Defensive Scheme

Look, it's still going to be a base 4-3 defense, but adding a few wrinkles and different looks here and there certainly won't hurt. You guys have to remember we have a real DC now in Jerry Gray. Chuck Cecil wasn't a DC, he was a Fisher cronie, a hack, and an embarassment to the organization. The hole Schwartz left when he took the Lions job was still unfilled until recently.

 

First of all 3-4 teams typically switch to an even front on passing downs so other teams run hybrid systems that are known for being 3-4. But very few teams run a 4-3 and switch to a 3-4 during the game.

But I'm not sure why Tide says the 3-4 argument is stupid since all these guys in this draft could also fit a 3-4. Ayers in particular, our 2nd round pick and a high investment, in no way fits the previous system where we ran a cover 2 and expected to get pressure with the front four and have our LBs play in space. Ayers biggest asset will be coming off the edge. He may put his hand down in passing situations at DE but I have a feeling they don't want him spending much time trying to stay with RBs and TEs in coverage. One thing noticeably missing from this draft is a traditional 4-3 rush end. Could it be the team might look for a DT (they said they might still be interested in a vet DT when FA comes around) that could also play NT? Tully might still be in the mix since he and McCarthy could play inside in a 3-4 with Ayers and McRath or Spoon at OLB.

I think the Ayers pick showed their hand and at the least we will see more bulk inside and at DE. I also believe with the drafting of a DT and the mention of maybe getting another DT in FA that there is a good chance Jones will get moved to DE. I think what we are going to see is a team that really does play 4-3 and 3-4 depending on who we are playing, the situation and the personnel on the field. We shall see if a 3-4 is the direction the team is going but I do thin we will see versions of the 3-4 on occasion this season.

 

clearly we have gotten bigger if this is the starting 8 DL:

DE Morgan, Hayes, Jones, Klug

DT Casey, FA DT or Clayton, Brown, Marks

and our LB's look like this:

OLB Ayers, McGrath, McCarthy, Curran

ILB Witherspoon, Bailey or Shaw, Tulloch or FA?

 

We clearly needed help over the middle, TE's ate us alive every week. i want to see Ayers lay Dallas Clark out cold.

 

Point of order: Ayers was a "traditional 4-3 rush end" in college. I'm hoping this idea of moving him to strong-side LB is just a -and-bull story.

 

Not many college teams run 3-4 so most Lb's are coming from a 4-3

 

I can assure everyone that Jerry Gray has forgot more defensive coaching that cecil ever knew. Defense will be better. Overall I think our staff is much better and the really good defenses are multiple and they do something that fisher never did..........adapt and change!

 

Yet we continue to add 3-4 guys to our roster. The only thing we're really missing is a big NT, and that's if you believe a nose tackle has to be fat, or if you believe our current guys can't put on weight. Coaches don't seem to think so...

 

We don't really have any elite 3-4 OLBs. Ayers is not an elite pass rusher, he had 11 sacks in four years at UCLA..

 

Nor do we have any elite 4-3 guys. We have Jacob Ford, and the 3-4 actually plays to his strengths.

Ayers is a pass rusher. He is not a 4-3 OLB. Watch the film. He's a defensive lineman. He's not here to be the next Keith Bulluck.