Quote: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.

 

So since we're talking about some hybrid/situational thing. If we did have Poe (which right now I'm going to guess it's not happening), any thoughts on Fowler at ILB? He gets pigeon hole as a 3-4 OLB, but I seem to recall seeing from his FL days his explosion through the line. 

 

I think Myles kind of has a similar trait, that he can be explosive if you tell him to accelerate in a straight line. So a situational 3-4 look...for our personnel would be Jack/Fowler inside, with Telvin outside. Yannick would be the other OLB who can rush.

 

It would be a 3-4, but the concepts would be slightly different. Whereas traditional 3-4 would rely on the ILB to stop the run and the OLBs to rush, we would change it up by having our rush come up the middle using stunts and blitzes (which Fowler and Myles can excel on), while also utilizing the speed of Myles/Telvin to keep inside contain.

 

Throw in some robber concepts with Gip or Church and I think this could be an interesting, if not unorthodox way of us giving a 3-4 look without totally miscasting Telvin.

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