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Chron: New 4-3 scheme has Texans' defense ready to attack

"It's a new beginning, and this system allows us to play more than having to spend so much time thinking. Any time you switch coaches, a lot of changes are going to be made. Sometimes, change can be exciting."
-Dunta Robinson
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qft
 
Travis Johnson said:
"I'm ready to strap on my boots because the linemen in a 4-3 get to fire off the ball," said tackle Travis Johnson, last year's No. 1 pick who was ill-suited for end in a 3-4. "The 4-3's ideal for me because I'm agile, mobile and hostile."

When Johnson came to the Texans from Florida State last season, he wrote "trespass" and "danger" on his wristbands.

"Playing in a 4-3 this season, I'm going to get charged with trespassing a lot," he said. "If God's blessed you with gifts that suit a certain style, you can't just sit and catch blockers all day.

"The 4-3 is really suited for all of us on the defensive line. We are going to cause some havoc."
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I love it!!!!:gotexans1
 
I am happy we switched to the 4-3 for one main reason. Now the offense has to figure out what the DL is going to do as opposed the 3-4 where they could almost count on the 3 DL guys picking up blocks each time.

The DL will get some glory. This should pump them up and inturn the LB's and DB's should perform better.
 
The players and fans will remain pumped up as long as the system works. I recall the excitement over the 3-4 too.

Smith is unproven as a DC and this is his first time to fully run the show. He had co-responsibility with Will Muschamp at Miami last year and before that was a position coach his entire career, except for one year when he had special teams under Kubiak.

He should be ready, but we'll have to wait and see. I've heard that he's going to pretty much build the Texans defensive system and playbook from scratch. In other words, he doesn't have "Richard Smith's defensive playbook" on the shelf that he's going to hand out to his coaches and say "here it is." It's going to be based on foundations, fundamentals, and details he's learned wherever he's been, but he's packaging it as his own for the first time.
 
Personally I like the 34 system, but for our particular team it just was not a good fit. Sometimes you have to get athletes that are thinkers to make things work and well Dom did not. We have a very aggressive team that Richard Smith's D scheme will take advantage of. My only problem is I am still unsure of the pass rush, but that will be seen soon. If ND Kalu, Peek, and Babin can really get after it in training camp we should be alot better in that department, which will carry over to the whole defesne.
 
One of the major themes of Kubiak's Texans reorg has been putting players where they naturally belong. For example, making McKinney a guard instead of a center. I like that I am hearing more of the same on the defense. Babin and Peek at end, TJ at tackle. Plus, and this may just be me, but the players sound more aggressive. I loved hearing about "Trespass" and "Danger" being written on their wrist bands.

The downside has always been that Richard Smith is an unproven Defensive Coordinator (he was co-DC at Miami last year), so you just don't know what he's going to do with the team and if the whole thing will work out. But I am more hopeful this year than I have been for the past few seasons.

:redtowel:
 
First and formost the 34 system was ran by Fagio. If he was running the 43 he would have screwed that up to.

Second I am hoping Travis Johnson proves me wrong. This whole offseason I have been gripping and complaining that TJ was a bust. First round selection (we even passed up DJ) that couldnt earn a starting role and when he did play he was less than impressive. Last year he said he was like a bull, see's red and doesn't stop (He must have not accounted for the bench). THis year he said he is going to get charged with tresspassing (If he does I will be the first one to bail him out).
 
The 4-3 is really suited for all of us on the defensive line.
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After building for a 3-4 for four years. Amazing.

Instead of sitting and waiting and reacting to somebody, which we did in the 3-4, we can get off the ball and penetrate.
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Same song, different player. Seems nobody likes to read and react.
 
The thing about TJ is that while he played at FSU, he was pretty much only known for his ability to penetrate. As such, it really makes no sense why he was asked to be a blocker occupying 3-4 DL. I can definitely see why he failed. As a 4-3 DT, I see him causing some serious havoc. He's got great speed, aggressiveness, and size. I'd be willing to bet that our 3 DTs combine for a pretty good season (For some reason I just live R. Smith. He is so huge, seems to give it his all, and has been pretty consisent)
 
Personaly I am happy for Travis Johnson, and Jason Babin. I think that they were two players that could have turned out to be busts in our 34 defense, but when you switch back to the 43 and give them the opportunity to do the things that made them such impact NCAA players, not only will they be more comfortable with the scheme, but because of that, they will make more plays.

Also, Robaire Smith was already a very good player in our 34 but if we give him the opportunity to fire off the ball instead of fighting through double teams, I think he has the ability to be a pro-bowl DT.
 
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