Switch to 3-4 cause DE decommits?

[dtrain87]

I just used Wisconsin because it was referenced above.

What I do know, is that you need a big NT to run a 3-4. We don't have any.

Stanford plays great 3-4 defense, but don't have DL that are that big.

 

[ge5446]

Ahem....

http://www.omaha.com/huskers/blogs/...cle_66934adc-d922-11e6-84e6-a32b96f84e7d.html

 

[TwinsRRUs]

Forgot about this thread.

Started reading...saw that I posted something...thought wtf?!? When did I write this?...then saw the date...

Well, no matter who coaches it, it needs to work and work well. No chance at a championship without a great defense.

 

[Hoosker Du]

Unless I missed it, Banker has no experience coordinating a 3-4. Bray doesn't have any experience either. Stewart has lengthy experience in it. Parrella, I don't know what he was a part of in the NFL. DWills, unknown to me as well.

30 front with one known coach with experience, 2 with none and although there's 2 unknown, it smells like a recipe for disaster. At least to me it does, with this current defensive staff. I do remember coach McBride switching fronts and philosophy late in his career so it has been done before.

I'm a big fan of Nate Woody, he runs a dang solid 3-4 and his defenders fly to the ball.

I don't think there would be that much difficulty switching to a 3-4 from a 4-3 philosophically. I think most defensive coordinators of a 4-3 run a 3-4 at times already. Although a 3-4 does require bigger DEs that can still handle the length of OTs.

What would concern me is that we are currently a 1-gap defense, and would be going back to a 2-gap defense, and I'm not sure we have the personnel to run that right now. Especially with needing 4 athletic LBs on the field at the same time, and needing bigger DEs with length. But overall, a 3-4 probably offers more flexibility than a 4-3.

 

[jjoak22]

The difference between the 3-4, 4-3, or a 4-2-5 isn't going to look all that different from an Xs and Os perspective. The personnel on the field will change but if you actually looked at how the defenses are going to align they will look very similar on most snaps. Not very many teams play much 2-gap defense currently.

Alabama's defense is based off a 3-4 personnel grouping against 21 (2 Backs and 1 TE) and 12 (1 back and 2 TE) teams. However, when teams start using spread personnel groupings such as 10 (1 Back and 0 TE) and 11 (1 Back and 1 TE) Coach Saban will personnel his 4-3/4-2-5 packages on to the field. If you watch Wisconsin's bowl game against Western Michigan they do similar substitutions and they spent most of the game playing their '2-4-5' package.

Playing a 3-4 allows the DC to be more multiple by disguising what they are doing. The fourth rusher can be a guessing game and dropping an OLBer into coverage on zone blitzes can also be an advantage. 4-3 teams will have to drop a DE running the same blitz pattern.

My opinion is don't get to hung up on 'scheme' Nebraska needs to find their best personnel and get them on the field regardless what type of defense you want to call it.

 

[dockentwo]

Ok, what excuses?

As far as setting the defense back years, I beg to differ. IF, the staff is going to switch to an odd front, and I don't know that they are, you only set yourself back if you don't have the personnel to run it. MY OPINION is that they are recruiting different athletes on all 3 levels of the defense. These players are versitile enough to play a variety of fronts and coverages.

That has not always been the case. Past coaches recruited to their system. That is recruiting to Xs and Os not jimmys and Joe's.

Great observations

 

[Wasker77]

Pretty sure he switched from 5-2 to 4-3.

He did and after getting beat by Don James' two best Washington teams the '90 and '91 Huskies, Charlie followed their trend and got faster on D, not necessarily bigger.

 

[rkhufu7]

Washington ran the 4-4, but with personnel closer to a 4-2-5. NU said they basically made their 4 man front dime defense their base. Today's defenses vs the spreads are base nickels and 3-3-5 stacks, both evolved from 8 man fronts to 5-6 DB base defenses with more pass defense packages. It comes down to personnel, so once again it's the Jimmies and Joes as opposed to Xs and Os. Do you have a great slot CB, a SS/Rover that is 210 plus that can play like a 4-3 OLB and still run with WRs and then a front 4 that can pressure w/o blitzing? If you do then you are set vs spread teams, but will need to drop that slot CB for a SS/OLB type if you face a pro-style power run game.