re: Which of our current Def players DO NOT fit in the 3-4? (Roster Added)

Where did I say we did? I said the Falcons are wanting to make the switch to the 34, but don't have the players to do so at this time. Which is why it would be stupid to go and sign a guy to a 5 year deal when he doesn't help you attain your long term goals.

quote:

---

Hicks is big enough for NT, I guess it comes down to how good is bunkley really, hicks will be a beast.

---

Yeah, Hicks is heavier than Bunkley.
Bunkley may not have much of a place.

I'm glad Hicks has a place.

quote:

---

Exactly. I keep seeing ATL fans say they didn't want to pay Lofton because they expected to switch to a 3-4, but did Nolan and the Falcons not have discussion of what defense they were running when he was interviewed? Nolan was hired way before Lofton signing with us. Did the the Falcons not know what kind of D they were running until last minute?

---

See above. If you want to switch defensive philosophies, you're not going to sign a guy to a long term deal when he doesn't fit what you are trying to do. Instead, you see if he's willing to sign a lesser contract that reflects what you expect out of him in a role that will become of less importance over time...which is exactly the offer the Falcons offered. He didn't like it, and decided to walk.

That's well and good but you still haven't switched and there is no real word on switching.

quote:

---

pretty sure Bunkley hasn't played nose tackle in a 3-4 in the pros. He started out in Philly and then played one year in Denver (2011). I thought Denver ran a 4-3 but I could be wron

---

Denver ran a 3-4 when Bunkley was there (at least one of the years) and was nicknamed "the destroyer" because he had an almost dominant year at NT.

Profootball Focus when he was a FA:

quote:

---

69. Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Denver Broncos

There wasn’t a player in the league like Bunkley last year. He may as well have had his position renamed ‘destroyer’ because it seemed he was sent out on the field simply to dismantle the center across from him; so good was he the Patriots essentially schemed to get him off the field. The reason Bunkley is relatively low down on this list is because he was purely an early down player that only got on the field for 485 snaps in the regular season. That, however, didn’t stop him from picking up a +28.4 run defense grade. Top of the tree among defensive tackles.

Best Performance: Week 11 versus New York Jets (+6.5)

Key Stat: 11.3% of all run plays he was on the field for ended up with him making a defensive stop. Highest of all defensive tackles.

---

Regardless if they're switching or not, Lofton has the speed and build to play ILB in the 3-4.

gotcha. Looks like he'll be the guy then I guess. This is really one of the key positions in a 3-4. I guess Hicks will play the 5 technique on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle.

Cam JordAn, Jesse Williams, akiem Hicks will be a great start for this front 7

quote:

---

He'll likely play both situationalyy, but I see him as playing the 5Tech Defensive End most of the time. Say, first and 2nd down, and obvious passing downs switching to NT. Guy is just a great athlete and could be an animal at 5-Tech.

---

I agree. I could see him playing, and excelling at both positions. He has that rare combination of size, strength, and athleticism.