As per the BuffaloRumblings blog, WRT the announcement by new DC, George Edwards, of moving the defense toward a base 3-4 . . . starting out with a hybrid 3-4 "look" similar to the "3-4 Over" run by Arizona and Dallas . . .
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This sounds to me a lot like where BB may be taking the Pats defense - to the "3-4 Over" - but coming from the other direction. My admittedly weak justification for thinking this is plausible:
- BB drafted THREE DTs last year (mostly one-gap guys, it seems to me) and brought three more into camp and at least one more was on the roster for a time during the regular season.
- He traded Seymour, who fits a classic base 3-4, but not so much for the 3-4 Over (and, yes, there were other reasons for trading Seymour at the time).
- He moved Wright and Wilfork around into one-gap positions way more than in the past.
- He picked up TBC, Burgess and Ninkovich and used them as specialists or OLB/DE tweeners.
STOP RIGHT HERE: If you prefer to argue against this "move to a 3-4 Over" happening at all (or merely being a temporary situation), please start your own thread. I'd like this thread to be exclusively devoted, as much as possible, to exploring this "what if" scenario. Thanks.
The point being that, IF this is true (MAJOR CAVEAT), then it may significantly change the way we project how BB will move in FA and the Draft.
My guesses:
- Wilfork will be Franchised and traded.
- Jarvis Green will be allowed to walk.
- Bodden and TBC will be high-priority FA retentions on the defense.
- Classic 3-4 DEs (6'5"+, 290+ lbs) will not be a priority acquisition goal.
- A classic 3-4 NT to replace Wilfork will not be a priority acquisition goal.
- One-gap DTs may become a higher-priority acquisition goal.
- DE/OLB tweeners (6'1"-6'3", 260-275 lbs) with speed and good gap/edge discipline, rather than coverage skills, WILL become a higher priority acquisition. Similar requirements may also apply to ILB acquisitions.
- Another good "coverage" safety may become a higher priority acquisition (and Brandon McGowan may be traded/cut).
So - for the sake of discussion, let's say this "move to (something like) a 3-4 Over" is actually transpiring.
What other player characteristics/types of players (beyond those I've mentioned above might be required?
What players currently on the roster fit this scheme/these specs best (including, possibly, Wilfork)? Fit worst (or not at all)?
What potential FAs would fit best? Worst? Not at all?
What potential draft picks fit best? Worst? Not at all?
Also, what/who might the Pats get in trade or Wilfork and, if draft picks, how might they be used?
Again, if you prefer to argue against the possibility of this "move to a 3-4 Over" happening at all, please refrain from doing so here. If you have ideas about how this would work and/or who the Pats might try to acquire to make it work, have at it.
The theory is that it can be easier to disguise the pass rush/be more creative with it, especially important if it isn't overwhelmingly powerful to begin with . . . an edge-rushing OLB can put his hand on the ground on passing downs (or not) . . ."The beauty of this scheme is that you don't need the massive, two-gap, blubbery nose tackle in the middle to make it work. The alignment focuses on employing lighter, quicker, one-gap linemen and bigger, faster linebackers behind them to make it work, as illustrated in the photo above the fold. Players would be asked to beat blockers to spots and maintain gaps, rather than overcome multiple blockers via brute strength and bulk."
"You'll see Buffalo's secondary play a bit more matchup football and a significant amount of man coverage. There's nothing wrong with that, so long as the pass rush gets home and Jairus Byrd is still playing centerfield to eat up those poorly thrown passes. This is a scheme that you can run zone behind as well, and obviously, Buffalo's linebackers and defensive backs are used to that.
Where Buffalo would lack, first and foremost, would be depth. The Bills will need a ton of depth brought in. They'd need to bring in prospects along the defensive line, at linebacker, and pass rushing specialists."
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This sounds to me a lot like where BB may be taking the Pats defense - to the "3-4 Over" - but coming from the other direction. My admittedly weak justification for thinking this is plausible:
- BB drafted THREE DTs last year (mostly one-gap guys, it seems to me) and brought three more into camp and at least one more was on the roster for a time during the regular season.
- He traded Seymour, who fits a classic base 3-4, but not so much for the 3-4 Over (and, yes, there were other reasons for trading Seymour at the time).
- He moved Wright and Wilfork around into one-gap positions way more than in the past.
- He picked up TBC, Burgess and Ninkovich and used them as specialists or OLB/DE tweeners.
STOP RIGHT HERE: If you prefer to argue against this "move to a 3-4 Over" happening at all (or merely being a temporary situation), please start your own thread. I'd like this thread to be exclusively devoted, as much as possible, to exploring this "what if" scenario. Thanks.
The point being that, IF this is true (MAJOR CAVEAT), then it may significantly change the way we project how BB will move in FA and the Draft.
My guesses:
- Wilfork will be Franchised and traded.
- Jarvis Green will be allowed to walk.
- Bodden and TBC will be high-priority FA retentions on the defense.
- Classic 3-4 DEs (6'5"+, 290+ lbs) will not be a priority acquisition goal.
- A classic 3-4 NT to replace Wilfork will not be a priority acquisition goal.
- One-gap DTs may become a higher-priority acquisition goal.
- DE/OLB tweeners (6'1"-6'3", 260-275 lbs) with speed and good gap/edge discipline, rather than coverage skills, WILL become a higher priority acquisition. Similar requirements may also apply to ILB acquisitions.
- Another good "coverage" safety may become a higher priority acquisition (and Brandon McGowan may be traded/cut).
So - for the sake of discussion, let's say this "move to (something like) a 3-4 Over" is actually transpiring.
What other player characteristics/types of players (beyond those I've mentioned above might be required?
What players currently on the roster fit this scheme/these specs best (including, possibly, Wilfork)? Fit worst (or not at all)?
What potential FAs would fit best? Worst? Not at all?
What potential draft picks fit best? Worst? Not at all?
Also, what/who might the Pats get in trade or Wilfork and, if draft picks, how might they be used?
Again, if you prefer to argue against the possibility of this "move to a 3-4 Over" happening at all, please refrain from doing so here. If you have ideas about how this would work and/or who the Pats might try to acquire to make it work, have at it.