3-4 Defense

[Jack Power]

While trying to think objectively about our Draft and offseason I've come to think that we do not our defense to be in the top half of the league to make the playoffs (Packers, Patriots, Giants). after some research I believe that we will be running a lot more plays in the 3-4 defensive alignment.

The San diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers are two teams ive been looking to for a look into how our defense could be ran.

1. Luke and Beason are 3 down players and both our at there best at ILB. They are compareble and can even be superior to the ILB tandem of Bowman and Willis in San Fran. They should both have over 100 tackles and since the Jim Johnson 4-3 and the 3-4 require ILBs to blitz they should also have 5 Sacks a piece.

2. James Anderson looks to be a good fit for the Will in this system assisting with defending the run and covering the flats. He should have 80+ tackles 3 sacks and 2 interceptions. Depending on the alignment of the TE or the amount of WR in the game he can be rotated with one of our 3-4 rush OLBs (Kieser, Applewhite, Tucker) or with our endless supply of nickel corners.

3. Thomas Davis will be the Sam as he can blitz cover tight ends and make plays on the run. He can rotate in and out to stay fresh with the afore mentioned 3-4 OLBs.

4. Ron Edwards should be a comparable DT to Antonio Garay from the chargers, and Issac Sopoga of San Fran as NT in the base 3-4

5. Charles Johnson can play the run or the pass at the 5 techniqw in this 3-4 alignment. He's comparable if not far superior to Justin Smith of San Fran. Should get 50+ tackles 10+ Sacks and 3 or 4 forced fumbles in this alignment.

6. Greg Hardy is the biggest unknown either Jason shirley will have to replace him as the end in the 3-4 alignment or he will have to anchor against the run. I still expect him to get 8+ sacks and 40+ tackles for us this year.

7. Our secondary is the big unknown specifically who our starting FS will be and 2nd corner back. But if both of these positions are at least solid. I except Gamble to get 7+ interceptions and Godfrey to get 5+ interceptions and 70+ tackles as well.

Maybe im crazy or just angry with our draft but i think the best wasy to make use of our pick and the lack of playmakers on our Dline is to play two our strengths.... naemly our linebacking corps.

ac S

[section543]

Love Beason but have to strongly disagree with this:

Luke and Beason are 3 down players and both our at there best at ILB. They are compareble and can even be superior to the ILB tandem of "Bowman and Willis in San Fran"

[Panthro]

4-4 Defense

[JawnyBlaze]

Love Beason but have to strongly disagree with this:

Luke and Beason are 3 down players and both our at there best at ILB. They are compareble and can even be superior to the ILB tandem of "Bowman and Willis in San Fran"

Well, most people would objectively tell you Willis is better than Beason, but it's close. If Kuechly is the LB god that most have claimed him to be, he'll be more superior to Bowman than Willis is to Beason, making our pair superior to theirs...

[BeerMe]

Anderson will play the Sam, Davis will rotate in off the bench in various capacities. TD is the man, but can't be considered an every down player anymore. Anderson had a probowl season playing the strong side, I don't see why we'd change that. Personally, I think Kuechly should man the mike and Beason should take the weakside, but I could see that being flopped as well.

As far as the weird statistical predictions, I have no comment.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

before we say 3-4 can this team play a 4-3 first?

[SuperMan]

Well, most people would objectively tell you Willis is better than Beason, but it's close. If Kuechly is the LB god that most have claimed him to be, he'll be more superior to Bowman than Willis is to Beason, making our pair superior to theirs...

I think he meant Beason won't be good in a 3-4 he isn't a block shredder and he dose not have the bulk.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Sean Spence got drafted by the Steelers

To play in a 3-4 as the other inside lber.

[SuperMan]

Sean Spence got drafted by the Steelers

To play in a 3-4 as the other inside lber.

And it is yet to be seen if he will succeed, 4-3 Mike backers whose game is speed based doesn't translate well to 3-4, look at Jonathan Vilma with the Jets or Demeco Ryan's with the Texans.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Two points:

- Steelers rarley draft a lber that cannot play in their system.

- Panthers have yet to show any development and installation of a hybrid 3-4

[SuperMan]

Two points:

- Steelers rarley draft a lber that cannot play in their system.

- Panthers have yet to show any development and installation of a hybrid 3-4

I would say development of a 3-4 with one decent LB last season would have been awful, we are a 4-3 and will continue to be, however I'm pretty sure we will use 3-4 blitz packages more often this season.

[Brokenbad]

4-4 Defense

Fug that, 5-2 baby!

[jarhead]

I think what you are really asking is if all lbs are healthy how can we use them? I think the answer is what other ways can we Luke.I dont see from what I have seen why you could not stick him out on the edge.Just because he was not used that way in college doesnt mean we could not use him as an edge rusher.I just have to feel Rivera has difeerant plans for him depending on the health of TD an Beason.

[BeasonBeastingBacks]

3-6-2 or bust