Should the Pats shift to a 4-3 defense?

[VJCPatriot]

They really don't have any good ILBs outside of Mayo. And a 4-3 would protect him up front better and give him room to roam and make plays.

If you draft a guy like Cody, you could go with a 4-3 front of
Warren-Cody-Brace-Wilfork
TBC-Mayo-Burgess

I know TBC and Burguess aren't ideal. I am hoping that Woods can win the spot from him or we can draft a stud OLB as well.
I also don't know if Brace is a bust or what, yet. If he's not ready, Pryor could easily play in his place with Cody and Wilfork commanding double teams.

I know this has been talked about for ages, but our LB play truly sucked this year, so why not minimize the suckiness and try to get more beef up front instead?

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

A 4-3 defense has great athletic pass rushers at DE. Wilfork doesn't qualify as that, so that wouldn't really work. Guys like Tuck, Peppers, Allen, Freeney, Mathis, etc. are all prototypical DE's. Banta-Cain and Burgess would be better options at DE in the 4-3. Adalius too.

As for the question, I'd say no. I like the versatility of the 3-4 defense and it's BB's specialty. I think the better question is 1-gap 3-4 vs 2-gap 3-4. I prefer the 1-gap.

You'd be better off with a 3-4 with Warren Cody Wilfork at DL and then Burgess/Thomas Guyton Mayo Banta-Cain at LB.

 

[VJCPatriot]

A 4-3 defense has great athletic pass rushers at DE. Wilfork doesn't qualify as that, so that wouldn't really work. Guys like Tuck, Peppers, Allen, Freeney, Mathis, etc. are all prototypical DE's. Banta-Cain and Burgess would be better options at DE in the 4-3. Adalius too.

As for the question, I'd say no. I like the versatility of the 3-4 defense and it's BB's specialty. I think the better question is 1-gap 3-4 vs 2-gap 3-4. I prefer the 1-gap.

You'd be better off with a 3-4 with Warren Cody Wilfork at DL and then Burgess/Thomas Guyton Mayo Banta-Cain at LB.

And what do you do then about the complete lack of quality at LB outside of one Jerod Mayo?

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

And what do you do then about the complete lack of quality at LB outside of one Jerod Mayo?

I agree there's a big hole at LB. Hopefully McKenzie and Crable can make an impact but I have my doubts. I think we need to look at adding LB's through free agency and the draft. I'm a big fan of adding Hardy or Dunlap at OLB or trading up for Ro-Mac. I'd be interested in Merriman, Peppers, and Dansby at LB via free agency.

We need to add playmakers at the LB position. If Belichick doesn't address this via the draft or free agency, then I think we can all start to panic. There is now way he can possibly think Burgess, Thomas, Banta-Cain, etc. are going to get it done in a league where getting to the QB is so important.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

They really don't have any good ILBs outside of Mayo. And a 4-3 would protect him up front better and give him room to roam and make plays.

If you draft a guy like Cody, you could go with a 4-3 front of
Warren-Cody-Brace-Wilfork
TBC-Mayo-BurgessQUOTE]

Have you watched Brace play?

Pryor is a far better player and I would not want to see him start.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Switching to a 4-3 would worsen our pass rush (yeah I didn't think it would be possible either). We have no real pass rushing ends in a 4-3 outside of maybe Burgess. Id much rather just switch to a 1 gap 3-4 and start bringing more heat from up the middle. Im not saying like what the Jets do but a team like the Cowboys or the Chargers. At OLB, FA and a rookie going into next year would be nice, you probably already know who I want at ILB.

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm not sure we have the players for either right now. But as a DE, Wilfork makes a really good NT.

If we keep Wilfork we're best off staying with the 3-4 I think. We'd need a DE, SOLB (to replace Thomas) and SILB (making Guyton a good #3 guy). That's assuming we keep TBC.

For a 4-3 we'd need two DE (I would put Warren with Wilfork at DT). And we'd still need one more OLB.

It's a mess either way. The only upside is we have a ton of young guys in Brace, Pryor, Richard, Crable, McKenzie, Guyton and if two of them take a good step up we would be OK. As we stand right now, though . . . ewwwww.