(01-16-2025, 06:42 PM)Thewitnessofsolinvictus Wrote: Ketchman convinced me with his 3-4 philosophy. It allows an organization to collect talent from a larger available pool, the linebackers. I will always love a 4-3 beacuase I grew up watching Reggie White as a kid, though

Not sure you got the whole story.

The reason the 3-4 was so effective early on with Pitt was that NOBODY else was running it, so they had their pick of the tweeners while everyone else scrambled and clawed to get the best guys that fit their archaic 4-3 formations. They killed it, valuewise, in acquiring players to fit their scheme. Nowadays, there's so many teams running 3-4 or hybrid schemes that you're not going to have an unfair advantage when it comes to building your roster.

At this point, it's more about hitting on your picks than running counter to the norm. Just because there's a lot of linebackers out there doesn't mean they are good, or that shifting your philosophy will make it easier to build your roster.

---

(01-16-2025, 09:01 PM)cland Wrote:

(01-16-2025, 06:51 PM)rpr52121 Wrote:
While there may be more LB in general, is it true that pure pash rush OLB are easier to find than good/great DE's? 

Also in a 4-3, isn't it more likely that you drop a OLB into coverage?

Back in the day that used to be the appeal of the 3-4, teams like the Steelers would draft undersized DE's to use as pass-rushing 3-4 OLB in the 3rd and 4th rounds.  In the modern era, pass rushers are a premium position.  So there really isn't any discount any longer.

And yes, the 4-3 WOLB, in particular, typically stays in coverage in a base 4-3.

this guy gets it. Beat me to the punch.

---