Anybody think we could convert to 3-4?

Would change the whole lb-er situation. Vilma could do it, but I thought that's why he wanted out of NY in the first place.


I wouldn't mind, I think it fits today's offenses a little better than 4-3.

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Would change the whole lb-er situation. Vilma could do it, but I thought that's why he wanted out of NY in the first place.


I wouldn't mind, I think it fits today's offenses a little better than 4-3.

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Vilma is at the end of his road, it's almost time to cut him like Shockey(overpaid, injured, performance falling off) but we have no one to take his place and he's the smartest player we have on defense.

LBs are pretty bad. I don't think we keep any of our 3-4 DLs like McBride or Franklin.

Vilma is kind of on the small-ish for the 3-4 too.

Lets see here.

Smith is getting up in age, so no there. He MIGHT be ok in a 3-4.

Cam Jordan played in a 3-4 and is probably better suited for it considering he never pressures off the edge.

Franklin and Rogers could be 3-4 guys but I doubt Rogers wants to go back. Franklin is old as hell too.

Our LBs SUCK. I see nobody that could be a 3-4 LB in our system. Vilma sucked in a 3-4 and has probably lost a step. We don't even have a LB over 250lbs, which is vital in the 3-4 too...

We'd have to rebuild the entire defense and I don't see it happening considering we will have zero cap after Brees signs his new deal. I doubt we even have enough to sign Nicks...

Franklin was our starting NT before he went over to you. I don't think your line would be too bad, but as mentioned, you don't have the LBs. I would also be concerned about your ability to get any pressure in such a scheme. You've had problems getting pressure without sending the house. You would need an exceptional pass rusher at OLB to have any chance at doing so.

Switching to the 3-4 when you have a competitive team like this is only something you should consider if you've clearly got the personnel meant for it, and you clearly don't.

If you're retooling/building and you're a bad team wanting to change your long-term scheme that's one thing, but you're in the middle of your championship window. I see no reason for you to switch to a system very few of your players are fit for or have even played in when you'd have more success running a more traditional 4-3 without sending the house every play. It's been a while since the Steelers brought the 3-4 back. It's not like it's still a novelty and teams don't know how to attack it. If you're not built for it, you may end up with an even weaker defense.

There is such thing as bad change.

I think who we have at DE will tell us. If it's Del Rio or Spag, we are staying with the 4-3. If it's Nolan, we'll probably move to a 3-4.

Despite what others have said, teams have transitioned quite well in the past without the best players. 34 players are actually quite easy to find now. Lots of DE/OLB Tweeners every year in the draft and FA.

It's not impossible with smart moves... Just unlikely. I think we see a youth movement with Tez, Romeus, Junior, Jordon, etc.

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Posted by Laaz2750
Whether he is too old or not, can we really afford to lose Vilma off this squad? Feels like that would be a repeat of the Fujita situation. It was obvious from game 1 that Scotty's presence was missed.

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Vilma does a great job of checking us into the proper defense, but his performance the last 2 years has been horrendous, PFF has rated him in the bottom 10 LBs 2 yrs straight which was a significant fall off from 2009. You can use the injury excuse but that's the problem, he ain't getting any younger so I don't expect the injuries to end.

Cam Jordan would transition into a 3/4 lineman very well, I think.

I have serious concerns about Smith in a 3/4 scheme.

Tom Johnson would most certainly have to become a DE in a 3/4, IMO. Not sure how he would do but my guess is he would be better suited for that than any spot in a 4/3.

Not too sure how well Ellis would transition, I think he is better suited for a 4/3.

Franklin has played as a 3/4 NT before so I think he would probably make a good 3/4 NT again.

Rogers would not want to play in a 3/4, but he is probably gone either way.

Not sure where Junior would fit in, I guess still as a DE, but not sure how he would do. Just haven't seen enough from him for me to make an opinion.

Tez I think would make a very good 3/4 OLB.

Vilma did not do well when the Jets went to a 3/4, but he hasn't been the same the past two years, so who knows.

Casillas might make a good 3/4 OLB, if he can stay healthy.

I actually think Dunbar would make a good 3/4 inside/middle LB.

Those are my opinions. Overall, I think it's fun to talk about these things in the offseason, but I'm not sure if I think the team should actually be doing it.

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Junior Gallette would either blow up at a 3-4 edge rusher or be even less of a factor than he already is

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So, you predict that he would either be better or worse.