Is there any talk about 3-4?

[jack's smirking revenge]

Thanks KY. Now that I think about it, I remember that NE and PIT did some interesting things on D, but I didn't know that they actually used different formations within the same game. The NE and Pit Ds have been thought of as stout defensive squads (with tough defensive coordinators) for some time. I think the reason speaks for itself. If you can be inventive on D and not predictable, you will befuddle offenses. I wish the Packer D was that flexible.

As you suggested, I guess it has to do with the bloodline--Belichick, Crennel, LeBeau, Lewis.... something in the water in the AFC.

tyler

[Partial]

I was actually saying will they use it say for 10 plays a game or something like that? We have the fat boys to handle the line and a bunch of talent at LB. Im not saying go from the 4-3 to the 3-4 Im just wondering maybe a couple plays during the game.

Versatility like that does not exist in American Football, as I mentioned above with the soccer comparison. It's a great idea and something I'd love to see, but it would take a visionary coach and team to make it happen. If someone in the NFL were to figure it out, I think they'd be light years ahead of the competition. How can you compete with a team that can change its formation as necessary throughout the game? How do you gameplan against that? It's relatively easy to gameplan against a current NFL team, knowing that they're either 3-4 or 4-3. You can watch film and figure them out. Sure, the coverage packages change, but the base D doesn't.

I like your idea and wish it would be tested. Will it? Not anytime soon.

tyler

Donnie Henderson, the former Jets DC and Ravens assistant on their superbowl team ran a hybrid 4-3 3-4. He switches it up because they had athletic guys like Ellis and Abraham as well as the dude from Miami in the middle. I was really, really, really hoping he'd come here as our DC. I really like his system since it's agressive but not outrageous.

edit - didn't read KY posts before posting it. In addition to Henderson, the other guys do the same. Though it is not nearly as often or as notable with the other coaches as it is with Henderson. They really ran two base defenses depending on how they wanted to bring heat.

[Fosco33]

Interesting article by a college DC on a 3-4/4-3 combo...

As others have mentioned, this won't happen w/ the current roster or coaches - but this info is still interesting none the less.

http://www.americanfootballmonthly.com/Subaccess/Magazine/1998/2ndQu'98/wyoming.html

[KYPack]

I was actually saying will they use it say for 10 plays a game or something like that? We have the fat boys to handle the line and a bunch of talent at LB. Im not saying go from the 4-3 to the 3-4 Im just wondering maybe a couple plays during the game.

Versatility like that does not exist in American Football, as I mentioned above with the soccer comparison. It's a great idea and something I'd love to see, but it would take a visionary coach and team to make it happen. If someone in the NFL were to figure it out, I think they'd be light years ahead of the competition. How can you compete with a team that can change its formation as necessary throughout the game? How do you gameplan against that? It's relatively easy to gameplan against a current NFL team, knowing that they're either 3-4 or 4-3. You can watch film and figure them out. Sure, the coverage packages change, but the base D doesn't.

I like your idea and wish it would be tested. Will it? Not anytime soon.

tyler

Donnie Henderson, the former Jets DC and Ravens assistant on their superbowl team ran a hybrid 4-3 3-4. He switches it up because they had athletic guys like Ellis and Abraham as well as the dude from Miami in the middle. I was really, really, really hoping he'd come here as our DC. I really like his system since it's agressive but not outrageous.

edit - didn't read KY posts before posting it. In addition to Henderson, the other guys do the same. Though it is not nearly as often or as notable with the other coaches as it is with Henderson. They really ran two base defenses depending on how they wanted to bring heat.

There is one other team that runs a lot of interesting hybred/combo defenses. Buddy's boy Rex Ryan is a real ionnovative DC for Baltimore. he runs some stuff i'm still trying to figure out. Ray Lewis and the huge Dline are phasing out. Ryan plays a 3-4 to a 4-3 to a "rover" scheme. It's the usual Raven 'thug" scheme, but with quick shifts. Terrell Suggs plays Buck, DE, or Mike. Ed Reed is the SS superstar. But the wildcard rover guy is Adalius Thomas. Thomas plays 5-6 positions from a supersized SS to DE, DT, & any LB position. Rex Ryan is like Buddy in the 21st century.

Seems like most of the real innovative stuff comes out of the AFC, eh?

[Partial]

Didn't he bring back the 4-6?

[Bossman641]

Didn't he bring back the 4-6?

Yea, Rex Ryan is a real innovative DC. It helps when you have the players that he does though. The Raven defense is a hybrid and switches between the 3-4, 4-3, and 46. It's got to be hell to try and scheme against that thing.

[MJZiggy]

As I recall, it gave us a few problems last season...

[KYPack]

Didn't he bring back the 4-6?

Yea, Rex Ryan is a real innovative DC. It helps when you have the players that he does though. The Raven defense is a hybrid and switches between the 3-4, 4-3, and 46. It's got to be hell to try and scheme against that thing.

Yeah, sorta. Ryan doesn't run the 46 like his daddy. He runs its' grandson, the fire zone. That's the set that still has Aaron Rodgers quaking in his boots. He overloads one side and everybody storms the QB. On the open (non-blitz) side, everyone covers the hot men with blitz control coverage. With Ryan's people, you only have a split second to make a play.

Adalius Thomas is a rover who can turn up anywhere. Once last year, i saw the Ravens line up in a 4-4. At the snap, Adalius Thomas dropped from an LB slot to play a monster safety in zone coverage. The Ravens are the only team running this stuff & it's confusing to opponents who only play the Ravens once a year.

[woodbuck27]

3 and 4 makes 7.

Always a good number.