is the 3-4 gone now that capers is gone??

[TexanFanInCC]

do we switch to a 4-3 now or what? anyone know what kubiak will have in store for our defensive strategy?? if we go to a 4-3, feel free to offer starting lineup possibilities. im not too savy or anything, but mine would be:

DE - robaire smith / jason babin
DT - seth payne
DT - travis johnson
DE - antwan peek
SLB - morlon greenwood
MLB - aj hawk (hopefully if not, then greenwood plays here and kailee wong is at SLB)
WLB - kailee wong (if we get aj hawk. if not, shantee orr plays here)
CB - dunta robinson
SS - glenn earl
FS - cc brown
CB - pbuc

[Grid]

it could go either way at this point. All depends on who we bring in as DC.

[Texan in Japan]

Chron says that TB's DL coach would be Kubiak's pick as Def Coord. That would probably mean a 4-3.

[TheOgre]

I think it is 95%+ likely to go that route. I bet Casserly used the "I wasn't familiar with 3-4 talent, so I had to go with Capers advice on these guys." He cannot use that defense if they go to a 4-3.

[MorKnolle]

Originally Posted by Texan in Japan

Chron says that TB's DL coach would be Kubiak's pick as Def Coord. That would probably mean a 4-3.

I hope that doesn't mean we're going to run a cover 2 defense out of the 4-3 like the Buccaneers do. Unless we overhaul the DL we won't have people up front to get pressure on the QB on their own and we're going to have to blitz a lot more than most 4-3 teams do.

Originally Posted by TexanFanInCC

do we switch to a 4-3 now or what? anyone know what kubiak will have in store for our defensive strategy?? if we go to a 4-3, feel free to offer starting lineup possibilities. im not too savy or anything, but mine would be:

DE - robaire smith / jason babin
DT - seth payne
DT - travis johnson
DE - antwan peek
SLB - morlon greenwood
MLB - aj hawk (hopefully if not, then greenwood plays here and kailee wong is at SLB)
WLB - kailee wong (if we get aj hawk. if not, shantee orr plays here)
CB - dunta robinson
SS - glenn earl
FS - cc brown
CB - pbuc

Robaire Smith cannot play 4-3 DE. None of our current DLinemen can play 4-3 DE, if we had all of them across the line teams might have a problem running on us but we'd get absolutely no QB pressure, and if they're the only guys we can put on the line we might as well stay in a 3-4. Babin could play DE in a 4-3 (might need to gain 5-10 lbs.), Peek could play situational DE or maybe full-time DE if he gains 20 lbs., but we'll need to bring in at least one DE in the offseason. A.J. Hawk is also not a MLB, and neither is Morlon Greenwood, if anything Wong should be our MLB if we don't bring in a true one in the offseason, although Wong is naturally an OLB too.

[TheOgre]

Originally Posted by TexanFanInCC

do we switch to a 4-3 now or what? anyone know what kubiak will have in store for our defensive strategy?? if we go to a 4-3, feel free to offer starting lineup possibilities. im not too savy or anything, but mine would be:

DE - robaire smith / jason babin
DT - seth payne
DT - travis johnson
DE - antwan peek
SLB - morlon greenwood
MLB - aj hawk (hopefully if not, then greenwood plays here and kailee wong is at SLB)
WLB - kailee wong (if we get aj hawk. if not, shantee orr plays here)
CB - dunta robinson
SS - glenn earl
FS - cc brown
CB - pbuc

Oh and Robaire Smith is our biggest lineman. There is no way he plays LDE.

Here is my lineup:
LDE - sign a FA to play 1st and 2nd downs and have Peek in on passing downs (like Robert Mathis of Indy)
LDT/RDT - 4 man rotation with Walker, TJ, Smith, and Payne. They may be able to play Walker or TJ at LDE on 1st and 2nd downs for a season, but that is not ideal.
RDE - Babin - he would be an undersized pass-rusher type like KGB, Dwight Freeney, and many others.
LLB - Wong
MLB - probably re-sign one of the FA LB's we have. They may move Wong or Greenwood to here since both have played a MLB in a 4-3 during their careers.
RLB - Greenwood - he played this position for year for the Dolphins.
CB1 - Robinson
CB2 - Buchanon
NB - Faggins
DB - ? - could bring in someone to compete with Buchanon and/or Faggins higher up the ladder
SS - Glenn Earl
FS - CC Brown

I think LDE, one of the safety spots, MLB, and a backup CB are the major needs this offseason. Whether we are just going to find temporary solutions or permanent ones is yet to be seen.

[MorKnolle]

Originally Posted by TheOgre

Oh and Robaire Smith is our biggest lineman. There is no way he plays LDE.

Here is my lineup:
LDE - sign a FA to play 1st and 2nd downs and have Peek in on passing downs (like Robert Mathis of Indy)
LDT/RDT - 4 man rotation with Walker, TJ, Smith, and Payne. They may be able to play Walker or TJ at LDE on 1st and 2nd downs for a season, but that is not ideal.
RDE - Babin - he would be an undersized pass-rusher type like KGB, Dwight Freeney, and many others.
LLB - Wong
MLB - probably re-sign one of the FA LB's we have. They may move Wong or Greenwood to here since both have played a MLB in a 4-3 during their careers.
RLB - Greenwood - he played this position for year for the Dolphins.
CB1 - Robinson
CB2 - Buchanon
NB - Faggins
DB - ? - could bring in someone to compete with Buchanon and/or Faggins higher up the ladder
SS - Glenn Earl
FS - CC Brown

I think LDE, one of the safety spots, MLB, and a backup CB are the major needs this offseason. Whether we are just going to find temporary solutions or permanent ones is yet to be seen.

This lineup is better. Payne, Walker, TJ, and Robaire are all DT, and if we switch to a 4-3 I could see us getting rid of Walker or Payne (Payne would be much cheaper to get rid of). They are all pretty effective players, but that's a lot of money to tie up into 4 players rotating in at two spots, plus TJ and Robaire are still pretty young and if Payne and Walker are both still here, TJ at least will not see much playing time, and I want to see if he can actually be effective since we used a 1st round pick on him. We can keep Ioane, DeLoach or go bring in another cheaper veteran DT for depth if we want to. I would prefer Babin at LDE and bring in a new guy at RDE (John Abraham in free agency or a sign-and-trade with Jets, or maybe draft Mario Williams after trading down), but we should be able to find a faster pass rusher than Babin to put on the QB's blind side, but some of that also depends on which sides they are more comfortable coming from. I agree we need a MLB, Polk is the only true MLB on our roster and I don't especially think he should be a starter, but among our current starting guys Wong would be the best MLB (FYI, A.J. Hawk is not a MLB either), then have Greenwood and Orr/Peek at OLB. CB and S is definitely a need too and should be addressed, although coverage problems will be helped greatly if we can get a pass rush. Offensive line is still our biggest need though.

[bigTEXan8]

I could do witha little less Gary Walker. I wouldn't mind seeing this:

DE: Peek, Babin
DT: Payne, TJ, Smith
LB: Wong, FA or Draft Pick, Greenwood
CB: P-Buch, D-Rob
S: CC, Earl

At least that's the way I have it on Madden. I only have the #1 D in the NFL. Ha!

(Oh, that FA in my game is Foreman, and my FS is Scott Ware out of USC)

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by bigTEXan8

I could do witha little less Gary Walker. I wouldn't mind seeing this:

The truth is Walker is our best defensive lineman right now, that is when he's
not taking sick days. He's the Zack Weigert of the DL, talented but out a lot
with injuries. And then there's the "big mouth" factor. I've heard he's been
activly lobbying for the team to draft Vince Young: that's so divisive and
inconsiderate from a team standpoint. And that fat contract Walker got
in just the last year or so, really selfish on his part.

[bigTEXan8]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

The truth is Walker is our best defensive lineman right now, that is when he's
not taking sick days. He's the Zack Weigert of the DL, talented but out a lot
with injuries. And then there's the "big mouth" factor. I've heard he's been
activly lobbying for the team to draft Vince Young: that's so divisive and
inconsiderate from a team standpoint. And that fat contract Walker got
in just the last year or so, really selfish on his part.

It's not that I don't think Walker isn't talented, or everyone's favorite cliche, injury proned, but I don't care for his mouth. Like you said, that mouth of his is quite divisive, and their is just no need for him. I wouldn't mind trading him, if we could get anything for him.

(OH...I know I have questioned Walker's talent, and that's when I just start rambling. I still don't think he's as good as everyone says, but he does have some **** and vinegar in him when he plays)

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by MorKnolle

Robaire Smith cannot play 4-3 DE. None of our current DLinemen can play 4-3 DE...

Gary Walker could...just like he was doing at Jacksonville before he came here. He would be my choice on the strong side over Babin to man the end. Walker has a better bullrush and as much pass rushing savvy as Babin and can control NFL Tackles better in the run than Babin can.

Walker is our second best defender despite what is read here in this forum from some of these guys.

[LBblitz]

Originally Posted by TexanFanInCC

do we switch to a 4-3 now or what? anyone know what kubiak will have in store for our defensive strategy?? if we go to a 4-3, feel free to offer starting lineup possibilities. im not too savy or anything, but mine would be:

DE - robaire smith / jason babin
DT - seth payne
DT - travis johnson
DE - antwan peek
SLB - morlon greenwood
MLB - aj hawk (hopefully if not, then greenwood plays here and kailee wong is at SLB)
WLB - kailee wong (if we get aj hawk. if not, shantee orr plays here)
CB - dunta robinson
SS - glenn earl
FS - cc brown
CB - pbuc

I thought wong was a MLB at minesota? I may be wrong though. If so, I would like to see greenwood as OLB, wong at MLB, and hawk as the other OLB (i doubt we get him though unless we do a major package deal...)

[TheOgre]

Wong was a MLB at Minnesota. He can play MLB or OLB.