More 4-3 can offset the loss of Willie

[R_T26]

If the pats run into trouble finding a new OLB or ILB, I expect more 4-3.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

Not gonna happen. More 4-3 than last year? Who knows, unpredictability is one of our strengths, but we are and will continue to be a base 3-4. IMHO.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

We have no MLB, we won't be seeing a lot of straight 4-3.

 

[Mike the Brit]

If the pats run into trouble finding a new OLB or ILB, I expect more 4-3.

It's not so much 3-4 or 4-3 as 1-gap or 2-gap, I think. We have to stay with 2-gap: it's what our players were picked for and it's what they are experienced in.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

It's not so much 3-4 or 4-3 as 1-gap or 2-gap, I think. We have to stay with 2-gap: it's what our players were picked for and it's what they are experienced in.

You can play two-gap or one-gap with either front, the premise 26 is thinking about is invalid, BB would need to do a major overhaul to shift from a base 3-4 to a base 4-3. The DL NE currently has are all Defensive Tackles in a 4-3 and the linebackers are primarily Defensive Ends. Your MLB wouldn't be Bruschi, it would be Izzo or Davis. Colvin could stay on as a WLB, and Davis or Izzo would be the SLB to cover the TE. The disadvantage to going to a 4-3 is losing the versatility of Vrabel as he puts his knuckle down in the dirt.

The 3-4 gives the Pats the strongest front to control the run, you have three DTs and 3 to 4 Defensive Ends on the field in your 7 man front. BB drafts defensive ends or acquires them through FA to train as LBs. He has to get big guys who are incredible athletes like Vrabel and Colvin, this lets him use them in zone coverage to manage underneath thows to the RB and TEs, but the team usually changes over on passing downs and moves Seymour inside with Green (two pass rushing DTs) and dropped Willie and Colvin into DE slots, with TJ and now Tedy going out and a nickelback and nickel LB coming in - you get a pass rush front 4 with two more coverage guys. In the dime package you lose the nickel LB and get a safety or CB.

Versatility, the hallmark of the Pats' defense, predicated on the run stopping of the base 3-4 having a bigger front seven then the base 4-3. BB is forcing them to pass to move the ball, then stuffing that pass with the confusion of his pass rush, part of the reason Green was re-signed to what many considered a large contract for a limited down guy, he is essential to the scheme.

 

[PhilD]

Great post Box.

 

[pats1]

You can play two-gap or one-gap with either front, the premise 26 is thinking about is invalid, BB would need to do a major overhaul to shift from a base 3-4 to a base 4-3. The DL NE currently has are all Defensive Tackles in a 4-3 and the linebackers are primarily Defensive Ends. Your MLB wouldn't be Bruschi, it would be Izzo or Davis. Colvin could stay on as a WLB, and Davis or Izzo would be the SLB to cover the TE. The disadvantage to going to a 4-3 is losing the versatility of Vrabel as he puts his knuckle down in the dirt.

The 3-4 gives the Pats the strongest front to control the run, you have three DTs and 3 to 4 Defensive Ends on the field in your 7 man front. BB drafts defensive ends or acquires them through FA to train as LBs. He has to get big guys who are incredible athletes like Vrabel and Colvin, this lets him use them in zone coverage to manage underneath thows to the RB and TEs, but the team usually changes over on passing downs and moves Seymour inside with Green (two pass rushing DTs) and dropped Willie and Colvin into DE slots, with TJ and now Tedy going out and a nickelback and nickel LB coming in - you get a pass rush front 4 with two more coverage guys. In the dime package you lose the nickel LB and get a safety or CB.

Versatility, the hallmark of the Pats' defense, predicated on the run stopping of the base 3-4 having a bigger front seven then the base 4-3. BB is forcing them to pass to move the ball, then stuffing that pass with the confusion of his pass rush, part of the reason Green was re-signed to what many considered a large contract for a limited down guy, he is essential to the scheme.

Excellent as always, Box!

With the 4-3, Vrabel would definitely have to be down as a DE, leaving the other DE to be probably the lighter Green instead of Sey. That would leave Wilfork, Sey, and Warren to fight for 2 spots inside, meaning one starting-quality player would have to be left on the bench in order to have a smaller Izzo or Davis at the SLB.

 

[jeffd]

If the pats run into trouble finding a new OLB or ILB, I expect more 4-3.

Actually, I think we'll see more 3-4 with the loss of Willie. He was after all our only "real" 4-3 DE and he was more effective in the 4-3 than the 3-4.

 

[Pats726]

Box said it all..NO WAY will they do that..they have 3-4 players so???

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Your MLB wouldn't be Bruschi, it would be Izzo or Davis.

I don't care if it's true, never, ever, write that Izzo or Davis would be our starting MLB. I think I just threw up reading that

 

[Mike the Brit]

You can play two-gap or one-gap with either front, the premise 26 is thinking about is invalid, BB would need to do a major overhaul to shift from a base 3-4 to a base 4-3. The DL NE currently has are all Defensive Tackles in a 4-3 and the linebackers are primarily Defensive Ends. Your MLB wouldn't be Bruschi, it would be Izzo or Davis. Colvin could stay on as a WLB, and Davis or Izzo would be the SLB to cover the TE. The disadvantage to going to a 4-3 is losing the versatility of Vrabel as he puts his knuckle down in the dirt.

The 3-4 gives the Pats the strongest front to control the run, you have three DTs and 3 to 4 Defensive Ends on the field in your 7 man front. BB drafts defensive ends or acquires them through FA to train as LBs. He has to get big guys who are incredible athletes like Vrabel and Colvin, this lets him use them in zone coverage to manage underneath thows to the RB and TEs, but the team usually changes over on passing downs and moves Seymour inside with Green (two pass rushing DTs) and dropped Willie and Colvin into DE slots, with TJ and now Tedy going out and a nickelback and nickel LB coming in - you get a pass rush front 4 with two more coverage guys. In the dime package you lose the nickel LB and get a safety or CB.

Versatility, the hallmark of the Pats' defense, predicated on the run stopping of the base 3-4 having a bigger front seven then the base 4-3. BB is forcing them to pass to move the ball, then stuffing that pass with the confusion of his pass rush, part of the reason Green was re-signed to what many considered a large contract for a limited down guy, he is essential to the scheme.

Thanks for that -- much appreciated (see sig. ).

 

[pats1]

I'm interested in seeing what the new nickel/dime/sub packages will be, although that will really depend on the role of TBC. Usually, in the nickel page, Colvin and Willie lined up at end with Green and Sey inside. There was also a package with just Green and Sey down with 2 or 3 LBs and 6 or 7 DBs.

TBC got a lot of snaps as a sub package DE, as well as the 11th man during that occasional no down linemen set.

The 4-3 would require a good sub package defensive line, too. Denver would replace 3 or even all 4 of the starting group (Pryce, Warren, Myers, Brown) with Ekuban, Coleman, and Engelberger at DE and Demetrin Veal at DT. Worked pretty well against the Pats, too. Ekuban was able to chip Watson with the Pats mainly going with 2 TEs, noticably screwing up a few passing routes.

 

[bucky]

I'm interested in seeing what the new nickel/dime/sub packages will be, although that will really depend on the role of TBC. Usually, in the nickel page, Colvin and Willie lined up at end with Green and Sey inside. There was also a package with just Green and Sey down with 2 or 3 LBs and 6 or 7 DBs.

TBC got a lot of snaps as a sub package DE, as well as the 11th man during that occasional no down linemen set.

I think there's a good chance the Pats draft a guy who will play DE in the Nickel packages. TBC has done it at times, but hasn't really gotten a sniff of the QB.

Another interesting thing to watch is Rodney playing the LB position in the nickel, especially if all the DBs are healthy.

 

[RayClay]

We have no MLB, we won't be seeing a lot of straight 4-3.

Bruschi can't play MLB?

I think we lack side to side OLBs.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Bruschi can't play MLB?

Well, I could play MLB but not very well Bruschi looked a step slow for ILB last year I can't imagine how washed up he would look as a MLB. He's still very good at ILB because of his instincts, toughness and teamwork but I think his lack of speed would kill him in the middle by himself.