- Joined
- Feb 19, 2007
- Messages
- 17,113
- Reaction score
- 16,392
The difference is that when the Pats ran a 3-4 base, the players who were DEs in the nickel package were *also* OLBs in the 3-4 running downs - McGinest, Vrabel, Colvin, sometimes Thomas.
Now, with the Pats *appearing* to run a 4-3, those DEs in the nickel package are NOT playing OLB in the early down base defense. That's the key difference; I'm not sure if you were at practice or not today (that would break a pretty damn good streak too), but Burgess, by all reports, was not in the same role as the four players I described above. He was *only* used in a nickel/4-3 DE role.
I was there...I saw what you are speaking of but because of his size I see him more of a LBer type but I guess we are splitting hairs.
I actually had the thought when I saw this that this years defense might be very fluid from play to play. On first and 10 I see base 3-4 but 3rd and1 I could see 4-3. The nickel and Dime packages have been fluid for years with them somtimes using 3,2,1 and zero of the dlinemen opting for more LBs on the field whether they have a hand down or not.
Added: reading what I said a second time I think the key is 1st and ten happens more often than most other situations and that combined with all the crazy things they do with LBs in nickle and dime is why you need the #s at the LB position more than the line....but we are thinking more on the same lines than this discussion would seem.
Last edited: