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Favrefan misses Hawaii said 04/04, 05:49 PM
Absolutely not, for one major reason: with Ware at OLB the offense doesn't know if he is rushing or dropping back in coverage. That is the biggest reason for any team to run a 3-4. Ware is also athletic enough and fast enough that he can drop in to coverage, and he is a greater asset to run defense from the OLB spot.

There is also the issue of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Cowboys were the best team in the NFC last year until they ran in to the Giants miracle run. It certainly wasn't the 3-4 defense that cost the Cowboys that game, and there is no reason to think they won't be just as successful next year with the same defense.

When running a 3-4 it is important to have A) a solid DT and B) LBs that can stop the run. The Cowboys have both of these things, and it worked pretty well last year. There is no evidence that a 4-3 defense would be more effective.

Favrefan misses Hawaii said 04/04, 06:24 PM
Ah, I get it. You are a huge Cowboys fan and are looking for ways to get better. Well, rest assured, the Cowboys will be back at the top of the NFC again next year and the Packers will probably not be a threat either.

You claim that pass coverage is a major weakness in the 3-4, but in fact it can be a strength. I don't believe that the offense knows the defensive play call, so how would they know which side to send the RB to? Ware has also bee a more effective pass rusher from the OLB position, getting more sacks and pressures. This may be due to natural developments, but I doubt it.

He is also, as I mentioned, a greater asset to the running defense in the OLD position, which is just as vital as rushing the passer. With him on one side and Thomas on the other it will be very hard to run on the Cowboys.

You don't change your defense every time you lose a playoff game. You state that the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game with a 3-4 in a long time, but when was the last time they won with a 4-3? Yeah, probably during the Triplets era. They've had a solid defense for some years now, and it's largely due to the Tuna's implementation of the 3-4 defense. Keep it.

Favrefan misses Hawaii said 04/04, 06:49 PM
Ware doesn't stop the run well from the DE position, which is why he didn't play it every down. If he is a good pass rusher and a poor run stopper from the DE position compared to a good pass rusher and a good run stopper from OLB, and everyone else is roughly equal, why change anything?

What he did in college is nearly irrelevant, as many players switch positions. Derrick Thomas went from DE to OLB, for instance, and became very good.

The Cowboys best pass rush comes from the 3-4 because the offense doesn't know where the blitz is coming from. The Giants ran a 4-3 because Osi and Strahan are natural DEs and would be ineffective at OLB. Ware is more effective at OLB and should stay there.

There is no need to change the defense in Dallas. A 4-3 would make Ware one-dimensional and damage their run defense while having only a minimal impact on the pass rush. You have yet to address the run, which is more important in the playoffs. That is why Ware needs to stay in the LB corp.