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If the Panthers switched to a 3-4 Defense...This is what it would look like

I'm the Mike

By I'm the Mike,
in Carolina Panthers

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I'm the Mike Newbie

I'm the Mike

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First, before anyone gets triggered and mashes the keyboard with fingers of fury...this only a hypothetical way to explore the idea of getting more of the Panthers defensive playmakers on the field. Also, we know that in the college game we are seeing more hybrid LB/DE guys coming up and prototypical 4-3 ends are becoming more rare. If the Panthers ever did decide to switch to a 3-4 defense, the experts say its takes about 2 years to completely transition to the defense to that scheme. There are nuances to the different schemes with one-gap vs two-gap, but in theory if the Panthers wanted to have this in their playbook they could.

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In the Base 3-4 we get our three best down linemen on the field with their hands in the dirt. Star plays the NT, because he is that ideal anchor in the middle already, and Butler/Short play in the 4-tech where they can still bend and affect the pass rush. Davis and Kuechly are experts in underneath zone coverage (hook curl/deep curl) and already play a lot in the A-gaps for blitz or stopping the run. Thompson stays at Sam LB to cover TE and has been really quite good coming off the edge on schemed blitz. He's not Von Miller or anything but his speed and technique are there. Daeshon Hall played OLD at Texas A&M so the idea of him coming back next year and playing more 3-4 is not crazy. He's still undersized for a pure DE and I'd be interested to see him in some basic coverage (flat zone/squat). DBs stay the same but maybe we run more Cover 2 or Cover 4.

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When the opposing offense switch to their 3 WR/1TE sets we still have good coverage and only need to switch Hall for Munnerlyn. Thompson has decent coverage skills(minus his Philly tape) and Munnerlyn comes in for his slot WR. Even if they went 4 WRs in the red zone it would be manageable.

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This is the package that really gets me excited. If we put Peppers in on third and long with Addison on the other and rush 5 we would overpower every Offensive Line in the league. Peppers has tons of 3-4 experience so QBs couldn't always plan on him rushing if he played a decent count dropping into a zone. Yes... you probably want Pep rushing but I've often hoped Wilkes would drop him into coverage in a fire zone blitz one of these days out of our 4-3 and he snagged one from an unsuspecting QB. Addison played as a hybrid DE/LB in college and I'm assuming he could play stand up or out in some space as an OLB.

 

To make it actually work we would have to draft some more talent at OLB and usually you want taller NT/Edge guys for their length, but it would be interesting to see if we ever had a Wade Phillips or Dick Labeau type DC. Thoughts?

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sharkkiller Rookie

sharkkiller

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Just now, I'm the Mike said:

Great analysis. Would read again.

I could go into depth about why it is a bad idea, and talk about how the players we have are not suited for a 3-4 defense, and how it would be ridiculous to draft a taller player to replace Star or Short just to fit a defensive scheme that the rest of the defense is not suited for. Or how moving TD to an inside backer position in a 3-4 would be a horrible move. Or how Shaq is small for a 4-3 LB, and you want him to play OLB in a 3-4? 

But I thought it would just be easier to say no and get on with my life.

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I'm the Mike Newbie

I'm the Mike

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2 minutes ago, sharkkiller said:

I could go into depth about why it is a bad idea, and talk about how the players we have are not suited for a 3-4 defense, and how it would be ridiculous to draft a taller player to replace Star or Short just to fit a defensive scheme that the rest of the defense is not suited for. Or how moving TD to an inside backer position in a 3-4 would be a horrible move. Or how Shaq is small for a 4-3 LB, and you want him to play OLB in a 3-4? 

But I thought it would just be easier to say no and get on with my life.

I lightly touched some of those points in the original post and I agree with you to an extent, but i'm not talking about replacing Star or Short. I'm talking about getting Butler, Peppers, and Addison on the field at the same time.

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WOW!! Grand Master

WOW!!

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5 minutes ago, sharkkiller said:

I could go into depth about why it is a bad idea, and talk about how the players we have are not suited for a 3-4 defense, and how it would be ridiculous to draft a taller player to replace Star or Short just to fit a defensive scheme that the rest of the defense is not suited for. Or how moving TD to an inside backer position in a 3-4 would be a horrible move. Or how Shaq is small for a 4-3 LB, and you want him to play OLB in a 3-4? 

But I thought it would just be easier to say no and get on with my life.

Yeah all this!! Back to the drawing board..

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sharkkiller Rookie

sharkkiller

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1 minute ago, I'm the Mike said:

I lightly touched some of those points in the original post and I agree with you to an extent, but i'm not talking about replacing Star or Short. I'm talking about getting Butler, Peppers, and Addison on the field at the same time.

Quote

To make it actually work we would have to draft some more talent at OLB and usually you want taller NT/Edge guys for their length, but it would be interesting to see if we ever had a Wade Phillips or Dick Labeau type DC. Thoughts?

Did I misread this part?

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