What if we switch to a 4-3?

[Maryland]

So since there is a good chance Pees is the scapegoat for a historically bad season, we will probably be looking for a new DC. Now I personally would like to keep the 3-4 because it's more creative, but let's suppose the FO goes a different direction and brings in a 4-3 DC. (Jim Schwartz has been mentioned).

 

Who do we have that can fit a 4-3? Who do we have that won't fit a 4-3? How would this change our draft needs? Who would we target in the draft?

 

Brandon Williams, 1-tech.

 

Jernigan 3-tech. Carl Davis 3 or 5 tech.

 

I think our most glaring need is at DE. Urban is probably the most prototypical-looking player on the roster to play the 5-tech, but he has no experience and is injury prone. Suggs could play DE (he used to, but that was long ago). Doom could play the 9 on rushing downs as he did in Denver, but I think he would be more likely traded or cut than kept. Za'Darius Smith needs to put on weight to play DE. 

 

Daryl Smith played Sam most of his career in Jax, but he's getting old. Suggs could play Sam. Upshaw is a UFA--would he even return?

 

Mosley would have to play the Mike. 

 

I always thought Arthur Brown was a 4-3 Will. Maybe he could actually succeed in that position.

 

--

 

I guess we would need to target DE and Will in the draft. 

Edited October 19, 2015 by Maryland

[Sami84]

So since there is a good chance Pees is the scapegoat for a historically bad season, we will probably be looking for a new DC. Now I personally would like to keep the 3-4 because it's more creative, but let's suppose the FO goes a different direction and brings in a 4-3 DC. (Jim Schwartz has been mentioned).

 

Who do we have that can fit a 4-3? Who do we have that won't fit a 4-3? How would this change our draft needs? Who would we target in the draft?

 

Brandon Williams, 1-tech.

 

Jernigan 3-tech. Carl Davis 3 or 5 tech.

 

I think our most glaring need is at DE. Urban is probably the most prototypical-looking player on the roster to play the 5-tech, but he has no experience and is injury prone. Suggs could play DE (he used to, but that was long ago). Doom could play the 9 on rushing downs as he did in Denver, but I think he would be more likely traded or cut than kept. Za'Darius Smith needs to put on weight to play DE. 

 

Daryl Smith played Sam most of his career in Jax, but he's getting old. Suggs could play Sam. Upshaw is a UFA--would he even return?

 

Mosley would have to play the Mike. 

 

I always thought Arthur Brown was a 4-3 Will. Maybe he could actually succeed in that position.

 

--

 

I guess we would need to target DE and Will in the draft. 

 

IF we get Bosa a 4-3 is inevitable.

[JoeyFlex5]

Or Calhoun in the second, us running a 3-4 is the main reason why I wouldn't want him he is a pure DE.

Nkemdiche could play anywhere up front on a 4-3

I don't see it happening though, 3-4 is just the way of the league, there are too many advantages to it, we complain about vanilla defense now, 4-3 is vanilla in nature. Hybrid 3-4 really is the way to go in the modern NFL and NT the hardest position to find for a 3-4 and we have the aa rage of having 2 starting caliber NT's already

[Static]

Jaylon Smith or Myles Jack would help with a 4-3

[PurpleCity5]

I don't even think we make that switch. 4-3 requires athleticism from your linebackers and frankly that is totally absent from our team. Josh McCrown out ran our guys...Yeah... I know we have some 4-3 guys out here but right now I just don't see us going towards that route. 

[52520Andrew]

The yearly thread is beginning to turn into the monthly thread

[Maryland]

The yearly thread is beginning to turn into the monthly thread

I wasn't saying I want a 4-3. I was just wondering how difficult the transition would be if they did decide to do it for some reason, like what positions would we need to draft to make it work with our current roster. You're probably already hearing names thrown out there regarding possible future DC's after Pees possibly gets fired, and I know Schwartz has popped up. I just figured for the sake of conversation I'd start a topic to pass the time. It seems like we would be strong on the interior of our DL, but weak at LB and DE for a 4-3.

 

I agree with JoeyFlex that I love the 3-4 because it allows for so much more creativity. It allows good Def. Coordinators to design creative blitzes, whereas a 4-3 is much more demanding of just having very talented players (mainly on DL. Look how bad Cincy was without healthy Atkins and Johnson). Plus we already have the personnel for a 3-4. Hopefully we get a good 3-4 DC, one who likes to blitz and press. 

Edited October 20, 2015 by Maryland

[52520Andrew]

I wasn't saying I want a 4-3. I was just wondering how difficult the transition would be if they did decide to do it for some reason, like what positions would we need to draft to make it work with our current roster. You're probably already hearing names thrown out there regarding possible future DC's after Pees possibly gets fired, and I know Schwartz has popped up. I just figured for the sake of conversation I'd start a topic to pass the time. It seems like we would be strong on the interior of our DL, but weak at LB and DE for a 4-3.

I agree with JoeyFlex that I love the 3-4 because it allows for so much more creativity. It allows good Def. Coordinators to design creative blitzes, whereas a 4-3 is much more demanding of just having very talented players (mainly on DL. Look how bad Cincy was without healthy Atkins and Johnson). Plus we already have the personnel for a 3-4. Hopefully we get a good 3-4 DC, one who likes to blitz and press.

Ah okay, it would take a bit of work as mentioned. Our LBs would need to have more speed as said and Sizzle and Doom would take more of a pounding with their hands in the dirt. I think the Ravens are much better suited to a 3-4 at this point but both defenses have advantages and disadvantages.

[Clmraven]

If we can actually get bosa and then pick up an athletic LB in the mid rounds for depth I wouldn't mind switching maybe get Josh schobert and try and use him as a Von Miller type Sam LB/ situational pass rusher in a 4-3 under defense, this would allow us to keep the aspects of the 3-4 but not ask bosa to be a stand up LB, i think our personnel is better fit for a 4-3 anyway, I mean Z Smith is 275 Suggs is pretty hefty for a LB too, and hey maybe Arthur brown could actually see some snaps on defense.

[Baltimore RAYvens]

Like you said, we'd be weak at DE and LB to switch, but with the position we're in there are plenty of prospects that could allow us to make the transformation if the DC called for it. 

 

I personally think if we keep up this pace we have a shot at both Bosa and Jack, which would go a long way to making the 4-3 possible, but I also think they have the ability to be studs in the 3-4

[theultimatefanman]

honestly i like 3-4 better

[Mt. Crushmore]

I feel like this is discussed every year now.

[52520Andrew]

I feel like this is discussed every year now.

This is the second thread this season. Next one and I get a free sundae

[Mt. Crushmore]

This is the second thread this season. Next one and I get a free sundae

Third time is the charm!

[RavensFanMania]

This is the second thread this season. Next one and I get a free sundae

You can have it at Farrell's.

[GrimCoconut]

I don't mind but I think I'd rather keep what we have. The only way I'd be okay with this is if we can have edge defenders strong and big enough to play down or standing. Suggs and Dumervil can do it, but Dumervil isn't as good at it and they're both older while Suggs is coming off an injury.

Our best players are our DL, namely Williams, Davis, and arguably Jernigan when he's hot. I don't think I'd mind putting Jernigan at LE if we switched to a 4-3 & used Suggs at RE alternating with others and dropping back into coverage to change it to a 3-4 since Jernigan, Williams and Davis are all DL and not OLB in the 3-4. It would be ideal if we got Bosa, Nassib, or especially Ogbah. I feel Ogbah has the potential to be the best of them in coverage, so we could always keep both he and Suggs in there simultaneously and switch both their roles where one becomes the 4-3 Will and the other plays the 4-3 RE depending on what we want to do.