Understanding the 4-3 alignment

[plan9misfit]

[plan9misfit]

[Stein07]

oh gotcha, yeah i just think that having spencer at a linebacker pos would make it pretty sweet
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[ThePlaymaker86]

Great thread, Matts.

LOL @ the complain about Jerrah link

[Texas_OutLaw7]

[plan9misfit]

[ThePlaymaker86]

[canadaluvsdalla]

[Dboys88-82]

Love the Jerry link.

When everybody isnt bickering back and forth this forum makes me laugh out loud literally quite often.

As for the front seven of our 4-3...

This is how i see things:

**If retained.

Defensive Line:

DT: Lissemore, Ratliff**, Hatcher, Spears**
I think this is a pretty solid group of 4-3 DT's. Ratliff and Hatcher being the starters and Lissemore being a good rotation guy. I listed spears because this is the only spot he fits. Some people still think spears can generate some pass rush in this defense, but hes never shown any pass rushing ability in his nfl career. Id look to upgrade spears if possible.

DE: Ware, Crawford,
At this point I recognize crawford has talent, but i dont think we can rely on him being a starter going into the season. This is a spot that we need to upgrade in FA or the Draft.

With the current roster the way to get our best defensive lineman on the field would be Hatcher playing some end with our DT's being lisse and rat and ware on the other end. I hope we upgrade the end spot so that hatcher wont have to slim back down to play the outside.


Linebackers: *****Id like to say that im not sure where Orie Lemon fits, but I think he can win a back up position at either inside or backing up carter on the outside. Especially if connor is cut. Lemon has been one of my "pets" the past couple years in the 3-4 even though he didnt have much of a shot to break through the lineup this past year. He got injured when his chance came. I havent seen quite enough of him, or know the 43 defense quite well enough to say which spot he fits better, but i am hopeful he can find a spot on the game day roster. Id really like someone who is more of an expert tell me where he would fit.


Again: **If retained.
****not sure where fits

SLB: Albright, Wilber
Obviously probably going to be the job thats up for grabs and our "weakest" linebacker spot, but i dont think it absolutely needs to be upgraded either. Albright is incredibly smart and will do what he has to to get himself in the right spots to make the plays necessary. Wilber has more athleticism, is a draft pick, and has more potential. Camp battle!

MLB: Lee, Connor**,****,Orie Lemon****not sure connor fits, besides this spot if we keep him. See above for Lemon.

LB: Carter, Lemon****, Im not sure if lemon is quick enough to play this spot. I feel like Ernie sims could play this spot (as a backup) if we resign him.

Secondary

Corners: We should be solid here if kiffen plays kind of a press man/zone. Our corners are physical and Id like to see them used somewhat like seattle uses their physical guys.

Safety: Upgrade needed. A rangy free safety would be nice. Im not holding my breath for Matt Johnson. Sensabaugh should be cut. He doesnt fit either spot IMO. Hopeful Church comes back healthy and can man the SS spot.

[matt79511]

Crawford played so much better this year than this board seems to think he did. Also, left end in this scheme (assuming Kiffin is, in fact, running a 4-3 Under) is basically the same as 2-gap 3-4 DE.
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[Matts4313]

[ThePlaymaker86]

[G-osh]

The way I see it:

J. Ratliff at under-tackle (rush the passer, this will revive his career)

M. Spears at NT (take up blocks/ stuff the run, also will revive his career)

D. Ware at RDE (honestly he's not much of a linebacker, let him pin his ears back and rush)

J. Hatcher LDE (disrupt the run & passing game, think this would be a better position for him then 3-4 DE where he is pretty good)

S. Lee MLB (key to the Tampa-2 switch, he's gonna get so many picks in this D)

B. Carter ROLB (make tackles all over the field with his speed)

A. Spencer LOLB (stuff the run, move to LDE on third downs and nickel while Hatcher moves to DT replacing Spears, think 4-3 LOLB is his best fit)

B. Carr LCB (wanted to cut him before the switch because he is too slow, but in the Tampa-2 his lack of speed wont be as noticeable while his tackling ability will be greatly needed)

M. Claiborne RCB (hopefully the switch will put him in position to use his WR skills to intercept more balls, needs to bulk up in his first full off-season to be able to play the run well)

The safety position is up in the air. Maybe Sensabaugh plays the SS spot, maybe he doesn't. Hopefully we can pry Ronde Barber away from the Bucs. He could be a captain on the game field and a player-coach on the practice field.

[DKDALfan]

Good post, Matts.

I really like the 4-3 in general, but defintly also for the Cowboys. I actually think that we have fewer need in a 4-3.

- I trust having Hatcher and Ratliff starting in the middle and Ware at RDE if his body can do it. I trust having Lee, Carter and Connor starting at LB'er. That leaves us with an safety and maybe a DE (I do have some hope for Crawford) as our needs. In a 3-4 we would need a NT, OLB, FS and probably a LDE as well. That's 4 needs compared to 2 needs in a 4-3 setup.

As for backups in a 4-3, we got Sims and Albright at LB'er (could need to add one more). Lissemore at DT and also that guy who we signed a future contract with who did play good for the Bucs in a 4-3, Spears would be decent for depth purposes. We would need to pick up a extra DE I think if not two, since Butler is not a fit as DE, maybe on passing downs but that's it. I also have my doubts of WIlber being able to bulk up to have a shot at playing in a 4-3.

But I really do think that Ratliff will bounce back in this scheme. I think that he showed in his limited time on the field this season, that he still can play football.

[matt79511]

Wilber's 6'4" 240. That was actually one of his selling points, size/strength. He definitely intrigues me as a SAM, and if not, it's not an especially difficult position to fill.
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