Do our players fit the 4-3 better than the 3-4? - New England Patriots Forums

patriotscpfc · 04-02-2010, 04:09 PM

With more 4-3 play last year from Bill and a lot of the players that he's looked at this year fitting better into the 4-3, are we moving more towards the 4-3, now that more teams are moving towards the 3-4.

Wilfork. I think he could fit either system well.

Warren. He's obviously a 3-4 DE, but could he move into a 4-3 DT? We'd have one hell of a run defense with Wilfork next to Warren.

I think that TBC and Burgess are obviously 4-3 DE's and passrushers.

Mayo, I reckon he'd be a beast in the 4-3.
Guyton, he'd fit the profile of a 4-3 OLB.
Adalius would transfer well to sit opposite Guyton as well.

It would mean moving away from the system that we've used for years, but it'd mean a better fit for a lot of our team. And we would open up a lot more options in the draft. We wouldn't need the 6'4, 260lb, 4.6 40, prototype that Bill likes either if we made the transition.

Hell, anything that may help us get some pressure/hits on the QB would be nice.

Marqui · 04-02-2010, 04:15 PM

Either way, the defense won't be that good with just what we have now.

BritPat · 04-02-2010, 04:20 PM

Mate, I've been saying it for months.

Look at the LB's - Mayo, McKenzie, Guyton, Williams - all are 4-3 LB's, not 3-4 LB's. We have one player suited to 3-4 DE (unless you count Richard but he was a 4-3 DT in College), and the rest are 4-3 DT's. Then you get to Burgess (if he's re-signed), TBC and Ninkovich who are all classic 4-3 DE's. Even Crable and Davis played DE in College.

Then look at who we've targeted in pre-Draft evaluation process - a huge amount of 4-3 DT's, under-sized (by our standard) OLB's that seem much more suited to 4-3, and a shed load of class 4-3 LB's.

There is something afoot at Castle Belichick.....

patriotscpfc · 04-02-2010, 04:25 PM

Definitely.

I think he wants to turn this defense around and go pressure-based like it used to be. He's got one veteran, decent CB and one young CB with stud potential. With 4 decent safeties with variable skills.

I think he goes heavy on the pressure next year.

***sbpatfan*** · 04-02-2010, 04:28 PM

I doubt we switch to the 4-3 as the primary defense this year but if it happened I wouldn't be surprised. You also have to look at all the teams playing the 3-4 now, is it in the majority yet? Less competition for players in the 4-3, especially for the AFC east.

patriotscpfc · 04-02-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbpatfan

I doubt we switch to the 4-3 as the primary defense this year but if it happened I wouldn't be surprised. You also have to look at all the teams playing the 3-4 now, is it in the majority yet?

It can't be far off now. Another few have converted this year as well.

chevss454 · 04-02-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritPat

Mate, I've been saying it for months.

Look at the LB's - Mayo, McKenzie, Guyton, Williams - all are 4-3 LB's, not 3-4 LB's. We have one player suited to 3-4 DE (unless you count Richard but he was a 4-3 DT in College), and the rest are 4-3 DT's. Then you get to Burgess (if he's re-signed), TBC and Ninkovich who are all classic 4-3 DE's. Even Crable and Davis played DE in College.

Then look at who we've targeted in pre-Draft evaluation process - a huge amount of 4-3 DT's, under-sized (by our standard) OLB's that seem much more suited to 4-3, and a shed load of class 4-3 LB's.

There is something afoot at Castle Belichick.....

And just signed former Panthers' DT Lewis. A lot more 4-3 wouldn't surprise me at all. Anything to get pressure...

***pats1*** · 04-02-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriotscpfc

With more 4-3 play last year from Bill and a lot of the players that he's looked at this year fitting better into the 4-3, are we moving more towards the 4-3, now that more teams are moving towards the 3-4.

Wilfork. I think he could fit either system well.

Warren. He's obviously a 3-4 DE, but could he move into a 4-3 DT? We'd have one hell of a run defense with Wilfork next to Warren.

I think that TBC and Burgess are obviously 4-3 DE's and passrushers.

Mayo, I reckon he'd be a beast in the 4-3.
Guyton, he'd fit the profile of a 4-3 OLB.
Adalius would transfer well to sit opposite Guyton as well.

It would mean moving away from the system that we've used for years, but it'd mean a better fit for a lot of our team. And we would open up a lot more options in the draft. We wouldn't need the 6'4, 260lb, 4.6 40, prototype that Bill likes either if we made the transition.

Hell, anything that may help us get some pressure/hits on the QB would be nice.

You're overlooking the fact that Brace and Pryor are also natural 4-3 DTs.

Yes, the Pats have had some problems as of late trying to convert college 4-3 players into professional 3-4 players.

CanadianPat'sFan · 04-02-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriotscpfc

With more 4-3 play last year from Bill and a lot of the players that he's looked at this year fitting better into the 4-3, are we moving more towards the 4-3, now that more teams are moving towards the 3-4.

Wilfork. I think he could fit either system well.

Warren. He's obviously a 3-4 DE, but could he move into a 4-3 DT? We'd have one hell of a run defense with Wilfork next to Warren.

I think that TBC and Burgess are obviously 4-3 DE's and pass rushers.

Mayo, I reckon he'd be a beast in the 4-3.
Guyton, he'd fit the profile of a 4-3 OLB.
Adalius would transfer well to sit opposite Guyton as well.

It would mean moving away from the system that we've used for years, but it'd mean a better fit for a lot of our team. And we would open up a lot more options in the draft. We wouldn't need the 6'4, 260lb, 4.6 40, prototype that Bill likes either if we made the transition.

Hell, anything that may help us get some pressure/hits on the QB would be nice.

I really think Bill is using a hybrid of both systems and finding players who have the versatility to play both. It would improve match up schemes and he could make the decision on what defense he will run after the draft.

BritPat · 04-02-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbpatfan

I doubt we switch to the 4-3 as the primary defense this year but if it happened I wouldn't be surprised. You also have to look at all the teams playing the 3-4 now, is it in the majority yet? Less competition for players in the 4-3, especially for the AFC east.

14 teams playing 3-4 in the league as of now (although we played much more snaps in the 4-3 last year).

It just makes too much sense not to move back to the 4-3. It's easier to find fits for the scheme and get better value when drafting.