The 3-4
 

I'm quite surprised by the relative lack movement on the dline. I guess they feel that Washington, unlike Armstead, brought more outside speed and that he will be like a cheaper pass-rushing DE. But, I'm somewhat surprised that they've pretty much ruled out the 3-4.

You Warpathers who were around before the start of last season may recall that I advocated using the 3-4 for the 03' season. Whether the 3-4 was right last season or not, I think it's worth considering for the upcoming season.

Defenses like the Pats, Ravens, Steelers, and some other team I can't think of used the 3-4 and I think our LB corps is better than theirs (assuming we add Favors for additional depth).

The 3-4 is ideal for teams that have great LBs, poor DTs & DEs, don't have much cash (LBs are cheaper than DTs and DEs), have speedy OLBs, and slow but big D-linemen. I think the 'Skins fit those criteria pretty well.

Ramseyfan, what's your source on the team ruling out the 3-4? If Gregg Williams likes to be flexible and customize the defense for each opponent, it seems to me that he wouldn't want to rule anything out.

My understanding is that we will use the 3-4 sometimes (as almost every team does), but that the 4-3 will be the base defense. I can't recall if I read that in the Post or on ESPN.com (I do know it was one of the two).

We've been running the 4-3 for so long it would be weird to see another base defense. I remember reading somewhere on this forum, I think, that the Skins were planning to bust out with that vintage '85 Super Bowl champion Bears defense, the 46 I think it's called. I wonder if there was something to that or if it was just B.S.

I haven't heard anything more on that subject.

Gregg Williams is a Buddy Ryan devotee, and has stated that the team will occaisionally use the "46". The downside I see with the 3-4 is that is requires amazing discipline from the LB's - they have greater gap responsibility. Heap all the praise you want on LaVar (and he earns it) but discipline ain't his game.

Remember. A lot of the guys we got for D Line (yeah, the ton we acquired...) can play 3-4 and 4-3. I know Daniels is used to playing both and Griffin could probably handle nose tackle.

Name SB Winners!
 

Name SB winners that only played the 3-4, please!

The base 4-3 is a necsesity this year, and every year! I don't mind an occasional shift to 3-4 to confuse the O, but I strongly believe in the 4-3!

Hate to say it backrow... but New England, the team that won two of the last three Superbowls, relies very heavily on the 3-4. When the situation dictated, they used the nickle and goal-line defenses (no team uses only one defense), but their base defense was the 3-4.

I wonder who will take big ass Washington's place in the Pats 3-4

EEich!
 

EEich! Yeah they won a SB, but couldn't beat us, even with OBC at the helm! So, just how good were they?

We beat them when they were decimated by injuries early in the season. They turned out to be better than 31 other teams... so I'd say pretty good.

I don't think we have the nose tackle to do it. He's gotta be huge. BUt we're gonna see Lavar at end in the 4-3 at least occasionally, I figure.

[QUOTE=JWsleep]I don't think we have the nose tackle to do it. He's gotta be huge. BUt we're gonna see Lavar at end in the 4-3 at least occasionally, I figure.[/QUOTE]
Gilbert Brown was released. Can't get much bigger than that.

[QUOTE=backrow]EEich! Yeah they won a SB, but couldn't beat us, even with OBC at the helm! So, just how good were they?[/QUOTE]


They were good enough to ring off 15 straight games after they beat us, so they were pretty damn good in my opinion. Thats one of the best winning streaks ever!

well, we need a fatass that can move a little, and that rules out Gilbert Brown

[QUOTE=backrow]Name SB winners that only played the 3-4, please!

The base 4-3 is a necsesity this year, and every year! I don't mind an occasional shift to 3-4 to confuse the O, but I strongly believe in the 4-3![/QUOTE]

didn't baltimore run primarily the 3-4 when they won the superbowl or is that only recently?

I have to say I concur with those who expected more from the Front Office regarding the D-line. Daniels and Griffin have proven to be nothing more than average players, save for Griffin's rookie year which was 4 seasons ago. It's true that somebody massive will have to man the middle in a 3-4. There's just nobody we've got who can handle that on a regular basis.

Still, I must reserve judgement, and give the benefit of the doubt to our much better prepared and experienced coaching staff with this matter.

The only other thing I would mention is the possible need for more inside-type linebackers to the mix. Currently it's only Jeremiah Trotter and Kevin Mitchell. Rumors are starting about Trotter getting the ax on June 1. If that's the case, and Mitchell's the only other LB who has experience in the middle, then the list of needs only expands even more. Maybe Clifton Smith, Chris Clemons, and this Favors guy will suffice.

[QUOTE=skinsfanthru&thru]didn't baltimore run primarily the 3-4 when they won the superbowl or is that only recently?[/QUOTE]
I believe the Ravens just recently switched to the 3-4 a year or two ago, after Marvin Lewis left and Mike Nolan was hired as D-coordinator.

I'm a 4-3 man myself, but I do like the cover packages in the 3-4.

The 3-4 is best used in my opinion when a team is running split backs & shotguns, or singleback with single or dbl TE formations. The offense never knows who's gonna drop & who's gonna come in on a blitz..?

However, you need a pretty talented DT & Ends to really pull off an effective 3-4.

I see the skins using it, but I don't see them relying on it to much.

We need another linemen for a 3-4. Griffen isnt the guy that could stay inside either, hes not big enough. I am pretty sure we'll stick with the 4-3 and pull out the occasional switcheroo.

[QUOTE=backrow]Name SB winners that only played the 3-4, please!

The base 4-3 is a necsesity this year, and every year! I don't mind an occasional shift to 3-4 to confuse the O, but I strongly believe in the 4-3![/QUOTE]

I think the Pats used the 3-4 in the SB.