Saints Shifting Back to Base 3-4 Defense?

jeanpierre · 01-02-2012, 12:17 AM

Consider for discussion...

While we play both a 4-3 and 3-4 - we're still mostly a 4-3 with a down LB in pass rush mode...

With Vilma on the back end and the drafting of Cam Jordan and Martez Wilson; the signing of Franklin at the NT with Rogers on Backup; we can shift to a 3-4 with another good FA signing and draft...

Plus there is no way we're keeping Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks and Will Smith...

Dunbar getting playing time has seen him step up and improve this season...

It sure seems like that option is definitely there, whether intentional or neaux...

subguy · 01-02-2012, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Plus there is no way we're keeping Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks and Will Smith...

I have thought you know there is no way Brees would go...but if we win the big game this year and that is his second SB would he stay or want the challenge elsewhere? I feel he would stay, I can't see him going to a team that possibly won't protect him as well as his line does here. Now the money is a whole other issue. I would love to see us keep all 4 but I tend to agree we can't. If we could keep 3 only I would be inclined to let Smith walk.

dizzle88 · 01-02-2012, 05:25 AM

Originally Posted by subguy

I have thought you know there is no way Brees would go...but if we win the big game this year and that is his second SB would he stay or want the challenge elsewhere? I feel he would stay, I can't see him going to a team that possibly won't protect him as well as his line does here. Now the money is a whole other issue. I would love to see us keep all 4 but I tend to agree we can't. If we could keep 3 only I would be inclined to let Smith walk.

Brees wouldn't want a challenge somewhere else, he doesn't like switching teams a lot he only wanted to play for one team for his NFL career, he is not going to leave.

To free up some salary space i'd let will smith walk before anyone else, we have young DE's who are waiting to take the spots anyway

jeanpierre · 01-02-2012, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by subguy

I have thought you know there is no way Brees would go...but if we win the big game this year and that is his second SB would he stay or want the challenge elsewhere? I feel he would stay, I can't see him going to a team that possibly won't protect him as well as his line does here. Now the money is a whole other issue. I would love to see us keep all 4 but I tend to agree we can't. If we could keep 3 only I would be inclined to let Smith walk.

Originally Posted by dizzle88

Brees wouldn't want a challenge somewhere else, he doesn't like switching teams a lot he only wanted to play for one team for his NFL career, he is not going to leave.

To free up some salary space i'd let will smith walk before anyone else, we have young DE's who are waiting to take the spots anyway

Let me emphasize that

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

there is no way we're keeping Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks AND Will Smith...

In other words after Brees, Colston, and Nicks are all signed - their may not be necessary cap room to keep Smith...

Euphoria · 01-02-2012, 08:31 AM

I DO NOT get why we refer to our D as a 4-3.

We don't run anything like it... its more of a spin off of it. There are so many different sets we run out of that calling it a 4-3 is silly. I hardly hear anyone refer to it except the occasion person who thinks we should run a 3-4. Look we line up in just about everything including a 6-1 and a 7-0.

All the sports news outlets call it a Greg Williams Defense, no discussions of a 4-3

SaintsBro · 01-02-2012, 10:39 AM

I think the 3-4 thing may be related more to WHO we are playing any given week, rather than saying "this is the Saints base defense" or that we are moving permanently in that direction. I'd like to see more specific info based on WHEN the 3-4 pops up, WHO it is against....I don't have time to do it and don't really care, but that is just my hunch -- that the 3-4 pops up when there is a reason for it based upon who we are playing, rather than an ironclad "this is where we are headed as a defense," if that makes any sense. The more confused and worried the opposing QB is, the happier I am. One of my favorite Saints defensive plays isn't even a "play" at all -- it's that frustrated look when the QB comes to the line and doesn't like what he sees, unbuckles his chin strap and burns a useless time out!

Budsdrinker · 01-02-2012, 10:52 AM

I didn't like the 3-4 set against Carolina. Our version of the 3-4 doesn't work well against the run because our backers play to deep and are slow to the LOS. A team that can run the ball well like Carolina can, will eat us up in a 3-4 which they did until they had to abandon the run. Now against the Packers or another passing team I can see running it.

halloween 65 · 01-02-2012, 11:13 AM

I would like to keep just about everyone but I know we can't, money its going to be the problem, it always is. As far as Smith, I think he is going to have to take a big haircut and next year Romeus will be in the mix so who knows, unless we draft on the O-line I think we pay Nicks, he is already proven and not hurt. Brees well the jury is still out on him, what has he ever done? Colston, best reciever we got. And remember there is this little thing called the franchise tag that if applied by Loomis correctly that some of the money problems can wait.

homerj07 · 01-02-2012, 07:57 PM

I dont care what we play - hold teams 0-5 on 3rd down & ony 17 points & we are going to win!!

01-02-2012, 12:17 AM	#1
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Saints Shifting Back to Base 3-4 Defense? Consider for discussion... While we play both a 4-3 and 3-4 - we're still mostly a 4-3 with a down LB in pass rush mode... With Vilma on the back end and the drafting of Cam Jordan and Martez Wilson; the signing of Franklin at the NT with Rogers on Backup; we can shift to a 3-4 with another good FA signing and draft... Plus there is no way we're keeping Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks and Will Smith... Dunbar getting playing time has seen him step up and improve this season... It sure seems like that option is definitely there, whether intentional or neaux...
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

01-02-2012, 01:19 AM	#2
subguy 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: FL Posts: 2,096	Originally Posted by jeanpierre Plus there is no way we're keeping Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks and Will Smith... I have thought you know there is no way Brees would go...but if we win the big game this year and that is his second SB would he stay or want the challenge elsewhere? I feel he would stay, I can't see him going to a team that possibly won't protect him as well as his line does here. Now the money is a whole other issue. I would love to see us keep all 4 but I tend to agree we can't. If we could keep 3 only I would be inclined to let Smith walk.

01-02-2012, 05:25 AM	#3
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,358	Originally Posted by subguy I have thought you know there is no way Brees would go...but if we win the big game this year and that is his second SB would he stay or want the challenge elsewhere? I feel he would stay, I can't see him going to a team that possibly won't protect him as well as his line does here. Now the money is a whole other issue. I would love to see us keep all 4 but I tend to agree we can't. If we could keep 3 only I would be inclined to let Smith walk. Brees wouldn't want a challenge somewhere else, he doesn't like switching teams a lot he only wanted to play for one team for his NFL career, he is not going to leave. To free up some salary space i'd let will smith walk before anyone else, we have young DE's who are waiting to take the spots anyway

01-02-2012, 07:31 AM	#4
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Originally Posted by subguy I have thought you know there is no way Brees would go...but if we win the big game this year and that is his second SB would he stay or want the challenge elsewhere? I feel he would stay, I can't see him going to a team that possibly won't protect him as well as his line does here. Now the money is a whole other issue. I would love to see us keep all 4 but I tend to agree we can't. If we could keep 3 only I would be inclined to let Smith walk. Originally Posted by dizzle88 Brees wouldn't want a challenge somewhere else, he doesn't like switching teams a lot he only wanted to play for one team for his NFL career, he is not going to leave. To free up some salary space i'd let will smith walk before anyone else, we have young DE's who are waiting to take the spots anyway Let me emphasize that Originally Posted by jeanpierre there is no way we're keeping Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks AND Will Smith... In other words after Brees, Colston, and Nicks are all signed - their may not be necessary cap room to keep Smith...
	Last edited by jeanpierre; 01-02-2012 at 07:37 AM..

01-02-2012, 10:39 AM	#6
SaintsBro Site Donor Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: in line with my ridiculous CLEAR PLASTIC BAG Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 3	I think the 3-4 thing may be related more to WHO we are playing any given week, rather than saying "this is the Saints base defense" or that we are moving permanently in that direction. I'd like to see more specific info based on WHEN the 3-4 pops up, WHO it is against....I don't have time to do it and don't really care, but that is just my hunch -- that the 3-4 pops up when there is a reason for it based upon who we are playing, rather than an ironclad "this is where we are headed as a defense," if that makes any sense. The more confused and worried the opposing QB is, the happier I am. One of my favorite Saints defensive plays isn't even a "play" at all -- it's that frustrated look when the QB comes to the line and doesn't like what he sees, unbuckles his chin strap and burns a useless time out! SAINTstunna likes this.

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01-02-2012, 08:31 AM	#5
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	I DO NOT get why we refer to our D as a 4-3. We don't run anything like it... its more of a spin off of it. There are so many different sets we run out of that calling it a 4-3 is silly. I hardly hear anyone refer to it except the occasion person who thinks we should run a 3-4. Look we line up in just about everything including a 6-1 and a 7-0. All the sports news outlets call it a Greg Williams Defense, no discussions of a 4-3

01-02-2012, 10:52 AM	#7
Budsdrinker A Cajun Transforming TX Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 2,787	I didn't like the 3-4 set against Carolina. Our version of the 3-4 doesn't work well against the run because our backers play to deep and are slow to the LOS. A team that can run the ball well like Carolina can, will eat us up in a 3-4 which they did until they had to abandon the run. Now against the Packers or another passing team I can see running it.

01-02-2012, 11:13 AM	#8
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	I would like to keep just about everyone but I know we can't, money its going to be the problem, it always is. As far as Smith, I think he is going to have to take a big haircut and next year Romeus will be in the mix so who knows, unless we draft on the O-line I think we pay Nicks, he is already proven and not hurt. Brees well the jury is still out on him, what has he ever done? Colston, best reciever we got. And remember there is this little thing called the franchise tag that if applied by Loomis correctly that some of the money problems can wait.

01-02-2012, 07:57 PM	#9
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	I dont care what we play - hold teams 0-5 on 3rd down & ony 17 points & we are going to win!!

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