Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

It appears that the 3-4 base defense is out the window. Reports so far indicate that we've gone back to the 4-3. My first thought was that this is Dennis Allen's influence but then I read somewhere that Rex Ryan will be running a 4-3 Under defense with the Bills which is the base defense that we've been installing as well. I think the Ryan brothers might be thinking alike.

Thoughts and opinions on this front seven based on how we've been lining up so far:

Weakside DE: Cam Jordan
DT: Kevin Williams
NT: John Jenkins
Strongside DE: Akiem Hicks

WLB: Dannell Ellerbe
MLB: Stephone Anthony
SLB: Hau'oli Kikaha

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

Ok, so far so good.

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

And that also leaves us with virtually no depth to rotate as well...

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

I like the base 4-3. The Saints just haven't had the LB's to run a 3-4. But, with Anthony, Kikaha, Tull and an emerging Powell, I had hopes to see how they got after the QB.

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

Wait wasn't Ellerbe excited to be an OLB in a 3-4 again? And Hawthorne and ILB? Didn't we just draft one of the top rushing 3-4 OLBs to do exactly that?

Please don't tell me that losing one knuckle head changes our entire defensive approach forcibg several players (yet again) to play out of position.

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

Didn't we draft players specifically to run the 3-4 the past couple years and now we are all of a sudden giving up.

I preferred the 5-2 that Rob ran in 2013

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

this isn't a normal 4-3...

it's a 4-3 under base which plays nearly identical to the 3-4. The SLB stays at the LOS and typically rushes the QB, the WLB and MLB function more as ILBs.

You guys are getting concerned over semantics.

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

My concern(s) aren't semantic in nature...

First, if Cam Jordan is essentially the fourth linebacker as you rightfully pointed out in the 4-3 under, aren't you pretty much showing your hand pre-snap which way the base rusher is coming from as opposed to a true 3-4 base where it can come from anyone of the four linebackers?

Second, we don't have that many proven big men up front, wouldn't it be prudent to have at least one available to rotate to keep the big hogs up front from getting winded late in games?

Third, I think we have accumulated the most talented OLBers than we've had since the late 80's/early 90's and to play this front may mean we cut OLB for a down linemen that's better suited to this system...

We made moves and draft picks to get these guys, for damn sake play the MFers and quit trying to justify a contract...

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense
 

It's the same defense Seattle uses... It works well for them. Jordan will play the Michael Bennett role and Kikaha/Spencer will play the Bruce Irvin role.

Re: Early Indications of Our New Defense