AFC East Preview - Jets and the 3-4

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/sports/football/06green.html

The Jets are the latest team to abandon the four-lineman, three-linebacker set in favor of the 3-4 alignment, which offers more versatility schemewise and from a salary-cap standpoint. Linebackers, who are the heart of this defense, can masquerade as pass rushers or cover men, run stoppers or quarterback spies. They act as chameleons, showing more looks than Madonna during her Confessions concert.

Versatility being the mother of inventiveness, blitz packages in the scheme have become more numerous and complex since the 1980’s, when the Giants rose to pre-eminence under Bill Parcells with a 3-4 defense anchored by Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Carl Banks and Gary Reasons. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots have refined the 3-4 defense and have, by virtue of their Super Bowl success, brought it back into vogue.

So has the salary cap. In general, the players that make the 3-4 work come cheaper than the defensive ends that exist to star in the 4-3. Consider that the free-agent pickups Kimo von Oelhoffen from Pittsburgh and Matt Chatham from New England were signed for less than half of what it would have cost the Jets to keep the pass-rushing specialist John Abraham, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in March.

For those who might not have a NYT login try this site: http://www.bugmenot.com/

 

[Ichiro]

I really don't think the Jets have the proper players to run a effective 3-4. Shaun Ellis is like 275 and probably has never two gapped. I think a lot of NFL d-lineman hate two gapping beacuse what is does to their statistics (and as a result their contracts) and the amount of punishment it does to the body.
Also, Jonathan Vilma is a very small linebacker and having him uncovered taking on guards one on one will spell disaster.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I really don't think the Jets have the proper players to run a effective 3-4. Shaun Ellis is like 275 and probably has never two gapped. I think a lot of NFL d-lineman hate two gapping beacuse what is does to their statistics (and as a result their contracts) and the amount of punishment it does to the body.
Also, Jonathan Vilma is a very small linebacker and having him uncovered taking on guards one on one will spell disaster.

I don't mind if they don't have the right kids to play the 3-4. I do think it will be interesting to watch.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Another item relating to the AFC East - but this individual has a bad case of doofin lust...

http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2006/08/04/sports_qa_smelling_jeter_afc_races.php

That leaves the Dolphins as the only challengers to the Patriots' AFC East claim. Coach Nick Saban won't let trivial matters, such as dinner with the President of the United States, hinder Miami's attempt to unseat New England. He's got Daunte Culpepper at quarterback, who, even on one leg, is better than Gus Frerotte on two. And Culpepper will have a downfield target in Chris Chambers, who is physically much like Randy Moss, but without the issues. It's a tie, but the Pats win the conference record tiebreaker for the division crown.

Tiebreaker? :bricks:

 

[Ichiro]

Dolphins have plenty of problems that the dullfans don't seem to realize: Their offensive line is bad
Culpepper can wing it, but he hasn't proven he can really read defenses
Defensive front seven is getting older (traylor, k carter and z thomas all 32+)
Inexperienced secondary (J Allen holding out will hurt them)

All the Pats haters (especially John Clayton) just can't wait for someone to take the top seat from us

 

[Sundayjack]

I really don't think the Jets have the proper players to run a effective 3-4.

I think you're right, and I do think we're forcing our personnel into a defense that doesn't fit. That bothers me a little.

I'm not as worried about Vilma, because I think he has the athleticism to succeed in whatever defense we run. He was supposed to be too small for ANY defense. He's a playmaker

 

[Ichiro]

I think you're right, and I do think we're forcing our personnel into a defense that doesn't fit. That bothers me a little.

I'm not as worried about Vilma, because I think he has the athleticism to succeed in whatever defense we run. He was supposed to be too small for ANY defense. He's a playmaker

I definelty think all of the Jets young playmakers are suited for the 4-3.
Ellis is a underrated player and I liked the little I saw of Bryan Thomas last year. Both are classic 4-3 ends

I loved Vilma coming out of Miami. He has all the natural LB instincts one could want. I think he can have the same impact of any of the great linebackers in the league. But he needs two stout DT's in front of him and will struggle in this first season in the 3-4 ( a la Ray Lewis)

 

[BLITZKRIEG]

Dolphins have plenty of problems that the dullfans don't seem to realize:

Their offensive line is bad

Miami has a much improved OL. It's strong and deep. We didn't lose anyone from last year, and we even added a few decent players to it this off-season as well. You obviously have no clue when it comes to the Miami Dolphins, or the current state of their OL....

Culpepper can wing it, but he hasn't proven he can really read defenses

I guess that's why he's been one of the most productive QB's since entering the league. You have nothing on Culpepper. He's a huge upgrade for the Phinz offense no matter how you slice it....

Defensive front seven is getting older (traylor, k carter and z thomas all 32+)

It's older, but it's still among the best in the NFL. In case you forgot, Miami's defense finished 2nd in the league in sacks last year. It should only improve under Capers in 2006. Bottom line : Regardless of age, Miami has the best DL / defense in the division....

Inexperienced secondary (J Allen holding out will hurt them)

It's not that inexperienced. Besides, having Saban will only make it better. Defensive secondaries are his area of expertise. I have no doubt that the Phinz secondary will be improving on a yearly basis as a result. It's a work in progress, but with the players we brought in during the off-season, it should be tighter in coverage than it was a year ago....

All the Pats haters (especially John Clayton) just can't wait for someone to take the top seat from us

Wont be much longer. The Phinz are eating up the Pats rear view mirror these days. Who cares what Clayton says, it's obvious that Miami is going to give the Pats a run this year....:rocker:

 

[PatsDeb]

The only way Miami is going to get close to our rear-view mirror is if Culpepper can return to pre-2005 form. I have serious doubts about that. He was gawd-awful last year before the serious knee injury. Now he is expected to be the Dolphins' savior while recovering from that and learning a new offense and adjusting to new teammates. That is a lot of pressure and expectation. Here's one vote that says he won't be able to do it.

 

[Ichiro]

Miami has a much improved OL. It's strong and deep. We didn't lose anyone from last year, and we even added a few decent players to it this off-season as well. You obviously have no clue when it comes to the Miami Dolphins, or the current state of their OL....

Your OL strong and deep? Wow. You are delusional. I hope your not counting on Shelton, that guy is a turd

 

[Ichiro]

I guess that's why he's been one of the most productive QB's since entering the league. You have nothing on Culpepper. He's a huge upgrade for the Phinz offense no matter how you slice it....

Culpepper SUCKED without Randy Moss putting the fear of god into safeties and requiring that his side of the field be bracketed by a CB and safety. Now that worked really well because Culpepper has an amazing deep ball but without Moss safeties were able to move up and the windows became smaller for Culpepper. He never adjusted to this and threw TONS of ints(I think 5 in one game). All of this was against weak NFC North defenses not AFC teams.
Now he comes into a new system, off an injury? It's also telling that the Vikings let a young Culpepper go for Brad Johnson! Culpepper might be an upgrade for the Dullphins but he is not a good as someone like Drew Brees or Trent Green until he proves it.