First of all I know this is not happening as long as Wade Phillips is here, but this is simply my opinion. While Demarcus Ware had 14 sacks this year, I feel he would have had alot more if Dallas ran a 4-3 system. While Ware may be rushing the passer most of the time in the 3-4 D, at times he is required to cover the running back or tightend. Any time DeMarcus Ware drops into coverage, his explosive speed and strength as a pass rusher is gone, therefore giving an advantage to the offense. I will explain more later in the blog but this is where I would play everyone in the 4-3.
LDE:Anthony Spencer,Greg Ellis(Who would start over Spencer in the nickel and dime packages)
LDT:Chris Canty, Tank Johnson, Stephen Bowen
RDT:Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Tank Johnson
RDE:DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer
LOLB:Kevin Burnett, Bobby Carpenter
MLB:Bradie James, Zach Thomas, Bobby Carpenter
ROLB:Akin Adoyele,Bobby Carpenter
With this as the front seven I think the Cowboys could bring significantly more pressure with this base 4-3 defense. In nickel and dime situations the cowboys would substitute Greg Ellis for Jay Ratliff. At DE you would have Spencer and Ellis, and at tackle you would have Ware and Canty. Demarcus would be our version of the Giants' Justin Tuck in the nickel and dime packages. Bobby Carpenter would be more effective in a 4-3 and would be the super sub, since he could play all 3 4-3 LB positons. Going to a 4-3 would also mean the Cowboys would have to rely less on injury prone LB Zach Thomas. For the nickel backers I would use Carpenter and Burnett to go along with the d-line I would use for these packages. This would also take significant pressure off Roy Williams because we would have backers who would be able to help Roy cover the TE or RB instead of having to rush the passer on every play. If you dont think this would work just look at what the Giants did to the Pats in the SB. One could also argue that the Pats did just fine with a 3-4 defense, but that was more due to their ability to stop opponets inside the redzone than anything else. While the Dallas D was good in the red zone, they were not nearly as good as the Pats. I realize that this wont happen with Wade here, but I am just thinking out loud. What does everybody think?
NBA Playoffs: Week 3
Comments (6)
I thought they should have hired Ex. Bears Defensive Cord Ron Rivera last season. He would have brought in a great 4-3 Defense. The 3-4 was a big thing, but with more offenses going 3 or 4 wide at times, it forces you to play more Nickel and Dime packages. The 3-4 is really a dieing breed. A lot of teams use it but alot of teams beat it.
Look at the Patriots, every team that gave them trouble ran a Blitzing 4-3 Scheme. The 3-4 teams got beat, hard. The Ravens, Eagles, Giants.........
I have been saying 4-3 for a while now. The 3-4 DE's can easily switch back to DT, the OLB's are DE's by trade, and the MLB's can all play OLB in the 4-3.
I think once that Jason Garrett takes over it will be a 4-3 Defense. It just seems to get more pressure and better timed blitzes. How many times did the Cowboys blitz last season and everyone got picked up? The defense got shredded.
America's Legend | 03/24/08, 06:50 AM
Report Offensive CommentI'm a 4-3 guy myself but the transfermation has happened and that's the personel they have now. They've stockpiled too many 3-4 types in the last few drafts. That's also why they picked up Thomas becasue you are using more backers. Canty, Hatcher, and Bowen are 3-4 DE's not 4-3 tackles. That's what hurt us when we did run the 4-3. It's hard to find enough consistant tackles. Plus the 3-4 allows you to move around guys like Ware and Ellis more. You guys really need to look at the stats of the playoff loss and the last few games of the season.. The D didn't lose that game the offense and special teams did. They run a 4 man front on passing situations anyway, in nickle and dime situations you aren't in a 4-3 or 3-4 u are in more of a 4-2. Regardless of 4-3 or 3-4 the problem was with the 4 guys behind them in the secondary. Not that I think the D needs much fixing other than depth at corner. The offense dissapeared in the second half of the Giants game so I don't see why everyone thinks the defense needs such a big overhaul.
rkitz44 | 03/24/08, 10:35 AM
Report Offensive CommentAmerica's Legend I agree, When Garrett is in they will run a 4-3 and I think Garrett will promote Campo to defensive coordinator.
The Eliminator | 03/24/08, 11:05 AM
Report Offensive CommentYou guys are wrong....this team is much tougher to pass block against when you have no clue as to who is coming and from where. You can not double everyone and they are more than likely doubling Ware anytime he lines up.
When your D is ranked in the top 12, there is only need for tweaks, not complete overhauls. Please remember 1 thing, depth, depth, depth.
Ayodele has been an average MLB at best. If Thomas is anything close to his pre-injury form, Dallas will love him in pass coverage and he will win the #2MLB starting job.
Our D has so much depth it enables us to gut thru a long season and it keeps the team fresh going into the 4th quarter.
Just ask teams about the 4th quarter when they see Barber rolling right over them....it is a combo of tired legs and no depth for a lot of those teams when they can not sit their defensive players b/c the backups are chumps.
JeffHart24 | 03/24/08, 12:40 PM
Report Offensive CommentI think a lot depends on the personel you have at your disposal. Granted the 3-4 has it's problems depending on what strengths the opposing offense has. But that's true of the 4-3 as well. So it's hard for me to really favor either defensive philosophy.
Being that as it may, I do like what the "Phillips 34" accomplished for the team in it's first year at bat, so to speak. And that tends to make me alil excited about next season.
Personally, I don't feel like the D-line is the problem.
The Cowboys need serious help in pass coverage! That is where we are getting our butts handed to us! The current chatter is about bringing Adam (Pacman) Jones to Dallas. And like always, there are opinions flying around about what a trouble maker the guy is and what a horrible mistake it would be and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!
I say, if the guy can help us by knocking down some passes or intercepting a few now and then.....SIGN HIM!!!! God knows Roy Williams means well, but ain't exactly the greatest cover guy out there! And of course Terrence Newman is still pretty fast, but he actually disappointed me with his overall lack of knock downs and interceptions. And yes, I realize he came off the injury and all that.
Still, we need someone who SHINES in pass coverage, and right now.....WE AIN'T GOT NOBODY!!!
Am I wrong or am I wrong?
Pete08 | 03/26/08, 07:06 PM
Report Offensive CommentNice blog
djroxalot: Top 25!!! | 03/29/08, 02:09 PM
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