Rockmolder
16 years ago
Changing a base defense not as easy as 1, 2, 3-4

Steve Wyche


http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80ea8c1d&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true 


Packers coach Mike McCarthy opted to switch from a 4-3 defensive front to a 3-4, the same scheme run by the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who had the top-ranked defense during the regular season. McCarthy hired former Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans head coach Dom Capers as his defensive coordinator to take over the scheme and teach it to players and coaches.

The movement of one player off the line and adding one to the linebacking corps might sound simple -- football is just running, throwing, catching and tackling, right? However, such a shift in philosophy could be as radical as switching from the veer option to the spread offense



Oh, forgot to add, I found this part very interesting.

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of occasional offseason stories following the progress of the Green Bay Packers' installation of a 3-4 defense and the challenges facing teams that switch base formations.



Should be pretty interesting.
go.pack.go.
16 years ago
Here's some more from a different article by Pat Kirwan.


Many offseason projects around the NFL are intriguing, but let's take a look at the Packers' conversion from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4.

Bill Parcells once told me that jumping from a 4-3 to a 3-4 isn't easy, and he was reluctant to do it when he first got to Dallas. In fact, he stuck with the undersized speed 4-3 until he gathered enough personnel to make the switch. It took him close to two seasons to build his 3-4 with the Cowboys.

When Bill Belichick took over the New England Patriots in 2000, he developed a hybrid 3-4 that often was more in line with a 4-3 defense. That was until he drafted the front three defensive linemen -- all in the first round -- and his 3-4 was then set in stone.

When Eric Mangini left the Patriots' staff to join the New York Jets, he jumped right into the 3-4 package after the team had spent years in a 4-3, and a number of payers just didn't fit. Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson were former first-round draft picks who struggled in the new defense and eventually were shown the door.



http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80eabdc5&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true 

It disects the positions for the Packers.
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Pack93z
16 years ago
I have said it more than once.. you have to have the right dlineman in mindset and skill to make this defense work.. without that you can have all the fringe tweener players you want.. you will fail.

One of the basic reasons I don't see the Packers drafting one of the flashy smaller pass rushing tweeners in the first round.. they are useless unless you have the horses with their hand in the mud.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
go.pack.go.
16 years ago
I sure hope we either get Chris Canty and/or Igor Olshansky. They'll fill the bill for the DE spot.
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Rockmolder
16 years ago

I sure hope we either get Chris Canty and/or Igor Olshansky. They'll fill the bill for the DE spot.

"go.pack.go." wrote:



I just read that article and second the Olshansky part. I think he's a pretty good DE, something we really need. Like the article says, we have Jenkins and Montgomery at the positions now.

Even though Jenkins is undersized, I think he'll do pretty good. I just hope he's ok with not getting the sacks while maybe doing double the work. Montgomery, I don't really like. I really hope we get Olshansky to replace him and let Montgomery come in in some kind of rotation from time to time.

5. The weak inside linebacker

Teams can get away with a slightly smaller linebacker at this position as long as the opponent doesn't use a two-tight end set and force him to line up over a guard. Nick Barnett will man the weak inside linebacker spot for the Packers and should be fine. The more often the 5-technique player to his side crashes down into the gap in front of Barnett, the more he will be free to run and hit.



Also saw this. That might be somewhat of a problem while being in a division with the Bears, but I guess we'll always have some kind of weakness.
beast
16 years ago

Like the article says, we have Jenkins and Montgomery at the positions now.

"Rockmolder" wrote:



No body has Montgomery, he's an UFA and I've heard that he and Cole turned down offers from the Packers.
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Rockmolder
16 years ago

Like the article says, we have Jenkins and Montgomery at the positions now.

"beast" wrote:



No body has Montgomery, he's an UFA and I've heard that he and Cole turned down offers from the Packers.

"Rockmolder" wrote:



Well, lets put it like this, we currently have him projected at that position, looking at our current roster.

I didn't know about him turning down the offers. I don't know what he's going to do, but good luck to him. I asume he'll end up a back-up somewhere.

He would've made a good back-up for a starting 3-4, but hey, this only forces Ted to sign someone, lets hope it's someone with experience in the 3-4.
dhazer
16 years ago
Well in the article they mentioned one name that is rumored to be cut by the Dallas Cowgirls and thats Greg Ellis, maybe bring him in for the 3-4. But we all know Teddy won't do much in free agency (hint part of my answer for another thread lol)
Just Imagine this for the next 6-9 years. What a ride it will be 🙂 (PS, Zero should charge for this)
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porky88
16 years ago
It's obviously not easy.

The Packers will need to make moves this off season in order to make the transition more smooth. I could literally see a nose tackle, defensive end, outside linebacker, and strong safety brought into the mix this off season in some way.

I also think people need to remember that the defense just needs to be average and the Packers will probably be better. Last year the defense was bad and the offense was great and they were in nearly every game. If the defense can rank 17th in yardage and 14th in points and the offense continue it's success, Green Bay should be able to win the NFC North unless Minnesota finds a QB.
gopackgo
16 years ago
I wonder if we would have switched had we not landed Capers. I didn't really pay much attention to news after the regular season ended. Was there talk of moving to a 3-4 before the announcement of Capers?

Either way, I'm glad he's the one heading up this project.
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dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
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dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Parsons has followed Rasheed Walker on Twitter. Quite the choice
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Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : @kuhnj30 Micah Freaking Parsons
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