Draft: Which teams use a 3-4 scheme?

[Seneschal2]

Obviously thinking about the Pats LB positions -- both ILB and OLB. The subject was raised in the draft forum that the Jets may be interested in similar type players. This leads one to wonder which other teams might be our main competition in the hunt to upgrade their 3-4 defense.

Back in '05, reportedly at least 8 teams played a 3-4. Now I've read that only 6 teams use this scheme as their base D. Each season, there's a change among some teams defensive coordinators -- with an obvious change in philosophy. For the purpose of this thread, I think it would be helpful to have an updated list of teams prior to the draft. Seeking as much input as possible -- so please post any info.

An article by Gosselin claims these 6 use the 3-4:

NE
Pitt
Cleveland
SD
Dallas
Baltimore

Any more?

 

[Remix 6]

Baltimore doesnt..they did but not anymore..they do go to it in sub packages sometimes


Dolphins used it sometimes right?

 

[BelichickFan]

Cleveland does but they drafted LB in Rounds 1, 2 and 5 last year. So they are VERY unlikely to be taking a LB on day one.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

With the hiring of Mike Tomlin in Pitt (who is from the Dungy school of Tampa 2), they more than likely will be phasing out of the 3-4 alignment shortly.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Add the Jets to the mix of teams in the 3-4, what about the dolphins, 49'ers?

 

[pats1]

Add the Jets to the mix of teams in the 3-4, what about the dolphins, 49'ers?

The Jets don't play a 3-4 anymore. They mixed it in at the start of the season, but they're moreso 4-3.

The 49ers finished the season in a 4-3.

The Dolphins play a 4-3, and it can only be considered 3-4 when Taylor stands up.

 

[Remix 6]

The Jets don't play a 3-4 anymore. They mixed it in at the start of the season, but they're moreso 4-3.

The 49ers finished the season in a 4-3.

The Dolphins play a 4-3, and it can only be considered 3-4 when Taylor stands up.

um im pretty sure 49ers are gonna stay in a 3-4..not sure about other teams

 

[pats1]

um im pretty sure 49ers are gonna stay in a 3-4..not sure about other teams

The depth chart on their official website has them in a 4-3.

They also started their final game of the season in the 4-3:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061231_SF@DEN

 

[Remix 6]

The depth chart on their official website has them in a 4-3.

They also started their final game of the season in the 4-3:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061231_SF@DEN

That is the same defense that Nolan will run with the 49ers. Last year Nolan was limited in running the 3-4 mainly because of injuries and needed to switch back to the 4-3. With Manusky now on board, San Francisco plans on returning to the 3-4.

posted 9 hours ago..found it off

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17808842&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=460522&rfi=6

 

[everlong]

With the hiring of Mike Tomlin in Pitt (who is from the Dungy school of Tampa 2), they more than likely will be phasing out of the 3-4 alignment shortly.

If Lebeau stays in Pitt they will likely stay with the 3-4.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

If Lebeau stays in Pitt they will likely stay with the 3-4.

I am pretty sure that I read on-line that they will be moving shortly to the Tampa 2 and how they were going to best utilize Hampton on the interior of the line. When Lebeau was in Cincy he ran the 4-3.

 

[everlong]

I am pretty sure that I read on-line that they will be moving shortly to the Tampa 2 and how they were going to best utilize Hampton on the interior of the line. When Lebeau was in Cincy he ran the 4-3.

All the better for us but I don't think it's smart for them. Their personnel has been built around the 3-4 for so long it'll be a tough change that will likely set them back. I have a friend from Maryland who's a die-hard Steelers fan and he's praying they don't switch. I haven't read that they will yet.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I am pretty sure that I read on-line that they will be moving shortly to the Tampa 2 and how they were going to best utilize Hampton on the interior of the line. When Lebeau was in Cincy he ran the 4-3.

I hope you are right, it would be a boon for the Pats.

 

[BelichickFan]

I hope you are right, it would be a boon for the Pats.

Having two Tampa 2 teams in this year's SB won't hurt, you know how quickly teams copycat others.

 

[DaBruinz]

Dallas is probably going to move to the 4-3 now that Parcells is gone. It remains to be seen based on who they hire.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Dallas is probably going to move to the 4-3 now that Parcells is gone. It remains to be seen based on who they hire.

I thought I read where Wade Phillips was high on the hire list because they wanted to keep the 3-4?

 

[DaBruinz]

I thought I read where Wade Phillips was high on the hire list because they wanted to keep the 3-4?

Actually, the down here in Dallas is that Jerry Jones is leaning towards a return by Norv Turner. Other possibilities could be Singeltary or Jason Garrett, but Turner is the front runner. That could, of course, all change depending on what jones happens to be thinging on any particular day.

 

[Seneschal2]

Update:

Based on the thread response so far, here's where we're at:

The initial six 3-4 teams...

NE
Cleveland
Pitt
SD
Dallas
Baltimore

...while these 4 remain uncertainties:

Pitt (may change to a 4-3)
Dallas (may change to a 4-3 now that Parcells is gone)
Baltimore (no longer uses the 3-4 as their base D)
SF (will be changing to a 3-4)

Leaving only 3 teams for certain who use a 3-4...

NE
Cleveland
SD

Once we have an accurate list, we can start looking at which teams need LBs...

Any thoughts?

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Weren't the Jets forced to play the 4-3 because of personnel and not philosophy? I can't imagine Mangini not installing the 3-4.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Update:

Based on the thread response so far, here's where we're at:

The initial six 3-4 teams...

NE
Cleveland
Pitt
SD
Dallas
Baltimore

...while these 4 remain uncertainties:

Pitt (may change to a 4-3)
Dallas (may change to a 4-3 now that Parcells is gone)
Baltimore (no longer uses the 3-4 as their base D)
SF (will be changing to a 3-4)

Leaving only 3 teams for certain who use a 3-4...

NE
Cleveland
SD

Once we have an accurate list, we can start looking at which teams need LBs...

Any thoughts?

Pitt is a 3-4 team until we see differently, we may get a feel for them in FA, but I'd expect them to stick to the 3-4 for now.

NYJ are a base 3-4 team who will morph per the game plan - look at the re-signing money spent on Thomas who has been a 4-3 DE bust but came on like gang busters as a 3-4 OLB. Watch for them to be looking at someone like Adam Carriker who looked like a natural 3-4 DE in the Senior Bowl, he would probably platoon with Kimo like Warren did with Hamilton.

Baltimore is a 4-3 team, have been since Mike Nolan went to SF. Ray Ray won't allow them to go back if they wanted to.

Miami is a 3-4 team until we see a different direction, Dom Capers is still the DC.

Herm occasionally did a little 3-4 when he was screwing the Jets, KC probably won't change from a base 4-3, but they may want the same kind of players for the odd in-game morph.

Dallas is the team to watch, their 3-4 struggled too much because Parcells never really got a 3-4 DC, he was trying to re-train a 4-3 man in house. That said, I doubt they dump many guys on the market since BP also wanted versatile players.