I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

I've been wanting to post this for a long time. Why dont the Redskins go to a 3-4 defense. It seems to be the dominant defense in the league and I think we have the players. Jason Taylor would be better siuted to it and we could have Golston and Evans play the ends and Monty play NT. Wilson could probably play some LB and maybe a Suggs in Free agency or a Dansby. What Do you guys think.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

We don't have 3 solid linebackers, how are we better suited for a defense that requires 4?

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=jamf;525104]We don't have 3 solid linebackers, how are we better suited for a defense that requires 4?[/quote]

Furthermore, you need a big NT in the middle and right now our DTs don't fit the 3-4 type tackle. Despite the conversion to the 3-4, teams like the Giants and Eagles still play the 4-3 D and they have done well with it.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=jamf;525104]We don't have 3 solid linebackers, how are we better suited for a defense that requires 4?[/quote]I agree. A couple of years ago I was praying we'd switch the the 3-4 because it seemed like we had a ton of good LBs, but now I'm not so sure.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=jamf;525104]We don't have 3 solid linebackers, how are we better suited for a defense that requires 4?[/quote]

bingo, we dont have the defensive linemen for that sort of scheme either. Id be intrigued by the 3-4, but we are not in a position to overhaul our defense right now.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=jamf;525104]We don't have 3 solid linebackers, how are we better suited for a defense that requires 4?[/quote] Well we don't have four solid DL either. Taylor can play LB and so can Carter. I think that Taylor would flourishe in that system. Carter played LB in SanFran.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

I'll admit to have been wondering about this too. The main reason is just when you hear about some of the names they've been showing interest in come draft time (Brian Cushing, some DT whose name I'm blanking on, Brian Orakpo apparently), those are all guys arguably better suited for the 3-4.

On the other hand, Haynesworth if they make a big push for him, is probably better suited to be a 4-3. As is Montgomery.

But, I suspected they might go WCO last year and they did. So maybe you've got something here

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525113]Well we don't have four solid DL either. Taylor can play LB and so can Carter. I think that Taylor would flourishe in that system. Carter played LB in SanFran.[/quote]
Carter was a horrible linebacker in San Fran. Thats why they let him go.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=Ruhskins;525106]Furthermore, you need a big NT in the middle and right now our DTs don't fit the 3-4 type tackle. Despite the conversion to the 3-4, teams like the Giants and Eagles still play the 4-3 D and they have done well with it.[/quote]
Montgomery could play NT and so could Griffin(although hope they cut him)

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525113][B]Well we don't have four solid DL either[/B]. Taylor can play LB and so can Carter. I think that Taylor would flourishe in that system. Carter played LB in SanFran.[/quote]

In the 3-4 you need three solid d-lineman, including a big DT that can draw a double team and can push the offensive line. So if we move Carter and JT to LBs, then who do you have as defensive ends?

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=steveo395;525116]Carter was a horrible linebacker in San Fran. Thats why they let him go.[/quote]
They let him go because we payed him 5 MIL a season.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525119]They let him go because we payed him 5 MIL a season.[/quote]

I don't think Carter liked playing LB.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

T.O.Killa -- Look at Carters stats as a LB -- they weren't very good. He's good at DE, we should keep him here. If you really think Griff or Monty could play NT you're delusional. If we switch to a 3-4 we better get some 350 monster to anchor the Dline and eat up blocks.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=Ruhskins;525118]In the 3-4 you need three solid d-lineman, including a big DT that can draw a double team and can push the offensive line. So if we move Carter and JT to LBs, then who do you have as defensive ends?[/quote] Daniels, evans, and Gholston

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

Carter needs to stay on the line. IMO he is the best D-lineman have. As far as Taylor maybe outside LB but who knows if he's going to be around.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=Daseal;525123]T.O.Killa -- Look at Carters stats as a LB -- they weren't very good. He's good at DE, we should keep him here. If you really think Griff or Monty could play NT you're delusional. If we switch to a 3-4 we better get some 350 monster to anchor the Dline and eat up blocks.[/quote]
It is hard to quantify those stats. I dont like him at DE or LB. one good year. I think that either defense would require about the same amount of new faces to make them good. The 3-4 is the superior defense, right now.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=Ruhskins;525122]I don't think Carter liked playing LB.[/quote]

I don't think Carter liked playing DE last year either.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525103]I've been wanting to post this for a long time. Why dont the Redskins go to a 3-4 defense. It seems to be the dominant defense in the league and I think we have the players. Jason Taylor would be better siuted to it and we could have Golston and Evans play the ends and Monty play NT. Wilson could probably play some LB and maybe a Suggs in Free agency or a Dansby. What Do you guys think.[/quote]

I think the biggest issue about going to the 3-4 is that none of the current coaches knows how to run/install it.

Greg Blache is a 4-3 guy the next man in the pecking order is Jerry Gray a
4-3 guy. I don't know about Olivadotti or Palermo background.

But, i agree we [I]could[/I] run it. We ran a defense in the second Eagles game that looked alot like a 3-4, Blache just had JT55 stand up and roam around.

Hypothetically we could put:
[COLOR="DarkRed"]LE[/COLOR] Golston/Evans [COLOR="DarkRed"]NT[/COLOR] Monty/Griffin/Golston[COLOR="DarkRed"] RE[/COLOR] Alexander/Evans
[COLOR="DarkRed"]LOLB[/COLOR]-Carter/Rob Jackson [COLOR="DarkRed"]ILB[/COLOR]- Rocky [COLOR="DarkRed"]ILB[/COLOR]-Fletcher [COLOR="DarkRed"]ROLB[/COLOR]-JT/Wilson

Interesting post.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

I feel like we have this conversation every offseason. What is the fascination with the 3-4??

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=Mattyk72;525145]I feel like we have this conversation every offseason. What is the fascination with the 3-4??[/quote]

weve been in essentially the same defense for nearly a decade (Lewis, Williams, and now Blache). People want something new for the sake of having something new. The only way i'd want the 3-4 here is if it meant we were getting rid of Blache for a defensive coordinator who isnt scared to attack. However, since our offense is in shambles and our defense is the only thing our team can consider a strength, id shudder to think of how bad we'd be in 2009 while transitioning to a 3-4.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=BigHairedAristocrat;525159]weve been in essentially the same defense for nearly a decade (Lewis, Williams, and now Blache). [B]People want something new for the sake of having something new[/B]. The only way i'd want the 3-4 here is if it meant we were getting rid of Blache for a defensive coordinator who isnt scared to attack. However, since our offense is in shambles and our defense is the only thing our team can consider a strength, id shudder to think of how bad we'd be in 2009 while transitioning to a 3-4.[/quote]

That's usually the case, and a pretty lame reason to me. If something works why blow it up and "fix it"?

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

The reason I like the 3-4 is that it seems to be winning more superbowls and we have a bunch of de that are realy LB size. We also have a bunch of DL that are tweeners in the 4-3. Like Daniels, Evans, and Alexander. I agree our coaches may not be the best fit. But Lewis certainly was able to run a 4-3 here and a 3-4 in Bmore, so maybe they can.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525176]The reason I like the 3-4 is that it seems to be winning more superbowls and we have a bunch of de that are realy LB size. We also have a bunch of DL that are tweeners in the 4-3. Like Daniels, Evans, and Alexander. I agree our coaches may not be the best fit. But Lewis certainly was able to run a 4-3 here and a 3-4 in Bmore, so maybe they can.[/quote]

Why would you completely change the only part of our team that has kept us from having a losing season 3 out of the past four seasons? Just because the two teams in the Superbowl have the 3-4 defense?

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

No, No and No. It won't happen anyway, as Blache is a 4-3 guy. You don't change your system on O or D based on if a particular team has success (Steelers / Pats). They build their teams and coach their players from a 3-4 mindset. You don't just make that type of switch and expect success the near term. Our D was not bad last year, they couldn't get off the field in critical situations and lacked playmakers (related issue). But to make a wholesale change would be irresponsible and unsuccessful.

Out of the top 10 scoring defenses, 6 run a 4-3, Giants, Eagles, Titans, Redskins, Colts, Bucs. The 11-13 teams are all 4-3 teams (Falcons, Panthers, Vikes). San Diego made the transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 and played better down the stretch under this scheme.

We don't have the personnel to play the 3-4. You mentioned moving Taylor ($ 8M cap hit, best days are well behind him, 34 yrs. old, had 29 tackles last year @ $ +275K per tackle), Carter ($ 6.5M cap hit, 29 yrs. old and based on cap numbers probably won't be here in 2011, 37 tackles last year at approx $ 150K per tackle), Griff (32 yrs. old,27 tackles last year, will be a cap release this year or definitely next) or Montgomery (back-up) at NT, Daniels (35 & coming off major knee surgery), Evans (back-up), Gholston (back-up) at DEs. We would be in the bottom third of defenses and would get smashed like Mike Nolan's defenses when he was here.

We need to stay with our current scheme. Depending what happens in FA (probably nothing to help, Haynesworth will be too $$$ and could be a bust once he cashes a big check) and early in the draft if by some miracle BJ Raji falls to us that would be some help for the DL. It will really depend IMO if the top level OTs are gone and Raji is gone, we may be able to trade down and pick up a second rounder. In that case a Peria Jerry, Tyson Jackson or O-sack-po (although he would be better at RDE than LDE) could provide DL help and we would still have a 2nd rounder to spend on OL. However an Alex Mack or Max Unger might be a better first rounder and Jackson may still be there in the 2nd.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=Ruhskins;525178]Why would you completely change the only part of our team that has kept us from having a losing season 3 out of the past four seasons? Just because the two teams in the Superbowl have the 3-4 defense?[/quote]
I dont think our defense was a good as the stats. Our Offense was horrible. All any team had to do was score, and play concervative. I also think our talent is better siuted to it. We need a pass rush. Teams that have used the 3-4 for a long time, New England, and Pittsburg.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525185]I dont think our defense was a good as the stats. Our Offense was horrible. All any team had to do was score, and play concervative. I also think our talent is better siuted to it. We need a pass rush. Teams that have used the 3-4 for a long time, New England, and Pittsburg.[/quote]

don't mess with a defense that is ranked 4th in the league!

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525185]I dont think our defense was a good as the stats. Our Offense was horrible. All any team had to do was score, and play concervative. [B]I also think our talent is better siuted to it.[/B] We need a pass rush. Teams that have used the 3-4 for a long time, New England, and Pittsburg.[/quote]

I wouldn't compare our defense with New England or Pittsburgh, b/c those teams actually have an offense that compliments their good defense (well in Pittsburgh's case, in New England's case they have a powerful offense that goes along with their good defense). But I think our defense is the reason we haven't had four straight losing seasons. Given our problems with the defensive line and our aging LB group, I think your assessment of having the talent suited to a 3-4 defense is flawed. Furthermore, our team needs to focus on the offensive line and is restricted by salary cap, aging veterans' contracts, and four draft picks. So you're being a bit ambitious with your proposal.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

We don't have the personel to run a 3-4. I don't see NT's like Casey Hampton or Jamal Williams on our roster and I sure as hell don't see pass rushers like Shawn Merriman, James Harrison or Demarcus Ware anywhere on our roster. We're fine playing a 4-3. We just need to draft a 4-3 end that can cause some havoc.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525176]The reason I like the 3-4 is that it seems to be winning more superbowls and we have a bunch of de that are realy LB size. We also have a bunch of DL that are tweeners in the 4-3. Like Daniels, Evans, and Alexander. I agree our coaches may not be the best fit. [B]But Lewis certainly was able to run a 4-3 here and a 3-4 in Bmore, so maybe they can.[/quote][/B]

[B]I don't think Marvin Lewis ran a 3-4 in Balt. When they won the SB in 2000 they ran a 4-3. Mike Nolan ran the 3-4. [/B]

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=skinsfan69;525204][/b]

[B]I don't think Marvin Lewis ran a 3-4 in Balt. When they won the SB in 2000 they ran a 4-3. Mike Nolan ran the 3-4. [/B][/quote]
I thought Baltimore always ran a 3-4.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

In addition to every other reason why we shouldn't switch to a 3-4 is the fact that we have small LB's. Offensive guards would have a field day with Fletcher and Blades if they played as the ILB's in a 3-4. I prefer the idea of having 4 bodies on the line to let three roam free.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

You are right, Baltimore did run a 4-3. Well, fire the coaches. I hate how concervative Blache was anyway.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

Our D is pretty good and isn't the problem. If our offense was slightly above average we would have won 10-11 games last year.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

i say y not

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

This isn't an insane idea, but there would be a substancial defensive transition period. Carter has no spot in the 3-4 and he was the key cog on the DL the last two seasons. Taylor could be an OLB, and Monty is the ideal 3-4 NT. Maybe Golston could handle an end spot, and Daniels certainly could, but then the LBs are an issue. Fletch is adaptable, Rocky would be a sunk cost, Blades could play inside, but outside of Jason Taylor, no one else could handle a OLB spot.

So lets say we took Tyson Jackson in the first to play behind Daniels for a year. We've: 1) Ignored the offensive line in the first two rounds 2) Still are incredibly thin at the LB position.

It's an interesting idea, but not something that's practical for right now. Of course, neither are Blache's current schemes, but maybe I'm just being a hater.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

[quote=T.O.Killa;525176]The reason I like the 3-4 is that it seems to be winning more superbowls and we have a bunch of de that are realy LB size. We also have a bunch of DL that are tweeners in the 4-3. Like Daniels, Evans, and Alexander. I agree our coaches may not be the best fit. But Lewis certainly was able to run a 4-3 here and a 3-4 in Bmore, so maybe they can.[/quote]

I'm with ya T.O. Killa...I too like the 3-4 a lot of movement and aggressive hard hitting

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

That'll come next offseason with Bill Cowher and Dom Capers but it will require a personnel overhaul.

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

Switching defensive scheme to 3-4 defense is not the magical answer nor will it improve our team in any drastic way.
The real problem is getting enough good players on this team on both sides of the ball, especially on the lines. We have not done a good job in drafting & acquiring players and how that relates to our salary cap. We are $3M over the cap and we an old team that is .500

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

who's gonna be the nose tackle? we don't have anyone that deserves a double team on a 4 man front.. much less a 3

Re: I think the Redskins should Go to A 3-4 Defense.
 

Here's a thought, leave the defense alone. Our defense was ranked 4th last year. Our offense was 19th in yards per game and 28th in points per game.