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NOTE: This post isn't about firing Dom Capers or any specific prospect for a replacement. It is purely a discussion of whether our defensive roster might really be equally or better suited to a 4-3 defense or not.
I've been thinking about some of the options out there for 4-3 coordinators and conventional wisdom says we would need to rebuild a big portion of our personnel. But is that necessarily true? We've actually drafted a lot of 4-3 linemen in the last 2-3 years and have been trying to adapt them to the 3-4 as pros. Just this past year, we drafted Perry, Worthy and Daniels, ALL of whom played in a 4-3 defense in college. Perhaps that's exactly why our defense has been poor against the run. Let's look at the potential we have already on the roster for a 4-3 defense.
I think we have the makings of a killer 4-3 DL:
LE: Perry
DT: Raji/Worthy/Pickett
RE: Daniels/Neal
LB might be a little trickier, but with so many on the team, we shouldn't have much trouble fitting them in.
ROLB: Matthews/Walden
MLB: Bishop/Hawk
LOLB: Smith/Moses/Zombo
Mainly, I think it comes down to two small issues. First, we would need to reinforce our depth on the DL in the draft, but I think we'd have a good core. Second, where is Matthews best used? You would assume ROLB, but could you imagine his sideline-to-sideline range as a MLB?
I'm beginning to think the traditional 2-3 year re-tooling period to switch over might not be applicable here. Instead, we might simply be looking at a 1 year adjustment period to a new defensive scheme. I could live with that.
I've been thinking about some of the options out there for 4-3 coordinators and conventional wisdom says we would need to rebuild a big portion of our personnel. But is that necessarily true? We've actually drafted a lot of 4-3 linemen in the last 2-3 years and have been trying to adapt them to the 3-4 as pros. Just this past year, we drafted Perry, Worthy and Daniels, ALL of whom played in a 4-3 defense in college. Perhaps that's exactly why our defense has been poor against the run. Let's look at the potential we have already on the roster for a 4-3 defense.
I think we have the makings of a killer 4-3 DL:
LE: Perry
DT: Raji/Worthy/Pickett
RE: Daniels/Neal
LB might be a little trickier, but with so many on the team, we shouldn't have much trouble fitting them in.
ROLB: Matthews/Walden
MLB: Bishop/Hawk
LOLB: Smith/Moses/Zombo
Mainly, I think it comes down to two small issues. First, we would need to reinforce our depth on the DL in the draft, but I think we'd have a good core. Second, where is Matthews best used? You would assume ROLB, but could you imagine his sideline-to-sideline range as a MLB?
I'm beginning to think the traditional 2-3 year re-tooling period to switch over might not be applicable here. Instead, we might simply be looking at a 1 year adjustment period to a new defensive scheme. I could live with that.