Quote:Honestly, I'd be leery of going 3-4 right now, especially with our personnel. Let's remember what Tom Coughlin's goal was when he first joined the Jaguars: dethrone the Steelers and win the division. That's the key to getting to the playoffs.

 

Right now, Tennessee is built on a power run game. Houston is and will be a run-based offense (especially with their QB question marks). Indy might be the odd team out here, but I think they've thrown the ball out of necessity. Seeing a lot of mocks nowadays with them taking a RB in the 1st.

 

We cannot go "light" in this division if we hope to win it.

 

Quote:Bullseye, I like your lineup for the 3-4, I think we certainly have the personnel, especially if Poe signs on.


My one beef with your idea is playing Telvin Smith at ILB. I don't think he's near big enough to be taking on a lineman every play. I don't think Fowler is particularly athletic enough to play OLB either. Those 2 spots probably mean you likely won't see a consistent 3-4 lineup out there from week to week, but I would fully expect (and hope really) that we would have a 3-4 package ready for certain game situations. We have the personnel to confuse the offense a bit with different alignments now. It's exciting.

To be absolutely clear, this was not an absolute advocacy of switching to a full time 3-4.

 

First, even thinking about using the 3-4 was predicated upon signing Poe.  Without a potentially dominant NT, the 3-4 is doomed to failure.  We don't have a potentially dominant 3-4 without Poe.  Whatever advocacy I had for utilizing a 3 man line disappeared with the possibility of signing him.

 

Secondly, even assuming we signed Poe, I still maintain the 4-3 should be our base defense. I believe the 4-3 gives the defense more flexibility personnel wise than the 3-4. I believe by a large margin, our personnel is currently suited to a 4-3, not only due to the lack of a dominant NT, but also due to the lack of 3-4 LBs, both in terms of body and play style type, but sheer numbers.  In my mind, Telvin Smith does NOT fit the traditional mode of a 3-4 ILB, which is one reason I have been against the full time switch all these years.   Furthermore, all of the relevant FO and coaching personnel are 4-3 guys.  TC is a 4-3 guy.  Marrone ran the 4-3 in Buffalo.  Wash has run the 4-3 here.  Caldwell has been scouting, drafting, and stocking a 4-3 defense pre-dating his time here.  I would not want to impose a full time 3-4 scheme on the coaches or players under those circumstances..

 

My limited advocacy for the 3-4 was not a push for a full time switch.  Just for use in various situations where a hybrid scheme or formational or personnel variety might be advantageous.

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