Could the Texans move to a base 4-3 defense?
By:
Harry Latham-Coyle | January 18, 2018 1:50 pm ET
With Mike Vrabel possibly departing the team for a head coaching job, the Houston Texans may well be looking for a new defensive coordinator. Vrabel’s predecessor Romeo Crennel is rumored to be retaking the reigns after his promotion to assistant head coach last year, and his 2016 defense was an elite unit.
But if the team does choose to look outside the organization, could they look to move away from the 3-4 that has become so familiar since J.J. Watt’s arrival, and install a base 4-3 defense? The Texans already utilize a number of 4-3 looks, and regularly use nickel packages with four down linemen to maximize pass-rushing potential. As such, the existing personnel should be relatively comfortable in the scheme.
Houston has the players to excel in a 4-3 Over Front:
Linebackers
To run a successful 4-3 defense the linebackers have to be smart and athletic. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ front seven was perhaps the most dominant unit in football this season, and the consistently strong play of Paul Posluszny, Myles Jack and Telvin Smith were crucial in allowing the defensive linemen to thrive in front of them.
In previous seasons this is where the Houston would have struggled, but the emergence of rookies Dylan Cole and Zach Cunningham leaves the team with three promising and capable linebackers. Benardrick McKinney continued his growth into a leader in the middle of the defense, and an extended and improved deal likely awaits. Cole, Cunningham and McKinney are three players the team should look to have on the field as often as possible, and thus being able to deploy the trio together is an attractive prospect.
In terms of alignment, McKinney is a natural fit as the middle (MIKE) linebacker. Strong, tall, physical and smart, he keys well on runs plays and is an effective tackler. His deficiencies in man-to-man pass coverage are well-known, but he is able to drop into his zone relatively well, and a move to a 4-3 would perhaps suit his game.
Sign up for the Texans Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning
Cunningham would likely be utilised as a weak-side (WILL) linebacker. Lanky and athletic, he improved as a coverman throughout his rookie year and has the raw skills needed to thrive in this facet in the future. The Vanderbilt product would fit well in an attacking 4-3, pursuing running backs across the field and being a key coverage cog.
Cole would therefore be stationed on the strong-side, as a SAM linebacker. The undrafted gem is athletic and carries a strong, muscular frame extremely well. He is a stout run defender with excellent understanding of gap integrity. Cole’s reliability in man coverage was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, and he would be an excellent fit in this role, covering tight ends and running backs out of the backfield.
Defensive line
THE REST OF THE STORY