Switching Defenses
By Walt - @walterfootball
Jan. 26, 2013
When the Saints fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and announced that they were switching to a 3-4, they became the fourth team this offseason to make a defensive scheme change. The Eagles and Browns are also moving to a 3-4, while the Cowboys are going against the grain and flipping to a 4-3 in the wake of the Monte Kiffin hiring.
Let's take a look at each team and how their personnel works in its new defense:
New Orleans Saints:
It's weird to envision the Saints in a 3-4, but the new scheme can't be any worse than what they already have. In fact, some of their personnel fit perfectly into this defense. Cameron Jordan already has experience in the system, having played in Cal's 3-4. Junior Galette and Martez Wilson, meanwhile, make for natural edge rushers. Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma do not fit the 3-4, but they were likely cap casualties anyway.
Here's how New Orleans' new front seven will look:
Cameron Jordan - Brodrick Bunkley - Akiem Hicks
Junior Galette - David Hawthorne - Curtis Lofton - Martez Wilson
The Saints will have to find some depth on the defensive line and in the linebacking corps. Their most glaring front-seven need is rush linebacker. Perhaps they'll consider Dion Jordan or Ezekiel Ansah with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft (see 2013 NFL Mock Draft here).
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles have made no official announcement about switching to the 3-4, but reports indicate that they approached Illinois pass-rusher Michael Buchanan and asked him about playing in such a formation.
I'm not as optimistic about Philadelphia's move to a new scheme. There's no nose tackle, while DeMeco Ryans struggled in the 3-4 when he was with the Texans. Also, Brandon Graham and Trent Cole don't seem like natural fits at outside linebacker because of their inability to cover.
Here's how Philadelphia's new front seven will look:
Cullen Jenkins - Antonio Dixon - Fletcher Cox
Brandon Graham - DeMeco Ryans - Mychal Kendricks - Trent Cole
Like any team moving to a 3-4, the Eagles will need linebacker depth, especially in the interior. The nose tackle position desperately needs to be addressed. Star Lotulelei is the no-brainer choice at No. 4 overall, but he's unlikely to be available. If that's the case, someone like Jesse Williams would make sense atop Round 2.
Cleveland Browns:
The Browns had a very good defense in 2012, so their scheme switch is pretty puzzling. I hate it when new coaches force their system upon existing personnel. Many have done this over the years, and most have failed.
The 3-4 is doable though. Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin, Billy Winn, Jabaal Sheard and Chris Gocong figure to fit in naturally. D'Qwell Jackson has experience in the 3-4, so that would work as well.
Here's how Cleveland's new front seven will look:
Phil Taylor - Ahtyba Rubin - Billy Winn
Jabaal Sheard - Chris Gocong - D'Qwell Jackson - ???
The Browns are actually pretty deep at inside with James-Michael Johnson backing up the two starters. There is also some depth up front. The area Cleveland needs to address is rush linebacker - but the front office already had to find another pass-rusher across from Sheard.
Dallas Cowboys:
The Cowboys are the contrarian of the four, moving back to the 4-3. I don't think there was anything fundamentally wrong with Dallas' 3-4, but adding Monte Kiffin should help.
It'll be interesting to see what'll happen with Jay Ratliff. He was expected to play both the one- and three-technique in Kiffin's system, but a DWI could cost him his job. Ratliff's charge is inexcusable, as teammate Josh Brent was part of a drunk-driving incident that killed a teammate in December. If Ratliff goes, Dallas will have absolutely nothing at defensive tackle.
Here's how Dallas' new front seven will look:
Marcus Spears - Jay Ratliff - Jason Hatcher - DeMarcus Ware
Dan Connor - Sean Lee - Bruce Carter
Outside of the defensive tackle position, the Cowboys' most glaring need is at end. Jerry Jones doesn't have the cap space to re-sign Anthony Spencer, so he'll have to find a complement for Ware. Dallas happens to be fine at linebacker, save for depth purposes.
Which team is making the worst decision this offseason?
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Jan. 26, 2013
When the Saints fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and announced that they were switching to a 3-4, they became the fourth team this offseason to make a defensive scheme change. The Eagles and Browns are also moving to a 3-4, while the Cowboys are going against the grain and flipping to a 4-3 in the wake of the Monte Kiffin hiring.
Let's take a look at each team and how their personnel works in its new defense:
New Orleans Saints:
It's weird to envision the Saints in a 3-4, but the new scheme can't be any worse than what they already have. In fact, some of their personnel fit perfectly into this defense. Cameron Jordan already has experience in the system, having played in Cal's 3-4. Junior Galette and Martez Wilson, meanwhile, make for natural edge rushers. Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma do not fit the 3-4, but they were likely cap casualties anyway.
Here's how New Orleans' new front seven will look:
Cameron Jordan - Brodrick Bunkley - Akiem Hicks
Junior Galette - David Hawthorne - Curtis Lofton - Martez Wilson
The Saints will have to find some depth on the defensive line and in the linebacking corps. Their most glaring front-seven need is rush linebacker. Perhaps they'll consider Dion Jordan or Ezekiel Ansah with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft (see 2013 NFL Mock Draft here).
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles have made no official announcement about switching to the 3-4, but reports indicate that they approached Illinois pass-rusher Michael Buchanan and asked him about playing in such a formation.
I'm not as optimistic about Philadelphia's move to a new scheme. There's no nose tackle, while DeMeco Ryans struggled in the 3-4 when he was with the Texans. Also, Brandon Graham and Trent Cole don't seem like natural fits at outside linebacker because of their inability to cover.
Here's how Philadelphia's new front seven will look:
Cullen Jenkins - Antonio Dixon - Fletcher Cox
Brandon Graham - DeMeco Ryans - Mychal Kendricks - Trent Cole
Like any team moving to a 3-4, the Eagles will need linebacker depth, especially in the interior. The nose tackle position desperately needs to be addressed. Star Lotulelei is the no-brainer choice at No. 4 overall, but he's unlikely to be available. If that's the case, someone like Jesse Williams would make sense atop Round 2.
Cleveland Browns:
The Browns had a very good defense in 2012, so their scheme switch is pretty puzzling. I hate it when new coaches force their system upon existing personnel. Many have done this over the years, and most have failed.
The 3-4 is doable though. Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin, Billy Winn, Jabaal Sheard and Chris Gocong figure to fit in naturally. D'Qwell Jackson has experience in the 3-4, so that would work as well.
Here's how Cleveland's new front seven will look:
Phil Taylor - Ahtyba Rubin - Billy Winn
Jabaal Sheard - Chris Gocong - D'Qwell Jackson - ???
The Browns are actually pretty deep at inside with James-Michael Johnson backing up the two starters. There is also some depth up front. The area Cleveland needs to address is rush linebacker - but the front office already had to find another pass-rusher across from Sheard.
Dallas Cowboys:
The Cowboys are the contrarian of the four, moving back to the 4-3. I don't think there was anything fundamentally wrong with Dallas' 3-4, but adding Monte Kiffin should help.
It'll be interesting to see what'll happen with Jay Ratliff. He was expected to play both the one- and three-technique in Kiffin's system, but a DWI could cost him his job. Ratliff's charge is inexcusable, as teammate Josh Brent was part of a drunk-driving incident that killed a teammate in December. If Ratliff goes, Dallas will have absolutely nothing at defensive tackle.
Here's how Dallas' new front seven will look:
Marcus Spears - Jay Ratliff - Jason Hatcher - DeMarcus Ware
Dan Connor - Sean Lee - Bruce Carter
Outside of the defensive tackle position, the Cowboys' most glaring need is at end. Jerry Jones doesn't have the cap space to re-sign Anthony Spencer, so he'll have to find a complement for Ware. Dallas happens to be fine at linebacker, save for depth purposes.
Which team is making the worst decision this offseason?
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big butler
03-12-2013
12:44 pm
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I think the browns were doing very well with their previous defense its the offense that needs to help them out improve that not the defense.We need to score points not stop them were already better at the latter.
03-10-2013
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0bq19ejk8
03-10-2013
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Al
01-28-2013
05:08 pm
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I think the Saints will be ok in the new scheme. It will take some time for personnel to adjust, but overall could be a good move. Although I think you are wrong about Galette. This scheme doesn't fit him at all. He is too small for a 3-4 Dline, and not mobile enough for the 3-4 OLB role.
theOtherJimBrown
01-27-2013
05:56 pm
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Hey Walt, we here in Cleveland are fretting this switch as much, if not more, than anyone. But, if I had only one choice to pull this off, a Dick LeBeau disciple (Ray Horton) would be the one and we got him.
Here's an idea provided Lurie/ Roseman would even consider dealing with Banner/ Lombardi at this point.... Consider a trade for either Ahtyba Rubin or Phil Taylor to be your NT. We also have John Hughes here to back up either at NT and I don't think Taylor or Rubin would be a good fit at DE. Rubin came up from an unknown to play very well at NT under Crennel/ Mangini and many felt that Taylor could be the best NT in his draft class. My thought is that Philly swap 1st rounders and send a 2nd for Rubin... or send a 2nd and a 6th for Taylor (only because he's not proven yet). We need to replace our second for the Josh Gordon pick we lost this year. ...Your thoughts ????
KKG
01-27-2013
05:02 am
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You also forgot to mention that Curry, Patterson and Thornton could all be in play for the Eagles. And Ryan's struggling in the 3-4 was an invented narrative to justify the trade. Ryans was coming on towards the end of the 2011 season but the 3-4 certainly made him more expendable and he was a replaceable player making a large check on the team that needed to clear salary. There's nothing about his skill-set that makes him unsuitable to the inside of a 3-4.
KKG
01-27-2013
05:02 am
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You also forgot to mention that Curry, Patterson and Thornton could all be in play for the Eagles. And Ryan's struggling in the 3-4 was an invented narrative to justify the trade. Ryans was coming on towards the end of the 2011 season but the 3-4 certainly made him more expendable and he was a replaceable player making a large check on the team that needed to clear salary. There's nothing about his skill-set that makes him unsuitable to the inside of a 3-4.
KKG
01-27-2013
04:54 am
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"Which team is making the worst decision?" Gotta love the assumed incompetence. As always, Walter knows best.
Go_Vols
01-26-2013
08:47 pm
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i was actually pissed when my browns switched defense schemes to a 4-3 we should had never left the 3-4
eaglespride
01-26-2013
07:22 pm
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i hate the move, i hate the 3-4 and the personnel doesnt even match up
Ronnie Ronaldson
01-26-2013
03:06 pm
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I think both the Saints and Browns will translate well into the 3-4, both of their D-Lines are very good and well suited. They are relatively solid at LB but could stand to add to their crop of OLBs.
On the other hand it seems like the Eagles and the Cowboys are trying to fit Square pegs into Round holes.
Himself
01-26-2013
02:46 pm
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Which team is making the worst decision?
Since the Saints have nowhere to go but up, it can't be New Orleans. Since Andy Reid is no longer with the Eagles, it can't be Philadelphia. And since I know nothing about Cleveland, and Jerry Jones is still in charge in Dallas, it must be the Cowboys. Actually, the best decision is the Saints'. The Saints' 2013 defense might not be world-beaters, but I bet they'll be significantly better. Somewhere near the bottom of the middle third. |
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2013 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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