1st - Should the Panthers Switch to a 3-4 Defense? Post of 2009
by Jaxon on Jan 22, 2009 1:00 AM EST
11 comments
It seems the last few offseasons this question always come up: Should the Panthers return to their roots and switch back to the 3-4 defense the franchise was founded on? I was reminded of this fact yesterday when reading about former Panther coach Dom Capers being named DC for Green Bay. Capers is a 3-4 disciple who along with Vic Fangio installed the 3-4 in the fledging Carolina franchise. BTW, you should read Capers comments on his defensive philosophy linked below. Seems I recall the Panther 3-4 defense led the franchise into the playoffs in their second year of existence (and beat the Cowboys in their first playoff game). It was George Siefert who converted the franchise to the 4-3.
Here's a nugget of what Capers had to say:
"So I think you have to be able to change up and it's got to be a combination of pressure, coverage and disguise and not letting people know exactly what you're doing, because I don't care who you are, how good you are, if they know exactly what you're doing, you're going to have problems stopping them."
You would think this is common knowledge these days but the Panther defense hardly resembled the complex description above. There's no shortage of posts on the 3-4 defense and how it works, including this one.
You will read conflicting information on the player size and speed needed to play in a 3-4 but here's my take.
At NG Maake Kemoeatu came from a 3-4 defense in Baltimore where he played NG. That one is a no-brainer. From there I think Damione Lewis would fill one of the DT spots leaving one DT spot open. I don't think either Darwin Walker or Nick Hayden are big enough for the slot. This defense might also leave Charles Johnson and Tyler Brayton unneeded.
The Panthers have a bevy of LB's to pick from to fill out the four spots. Jon Beason and Dan Conner would be a nice combo in the middle and of course Julius Peppers would man one OLB spot. From there Na'il Diggs or Thomas Davis could play the other OLB spot. The DT spots would be the hardest part to fit the current pieces in. Otherwise it could work.
Of course this is really all wasted thought since John Fox is not about to switch to a 3-4. Mike McCarthy with Green Bay is the first coach that I can think of to change defenses after already completing at least one season. McCarthy though was already a 3-4 guy who decided to keep the prior scheme intact until he could get an experienced 3-4 coach. He's got one now.
So question remains, should the Panthers find one too?
0 recs |
11 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
personnel
I always bring up the 3-4 before we have th right personnel for it sometimes. What I don’t understand is why we can’t do both. We should be able to switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4 in the middle of a game. You just tell Peppers to play LB on that play. Then the next play, he’s back on the line with Davis, Beason, Connor, and Hilee Taylor or Nail Diggs at the LB spot. The next possession we then play the 4-3 the next possession. I mean, really, if that was our plan, we can’t cry about personnel, we have to go out and get the right personnel. We have what we need at LB, no doubt in my opinion. The Patriots have run a defense that has the ability to switch back and forth, and it works. Our guys have the same salary cap, and get paid similar dollars, so they have the ability to do it, too. But Fox doesn’t want to, so it really doesn’t matter. I personally was hoping we’d hire Dom Capers back to Carolina.
on the button
This keeps the offense from deciding up front on the protection scheme, leaving someone un-blocked, hopefully.
by panthersnbraves on Jan 23, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
Remember how...
at the beginning of the 08 season there was all this talk about how the defense was simplified and many of the players were ecstatic about it. Thomas Davis obviously benefited from it. Maybe this was because we had alot of new guys and this was necessary. Maybe this simplified defense was figured out by our opponents the second half of the season. If Trgo and Fox aren’t even using all their potential schemes in their 4-3 defense, could you imagine how much trouble the players would have switching to another defense or just mixing the 3-4 in. I would like to see it, but don’t think it’s possible with the current roster.
Very good points
You would think as the season progressed they would add some different looks. I was most surprised that we rarely ran man coverage regardless of the situation
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
3-4
I still feel that we don’t have the right personnel. We need better DE’s if we’re going to run the 3-4… and did you mean that Damione Lewis would be a DE? Because he’s definitely not a 3-4 DT. And I’m not sure if our LB’s fit the 3-4 in terms of size & style of play.
I agree with Dave and Utesfan
I don’t think we have quite the right personnel to play the 3-4 up front. Damione Lewis is not quite a 3-4 end that we need but I actually think Tyler Brayton would be really good for the defense because he has played LB, DE, and even some DT this year. I think he is built right for the defense. My problem comes with the fact John Fox and Trgo would have to be more flexible with the defense scheme and that has proven not to happen. The Panthers are not a huge blitzing team and with the 3-4 defense we would have a LB on the line every play but I am not sure Trgo and Fox are willing to not drop 7 men into coverage on 60% of the plays. Neither Fox nor Trgo have ever run a 3-4 as long as I can recall, though Fox was with the Steelers a while back, maybe they ran it then with Chuck Noll. I don’t think so though. Either way, it is not happening because it would take a year or two to get the right personnel and our coaching staff is not flexible enough to run it at its more effective.
by bengoodfella on Jan 22, 2009 8:14 AM EST up reply actions
I label the front three postions as DT-NG-DT
But teams appear to label it differently…DT-NT-DT or DE-DT-DE or DE-NT-DE
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I could go either way
as there are pros and cons to both systems. I do, however, think we are close to having the right personnel. Sure adjustments and some different players would be needed but we are close.
Now as far as the coaching staffs goes, its not going to happen. Fox and Trgo wouldn’t do it, don’ think they have it in them.
I like the idea and I think we have the personel to work a 3-4 D
However, I think the bigger question is who will be that defensive coordinator that has prior experience using the 3-4 defensive scheme. Dom Capers would have been obviously nice but that not happening now that he’s in Green Bay.
So who else is available?
by ChipperTeixeira89 on Jan 22, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions
The question become bigger
now that we know we need a new D-coordinator. Before pure speculation, now while still speculation there is a little light coming from underneath the door.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Cat Scratch Reader
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
