Possibility Of A 3-4 Defense Next Year?

by AlwaysWinBaby on Jan 6, 2012 4:22 PM PST

Yahoo Reports : http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ar6TaWdUXcmtuqY1t8X_zsD.uLYF?slug=teamreports-2012-nfl-oak

Hue Jackson has stated a their might be a possibility that we may switch to a 3-4 defense. Alright now, recent posts I have posted about having Rex Ryan as our DC, I still believe he can be if he leaves the Jets. With Reggie as our new GM, I don't see any problems going on with Rex. Now back to the point, 3-4 defense? Is it possible for us to be successful with this type of defense? Of course, It all depends on the coach we have to call the plays and disguises. You know who I wouldn't mind for the job. Rolondo Mcclain is a 3-4 LB and was a beast at Bama with it. Wimbley is a natural pass rusher from the outside which will make him be able to line up wider and use his speed to get the edge.

Team Needs:

Nose tackle:Big John Henderson, and Desmond Bryant/Lamarr Houston can fill the spot, but we need even a bigger man, maybe we can get that NT out of Washington if he doesn't get picked. Highly doubted though, he is the strongest of the class. Sione Pouha, Big " Red " Bryant

Safety:If we can't get Branch back sign Laron Laundry. Huff @ CB? Idk, he is better at playing CB as our #3 CB. We need to get Marcus Trufant or Finnegan to help Routt out.

Inside linebacker: Rolando McClain is one MLB, but can Goethel be the 2nd one? Well see, and also we would need to sign more LB's for depth, and release guys like Grooves, Boyd, Lito, and Jarvis Moss. Brady Poppinga or Gary Guyton or Mychal Kendricks(5th Round Draft Pick) could be our depth.

Robert Mathis would also be another pickup that can help our pass rush. That means putting Wimbley at outside linebacker and Mathis at DE. If we sign Finnegan or Trufant then Mathis is out of the question.

My hopes as a 3-4 Defense #1 is starter #2,3,4,5 is Backup.

#1Tyvon Branch(If not resigned) or Laron Landry & #2Huff - SS

#1Matt Giordano & #2Chimdi Chekwa - FS

#1Trufant/Finnegan (Either would help a lot) #2 Routt, #3 Huff #4Chris Johnson #5DvD (Unless we decide to put Routt at #1 again with CJ at #2 and so on.) I wouldn't like it, but Trufant/Finnegan would improve our defense indefinitely .

#1 Rolondo Mcclain #1Travis Goethel (MLB's) #2 Gary Guyton

#1 Wimbley #1 Curry(WLB) #2 Brady Poppinga #3Mychal Kendricks #4 Quentin Grooves (if we don't find a replacement)

#1 Richard Seymour (RE) #1 Tommy Kelly (LE) John Henderson (DT) (Probably for 1st and 2nd downs)

#2Houston (LE/DT) #2 Matt Shaugnessy (RE) #2 Desmond Bryant (LE/DT) #3Scott(LE/LB) *Scott maybe cut, if he isn't cut then he is behind Houston and in rotation w/at OLB. * All depends on salary cap if we signed Finnegan/Trufant if we can get Big "Red" Bryant or a decent NT for a price able amount.

Poll

What would help us more on defense

Having A Good Defensive Coordinator

49 votes

Changing Our Defensive Scheme To 3-4

5 votes

Both

31 votes

Stick To 4-3 And Sign Del Rio Or Spagnuolo

21 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 18 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

There are people on this board who threw a tantrum when switching to a 3-4 was discussed last year. The raiders have a lot of 3-4 personnel in their front 7, and really the issue of LB run support would be solved if with a scheme switch because a 3-4 OLB is the natural position for EVERY OLB on the roster (Wimbley, Curry, Groves, Scott). Curry provides some depth at either LB position and gives some flexibility, McClain can play ILB in a 3-4, of course the other guy there (Curry, Goethel, Blackstock) is a question mark.

Seymour became the best interior defender in the NFL playing end in a 3-4, Tommy Kelly is a very similar player and could probably rotate between Nose and End solidly. John Henderson is as close to a prototypical 3-4 Nose as it gets, he’s huge, hard to move, not a great pass rusher. He’d probably do even better with a scheme switch. Houston and Bryant would both provide great depth at End, Houston wasnt able to consistently pressure the QB from so far outside, but move him inside and he’s pass rushing against less athletic guards and I see his production going up.

by Blake W on Jan 6, 2012 5:33 PM PST reply actions

When we signed Hendo in the o-season in the summer of 2010 he dissed the Chiefs because they wanted to move him to NT.

Thats why he came here. We told we would strictly use him at 4-3 DT. I see us lining up this way opening day in 09/12.

CB FS SS CB
FA or Huff Giordano Branch Routt
OLB ILB ILB OLB
Wimbley FA/DP or Curry Bama Boy Schaunessey
DE NT DE
Houston\ Bryant FA/ DP (Has to be) Big Dick

This means goodbye Mike the Dud Scud, Kelly via trade to get a pick mainly because he doesn’t fit this scheme, Henderson will not resign, and Scott will not be brought back due to injury concerns and lack of production.

Trust No One
Studies show stress can kill you, but don't worry about it.

"Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways."
— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

by TAW on Jan 6, 2012 5:55 PM PST reply actions

Henderson is likely to retire.

This was his 10th year and his knees are pretty much shot.

by ROFLCOPTER16 on Jan 6, 2012 9:33 PM PST up reply actions

Kelly doesn't fit the scheme because seven years ago he was a de?

c’mon man. He has the size strength and speed to play dt. So what exactly about Kelly doesn’t fit the scheme?

by Sbay on Jan 7, 2012 12:09 AM PST up reply actions

aubrayo franklin will be a free agent, and there are some guys who will be available late in the draft who could be development 3-4 Nose tackles. Hebron Fangup BYU, Damon Harrison Williams Penn, Chigbo Anunoby Morehouse, Nick Jean Baptiste Baylor all should be available from rounds 3 or later.

Not saying a switch wouldn’t require a roster shakeup on the defensive side of the ball, but wimbley, seymour, free agent, houston, shaughnessy on the line gives me a hard on. No homo

by Blake W on Jan 6, 2012 9:11 PM PST reply actions

I DONT LIKE 3-4

every teams that runs this scheme has bad pass defense! you have to have agressive lb’s who give pressure and can cover.; you have to have beefy lineman in the front and we have more athletic linemen with rare beef. right now or for the next 3 years we dont have the personnel to run this scheme!

by tatum25 on Jan 6, 2012 9:46 PM PST reply actions

seymoure was an all pro in a 3-4, bryant and houston are tweener guys bigger than a DE but not quite big enough to be an every down 3 technique. both could play the under tackle/de spot in a 3-4.

Also Wimbley is a good player, but he’s a better rush end than a cover LB, his talent is wasted in a 4-3, same goes for Scott, groves (payed DE in college) and maybe even curry. More than half the front seven is better suited for a 3-4.

by Blake W on Jan 6, 2012 11:27 PM PST up reply actions

size doesn't trump talent

in a 3-4 the down lineman have to cover two gaps, their right and left, that means they have to be strong and skilled enough to get off the blocker and react to either side. If these guys can’t even cover one gap in a 4-3, I don’t see how they can cover two. The Raider get beat whenever the linebackers jump the gap, allowing the back to cut to the open gap. Why? Because the lineman can get of their blocks. The best the Raiders could do this year is wait patiently for the runner to come to them.

by Sbay on Jan 7, 2012 12:15 AM PST up reply actions

I hope you're right because guys who can't play in a 4-3 usually are worse in 3-4

by Sbay on Jan 7, 2012 12:17 AM PST up reply actions

WIMBLEY TURNING INTO A BUST!

HE’S STIFF, HE HAD ONE MOVE THAT O-LINE COULD STOP NOW AND HE DOES NOT SHED BLOCKS AND MAKE TACKLES. TRADE HIM MAYBE?

by tatum25 on Jan 7, 2012 2:53 PM PST up reply actions

dum...

just because of one game?

RAIDER NATION
"There only can be one nation, The Raider Nation"

by AlwaysWinBaby on Jan 7, 2012 3:23 PM PST up reply actions

WHAT DO MEAN ONE GAME"

by tatum25 on Jan 7, 2012 3:46 PM PST up reply actions

seriously going to give up are best pass rusher?

RAIDER NATION
"There only can be one nation, The Raider Nation"

by AlwaysWinBaby on Jan 7, 2012 3:54 PM PST up reply actions

GIVE UP ANYBODY!

ON THE DEFENSE! WE MIGHT A WELL PUT A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM OUT THERE THE WAY ALL THE PLAYERS. TO ME THEY ARE ALL ON THE MARKET!

by tatum25 on Jan 7, 2012 4:10 PM PST up reply actions

come on man

4 of 5 of the top pass defense in the NFL are 3-4 defense. YOu have to have LB’s who are smart and can play zone. The most important part of a 3-4 is having a DC who knows how to call a game. The Texans 3-4 is different than the Steelers or the Packers. The Jets have on DE and two DT in there 3-4. If we get the right guy as a DC we can make the team fit the mold but he have to hire the right guy and cast first.

by Micheal Y on Jan 7, 2012 2:37 PM PST up reply actions

Have to agree with Tatum on this one !!!

And it’s not that I don’t think going to a 3/4 isn’t possible !!! But this year, using it as our base defense ???? Considering our draft situation, salary issues, might not be possible with the personnel we have “RIGHT NOW”, although mixing it in will work !!! I’ve been saying that for 2 years now, mixing up the defensive schemes because of the current personnel !!!!

by papabegood on Jan 6, 2012 10:56 PM PST reply actions

our Base defense doesn’t work now…

by Blake W on Jan 6, 2012 11:28 PM PST up reply actions

the problem with rex is his mouth

A power hungry HC with something to prove + a loud mouth DC + a new GM also with something to prove + a owner still trying to piece things together = disaster

by dawad34 on Jan 7, 2012 11:04 AM PST reply actions