11/23/24
March 19, 2007
Do you mean the teams that are picking 3rd and 4th in the draft? or teams that play the 3 -4 defense? The Browns are picking 3rd and they have everyone guessing as to which direction they will go! They can go anywhere and still improve thier team. Tampa Bay is interested in Calvin Johnson, may have to trade up to get him. as far as 3-4 defensive teams they are more likely to draft the tweeners D_lineman so they can play them as a linebacker or D-Lineman
posted by The Tribster at 09:16 AM on March 19, 2007
Psst: the blue text is a hyperlink. You can click on it!
posted by yerfatma at 09:35 AM on March 19, 2007
Crazy as it sounds Tribster, you could click the link and find out! My Dolphins are still playing a mix-and-match defence and should make a mess of a few offences this year with Taylor and Joey Porter on the weak side. I wish there were a few more sites out there like that baseball one that breaks down batter's swings, only it picks up where this one mentions the differences between the Charger and Patriot 3-4 systems and then shows you and gives you some insight into the strengths and weaknesses. One thing that always surprises me is how little is written about the tactical side of football considering how precisely tactical the game is.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:39 AM on March 19, 2007
I love the 3-4 as a coach. I think for those who really know the game that every defense is a modification of the original 5-2 defense with players just having different responsibilities or lining up a little differently The 3-4 is a great scheme because you can blitz(or fake )from anywhere. O-lineman really have to be aware. In a 4-3, usually only 1 linebacker is blitzing at a time and they really have limits to where that can be but if you watch the steelers 3-4, you see those backers can be anywhere. The more options to blitz, the more confusion it causes the o-line and the QB with coverage. I am not at all surprised so many teams are making the switch to the 3-4
posted by Debo270 at 10:14 AM on March 19, 2007
According to the link, seven NFL teams play a 3-4, so let's say roughly a quarter of the league. Does anyone have any sense of what percentage of college teams also employ a 3-4? I am specifically curious about nose tackle, which seems to me to be a less fungible position, whereas the ends in a 3-4 presumably could have been DEs in a 4-3 in college. Is there a shortage of good nose tackles? Do DTs from 4-3 systems or other d-linemen successfully convert to nose tackle or is the pool really limited to those who played nose tackle in college?
posted by holden at 11:07 AM on March 19, 2007
One thing that always surprises me is how little is written about the tactical side of football considering how precisely tactical the game is. The only site I find that does this is Football Outsiders. They had something good about the Tampa-2 a while back.
posted by bperk at 11:22 AM on March 19, 2007
Mr Bismarck, just wonder if you saw the story that your boy joey porter got into a fight with one of the bengal players at a casino in Vegas. here's the story..
posted by Debo270 at 11:34 AM on March 19, 2007
holden, A large amount of college teams use the 4-3 or the 5-2. These systems are usually a little less complex and more easily learned. If a college team plays a 4-3, the two inside d-lineman can usually make the transition to a 3-4 noseguard in the pros. The main difference is this. In a 4-3, your lineman should be quicker because they often are trying to shoot gaps between o-lineman and make plays. D-lineman are expected to make tackles. In a 3-4, the main goal of a d-lineman is to eat up blockers and allow your linebackers to make plays, not make them yourself. 3-4 lineman do not get the stats a 4-3 lineman would. For this reason you want a huge strong nose that will draw a double team block for the center and guards and leave the linebackers free to read the play make the tackles.
posted by Debo270 at 11:45 AM on March 19, 2007
Deb270 -- great info and explanation; thanks.
posted by holden at 12:00 PM on March 19, 2007
All I know is that writer has an outstanding mustache. Damn.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:21 PM on March 19, 2007
You looking for a mustache ride
posted by Debo270 at 01:58 PM on March 19, 2007
3-4 nose tackles vs. 4-3 tackles. Not a football guru, but size does matter. You need to be able to clog a larger space. Guys who have played NT usually are massive. Some 4-3 DT's can do it, but the ones who can't, it's not so much because of skill level (yes, it's a diiferent game plan and rush/gap scheme) but because of lack of size. Washington, Wilfork to cite both an older and a younger example. These guys are tanks, these guys are talented, these guys are primo 3-4 nose tackles. Could Warren Sapp play nose tackle in his prime? Maybe. Would have been different though. You are usually double teamed right off the snap - in the middle - there is no outside, and to generate a good push vs. a center AND a gaurd? You gotta be a beast. It's kinda odd sayin "these guys are tanks" in comparison to an NFL DT... but you get my point. EVEN BIGGER. Yes, there is a shortage of good nose tackles. You know Bill Parcells small world theory? Fewer guys that big, even fewer who can play. To be bigger than most DT's and have talent? Loooooooong odds.
posted by 2 time mvp of the shittiest team ever at 05:12 PM on March 19, 2007
The Tribster: "Do you mean the teams that are picking 3rd and 4th in the draft? or teams that play the 3 -4 defense?" Wow, I must ask again. What has Sportsfilter come to? Tribster you've been here since last April and still don't know that you should click on the link if you're going to post something on the thread. Just amazing. Anyways, real good article. The 3-4 is really making a comeback to the game. Liked how the analyst went into detail of the different types of the 3-4. I can see how teams are being more succesful with it. As Debo270 explained, in college the 3-4 isn't used a lot because its more complex than the more used 4-3. It is really harder to find the 3-4 type of players in the draft because the 3-4 is rarely used. However, you can still have much success with the 3-4, it is a great defense. A huge Nose tackle is defenetly needed. But I still hate that 3-4 defense on Madden.
posted by STUNNER at 05:27 PM on March 19, 2007
As a coach, this was interesting reading. I love the 3-4. good post