speculation conversation…what if they switched to a 3/4

Agamemnon wrote:

This thread is about speculation, so speculate.

there’s no doubt in my mind they need to at least add one more defensive end and one more linebacker to make this front 7 work. here’s some more speculation. in the article i posted above, here’s this little blurb about ware in a 3-4 vs a 4-3.

Ware at his best

DeMarcus Ware played eight seasons in the 3-4 defense in Dallas, including 3 1/2 with Wade Phillips as his head coach. Following two seasons in the 4-3, he has switched back to the 3-4 with Phillips as his defensive coordinator in Denver. Here’s how he’s fared in the two defenses over the years.

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Defense (Seasons) Games Tackles/G Sacks/G
3-4 (2005-12, ’15) 129 4.2 0.9
4-3 (2013-14) 29 2.8 0.5

just more evidence in my mind that this switch could benefit quinn greatly.

Agamemnon wrote:

If you believe Donald and Quinn are athletic enough to play LB in a 34 and you don’t think that will hurt their production, then you can do a line up like this. Barron is sort of the odd man out. You have enough on the DL and you have backups there too. LBer starts to look thin.

Or, Wade coaches a 43 until we find more LBers.

i always wondered about donald as a middle linebacker. he’d be dominant.

nittany ram wrote:

I think Donald is much more valuable on the D-line. I would be leary of moving perhaps the best DT of his generation to another position.

no you’re right.

just thinking out loud.

i keep donald as the weak side end/3 technique.

phillips started out as a dline coach.

he coached ware and watt. they’ve had career years under him.

i just wonder what kind of plans he’d have for a freakish athlete like donald.

would a tj watt be available in the second round?

if i’m the rams, i take the approach that snead always talks about. build dominant units. fortify that front seven. watt and quinn on each side with donald at the 3 technique?

ooh boy.

i’m salivating already.

alyoshamucci
Forrest and Tree (odd, now that I think of it)
January 13, 2017 01:59PM
Will be a great tandem in the middle, and Littleton and Grigsby played 3-4OLB in college …

I think we only need middle depth .. and an Outside starter across from Quinn … easier said than done of course.

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SunTzu_vs_Camus

220lb LBs can work as WOLBs in a 3/4 scheme….
January 13, 2017 02:10PM

If used correctly – which I would think WPhillips WILL do….or get the right guys to fill the spots.
So, here’s a thot….I dunno defense too well – so just spitballin here…

LDE – Easley/Westbrooks/Longacre/Fox?
NT – Brockers/CamThomas
RDE – Donald/Easley?
SOLB – Forrest/Longacre/Fox?
SILB – Tree/Hager
WILB – Barron/MoWilliams
WOLB – Quinn
SS – MoWilliams(I assume TJ leaves)
FS – Joyner/Davis

Notes: lotsa guys may be interchangeable too…playing multiple positions in relief.
Longacre & Fox are 260lbs for SOLB along with Forrest.

Heck, even TJ is almost 220lbs and is good close to the LoS if we resign him.
Mo Williams is the same weight(220lbs) as LBs Grigsby & Littleton….and might become a Shazier type.

I dunno, but watching WPhillips and reading B&Gs posts makes it seem like Wade will use the talent he has…
the best way he can to get the most from the talent. I’m just lgad we have a vet DC that SM can just turn the defense over to…
so SeanM can focus on the offense.

Is it certain Phillips will switch to a 3-4? Has he always run a 3-4?

I read that he works to the strengths of the players he has, rather than trying to force people into roles they aren’t good at/capable of.

what i would do.

jones and campbell are unrestricted free agents. whoever the cards don’t tag the rams should go hard after. i’m reading it’ll be jones. so get campbell.

then draft an solb with the second round pick. draft is supposed to be deep in defensive ends. maybe one of them can be converted.

Agamemnon wrote:

LDE – Easley/Westbrooks/Longacre/Fox?
NT – Brockers/CamThomas
RDE – Donald/Easley?
SOLB – Forrest/Longacre/Fox?
SILB – Tree/Hager
WILB – Barron/MoWilliams
WOLB – Quinn
SS – MoWilliams(I assume TJ leaves)
FS – Joyner/Davis

I like Quin at RDE…he is the rush DE and can stunt all day and doesn’t have the responsibility of setting the edge. MTL he is the WOL but he could be interchangeable here.

I also like the idea of Tree moving to the WIL (MO) then he is free to run and tackle circa 2015 and lead the team in tackles again.

That leaves Barron as odd man out…Cleveland? We’ll give you Barron and we’ll sign your UFA Collins to man the MIKE