Quote:
Originally Posted by NoCalHail
Not sure why as a franchise we have stayed committed to the 3-4. It seems like ever since we made that switch we haven't been able to sign the proper personnel for it. It seems like a real hindrance just how much linebackers are asked to play in coverage. I know they have to do it sometimes in the 4-3 too, but it seems like such a big part of the 3-4 scheme that you have linebackers who may be otherwise good enough, looking like scrubs out there trying to play coverage.
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With a 3-4, you're looking for basically 3 different types of DL.
NT, which plays a fraction of the defensive snaps. 1 roster spot and big money to get a good one, spent on probably less than half the defensive snaps. How many good NT can you find in the draft year in and year out?
DE, these are more common and easier to find.
OLB, how many good 3-4 OLB are you going to find in the draft. These guys are athletic freaks who can beat tackles as well as drop into coverage. Again, there just aren't many of them out there that can handle all the responsibilities well. It's ridiculous to ask Murphy or Smith to cover a TE or RB.
From a roster standpoint, finding 2 types of quality 4-3 DL in the draft and FA is going to be so much easier because there are simply more available and are more common in college. I realize there are slight differences in 1 tec v 3 tec and all that but they are still more similar to each other than 3-4 personnel.
Anybody who says a 3-4 is harder to game plan against didn't watch Buffalo last year or hasn't seen Carolina the last 3 years.