Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

What ever you do you have to commit to it.

You don't say you're going to be a run team and never run.

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

If we can grab a decent middle monster and a kickass LB, we'll do alright. And really, that's all we'll need to do on the D side.

What the hell does the Tuna know anyhow?

Haha, I'm still sayin' the glass is half full.

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

Players. Duh! :wink:

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

there is no real way we can be a true 34 defense next. it will be a year of transition. if not we once again picked the wrong DC yet again. 2 to 3 years for transition time. thats what i am looking at

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

It all comes down to which of two philosphies you have. You either adapt your scheme to your current players or you decide on a scheme and then go get the players needed to run it.
I generally tend to like the first approach better since it usually gives you more flexibility and its a good way to maximize talent.

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

Or there's just plain realism which I'll refer to as the anti-Spags. The anti-Spags starts where you are and works to get to where you're goin'. I see us as having a great deal of 3-4 talent already. Just a couple of new key players will have us being a much better D than last year. While that's really not saying much, we really didn't need to be that much better to have gone deep into the playoffs.

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

We "need" what we had in 2009 and not much more. ONE player that can generate turnovers.

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

My gut is telling me we will pick 1 maybe 2 D players in the draft and the rest will be O.

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

In terms of scheme or the players to play the scheme, I happen to think we already may be a lot closer to having the right personnel for a 3-4, than some of the more cynical people in this forum believe we are. I don't think this came out of nowhere, or sprang suddenly from Payton's head while he was sitting on the couch with a bag of Cheetos in week 15. I think they have been eyeballing this move for some time now, maybe a long time.

Then the bounty suspensions happened, and remember they had to construct most of the defense in the spring last year, while NOT knowing what the player suspensions were going to be or WHO would be out for how long. So that was a big monkey wrench.

Looking back in hindsight on certain newer guys we picked up on the defense, it just really gives me that feeling, that this was kinda planned out or thought through -- Junior Gallette, Martez Wilson, Akiem Hicks, Bunkley, Cam Jordan. Turns out that so many of these young guys we have been stoked about, the ones who've been getting kinda limited playing time, or being worked in to the roster, they have 3-4 potential or past experience!

But in my mind's eye, I can see this 3-4, like a lot of people in this thread also "see it" -- I'm hoping this pans out, that Payton has actually followed Parcells' advice to the letter, been patient, gotten the personnel he needs in advance of the switch, and that we have an amazing "shock the world" defense next year, that gets turnovers and finishes in the high 20s of the rankings or better.

Re: Scheme or Players first?
 

Agreed. We aren't loaded with 3-4 talent, but we currently have more guys who fit a 3-4 than fit a 4-3.