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Is a switch to a 4-3 coming?

C

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Perhaps. To run a 3-4 defense you need two key pieces.

1 ) A run stuffing NT. Hampton and Steed qualified. McClendon is just okay

2 ) A pair of quality pass rushing linebackers, with at least one of them being good in coverage. Harrison is 37. Worilds might not be back. J Jones has not proven he can rush the passer well enough or cover anyone.

Last years defense had the worst NT / OLB combination in the history of the Steelers 3-4 defense.

With the NFL game forcing more nickel defense these days ( 50% of our defensive snaps were in the nickel ), I think teams that play a 4-3 have a distinct advantage. For openers they do not need to swap out their defensive lineman, and their OLB’s tend to be faster and better coverage people.

This could be the year the Steelers switch? To do so they would need to draft 4-3 end high ( Orchard? ), and pick up one speedy weak side OLB in the draft or free agency.
 
didn't butler already say we stick with the 3-4 base, but will see some 4-3 also?
 
BLITZ said:
didn't butler already say we stick with the 3-4 base, but will see some 4-3 also?
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Not sure. If he said that, perhaps the Steelers are closer to the switch than fans think. What I do know is this. Our current 3-4 base, when matched vs spread type of offense kills us as we lack the coverage people and pass rushers.

Butler has huge shoes to fill. Dick Lebeau, and Dom Capers are the Steeler standard for 3-4 Defensive coordinators.
 
bermudasteel said:
This has been discussed to nausea...
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Sorry about that. I'm new to this board so to speak. Has there been a bring back the old block numbers thread lately?
 
With all the talent we 'supposedly' have at ILBer, including Garvin and whatshisname on the PS, I don't see why Shazier isn't worked out at OLBer in the OTA's. The 3-4 base is just that, a base.

We spend 50% of the time in sub packages anyway so are we really a 3-4 or a hybrid of "what the talent will bear" ? I mean, Troy was used as a LBer, Timmons plays both inside slots, linemen come in and out so much I can't tell what the hell formation we're in and you need a whole hand to keep track of the safety's on the field at times. I honestly don't know how they can keep track of what to do in each formation, no wonder rookies suffer so much.
 
Pretty sure Butler and Rooney both gave a statement of a commitment to the 34 last week. Butler says both will be used if need be though.
 
Butler has already stated that we spent a lot of time last year in 4-3 alignments, especially on passing downs. He also said that he would fit the defense to the players not the players to the defense. I think what we are going to see is a hybrid of some sort with no real "base" D. With the league going pass heavy, how often are teams actually in their "base" formation to begin with? Just get the best players on the field and make it work.
 
Yes, Butler said that and Rooney also said they will stick with a 3-4 base.
 
We don't have been pass rushers for either defense
 
The world isn't black and white. Nothing says we have to have a "base defense". 4-3, 3-4, 5-2, 6-1 whatever teh **** it takes in a situation to destroy the mother ******* with the balls. The Steelers defense should be the explanation of why balls are deflated. Just saying.
 
I don't get why Steeler fans are so obsessed with this question. Do they think the 4-3 is somehow inherently better? Do they just want to be (finally) correct because they've been predicting a switch to the 4-3 ever since we hired Tomlin?

The other thing I don't get is the idea that you need a Casey Hampton-type to be successful running the 3-4 defense. Isn't that just quoting some complete idiot like Phil Simms? Wade Phillips had a lot of great 3-4 defenses that featured more of a penetrating NT than an "immovable object" type of NT. Hell, our record was something like 17-2 (I'm not looking up the exact figure) when Chris Hoke started over Casey Hampton.
 
I think more importantly is how out nickel and done defenses are set. We need to be able counter the 3-4 receiver sets. I am not a fan of the 2 down lineman set or the amoeba defenses. Hopefully we have something more aggressive for 3rd downs
 
SteelerAl said:
I don't get why Steeler fans are so obsessed with this question. Do they think the 4-3 is somehow inherently better? Do they just want to be (finally) correct because they've been predicting a switch to the 4-3 ever since we hired Tomlin?
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Actually more teams are moving to the 3-4. In the grand scheme of things I don't think it matters much as long as you have good players who can make plays. Or not.
 
if troy is back when we go 4-3 2 possibilities

1 with troy
DE Heyward
DT Mclendon
DT Tuitt
DE Worlids (Ibwlieve he will be BACK/RND 2 PICK
LOLB Polamalu
mlb Shazier
rolb Timmons

option 2 troy retired
LE Mccullers
DT Heyward
DTMclendon
RE Tuitt
Lolb Shazier fast can cover a lot nof ground if teams see the big mccullers and run counters he has the speed to blow up those plays
MLB Timmons
ROLB Jones

a few dl will be needed as rotating dl perhaps a mid rnd pick and a few low key vets
 
Jarvis Jones only fit is at OLB in a 3-4, he's to slow to play OLB in a 4-3, and he's no where near the pass rushing threat to be a DE in a 4-3, the exact same thing can be said for worilds.
It's early for Shazier, but if he doesn't figure out how to shed blocks or react quick enough to beat the blocker to the hole, his only fit maybe as a LB in a 4-3 where the line helps keep the blockers away from him.
 
Badcat said:
The world isn't black and white. Nothing says we have to have a "base defense". 4-3, 3-4, 5-2, 6-1 whatever teh **** it takes in a situation to destroy the mother ******* with the balls. The Steelers defense should be the explanation of why balls are deflated. Just saying.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't care if we play the 3-4, the 4-3, a 2-1 or a 4-4-4, just as long as we have a defense that is above the line, if you will. If our offense continues at last year's pace, the defense doesn't have to be dominating, just not be below-average.
 
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