It's been mentioned on here briefly recently but should we switch to a 4-3 base D?
For some reason a lot of fans seem married to 3-4. I'm guessing it's a mix of warm memories of the Todd Bowles days and Chandler Jones being better as a stand up OLB? But now Chandler has gone and given the make up of the roster currently does it make better use of what we have to play 4-3?
1. The 3-4 OLB market this off season is dry as a bone. It's pretty much resign Chandler or Reddick, play a rookie or role with Kennard/Dimukeje.
2. The 3 linebackers we have on the roster lend themselves better to a 4-3. Simmons, Hicks and Collins would be a great trio at LB. Hicks has always been better in a 4-3 and Kennard can also play off ball OLB.
3. Watt has spent most his career at 4-3 DE and Zach Allen played the position in college. The FA market for 4-3 DE has much more available.
4. The options it would give the front 7 would go beyond what we have now. We have seen both Simmons and Collins play some OLB, they can both do that on occasion to mix things up. Both have the speed to blitz from off ball positions. Both are good in coverage.
If you look at the leaders in pass rush win rate last year most of the top half are 4-3 defenses. On paper Dolphins run a 3-4 but they have a Hybrid scheme and spend 75% in Nickel or Dime. After that it's Chargers at #11 but it's clear that 4-3 defenses dominate pass rush success.
There is a similar pattern in Run Stop Win Rate with only the Ravens and Dolphins in the top 15.
Joseph has run both. He isn't ideologically married to either. And while it's not ideal to change scheme if it better suits the personnel you have it should be something we consider right?
For some reason a lot of fans seem married to 3-4. I'm guessing it's a mix of warm memories of the Todd Bowles days and Chandler Jones being better as a stand up OLB? But now Chandler has gone and given the make up of the roster currently does it make better use of what we have to play 4-3?
1. The 3-4 OLB market this off season is dry as a bone. It's pretty much resign Chandler or Reddick, play a rookie or role with Kennard/Dimukeje.
2. The 3 linebackers we have on the roster lend themselves better to a 4-3. Simmons, Hicks and Collins would be a great trio at LB. Hicks has always been better in a 4-3 and Kennard can also play off ball OLB.
3. Watt has spent most his career at 4-3 DE and Zach Allen played the position in college. The FA market for 4-3 DE has much more available.
4. The options it would give the front 7 would go beyond what we have now. We have seen both Simmons and Collins play some OLB, they can both do that on occasion to mix things up. Both have the speed to blitz from off ball positions. Both are good in coverage.
If you look at the leaders in pass rush win rate last year most of the top half are 4-3 defenses. On paper Dolphins run a 3-4 but they have a Hybrid scheme and spend 75% in Nickel or Dime. After that it's Chargers at #11 but it's clear that 4-3 defenses dominate pass rush success.
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There is a similar pattern in Run Stop Win Rate with only the Ravens and Dolphins in the top 15.
Joseph has run both. He isn't ideologically married to either. And while it's not ideal to change scheme if it better suits the personnel you have it should be something we consider right?
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