What is Ryan's defense, really?

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So- it's a 3-3 + a passrush specialist. Right?

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That's essentially what the Jack or Buck is in a 34.

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So- it's a 3-3 + a passrush specialist. Right?



That's essentially what the Jack or Buck is in a 34.

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well, yes and no- I fully remember the Dome Patrol, and I've seen a lot of other 3-4 defenses, both in college and pro.
To say Will Smith resembles Pat Swilling at all (the Saints pass-rushing LB) would be a lie- and I'm talking about the size and maneuverability of the player in the base, able to defense against a sweep or pass to the flat. Maybe Renaldo Turnbull, but that's more because Turnbull was also an end before we tried to convert him (and the results scared me). Seems a lot more like a player like Dwaine Board of the 49ers of years past, a guy who could do one thing only- rush from the 4-3 end spot. Too small to be a 3-4 end in the base and hold up against the run, too big and slow to be a 3-4 LB and play in space.

So we tried to save Smith's cap money and play him there, but now we're also trying Galette- another 4-3 end, who's never before been asked to play in space; and Martez Wilson, who- if I remember right- played MLB in college, not OLB. Sure, he's the right size, but that means the Saints have exactly 1 experienced OLB (Haralson) on the whole entire roster, and we traded for him late in camp.
That doesn't sound like a real 3-4 scheme in anything but name.

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We haven't really seen much of the defense we'll be playing this year. We've been in a lot of off man and zone coverage. People have suggested with our only keeping 3 OLB that we're likely to be playing a lot of 4-3 fronts, but if that were the case, I think we would have kept Richardson. Instead we kept more ILB, who have reportedly been cross training at OLB.

Next Sunday will be interesting.

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I have to completely agree with you. Between the PFF report and Trip commenting on it, it had me wondering if a move back to 4-3 was coming.

But several things have convinced me that this is not the case(though Ryan is multiple and we will see some 4 man fronts).

First is that Smith, Richardson, and Atkins were the best OLBs suited to drop down as linemen so we could switch on the fly. None of them are on the roster(but I think Richardson could be a vet brought back after week 1).

Second is that we only kept 7 Dlinemen. If we were planning on using more 4 man fronts 7 is a very low number for that.

Third is that we kept 9 total LBers and a few of the ILBs are being cross trained(as shown with Herring and said by Humber and Lofton).

Bottom line is the kept the best 53 within the confines of what they plan to run. If they were going to run mostly 4 man fronts they would have kept more Dlinemen.

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What is Ryan's defense, really?

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What is important is that it is not the Steve Spagnuolo defense

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the 3-3-5 with Harper in the box which basically looks like a 3-4.

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eggzactly, agree completely

Meloves the make the scheme fit the players talents approach. Last year really appeared like a square peg round hole clusterfrick.