WhI have player is under the radar?

[BWRhasnoAC]

I'm not sure if the 3-4 is going to be our base. I would imagine we run the 4-3 to start and then depending on how things go we might start to implement the 3-4. I could be wrong, I think it would be great to see the 3-4 as our base, but that would be contrary to what the coaches have been saying.

 

[RustShack]

I'm not sure if the 3-4 is going to be our base. I would imagine we run the 4-3 to start and then depending on how things go we might start to implement the 3-4. I could be wrong, I think it would be great to see the 3-4 as our base, but that would be contrary to what the coaches have been saying.

Yeah, Wally made it sound like they will still base out of the 4-3 but will try some 3-4 and just do what works. It's interesting because the types of players they are putting out there aren't typical 3-4 players... Like normally Pierson and Taylor would be OLB's in a 3-4 and a body type like Aka would be a DE. Most NT's are bigger, Cowboys with Rattlif are really the only team that comes to mind with a smaller NT like Tucker.

 

[clonedude]

I'm not understanding using the 3-4 at all.

They've been bragging all year about how great Jordan Harris is going to be, and in the 3-4 he must not even be out there, correct? If Seeley and Harvey are the ILB's, then Harris must be off the field.

And we finally have the bodies to put a decent two deep across the front four, and now we're going to go with only 3? And we're extremely thin at LB, so we're going to go from 3 to 4 there? I assume Taylor and Pierson would have to play LB? Would they ever have to cover TE's down the field? I hope not.

It just doesn't make sense to me. I could see installing some kind of 4-2-5 for many of the Big 12 games against all the spread teams we'll play. I just don't get why we would go to a 3-4 with the roster we have? Where would Jhaustin Thomas play in a 3-4? End?

 

[DesertClone1]

The whole D-Backs crew. They look the part.

 

[Beyerball]

Wally said when we are in the 3-4 Harris and Seely would be the ILB's.

Wally didn't say that this fall. Go back and watch Wally again...trust me..Harvey is running with the 1's right now in our 3-4

 

[Beyerball]

I'm not understanding using the 3-4 at all.

They've been bragging all year about how great Jordan Harris is going to be, and in the 3-4 he must not even be out there, correct? If Seeley and Harvey are the ILB's, then Harris must be off the field.

And we finally have the bodies to put a decent two deep across the front four, and now we're going to go with only 3? And we're extremely thin at LB, so we're going to go from 3 to 4 there? I assume Taylor and Pierson would have to play LB? Would they ever have to cover TE's down the field? I hope not.

It just doesn't make sense to me. I could see installing some kind of 4-2-5 for many of the Big 12 games against all the spread teams we'll play. I just don't get why we would go to a 3-4 with the roster we have? Where would Jhaustin Thomas play in a 3-4? End?

Starting 1's right now...Harris, Harvey, Jones, Levi.

Starting 3 lineman..Tucker, Taylor, Pierson...Pierson and Taylor essentially are in a DT/DE role directly across from the tackles. My only concern is whether Pierson has the size to play in a 3-4... We've been running essentially a 4-2-5 with a nickel many times last year and got ripped up the middle...no offense but Knott and Seely where just a step slow and our nickel wasn't athletic enough. The 3-4 can be very effective run blitzing and pass blitzing and can be very difficult for spread offenses to move against if done right. I get it...our lbs weren't good last year but a large part of that was our terrible dline. We have essentially 4 new starting LBs right now and 3 of those 4 can move and are very athletic. What u get with 4 D lineman who can't do the job is one less man in coverage than a 3-4. Lastly..you play with the defense you've practiced with. You can't just run a 3-4 the the next series switch to a 4-3. It's hard enough getting new Lbs to understand where they need to be and who they need to cover with one defense. In a 3-4 you just need the 3 down lineman to hold their own and let those 4 LBs fly to the ball.

 

[RustShack]

Wally didn't say that this fall. Go back and watch Wally again...trust me..Harvey is running with the 1's right now in our 3-4

Wally said the 3 DL were Taylor, Tucker, Pierson. And the 4 LB's were Jones and Levi on the outside and Harris and Kane on the inside. Could that have changed? I hope so... Kane doesn't strike me as a starter. Also he would be a better fit as a backup to Harris because both ILB's aren't MLB's.

 

[RustShack]

Starting 1's right now...Harris, Harvey, Jones, Levi.

Starting 3 lineman..Tucker, Taylor, Pierson...Pierson and Taylor essentially are in a DT/DE role directly across from the tackles. My only concern is whether Pierson has the size to play in a 3-4... We've been running essentially a 4-2-5 with a nickel many times last year and got ripped up the middle...no offense but Knott and Seely where just a step slow and our nickel wasn't athletic enough. The 3-4 can be very effective run blitzing and pass blitzing and can be very difficult for spread offenses to move against if done right. I get it...our lbs weren't good last year but a large part of that was our terrible dline. We have essentially 4 new starting LBs right now and 3 of those 4 can move and are very athletic. What u get with 4 D lineman who can't do the job is one less man in coverage than a 3-4. Lastly..you play with the defense you've practiced with. You can't just run a 3-4 the the next series switch to a 4-3. It's hard enough getting new Lbs to understand where they need to be and who they need to cover with one defense. In a 3-4 you just need the 3 down lineman to hold their own and let those 4 LBs fly to the ball.

That's my thought as well, that's why it doesn't seem like a base defense. Most teams wouldn't use those three as DL in the 3-4... Most would have Tucker as a DE(but maybe not because of how short he is) and Pierson as a pass rushing OLB.

 

[Beyerball]

That's my thought as well, that's why it doesn't seem like a base defense. Most teams wouldn't use those three as DL in the 3-4... Most would have Tucker as a DE(but maybe not because of how short he is) and Pierson as a pass rushing OLB.

Taylor is more than a capable body to play the 3-4. As for Pierson..he's fast for a DE but we shall see if he can hold up vs 600 lbs. I can't say this enough the 3-4 will be our base this year. I understand the apprehension but I trust Wally. As for Seely..he'll certainly play and has prob improved but Harvey is a stud and will be playing more. We are going to blitz a lot more this year..a lot more. It's much easier and more effective in a 3-4 that a 4-3.

 

[DesertClone1]

Beyer. You're getting really heated in this who do you know on the team? Or are you on the team... curious.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Jamison Lalk. Going to make us forget about Bob Tomiark...wait, who?

 

[CloneinWDSM]

I'm hoping Mike Johnson and Reggan Northrup will get some time. They may be a year or so away tho.

 

[JM4CY]

Kristen Dunst dimples are always worth some time on the field

 

[Beyerball]

Beyer. You're getting really heated in this who do you know on the team? Or are you on the team... curious.

lol. I'm the 45 yr old backup place kicker. I've been fortunate to see just a couple things. If you listen closely enough to interviews too you can see what's going on as well. Like today..MM mentions who on defedse has been impressive...mentions Tucker at Nose. DT is prob a more true Def tackle but he's our most explosive interior Dlineman. Point is that DT plays NG smack dab in front of center in a 3-4. It's not that hard to believe we will run a 3-4...coaches even mentioned it early in camp for a reason. I'm excited to see it in action. Will we run a 4-3? Maybe occasionally I guess and in certain situations but I'd bet the majority of our day will see a 3-4. It's too difficult to teach two entirely different defensive schemes in college and be effective. It would be like our offense running a spread but then also the triple option. I can see why they woild switch to a 3-4 with guys on the outside like J jones and Harvey who are both very athletic, fast and long. Those guys on the outside can be very disruptive yet have the speed to drop into coverage. Last year we weren't even close to having the Lbs to do that. Look at Oklahoma...they switched to a 3-4 couple years ago and look how badly they just manhandled us last year. Granted it's OU and we were bad but their LBs aren't exactly 250lb guys. They are lean, long and athletic and create all kinds of confusion and havoc.

 

[cyclonedave25]

I'm still trying to figure out what this thread title is supposed to say...

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Beyer If you're right about this then kudos and rep points but I'm still very skeptical. The past 6 years have shown this staff has gotten really conservative. I hope you are right though. I'm giddy in anticipation.

 

[CyInDFW]

Yeah, Wally made it sound like they will still base out of the 4-3 but will try some 3-4 and just do what works. It's interesting because the types of players they are putting out there aren't typical 3-4 players... Like normally Pierson and Taylor would be OLB's in a 3-4 and a body type like Aka would be a DE. Most NT's are bigger, Cowboys with Rattlif are really the only team that comes to mind with a smaller NT like Tucker.

It completely depends on the NT quickness and strength if they are smaller. The have to have the quickness off the ball to eat up two blockers and the strength to hold them up on spot. So, it really depends on Tuckers physical abilities, not his size.

 

[CyInDFW]

Taylor is more than a capable body to play the 3-4. As for Pierson..he's fast for a DE but we shall see if he can hold up vs 600 lbs. I can't say this enough the 3-4 will be our base this year. I understand the apprehension but I trust Wally. As for Seely..he'll certainly play and has prob improved but Harvey is a stud and will be playing more. We are going to blitz a lot more this year..a lot more. It's much easier and more effective in a 3-4 that a 4-3.

If we run a 3-4 Base this year our DL is going to get eaten up. A good 3-4 needs depth, something we don't have. There is no way Pierson holds up all season trying to play against 600 pounds and we all know that. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of the 3-4, especially against the Big12, but a 3-4 needs an offense that can hold the ball and drive, the DL guys Have to have rest if they are going to make it.

 

[heitclone]

The thing I don't get about the 3-4 is that why would we want to run a defense that magnifies the spot where we have the least depth or talent. I don't see any OLB on our squad that fit the 3-4 mold. Are we expecting position changes? I think we will see times with 3 DL on the field but it won't be a true 3-4 it'll be more like a nickel hybrid with a DB playing one of the OLB spots and our starting LB's playing the others. Wally did the same thing in the 4-3 when we didn't have LB depth a few years ago, we played undersized LB's (more or less a DB) at WLB to match the spread offenses we see week in/week out.

 

[clonedude]

I am LOVING this discussion! This is the kind of thing I really enjoy talking about on here.... X's and O's, strategy, etc.

I'm thinking Beyer is on to something here. Most people that have seen some practices, scrimmages, etc have all stated that we're in the 3-4 a LOT. And I don't think it's plausible that we'll be playing the 3-4 one play and then jump into the 4-3 the next play, or even switching it up on different series. I suppose we could go to the 3-4 in obvious passing situations or something, I don't know?

I feel like I have a pretty good basic understanding of football, maybe not, but if Pierson and Taylor are put on the line in a 3-4, doesn't that limit their pass rushing abilities to basically nothing? So your'e taking their best strengths away from them, correct? The OLB's become your pass rushers now, correct?

Don't get me wrong, I'm up for trying ANYTHING at this point if I think it will help. Our defense has been so bad over the years that maybe we should try something different? I'm not sure? I just think we now have some decent DE's, but we're going to make them basically ineffective. And LB is really thin and inexperienced, but now we need to be 8 deep there instead of 6 deep basically?

Thoughts?