FanNation

AirforceBat said 06/29, 10:38 PM
Its been a while since I started a Throwdown, so I figured that I might as well start with something that hasn't been done.
A growing trend in the NFL right now has been the 3-4 defense. Even though there have been teams over the past few years that have used it, it seems like more and more teams have went over to it. It seems to me that there is no reason for this trend to stop as there are several distinct advantages in a 3-4.
The main one is the ability to bring the blitz in several directions, while being able to maintain coverage.
I'll put some more up in my next argument.
But as you usually see, the NFL is a league of copycats. When something works, people generally try and mimic it. It seems like every team is trying to get a hybrid WR/QB these days to try and copy the success that Pittsburg had with Randel El.
The 3-4 is also one of the few defenses that seem to give no huddle offenses fits. The Patriots are probably the most profound team that has been doing it the past few years. As they shut down the high powered Rams in a Superbowl, and up until the last few years were highly successful against a gret Colts offense.

AirforceBat said 06/30, 11:28 AM
You present a good point, but if you look teams are starting to do it anyways.

Arizona is talking about converting to the 3-4 as well as San Francisco, who is already making the transition.

I didn't state that the whole league would convert to them, but it definitly wouldn't suprise me if more make the switch.

While I somewhat agree about your comment about the defensive ends, i also think that that its appealing to defenses because you can go down a list and look for those 'tweeners'. I mean seriously its seems like you can find your hybrid DE's/OLB's later in the first round, then your pure defensive end.

Like I said to begin with, the NFL is a league of go with whatever works.

Its the same reason that alot of the team are going with a dual back system. Its something that people are having success with.

Now I'm not naive enough to believe the the 3-4 will take over the NFL, I do believe that in 10 years at least 3 more teams will convert it to the base defense.

AirforceBat said 07/01, 01:09 AM
While what you say is true, it is really tough to change your entire defensive system, it doesn't stop teams from trying.

Plus its not something thats usually done over night.

My basis wasn't solely on the fact that its the best defense out there. I couldn't argue that as there are so may effective ones. My basis is more on the fact that the league usually goes in waves and the instant craze out there is the 3-4 defense.

I personally prefer it, as it seems to be a defense that when you do have the right people it can make offenses look really bad.

3-4 DE's aren't as hard to find as you make them out to be though. As I said earlier, alot of times if you run a 3-4 you can find good 3-4 ends later in the draft because they fit your mold instead of just the regular pass rushing defensive end.

Baltimore and Chicago are bad examples because while they might have a base 4-3, they are both really fortunate enough to have the manpower to switch to a variety of defenses.