Quote:I think those Buffalo teams-in addition to the 1980s Denver teams- contributed to my bias against the 3-4/preference for a 4-3.

 

Prior to the Bills ascent to the Super Bowl, they had a great NT in Fred Smerlas.  But when they were good enough to be a Super Bowl team, they had Jeff Wright, who wasn't as big, powerful or as talented as Smerlas.  Combined with Bruce Smith's weight loss, the Bills would prove to be physically outmatched in each of those four Super Bowls.  Their defensive front seven was unable to hold up against the bigger, more physical run blocking NFC east teams.  In each of those Super Bowls, the Giants, Skins, and Cowboys ran the ball down their throats.  The same held true when Denver made the Super Bowl during that era.  Watching those teams suffer so greatly during that time made me convinced the 3-4 was a size dependent scheme. 

 

I agree completely with your analysis about that 1990 Giants defense not being as good as that 1986 defense.

 

   Excellent thoughts!

 

   Even with John Elway at QB,  it's nothing short of amazing that the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl 3 times in 4 seasons in the late 1980's.    IMO,  Broncos Defensive Coordinator Joe Collier  got more out of his talent than practically any coach ever did.   The Broncos certainly were undersized and out-manned and it caught up to them in the 3 Super Bowls.   But prior to that during those seasons,  Collier did it with mirrors to get to those Super Bowls.   Elway himself could only do so much.  The Defensive talent and scheme had flaws but good coaching can go a very long way.  

---