Read This, Be Smarter: Switch to 4-3 Under and the Elephant

[wist43]

My concern with this theoretical switch is depth. If Perry were to be unavailable, who would be the elephant? Or do you switch back to the base 3-4?

And who, if you need two Perry types, would backup Pickett and Raji? That might eliminate the ability to carry 3 bodies at NT/1 gap due to the need to still have a 5 tech. I never realized how much I liked having Howard Green around. Though JSO's Silverstein wrote that Worthy might be able to take a few snaps in the middle.

Where I think we're at now in building our front seven, is that we have a foundation to build upon. We still need more talent, especially at LB, but guys we were counting on to eat up snaps last year, likely won't even be on the team this year.

If you're going to count on Worthy and Pickett outside, I'd like one more fat guy to spell the nose, and keep Raji fresh.

I think the number of DL kept on the roster for an attacking 3-4 should be 7; maybe 6, but that takes flexibility away, and adds to snaps of everyone else; LB's 7-8 - depending ST's needs; subpackages; development; etc...

Since Dom isn't locked in to a static base philosophy, the scheme and packages put on the field, can remain constantly flexible. I think TT did a great job of giving Dom some players that possess differing strenth's, but can all contribute to base packages - even if not ideally. Would much rather see Daniels on the field at end, than endless snaps of Raji, Matthews, 3 other LB's, and 6 DB's.

As you're talking about the 4-3... sure, we could run some base 4-3. Wouldn't want to see it on the field a whole hell of a lot, but if we have the talent to pressure the QB, it makes it tough on opposing offenses. Scheming for the Packers last year was easy business... find Matthews and Raji, double them up, and move the chains and flip the scoreboard.

We still need more talent in our front seven... but this draft at least provided us a foundation to build on.

I just found this McCarthy quote on CBS...

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/GB/green-bay-packers

McCarthy says defensive draftees will give Packers more options
by James Carlton, CBSSports.com

Coach Mike McCarthy on how the six defensive players drafted last weekend can help the Packers: "It will give us more versatility in terms of the different defensive personnel groups; playing more people than in the past. ... The ability to get more athletic and the ability to have the pass rush from inside and outside was a focus.

[RashanGary]

Face it guys, we're not a 3-4 team. We're a 2-4 team. We're the new breed of defense that counters the new breed of offense where the QB wears a red shirt and CB's can't touch receivers.

You can say we're a base 3-4 team, but that's assuming 2 WRs are on the field. Reality is, there are usually 3 WR's on the field. Base offense is no longer what base offense has been for 30+ years. Base offense is now 3 WR sets or 2 WRs and a star pass catching TE. You're more likely to see 4 WR's than you are a traditional offensive package. Shit, 3-4 is becoming a sub package in run situations, and that's it.

The defense we play most is nickle. That's our new base. You can call things whatever you want, but the reality is, the defense we start the game with, the defense we play most throughout the game and the defense we finish the game with is 2-4. Our base defense is nickle. Fact. If you call it anything else, you're stuck in the past and unable to realize the football world has changed.

[mraynrand]

Face it guys, we're not a 3-4 team. We're a 2-4 team. We're the new breed of defense that counters the new breed of offense where the QB wears a red shirt and CB's can't touch receivers.

You can say we're a base 3-4 team, but that's assuming 2 WRs are on the field. Reality is, there are usually 3 WR's on the field. Base offense is no longer what base offense has been for 30+ years. Base offense is now 3 WR sets or 2 WRs and a star pass catching TE. You're more likely to see 4 WR's than you are a traditional offensive package. Shit, 3-4 is becoming a sub package in run situations, and that's it.

The defense we play most is nickle. That's our new base. You can call things whatever you want, but the reality is, the defense we start the game with, the defense we play most throughout the game and the defense we finish the game with is 2-4. Our base defense is nickle. Fact. If you call it anything else, you're stuck in the past and unable to realize the football world has changed.

Now that I'm fully awake, I feel prepared to face the modern world.

[Smidgeon]

Face it guys, we're not a 3-4 team. We're a 2-4 team. We're the new breed of defense that counters the new breed of offense where the QB wears a red shirt and CB's can't touch receivers.

You can say we're a base 3-4 team, but that's assuming 2 WRs are on the field. Reality is, there are usually 3 WR's on the field. Base offense is no longer what base offense has been for 30+ years. Base offense is now 3 WR sets or 2 WRs and a star pass catching TE. You're more likely to see 4 WR's than you are a traditional offensive package. Shit, 3-4 is becoming a sub package in run situations, and that's it.

The defense we play most is nickle. That's our new base. You can call things whatever you want, but the reality is, the defense we start the game with, the defense we play most throughout the game and the defense we finish the game with is 2-4. Our base defense is nickle. Fact. If you call it anything else, you're stuck in the past and unable to realize the football world has changed.

Yup.

[pbmax]

Face it guys, we're not a 3-4 team. We're a 2-4 team. We're the new breed of defense that counters the new breed of offense where the QB wears a red shirt and CB's can't touch receivers.

You can say we're a base 3-4 team, but that's assuming 2 WRs are on the field. Reality is, there are usually 3 WR's on the field. Base offense is no longer what base offense has been for 30+ years. Base offense is now 3 WR sets or 2 WRs and a star pass catching TE. You're more likely to see 4 WR's than you are a traditional offensive package. Shit, 3-4 is becoming a sub package in run situations, and that's it.

The defense we play most is nickle. That's our new base. You can call things whatever you want, but the reality is, the defense we start the game with, the defense we play most throughout the game and the defense we finish the game with is 2-4. Our base defense is nickle. Fact. If you call it anything else, you're stuck in the past and unable to realize the football world has changed.

I will believe you when they carry 4 D lineman and 12 DBs on the roster. The roster will be built for 3-4 or maybe 4-3 hybrid. 2-4 is still the sub package as far as roster construction is concerned.

[wist43]

I will believe you when they carry 4 D lineman and 12 DBs on the roster. The roster will be built for 3-4 or maybe 4-3 hybrid. 2-4 is still the sub package as far as roster construction is concerned.

You're going to see a lot of rush packages out of a 3 man line... a lot less 2-anything. Opposite Matthews, at least on paper, TT really solidified a pretty decent increase in pressure everywhere else - espcially inside pass rush.

A base nickel pass rush of Matthews, Worthy, Raji, Daniels, and Perry looks pretty good on paper.

[mraynrand]

A base nickel pass rush of Matthews, Worthy, Raji, Daniels, and Perry looks pretty good on paper.

yes it does.

One reason the Packers played so much nickel in the past was to put Woodson on the field. He was good enough to tackle like a LB and cover the slot guy or the TE. He's slipped in both areas - enough that it will be really interesting to see what the hell they do with him. I don't like him at all lining up against other team's #1 or #2 WRs on the edge any more.

[Iron Mike]

IIRC, didn't Tim Harris get an insane amount of sacks in the "Elephant" position???

[3irty1]

You're going to see a lot of rush packages out of a 3 man line... a lot less 2-anything. Opposite Matthews, at least on paper, TT really solidified a pretty decent increase in pressure everywhere else - espcially inside pass rush.

A base nickel pass rush of Matthews, Worthy, Raji, Daniels, and Perry looks pretty good on paper.

So 12 men on the field then?

[Zool]

So 12 men on the field then?

3-3-5

[Pugger]

If properly treated one can function just fine if you have manic depression/bi-polarism. I have a relative with this condition and only rarely does she need to be seen by her doctor if she takes her medication.

[Fritz]

True, true, Pugs. My earlier comment re Charles Haley was aimed more at coaches than at people suffering from the bi-polar condition....

As for the 3-3 thing, couldn't Matthews also operate as the "elephant" if Perry is not in the game? You'd have Matthews, Bishop, and maybe the Manning kid (apparently he can cover) on the field, possibly.

I would think moving Matthews all over would be good for him. And bad for opposing teams.

[sharpe1027]

My take is that rather than try to figure out how to use players in a particular scheme, Dom figures out ways to get his best players on the field as much as possible.

As far as being a 2-4 instead of a 3-4 team, that's probably true of last year, but it's been different every year under Capers. A few years back they trotted out 5 linebackers, but I haven't seen it since. I think the 2-4 may have been more a product of injuries and lack of talent on the DL than anything.

It will be interesting to see what they come up with for this new set of players.

[Scott Campbell]

A few years back they trotted out 5 linebackers, but I haven't seen it since.

Wasn't that the "Psycho" package?

Gimmick. Just like when Shermy used run U-bacon with Kevin Berry as the 6th offensive lineman.

[Fritz]

Gimmicks are changes for novelty's sake. I think Dom is trying to figure out the Brave New World of the offensive NFL.