Rank the most important positions in a 4-3 defense

[Panthro]

coach

[Marguide]

DE - pressure the QB and seal the edge

3 tech DT - penetrate and disrupt

MLB - ideally, an on field coach/coordinator to adjust the D

CB

[mj4life]

DE - pressure the QB and seal the edge

3 tech DT - penetrate and disrupt

MLB - ideally, an on field coach/coordinator to adjust the D

CB

so basically you need playmakers at every level of the defense

[bleys]

For all intents and purposes then refer to Riveras press conference about it after he was hired

he can talk about being aggressive and force the offense to react to you, but until you see it on the field, I don't know if we saw as much as people expected..

for instance, the team went from fan expectation of a zone blitz scheme to playing A LOT of man coverage..

[nagai]

DE, DT, MLB > the rest

[Fiz]

It depends on your defensive philosophy.

yep

[Moose87Banks]

me

[CatMan72]

In a base 43 scheme, I think the DE is the most important position... it's really up to the DE's to get pressure on the QB.

If the DE is the most important position, then the next most important position is DT because a good DT makes a DE more effective. In any scheme, you must be able to stop the run. Once you've got the run stopped, the DT's must be able to generate pressure up the middle to make it easier for the DE's to get to the QB. Look at the Giants for an example, they have a ho-hum secondary but the d-line play allows them to get away with it (and win 2 championships).

I'd rank CB next, then LB's and then the safeties (although the LB/safety discussion really depends on the philosophy).

[frash.exe]

You need a better line to play cover or tampa 2, but any 4-3 needs a defensive line that doesn't collectively play like poo

[Fiz]

You need a better line to play cover or tampa 2, but any 4-3 needs a defensive line that doesn't collectively play like poo

well, specifically the most important part of the tampa-2 is the weak side linebacker.

in fact it's so hard to do it that it took a hall of fame linebacker to do it correctly.

[Fiz]

also lance briggs is good

[panther4life]

Okay heres my opinion on the matter. I'll break it down into 4 tiers (12 players to include the nickel corner and make it an even number) I am basing this off of my vision of Rivera's ideal defense. Man defense and aggresive zone blitz schemes.

Big difference from what Fox did as this utilizes more than just your 4 down lineman on blitzes and has corners man up their receivers vs bumping them at the line and letting the safeties cover them deep. Some are damn near equally or officially as imporant so this is tough but i'll do my best. Obviously you would love to have all postions be elite, but assuming you can't and being realistic here we go.

Tier 1(These need to be your team's studs)

DE- You have to have a pass rusher to get after the qb and someone who can seal the edge on against the run =Charles Johnson on current roster

#1CB(Your never going to get the qb down or interrupt him on even half of his dropbacks no matter what you do so you need to be able to stop/limit his best weapon=Gamble on current roster

MLB- You need somebody who is free to roam the field, blitz when need be, track down the ball carrier, and also can drop back in coverage=Beason on current roster

Tier 2(These need to be good at what they are asked to do for an elite overall D)

NT-Helpful to have a guy who can clog the middle against the run and collapse the pocket. If he can create double teams and take pressure off the end next to him even better. But most importantly you need to be able to keep guards from getting to the 2nd level in the run game. 2nd responsiblity is to collapse the pocket and try to have the center double team you.=Ron Edwards is who slated to fill this role

2ND DE- This guy needs to be able to create pressure when your number 1 is commanding doubles from a Tackle and Tight End. secondarily he needs to seal the edge against runs to his side=Hardy right now

#2 CB- Passing leauge now and #2 receivers are getting better. If you can shut down a qb's 2 primary targerts, then life on your ends gets much easier as it allows them more time to shed their blocks and get after the QB,you know coverage sacks=Munnerlyn on our team now

Tier 3(ideally above aveage for an elite Overall D)

SLB- This position gains importance because of the TE'S in todays leauge and his ability to help against the run vs the offensive lines (strong side, where a TE,lines up next to a tackle).He can also be used to blitz at any time.=James Anderson for us

SS- This is your 8th guy in the box on running situations, also asked to cover TE'S in obvious passing situations. Needs to be a hard hitting sob who makes TE'S weary of going across the middle and can punish running backs as well.=Godfrey on our team

WLB- Ok this is your speedster, the dude who can drop in coverage or come in and disrupt the QB with a well timed blitz. Not on the field as much as your SLB, because he comes off the field in Nickel situations.=Thomas Davis on our team if healthy

Tier 4(at least be average for an elite overall D)

UT- This is the tackle who is the beneficary of your fat NT taking on the double teams, allowing you to go 1 on 1 vs a Guard and collapse the pocket. QB'S are getting more mobile now and make this guys job harder than it used to be and less rewarding. =Mcclain/Neblett right now

FS-This guy is your last line of defense. He typically plays deep and safe. If your number 2 corner goes in on a blitz he needs to take on that receiver. In a 4 receiver set he can be asked to cover the 4th receiver as well.=Sherrod Martin right now

Nickel Corner-

Comes in on 3rd and 3+ typically and maybe even 3rd and 2 half the time. Just another pure cover guy in passing situations=Darius Butler/Hogan right now

With all that being said, a superstar at any of those positions can make it even more important(or at least appear to be) than I have it rated. Hard to account for that but this is once again me trying to be realistic.

Assuming we have 3 great's at their postion(tier 1)

3 good/notch below great at their postion(tier 2)

3 Above average at their position(tier 3)

and 3 average at their position(tier 4)

Even that is probably a lot to ask for but this is just for the sake of the thread and just the best way I found to break it down to help you understand my opinion without getting to complicated or long.

[Keep Pounding]

IMO, it will be the DT, DE, LB, CB, Safety

Reason being, it all starts in the trenches, when an army wants to attack another army, they either flank or charge the middle, so if you have week DT's most teams will attack your middle, rather than the edge. Also if a DT can't hold the line vs a single block, it puts your DE's in a bad spot, cuz most likely doubled or chipped depending on the play.

LB in the running game depend on the Dline to prevent the O line from getting to their level, so they can roam freely to make the play on the RB, or blitz through a hole if its a passing play.

If you have a decent front 7, the DB can be mediocre to good and still have a good DEF.

Since the LB depend heavily on what the D Line, I would put the Dline ahead of the LB core, since the DT get the push up the middle to hold the line, i would put the DT ahead of the DE, but all in all they have to play as a unit, as one to be successful. IMO

[frash.exe]

well, specifically the most important part of the tampa-2 is the weak side linebacker.

in fact it's so hard to do it that it took a hall of fame linebacker to do it correctly.

also lance briggs is good

yea, i do think both are imperative in their own ways though. and i'd like to cite the example of indianapolis constantly struggling on defense because their line wasn't up to par most years

though cato june wasn't as good as neither briggs nor brooks