Switching to 3-4 Was a Mistake

[hawkfan68]

I won't pass judgment just yet. If they want to concentrate on something, try tackling first.

Agreed. If you can't tackle, no scheme would look good.

 

[JayhawkMike]

Didn’t we hire the assistant to the last failure of a DC? And we expect success? LOL

 

[TwistedHusky]

Well to be fair, I thought the goal was to be terrible so we could get a high enough draft pick to get the QB that would be our franchise QB for the next 5+ years.

We don't know the plan.

But it isn't going to be fun.

 

[Scout]

The 34 makes most sense long term because LBs are cheaper than DL (eg franchise tag) and offer more flexibility when bringing pressure or doing fire zone blitzes.

Seattle is on the right track and by mid season the fruits of the investment with the 34 will pay off. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers switched to a 34 as soon as Arians arrived with Bowles. The difference is that Tampa had a talented defensive squad already but they also hit on Shaq via free agency.

Unlike Tampa Bay though Seattle has a better head start with the backend safeties and boundary CBs. What is missing from Seattle is a hell razor/game wrecker in the front seven.

A J. Reed, Clowney or M. Bennett for example.

Nwosu is the closest one to that standard. So, if Taylor or Mafe show up to the party that is when things start to become interesting IMO.

 

[jammerhawk]

Players are getting there quickly but whiffing on tackles often just missing, or the gap integrity is breaking down with freelance plays by players. The edge players are not setting or holding the edge and the result has been too much yardage given up. The DBs while mostly young are playing well.

In the end there have been far too many broken tackles which makes a huge difference between stuffing plays or having them become big plays given up by the D. it is interesting that the D has a solid record of playing well inside their own redzone.

The team looks to need a good deal of tackling practice.

i think we have the personnel here to run a 3-4, however we need to see more from all of the edge rushers.

 

[Spin Doctor]

These are largely the same issues that the Seahawks have had for years now, really since 2018. We haven't had a good defense in awhile. At stages they've played well, but others we've been on pace at some points to be the worst defense of all time. 3-4 is not the reason that we're bad right now.

 

[nwHawk]

I’m thinking a little bigger / longer MLB might not be a bad thing either.

 

[Seattle Person]

1) It's only been 2 games...This is pretty quick to judge how a team is looking. Yes...it doesn't look great but to call it a mistake is too quick. It's almost cherry picking.

2) The NFL is a whole is playing more coverage and less blitzing. A 3-4 allows you to disguise more of your coverages. One of the reasons the move was made. I don't expect this to change. I do hope they pick their blitzes at the right time. The secondary actually hasn't played horrible. Our CBs are covering reasonably well and our safeties haven't given up deep balls.

3) Poona is not a 5T or 4i. He's a 1T or 3T. He has long arms but doesn't seem to have the quickness to 2 gap. I don't think he's a fit at all and I'm not surprised he seems like he's struggling.

4) This season might be a pretty good sign of showing Barton and Brooks just aren't that good. Brooks racks up a bunch of tackles but so far him and Barton are struggling to fill gaps and cover.

5) I haven't really noticed the other guys on the Dline. Can't really tell how good/bad of a job they're doing. I have noticed D. Taylor. He's is really struggling run and pass. It's shocking to see him generating no rush. It's almost rookie level bad. He doesn't have any bull rush win or beating the OT with speed.

6) Nwosu is really comfortable in his role and it shows. Maybe we should wait to make a judgement about players' progress? If everyone felt as comfortable as Nwosu then the defense would be flying.

 

[nwHawk]

Taylor is very skinny. I’m pretty sure he needs a bit more power to play they way he is expected. And he needs to know it’s time to grind.

 

[had2bhawk]

If it takes two years to learn it, you got the wrong scheme.

So by the time they learn it, there contracts are up, or they got old and retired. I don't see many of these guys in the front 7 being here in two years, essentially having to start over again.

=======

The weird thing is these guys have played in 3-4 in their past.

DE - Q. Jefferson played in a 3-4 in Denver.

NT - Al Woods, first of all he is a NT, but played in a 3-4 in Pitt, i think in Indy as well.

DE - Shelby Harris played in a 3-4 in Denver.

OLB - Nwosu played in a 3-4 with the Chargers.

OLB - Taylor did both at Tennessee sometimes with his hand in the dirt, sometimes as a standup lining up on the edge. It shouldn't take 2 years to learn how to set the edge in the run game, and rush the passer. Either you have it or you don't.

ILB - Cody Barton played in a 3-4 at Utah.

ILB - Jordan Brooks - miscast, he is a downhill go straight ahead 4-3 LBer. This defense hurts him the most.

DT - Poona doesn't fit, 4-3 1-tech. Actually this defense hurts Poona, not Brooks the most.

6 of 8 have played in the 3-4 in their past, and they shouldn't look this bad. Poor coaching.

I agree with a little weak on coaching but, the guys need to play as a unit. I don't think they are experienced enough together. These guys are talented people and I feel they will adjust and impress us as the season moves on.

 

[balakoth]

What week is this? Did I miss the notice? ROFL

 

[balakoth]

Poona is having a miserable year, along with Taylor.

ROFL... God this board is hilarious

 

[Chawker]

I'm reserving all coments about the switch to the 3-4, but as you all know my position on the 3-4.

The 4-3 is the only true base defense for the NFL that works.

 

[sdog1981]

I'm reserving all coments about the switch to the 3-4, but as you all know my position on the 3-4.

The 4-3 is the only true base defense for the NFL that works.

That has been disproven by the last 50 years of NFL football. It is an odd hill to die on.
That being said, you had some very valid concerns regarding the beef the Seahawks lacked on the Dline. Our current Dlinemen can't eat up blocks to allow the linebackers to make plays. Surprisingly, the team did not bring in more 34 Dlinemen this offseason.

 

[BASF]

That has been disproven by the last 50 years of NFL football. It is an odd hill to die on.
That being said, you had some very valid concerns regarding the beef the Seahawks lacked on the Dline. Our current Dlinemen can't eat up blocks to allow the linebackers to make plays. Surprisingly, the team did not bring in more 34 Dlinemen this offseason.

Pretty hard to bring in that many with forty-four million in dead cap.

 

[Seattle Person]

I'm reserving all coments about the switch to the 3-4, but as you all know my position on the 3-4.

The 4-3 is the only true base defense for the NFL that works.

I don't quite get this statement. Teams have won with 4-3s and 3-4s as their base. Chips have been won with both types of defenses.

 

[morgulon1]

I hear everybody and it's frustrating for sure. We've played 2 games . If this defense hasn't
figured things out by the half way point , its coaching ( and I'll take everyone's word regarding
personnel) . The thing Im afraid of is that Pete can't relinquish control like he said he would.

Or maybe he has and the new coach sucketh. IDK

 

[Hawkspeed]

Our linebackers seem lost and unsure of their role. In a 4-3 the defense is designed to direct plays to the middle linebacker. Both #56 and #57 are still playing as if they are in a 4-3. They are waiting, not picking up coverage on tight ends or giving up too much ground in pass protection. #52 is unsure of his role and seems to be easily over-powered by blocking. Poona also seems out of place in the 3-4.

But, this seems like more of a coaching problem to me. I just watched the SF game highlights on YouTube at 1/4 speed and it seems like there may be some issues with the 3-4 suiting our personnel. But as other posters have pointed out, a lot of the veterans have experience playing in a 3-4.

Of course, it is only two games in, but there are clearly some scheme problems with regard to linebacker play. Come on coaches...

 

[FrodosFinger]

After 2 games? This team is still one more draft away from regaining prominence in the league. They suck now but this is short term butty

 

[Seattle Person]

Our linebackers seem lost and unsure of their role. In a 4-3 the defense is designed to direct plays to the middle linebacker. Both #56 and #57 are still playing as if they are in a 4-3. They are waiting, not picking up coverage on tight ends or giving up too much ground in pass protection. #52 is unsure of his role and seems to be easily over-powered by blocking. Poona also seems out of place in the 3-4.

But, this seems like more of a coaching problem to me. I just watched the SF game highlights on YouTube at 1/4 speed and it seems like there may be some issues with the 3-4 suiting our personnel. But as other posters have pointed out, a lot of the veterans have experience playing in a 3-4.

Of course, it is only two games in, but there are clearly some scheme problems with regard to linebacker play. Come on coaches...

Every defense is designed to funnel runners into the LBs. I don't think it really matters what front you run. It's about filling gaps. With Taylor, he is having a hard time setting the edge so you're right about him being washed away on run plays.