3-4 Defense Question???

[LaRon + Sean = Hell 4 U]

How successful do you think we would be playing in the 3-4 since we don't have a dominant D-Lineman but we do have some very talented linebackers that could drop back in coverage, blitz & man up. Do you think a change in scheme would solve the D-Line problem a provide better opportunities 4 the defense to make plays? If we could development Chris Wilson into a beast along with AC & CG we could do this!!!

[sandtrapjack]

Well I am not totally familiar with the roster, but the 3-4 demands a substantial stable of linebackers. And it needs that big 320 lb run-stuffing NT that sucks up a double-team up front. LaRoi Glover in his prime was a pretty good DT in a 4-3, but when Dallas made the switch to the 3-4, he was too small for that position, and was subsequently released, and Jason Ferguson was acquired. A 3-4 DE is about the same size as a 4-3 DT.

Greg Ellis, drafted and played as a 4-3 DE, but converted last season to a 3-4 OLB, and had to learn a new position. So you get the size requirements.

The OLB is the most critical, they are typically the size of a 4-3 DE, but they are FAST and can also drop into coverage and must have tremendous lateral speed between the sidelines.

It took Dallas 3 years of drafts and free agency to get the personnel in place to make the cross-over to the 3-4.

The biggest factor is a good stable of front 7 players that can be rotated in and out of the lineup to keep them fresh for the later quarters.

[firstdown]

Besides the Pats game our D has not been a problem so lets fix the O before we go screwing with the D.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

It would require pretty much blowing up the roster. Changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 requires totally different personnel....personnel we don't have. Besides, it's not as though the 4-3 isn't cutting it.

[skinsWill]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

It would require pretty much blowing up the roster. Changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 requires totally different personnel....personnel we don't have. Besides, it's not as though the 4-3 isn't cutting it.

could have said it better!! but i will note that we do play some 3-4 in certain situations...

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by skinsWill

could have said it better!! but i will note that we do play some 3-4 in certain situations...

Very good point, but we don't have the guys to play the 3-4 on a regular basis.

[saden1]

With 3-4 defense you can't have any weakness whatsoever in that front 7 but with 4-2 you can mask your weakness a bit. I never understood why there is so much love for the 3-4 among fans. It's not a plug and play schema...you simply have to have extraordinary players to be successful with that kinda schema.

You'll never see the Skins use a 3-4 defense unless we hire someone coming from a 3-4 schema and even then they wouldn't convert the defense unless they have the personal to successfully implement it.

[sportscurmudgeon]

The 3-4 defense works when you have a very large AND a very strong man in the middle who can tie up two blockers on every play and then get off those blocks to stop cut back runs into the line.

Not only is there no one on the Redskins' roster who comes close to filling those job requirements, you can't just start playing the 3-4 defense in the middle of a season with a week's worth of preparation.

The Redskins are on a track that will get them in the playoffs; they're not likely to stay there very long, but it would be a good thing to get there and have a shot at the brass ring. Switching to a 3-4 defense now would probably preclude that possibility.

[BleedBurgundy]

Holy Scheisse! A Sports Curmudgeon Sighting.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

Well I am not totally familiar with the roster, but the 3-4 demands a substantial stable of linebackers. And it needs that big 320 lb run-stuffing NT that sucks up a double-team up front. LaRoi Glover in his prime was a pretty good DT in a 4-3, but when Dallas made the switch to the 3-4, he was too small for that position, and was subsequently released, and Jason Ferguson was acquired. A 3-4 DE is about the same size as a 4-3 DT.

Greg Ellis, drafted and played as a 4-3 DE, but converted last season to a 3-4 OLB, and had to learn a new position. So you get the size requirements.

The OLB is the most critical, they are typically the size of a 4-3 DE, but they are FAST and can also drop into coverage and must have tremendous lateral speed between the sidelines.

It took Dallas 3 years of drafts and free agency to get the personnel in place to make the cross-over to the 3-4.

The biggest factor is a good stable of front 7 players that can be rotated in and out of the lineup to keep them fresh for the later quarters.

Casey Hampton is the ultimate 3-4 NT. Dude is built like a fire hydrant

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

The 3-4 defense works when you have a very large AND a very strong man in the middle who can tie up two blockers on every play and then get off those blocks to stop cut back runs into the line.

Not only is there no one on the Redskins' roster who comes close to filling those job requirements, you can't just start playing the 3-4 defense in the middle of a season with a week's worth of preparation.

The Redskins are on a track that will get them in the playoffs; they're not likely to stay there very long, but it would be a good thing to get there and have a shot at the brass ring. Switching to a 3-4 defense now would probably preclude that possibility.

Isn't a guy who can tie up two blockers on every play good for any defense?

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Besides the Pats game our D has not been a problem so lets fix the O before we go screwing with the D.

wow, the voice of reason. this game i expect the skins to bounce back, big time. especially with a new qback going against them. the skins have to win this game, and the other games deemed winnable, to make the playoffs