Post by jamiafqc on Jul 18, 2012 21:29:24 GMT -5
The overall goal of the 3-4 is to put more speed on the field and speed is currently the name of the game. With elite offenses like Green Bay, New Orleans, New York Giants, 49ers Patrick Willis Jerseys New England, Houston and Philadelphia the Falcons defense have been bringing a knife to a gun fight. Just think about the three playoff losses: Arizona with Kurt Warner, Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers, and the New York Giants with Eli Manning. All of these teams have excellent quarterbacks who could throw the ball all over the yard and the Falcons defensive could not get off the field.Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (L) celebrates with teammate and cornerback Dominique Franks, after a interception by Franks, in the first half of their NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Atlanta, 49ers Randy Moss Jerseys Georgia, January 1, 2012. REUTERS/Tami Chappell Surprisingly the Falcons are very well set up for the switch. If the players can grasp their new concepts and positions then we can expect the Falcons to hit the ground running next September. Here is what I think the defense would look like if we switched today The three man front usually has two defensive ends on the heavier side with a large defensive tackle to take up space. Jonathan Babineaux and Corey Peters could be the prototypical defensive ends in this scheme.ZRNKAH0719
Ray Edwards is in a gray area because he is too big for a linebacker and too small for a d-end. If he bulks up this offseason then he would work nicely at the DE spot. 49ers Vernon Davis Jerseys The toughest hole to fill for the Falcons is the NG position. Generally, he is lined up over the center and is responsible for the two gaps between the center and guards. While at the University of Alabama, Terrance Cody was a perfect example of this position. It took two sometimes three offensive linemen every play and allowed the linebackers to run unscathed to the ball. Currently the Falcons do not have a player to fit this mold, something that should be addressed either in Free Agency or the draft.The four linebacker set has me very eager to see this system in place. I have always thought the Falcons have some solid 3-4 linebackers stuck in the wrong scheme. Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury are two players that come to mind. Both are great pass rushers but can be beat on running plays. Seahawks th Fan Jerseys John Abraham is another great example of a 3-4 linebacker. The Falcons generally cut him loose on passing downs allowing him to use his speed and technique to get to the QB. That skill set is much more effective in the 3-4 defense. As for ILB, the ideal player is fast and has the ability to cover passes like a glorified safety. For that reason, I think Sean Weatherspoon, Lofa Tatupu and/or Akeem Dent will be playing ILB next year. Transitioning from 4-3 OLB to 3-4 ILB is difficult but Weatherspoon has the talent and the coaching around him to do it. He will also have the help of Lofa Tatupu, who ran this system at Seattle, and Akeem Dent who played ILB in the 3-4 during college.Schematically there is no real difference for defensive backs between the 3-4 and the 4-3.
In some 3-4 systems the safeties can play closer to the line of scrimmage a la the NY Jets, Steelers and Ravens but that is basically the only difference. If we do adopt that style William Moore would be a likely candidate because he is a very physical player and great at stopping the runBut with the Falcons not signing Curtis Lofton, Seahawks Sidney Rice Jerseys picking up Lofa Tatupu and keeping John Abraham, it appears they are preparing to implement the 3-4 sooner than expected. Switching systems is always tough for players at any level but it's good to know we have the right guy making the calls at defensive coordinator.difference between those quarterbacks and Rivers is that those quarterbacks also have elite coaches (and rings). If you are looking to point the finger at someone for the perpetual underachievement of the Chargers, point directly at Norv Turner. He took over a Chargers team in 2007 that was loaded with Rams Sam Bradford Jerseys Pro Bowl talent up and down the roster and it has been a steady decline ever since.There biggest offseason acquisition was signing former Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem to a four year contract. Prior to that, they parted ways with 2 time Pro Bowler Vincent Jackson who was River's favorite target. Their draft was headlined by Melvin Ingram, a solid defensive end/outside linebacker from South Carolina and Ladarious Green, a receiving tight end out of University of Louisiana Lafayette. If our new secondary doesn't get tested against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, they will against the Chargers. Not necessarily because of the Chargers receiving core (which is decent) but because of the high volume of passes. Their offensive line is very similar to ours: it's good, but certainly not great.
Not to mention they are losing 3 lineman with a combined career total of 283 starts for the Chargers: Marcus McNeill, Kris Dielman and Scott Mruczkowski. Vegas has the Chargers at -3.5 for this game, which is way off. I'll admit, the type the Falcons usually struggle with are teams that throw it all over the yard, however with Vincent Jackson gone and Robert Meachem, nothing more than a system player replacing him, their passing attack does not strike much fear into my eyes. Furthermore, Buccaneers Josh Freeman Jerseys that is all they can do. The San Diego Charger's rushing game has been average at best since LT left in 2010 (in actuality it started to decline when Lorenzo Neal left after 2007 but that discussion is for a different day).I see the Falcons in somewhat of a route in this game winning 34-20 and Matt Ryan and Mike Smith improving to 6-0 on the West Coast. This will be the beginning of what is yet another mediocre season for Norv Turner.Dallas is certainly an interesting team for next season. I think they have made a lot of solid moves this offseason to improve their team and the Dez Bryant/Miles Austin tandem will strike fear into every secondary next season. This is a coin flip but since the Falcons have struggled with the Cowboys in the past I am giving the nod to Americas Team in a tough game.The play of the Falcons' linebackers has been strong all season, but Nicholas has been overshadowed by the Buccaneers Doug Martin Jerseys elite performances of Sean Weatherspoon and Curtis Lofton. Weatherpsoon has been the best player on Atlanta's defense all season and has emerged as one of – if not the – top 4-3 outside linebackers in the NFL.The situation at left tackle is markedly better than it was early in the year, and with that stability has come improvement from the offense all around, particularly in Matt Ryan's timing. Svitek has been the biggest – and most welcome – surprise of the season for the Falcons, and he was officially named the starter this week. Sam Baker will back him up, and should Svitek struggle, Baker – who had improved his play significantly before going down with a back injury – can step in and play at a respectable level. Svitek played a very good game against Jared Allen last week, and he will need to be every bit as effective in this week's contest, as Texans' outside linebackers Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed are flourishing in Wade Phillips' defense. Their burst off the edge should test Svitek's ability to slide in protection, and Reed has a very good bull-rush move to compliment his athleticism. Both players have been essential in the Texans' success against the pass this season .
Ray Edwards is in a gray area because he is too big for a linebacker and too small for a d-end. If he bulks up this offseason then he would work nicely at the DE spot. 49ers Vernon Davis Jerseys The toughest hole to fill for the Falcons is the NG position. Generally, he is lined up over the center and is responsible for the two gaps between the center and guards. While at the University of Alabama, Terrance Cody was a perfect example of this position. It took two sometimes three offensive linemen every play and allowed the linebackers to run unscathed to the ball. Currently the Falcons do not have a player to fit this mold, something that should be addressed either in Free Agency or the draft.The four linebacker set has me very eager to see this system in place. I have always thought the Falcons have some solid 3-4 linebackers stuck in the wrong scheme. Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury are two players that come to mind. Both are great pass rushers but can be beat on running plays. Seahawks th Fan Jerseys John Abraham is another great example of a 3-4 linebacker. The Falcons generally cut him loose on passing downs allowing him to use his speed and technique to get to the QB. That skill set is much more effective in the 3-4 defense. As for ILB, the ideal player is fast and has the ability to cover passes like a glorified safety. For that reason, I think Sean Weatherspoon, Lofa Tatupu and/or Akeem Dent will be playing ILB next year. Transitioning from 4-3 OLB to 3-4 ILB is difficult but Weatherspoon has the talent and the coaching around him to do it. He will also have the help of Lofa Tatupu, who ran this system at Seattle, and Akeem Dent who played ILB in the 3-4 during college.Schematically there is no real difference for defensive backs between the 3-4 and the 4-3.
In some 3-4 systems the safeties can play closer to the line of scrimmage a la the NY Jets, Steelers and Ravens but that is basically the only difference. If we do adopt that style William Moore would be a likely candidate because he is a very physical player and great at stopping the runBut with the Falcons not signing Curtis Lofton, Seahawks Sidney Rice Jerseys picking up Lofa Tatupu and keeping John Abraham, it appears they are preparing to implement the 3-4 sooner than expected. Switching systems is always tough for players at any level but it's good to know we have the right guy making the calls at defensive coordinator.difference between those quarterbacks and Rivers is that those quarterbacks also have elite coaches (and rings). If you are looking to point the finger at someone for the perpetual underachievement of the Chargers, point directly at Norv Turner. He took over a Chargers team in 2007 that was loaded with Rams Sam Bradford Jerseys Pro Bowl talent up and down the roster and it has been a steady decline ever since.There biggest offseason acquisition was signing former Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem to a four year contract. Prior to that, they parted ways with 2 time Pro Bowler Vincent Jackson who was River's favorite target. Their draft was headlined by Melvin Ingram, a solid defensive end/outside linebacker from South Carolina and Ladarious Green, a receiving tight end out of University of Louisiana Lafayette. If our new secondary doesn't get tested against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, they will against the Chargers. Not necessarily because of the Chargers receiving core (which is decent) but because of the high volume of passes. Their offensive line is very similar to ours: it's good, but certainly not great.
Not to mention they are losing 3 lineman with a combined career total of 283 starts for the Chargers: Marcus McNeill, Kris Dielman and Scott Mruczkowski. Vegas has the Chargers at -3.5 for this game, which is way off. I'll admit, the type the Falcons usually struggle with are teams that throw it all over the yard, however with Vincent Jackson gone and Robert Meachem, nothing more than a system player replacing him, their passing attack does not strike much fear into my eyes. Furthermore, Buccaneers Josh Freeman Jerseys that is all they can do. The San Diego Charger's rushing game has been average at best since LT left in 2010 (in actuality it started to decline when Lorenzo Neal left after 2007 but that discussion is for a different day).I see the Falcons in somewhat of a route in this game winning 34-20 and Matt Ryan and Mike Smith improving to 6-0 on the West Coast. This will be the beginning of what is yet another mediocre season for Norv Turner.Dallas is certainly an interesting team for next season. I think they have made a lot of solid moves this offseason to improve their team and the Dez Bryant/Miles Austin tandem will strike fear into every secondary next season. This is a coin flip but since the Falcons have struggled with the Cowboys in the past I am giving the nod to Americas Team in a tough game.The play of the Falcons' linebackers has been strong all season, but Nicholas has been overshadowed by the Buccaneers Doug Martin Jerseys elite performances of Sean Weatherspoon and Curtis Lofton. Weatherpsoon has been the best player on Atlanta's defense all season and has emerged as one of – if not the – top 4-3 outside linebackers in the NFL.The situation at left tackle is markedly better than it was early in the year, and with that stability has come improvement from the offense all around, particularly in Matt Ryan's timing. Svitek has been the biggest – and most welcome – surprise of the season for the Falcons, and he was officially named the starter this week. Sam Baker will back him up, and should Svitek struggle, Baker – who had improved his play significantly before going down with a back injury – can step in and play at a respectable level. Svitek played a very good game against Jared Allen last week, and he will need to be every bit as effective in this week's contest, as Texans' outside linebackers Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed are flourishing in Wade Phillips' defense. Their burst off the edge should test Svitek's ability to slide in protection, and Reed has a very good bull-rush move to compliment his athleticism. Both players have been essential in the Texans' success against the pass this season .