, McKinley lined up at left and right defensive end in the Bruins’ four-man front, standing up and putting his hand on the ground. “McKinley has the explosive pass rush potential to terrorize NFL quarterbacks, projecting in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes,” wrote Dane Brugler in his 2017 NFL draft report.

McKinley has made 13 sacks in two seasons, but the Falcons are looking for more production.

“He’s lighter,” Quinn said. “He’s faster. He’s fitter to go all out. He’s got that type of motor to do that.”

The Falcons are hoping the defensive tweak works.

“We’ve put him on his feet,” Quinn said. “He likes seeing the tight end come across the formation. We are going to play some mobile quarterbacks who have some zone-read potential so being on your feet and being able to do (that), there are some advantages. We wanted to make sure that we had good versatility so that we could do that when we had to.” 

Edited July 25, 2019 by NWFALCON

[runshoot]

DQ flat out said he lies to the media. What he says to the team and what he says to media are typically two different things. DOLt forgot already.

[Spts1]

The 3-4 defense is actually a scheme that I think fits the Falcons personnel better than their 4-3 under.  You can flip back and forth between them against certain looks but the schemes are very different.

[GrimeyKidd]

Not a full philosophy . Just more schematic changes 

[TheFatboi]

1 hour ago, slickgadawg said:

The 3-4 defense is actually a scheme that I think fits the Falcons personnel better than their 4-3 under.  You can flip back and forth between them against certain looks but the schemes are very different.

The 3-4 and 4-3 under are basically the same thing. Except the ends stand up in 3-4. 4-3 under employs 3-4 type players. 

[TheFatboi]

They stood the ends up last year in a few games. We’ve already been tinkering with 3-4 looks. 

[Spts1]

5 minutes ago, TheFatboi said:

The 3-4 and 4-3 under are basically the same thing. Except the ends stand up in 3-4. 4-3 under employs 3-4 type players. 

Not true.  The alignments are similar but the schemes are vastly different.  You are asking your linemen and linebackers to almost do totally different things in both of those schemes.  For instance, your base assignment for your linemen in a 4-3 scheme is rushing the quarterback AND holding ground, depending on what front and techniques you are doing.  In a 3-4, your linemen primarily engage the offensive line to free up your linebackers to do most of the damage in both rushing the passer and defending against the run...

Edited July 25, 2019 by slickgadawg

[TheFatboi]

39 minutes ago, slickgadawg said:

Not true.  The alignments are similar but the schemes are vastly different.  You are asking your linemen and linebackers to almost do totally different things in both of those schemes.  For instance, your base assignment for your linemen in a 4-3 scheme is rushing the quarterback AND holding ground, depending on what front and techniques you are doing.  In a 3-4, your linemen primarily engage the offensive line to free up your linebackers to do most of the damage in both rushing the passer and defending against the run...

You can do that with any alignment. You can have your DT’s in a 4-3 be passive. And rush just with the ends. Quinn specifically told y’all we would be an attacking defense. In his scheme he wants to get pressure with the front 4 and blitz less. That’s the only thing you’re asking them to do. You can do the same thing I’m a 4-3 under as you would a 3-4 simply because If the alignment. In EVERY defensive scheme you want to keep bodies off your linebackers. 4-3 or 3-4. You can also have an attacking 3-4 front if you choose. It’s all in the PHILOSOPHY!! 4-3 under and 3-4 are VERY similar. The DE’s in - 3-4 are getting after the qb as much as the OLB’s. The 3-4 DE’s are DT’s in a 4-3!under and have basically the same job. So they are vastly similar. That’s why Poe fit so well here. He basically resumed his same position as NT in a 4-3 under. J.J. Watt is a 3-4 DE but gets after the qb the same as Grady. He’s not a NT nor an OLB even tho they will move him.