If we want a pass rush we need a scheme change...

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Titans2004, Jan 23, 2012.

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  1. Titans2004

    Titans2004 Pro Bowler

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    Generating a pass rush with a 4-3 defense is totally reliant on having at least 2 guys who can consistently win one on one matchups. If you just have 1 dominant player it is very easy for the defense to slide protection to that one guy.

    The other problem is that if one of those 2 guys gets hurt then your pass rush is in big trouble because now it is easy to double the other dominant guy.

    I'm not convinced that we have a single dominant guy on our DL right now. I think that Casey very well could turn into that type of guy. He can really move for a guy his size and his short height helps with leverage.

    It is extremely hard to find an impact pass rusher for a 4-3 that isn't a liability against the run.

    The Texans are the top in our division now and they are a run first team. The Jags are a run first team with MJD and who knows what the Colts will be. If they go with a rookie QB then they will run the ball more then with Manning at the helm.

    So we need to make sure that we improve in stuffing the run.

    So how do we generate more pass rush and improve on our run defense?

    The answer is switching to a 3-4 defense. Most of the top run defenses were 3-4 teams and most of the worst run defenses were 4-3 teams. Getting better against the run should be our top priority since we play in a run oriented division. If you can stop the run on early downs and get the down and distance in your favor then it makes rushing the passer easier.

    People will say that we don't have the personnel and I think that is hog wash. We already started the transition last yr with Ayers and Smith. We can easily find the other pieces this off season and make the move. We certainly don't have the peices to run a decent 4-3 because we only have 1 DE (Morgan) under contract. We can just as easily sign guys that fit the 3-4 as we can guys that are impact DEs in the 4-3.

    Make the change.
     
    #1 Titans2004, Jan 23, 2012
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  4. World Peace

    World Peace Nephew Gunner

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    Agree... at what point do we give up on guys who are always injured? like Dmorg?
     
    #2 World Peace, Jan 23, 2012
  7. GoT

    GoT Strength and Honor

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    #3 GoT, Jan 23, 2012
  10. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    I've always been more of a 3-4 fan, so I agree. But... do we have the peices?

    34 DE: Klug, JJ*, Casey?
    34 NT: Smith
    34 OLB: Ayers
    34 ILB: McCarthy & Spoon

    Leftovers: Marks, Ball*, Hayes*, and Morgan.

    * = FA

    We'd need a NT, I don't see Casey as a NT.. but he could probably work. I just can't see Morgan as an OLB. We'd need a legit 34 pass-rusher in the draft or FA for sure. And a NT drafted later.
     
    #4 xpmar9x, Jan 23, 2012
  13. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    I think our scheme is perfectly fine, 5-technique DE's can and do get up field and make sacks. The reason we didn't get sacks out of our DE's was inexperience. Both Jones & Morgan played little to no time at DE last year, and this past year they're both introduced to a new defense they hadn't played in before. Morgan will adjust fine, but that does still leave a void that we must fill.
     
    #5 JCBRAVE, Jan 23, 2012
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  16. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    I agree man. We don't have the pieces, the Texans already had 34 players (Cushing, Ryans, Barwin, Cody, Smith, and Mario). Then they didn't have any glaring needs so they could draft 34 players (Watt and Reed) in the 1st in 2nd round.

    It would take us ATLEAST 2 years, and a solid draft, to switch to the 34.

    I think our D is fine, we just NEED to find a legit pass-rushing DE, and need Morgan to step up.
     
    #6 xpmar9x, Jan 23, 2012
  19. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    Shawn Smith is not a guy I would ever build my team around, wish they'd just cut him. And in a 3-4, Gray would move Morgan to OLB, so then we have no DE.
     
    #7 JCBRAVE, Jan 23, 2012
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  22. acqua7

    acqua7 Pro Bowler

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    Hopefully the last 3-4 games is indicative of what Morgan can and will continue to do.

    He started to stand out a bit and also started to stand out (in a bad way) when i noticed that stupid spin move that he relies so heavily on!
     
    #8 acqua7, Jan 23, 2012
  25. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    I really think Morgan can be that guy. The last 2 games he was a serious problem for teams. He's now getting over that knee injury and once that heals 100%, he'll believe in himself again and be disruptive.
     
    #9 JCBRAVE, Jan 23, 2012
  28. TorontoTitanFan

    TorontoTitanFan Pro Bowler

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    Switching to a 3-4 isn't some miracle cure for creating a pass rush. It's still reliant on talent and coaching. Some of the best pass rushing teams in the league use the 3-4 and so do some of the worst. You can say the exact same thing about the 4-3.

    This gets discussed every year. For some reason, a lot of people around here seem to think of the 3-4 like it has magical properties.

    Edit: I'm not necessarily trying to accuse OP of this. The post was well thought out. I am more referring to the waves of people last offseason who argued for a 3-4 with no supporting evidence.
     
    #10 TorontoTitanFan, Jan 23, 2012
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