Ideas On A 4/3 Defense, So Bare With Me

[scrock]

Currently our base is 3/4 DT, NT, DE, Rush Linebacker(suggs)

Now what if we left Ngata and Cody on the line, Redding is probably gone so we'd have to replace him with Jones maybe. Suggs will also play his normal position.

In this 4/3 alignment it would look like Suggs - Ngata - Cody - McPhee/Kindle/draft pick or free agent
the next line would be LBs roaming sideline to sideline...it would be Jameel/Ellerbe - Ray Lewis - JJ is likley gone so we need to fill this spot.

Suggs, Ngata, Cody, McPhee/whoever
Jameel, Ray Lewis, potential high draft pick?

I know we mix it up quite a bit but in this package if we had the right LBs and updraged JJ's spot with a pass rusher with solid tackling ability....that front 4 alignment is a beast they could get pressure on most offenses by themselves. then with the secondary we have with Webb, J Smith, Cary Williams, Gorrer, etc.....

looks like a pretty nasty package to me, now if i lined someone up in the wrong spot I'm sorry I get confused looking at chart and trying to convert them over.....in any case these are all just thoughts, Ozzie and his crew will no doubt do an excellent job scouting and drafting players.

I'm aware the offense has been a big topic of the conversation just thought I'd throw out these thoughts i had

[Ravenstown52]

mmmmmmm.......yeah it sounds good but i dont think we could rely on our current personnel to get to the QB. Maybe if we upgraded through the draft as you pointed out. We kinda depend on confusing the offensive line on what we are gonna do rather than manhandling them.

[rmw10]

We can't run the 4-3 with Ray still on the team. He's still the smartest player on the field, but lacks the lateral quickness to run sideline-to-sideline like a 4-3 MLB needs to do. Maybe after Ray hangs them up.

[atlravensfan]

If the new DC is anything like pats fans say he his we will see a lot of 43 blanket zones

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

I don't see any reason why we'd try to change our defensive scheme. If we could replace JJ with a better 3 down pass rusher and find Rays "replacement" then our front 7 is set IMO.

[jazz1988]

[quote name='atlravensfan' timestamp='1329317210' post='994472']
If the new DC is anything like pats fans say he his we will see a lot of 43 blanket zones
[/quote]


He already said he wasnt changing the ravens defense philosphy which is a aggressive multi defense (4-3 and 3-4)

[AlaskanRavensFan]

The issue we may have switching to an even front is that our personnel aren't physically the right type of players to play those positions. Cody would still be in a nose spot, but he'd be in 1 or 2 alignment rather than a 0. Ngata would and could play the 3-technique despite his size, because he is very atheltic. The problem is with our LB's/DE's. The OLB's in a 34 are what are called tweeners, because they are bigger and stronger than a 43 linebacker but smaller and quicker than a 43 DE. Granted this is just a general description, but it seems to hold true for most tweeners. Particularly the 6 technique in the 43 requires a player who can split a double team between the T and the TE. You need a pretty solid DE with an ability to be stout at the POA. (think Ray Edwards) 6' 5" 268.

Additionally, the Ravens if they want to can align in a 34 but play with single gap responsibility, which is what all the D-lineman do on a 43 in general, except the nose. This is what the 49ers have done for many years. You may have heard of it called a hybrid defense. This is because a 34 usually requires the D-lineman to two-gap, or be reponisble for the gap on either side of them. It's a read a react type scheme for the D-line, whereas the single gap responsibilty allows the lineman to penetrate and try to disrupt plays in the backfield.

the 43 is usually played when you have a number of very atheletic defensive lineman, like the Giants for instance. the 34 is used when you have more talent and athleticism at LB than D line. We happened to have both, but our alignment in a 34 allows us to disguise pressures more easily and gives our pass rushers a steeper angle to attack tackles from. Our guys are talented enough to do it, but it may take some time for them to get used to their assignments and it wouldn't necessarily be the best alignment to utilize the talent of our personnel.

[GrimCoconut]

Honestly, I think Kruger would be a more effective 4-3 DE than a 3-4 OLB. I'm concerned about our linebackers if we switched to a 4-3. Ray doesn't have the sideline-to-sideline speed anymore. If we drafted Burflict then we would have the personnel to do it.

Or if we trade our 1st this year for a 2nd and a 1st next year we can draft Manti

[CapoRocky]

Let's draft Burflict or Mercilus in the first round. The last time we traded our first round pick we ended up with damaged goods.

[scrock]

[quote name='Ravenstown52' timestamp='1329315847' post='994464']
mmmmmmm.......yeah it sounds good but i dont think we could rely on our current personnel to get to the QB. Maybe if we upgraded through the draft as you pointed out. We kinda depend on confusing the offensive line on what we are gonna do rather than manhandling them.
[/quote]

Yes our current personnel. Lets see what moves we make, if we bring in another pass rusher he could fill JJ's spot

im not up on all the defensive packages and alignments but either thru free agency or the draft, we can pick up JJ's replacement who can stop the run and be a force in the pass rush, We'd still have Ray Lewis reading the plays and reacting before the ball even gets there an with Reed back and BP, the HEAVY HITTER and dont forget Webb and J Smith and Clary Williams and O M G

[scrock]

Guys please remember we use a variation of base defenses already...we can swtich it around and make it work depending on who your best players are....

[scrock]

I guess this really could be a thread about drafting or bringing in somone to upgrade JJ's position and that person would need to be good against the run and be good pass rusher. not many out there but maybe thru the draft, who would have guess McPhee would have the year he did

Get the OL fixed, the offense will be better.....the defense will be upgraded, it may end up having a minor makeover but nothing too big but I bet in the end it comes back better than ever. Ray Lewis looked like he has every year before he got injured and missed some games. If Ed comes back he gets those young guys to study and motivates them. Look at Webb..I mean good grief that guy is for real..J Smith with a full offseason?

and they said this league was a passing league..will they want to rethink how they play us when they see our secondary. Teams might be trying to run on us and guess what....Ray Lewis hahaha

[IMissMattStover]

That is an obscene typo in the thread title. It should say BEAR with me, not BARE with me. Careful what you type lol.

[scrock]

[quote name='IMissMattStover' timestamp='1329321519' post='994515']
That is an obscene typo in the thread title. It should say BEAR with me, not BARE with me. Careful what you type lol.
[/quote]

haha nice...yeah i totally had a mental lapse on that one

[atlravensfan]

[quote name='jazz1988' timestamp='1329318612' post='994482']



He already said he wasnt changing the ravens defense philosphy which is a aggressive multi defense (4-3 and 3-4)
[/quote]

I understand the philosophy will still be the same just the play calling in situations will change as it should with any different coach. Just saying

[Irish Raven]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1329319426' post='994495']

Or if we trade our 1st this year for a 2nd and a 1st next year we can draft Manti [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img]
[/quote]

Go Irish

Still, Manti T'eo is bit overrated, good but if we're drafting LB then this is draft to do it.

If not Burflict then Hightower and there are others

[RedFire]

3-4 is best cuz if we want to rush 4 you have to guess the 4th guy...could be a CB or strong safety. Why show all 4 rushers?

[atlravensfan]

[quote name='RedFire' timestamp='1329324209' post='994551']
3-4 is best cuz if we want to rush 4 you have to guess the 4th guy...could be a CB or strong safety. Why show all 4 rushers?
[/quote]

See giants. Sike I know its too different philosophies. Just what I heard of the DC its going to be more mattison less pags

[RavenFanatic1327]

That D-Line would be tremendous no 1 would be able to run on us>well no one can now and i figure it will protect ray lewis more since in a 3-4 he has to take on more guards and thinks like that.Cody and ngata will take up 2 guys and that will free up all linebackers.i think we should still draft a middle linebacker that could possibly play outside his first year around or either the other way around....BUt Thats a great topic and great idea

[latenighthero]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1329319426' post='994495']Honestly, I think Kruger would be a more effective 4-3 DE than a 3-4 OLB. I'm concerned about our linebackers if we switched to a 4-3. Ray doesn't have the sideline-to-sideline speed anymore. If we drafted Burflict then we would have the personnel to do it. Or if we trade our 1st this year for a 2nd and a 1st next year we can draft Manti [/quote]Keep dreaming buddy. There's no way a team trades us their first next year and ADDITIONAL 2nd for the 29th overall pick.....

[RedFire]

[quote name='atlravensfan' timestamp='1329324612' post='994562']


See giants. Sike I know its too different philosophies. Just what I heard of the DC its going to be more mattison less pags
[/quote]

Look at the hulu link in my john harbuagh appreciation thread. Round the 22min mark john wanted mattison to be aggressive and play to win. John like aggressive so other team has to make quick decisions.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='latenighthero' timestamp='1329325355' post='994571']
Keep dreaming buddy. There's no way a team trades us their first next year and ADDITIONAL 2nd for the 29th overall pick.....
[/quote]
saints might or someone that doesnt have a first this year

[Yatagarasu]

We been running the Hybrid Set for years. We'll be set since we have the personals to do it.

If we can't find a suitable OLB across Suggs, then we might have to do with what we got.

[Dnyce215]

I like burfict, Ronnel Lewis would fit here great in our scheme

[gabefergy]

I dont see the benefit of changing to a 4-3. We dont have the LBs for a 4-3 as of now and it just seems unnecessary to make a change. I think the 3-4 works really well for what we try to do on defense, take away the run and bring well-disguised pressure. Switching to a 4-3 wouldnt miraculously help our pass-rush. It's more of a personnel issue than anything else.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='latenighthero' timestamp='1329325355' post='994571']
Keep dreaming buddy. There's no way a team trades us their first next year and ADDITIONAL 2nd for the 29th overall pick.....
[/quote]
The Saints did it. If a team is desperate enough they will do it to acquire a player they really like. It's not impossible to think we could get a 2012 2nd round pick and a 2013 1st. It all depends on who is there.

For the record, I think we trade down into the high 2nd round this year. I also believe Burflict will fall. If he does fall I believe we will pick him up. From what I read on him he hasn't been impressive in pre-Combine workouts as reported on Rotoworld.

[Gordo52]

I want to eventually turn more into a 4-3 when Ray is gone. Draft a bunch of pass rushers for the d-line like the Giants set-up.

[Sizzlebshu]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1329319958' post='994500']
Let's draft Burflict or Mercilus in the first round. The last time we traded our first round pick we ended up with damaged goods.
[/quote]
man i am sick of hearing this. We did not end up with damage good when we ended up drafting Sergio. Sergio did not have a history of falling down stairs and hitting his head. We drafted a perfectly healthy player and something unfortunate happened to him later. It sucks, but it was unforeseeable. Sergio's incident and using the first round pick instead of trading it have nothing to do with each other

[The Raven]

As far as the DL goes, yeah, we definitely could.

Suggs-Cody-Ngata-McPhee

on passing downs we could do what the Giants do with Tuck. They slide him down to the 3, so we could have

Suggs - Ngata/Jones/Draftpick - McPhee - Kruger

LB's are a different story. But really, we could do basically what I described above out of a 3-4 base.

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='Sizzlebshu' timestamp='1329345055' post='994912']
man i am sick of hearing this. We did not end up with damage good when we ended up drafting Sergio. Sergio did not have a history of falling down stairs and hitting his head. We drafted a perfectly healthy player and something unfortunate happened to him later. It sucks, but it was unforeseeable. Sergio's incident and using the first round pick instead of trading it have nothing to do with each other
[/quote]

Ozzie did what he always does. He picked the highest rated player on the board. If he was psychic, then he would have tried to trade up to take Gronkowski. Three things that you can't get away from: (1) Evans failure to hang on to the ball, not to mention the drops that cost us in several recent playoff games; (2) Cundiff's wide left miss; (3) The what-ifs of the 2010 draft. Kindle is not ever going to live up to the hype. I'd do the merciful thing and let him go. By the way, the correct term is damaged goods, not "damage good." We'll be back next year, hopefully without Evans, Cundiff, or Kindle.