2018 Defense: There's really nothing going on (3-4 2019?)

[davos]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the way I see it under Rivera, (in a nutshell) we've been a base 4-3, have hybrid looks, diverse blitzing packages, and frustrating soft zone coverage with some press. 

Over the years, we've had Luke leading the way with TD but never a consistent group with stars on the secondary or line.  A lot of the guys that emerged near star status quickly left for different reasons (Norman, Hardy..um, there's not many).  There were a few solid longterm starters that were but never really a top-10 type (CJ, Tre, Star, Bradberry, Mitchell, again, there's not much).  All of this with poor drafting in the secondary and line (Haynes, Hall, Elder, Gaulden, Butler, Worley, Ealy, Bene, Alexander).  Yikes.  

Defensively, we've basically hit on 3/4 guys (Jackson, Short, Star, *Shaq) since 2012/Luke's arrival.  This is a big part in why we're just not good and it presents us with an interesting predicament if Rivera is toast:

Luke Kuechly

There is little needing to be said about Luke.  Even in  "down" year he has looked like his normal self at times.  Last week was great against the Browns IMO.  

Thomas Davis

He's in the twilight of his career but honestly has looked pretty darn great recently.  Not really an asset moving forward.  This year or next is his last.  

KK Short

He's having a weird year and has been caught slacking during games.  Now we get all the "he got paid" talk but he is still capable of a lot.  We're however paying him a pretty penny. 

Shaq Thompson

He's good an all, one of those quick safety converts but man, I've been waiting for him to really break out and it's never happened.  Solid role player.  

Donte Jackson

Looks like our first secondary hit since Norman and Gamble. Should be here for a while (knocks on wood)     

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What I'm getting at is that the rest of the defense is ENTIRELY expendable.  Really.  Neither the lot of our draft picks or FAs are working out.  Now, we have a lot of 1-year deals, mediocre performances, and a whole lotta NOTHING.  

Recently, we've seen the Rams and Bears switch from 4-3 to 3-4 to much success.  We know the remaining 4-3 defenses are using hybrid schemes, jokers, and new little tweaks here and there (like us).  The thing is, I think we're in a solid spot to transition to a 3-4.  Luke can play ILB at either spot in a 3-4 and Short can play RE and the rest don't matter.

Peppers played OLB in GB but he's old and may retire.  There is absolutely no issue in saying goodbye to Shaq, Butler, TD, Love, Obada...Carter and Andre Smith were late draft picks, I mean, there's really no one on defense.  No one sooo good and a perfect 4-3 fit keeping us tied to the scheme.  I'd be interested to move more towards what the Bears, Chiefs, & Rams have going on if we get an exciting new coach.  

This is something that is always joked about and thrown out with not much discussion but I do think it could be prudent to completely revamp this defense in 2019.  

[PantherNation123]

I personally just prefer the 4-3, but clearly it would need Rivera gone to change.  Obviously, we all believe that would be a good thing, but it would take a couple years to draft and get guys in FA to match a 3-4

[davos]

7 minutes ago, PantherNation123 said:

I personally just prefer the 4-3, but clearly it would need Rivera gone to change.  Obviously, we all believe that would be a good thing, but it would take a couple years to draft and get guys in FA to match a 3-4

I'm looking through the lens of what Nagy was able to do in Chicago in such a short amount of time.  They had a lot of guys that are dynamic going in, and you can't excuse Mack's impact but he made the transition in one year.  

[davos]

More than anything, for being an organization that has been built from having a strong defense since the very start, it's just crazy how little we have going on with our defense right now. 

[Harbingers]

4-3

[New York Panther]

3-4 better fits the new nfl. With less hits and sacks on QB we might as well throw more linebackers in middle to throw off the pass

[Lumps]

4-3, 3-4...it doesn’t matter.

Personnel and coaching is what determines that.

The number one issue with this defense isn’t any of that and changing it won’t matter. Watching the games, especially lately, this team has zero pressure the QB. The opposing QB has all day long to make a move and that’s the issue. Along with a clueless DC.

LBs are not the issue and I’d even go so far as to say DBs are not either though clearly they’re a weakness.

Stats are meaningless. Watching every game it’s clear when it’s an important situation, 3rd down, time management play the defense just can’t get to the QB.

Just too old or too slow or taking up too much damn cap space to try and fix. Fixing the Dline and coaching scheme would help improve all the other areas.

 

[PleaseCutStewart]

If we are going to run a 3-4, we better have a damn good NT. None of our current DTs could fill that role - Poe should be able to with how fat he is, but he is the softest fat guy there is...

[davos]

21 minutes ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

If we are going to run a 3-4, we better have a damn good NT. None of our current DTs could fill that role - Poe should be able to with how fat he is, but he is the softest fat guy there is...

Correct.  None of our DTs are NT capable.  

That, along with who you would put next to Luke, and an edge rusher would be the primary needs, they anchor all 3-4s but given we don't really have a decent 4-3 line anyways, we would just need to target the right guys.  This draft even has a few in Derrick Brown and Raekwan Davis.  The Clemson kids and Christmas look decent as well.  

At OLB, you've got the likes of Dee Ford and Preston Smith as notable UFAs.  You could quickly pull together a core if done correctly IMO.  

[t96]

Mario should stick around but he needs his role reduced again and we need some young DE talent. I would love to go after Ansah and hope he can stay healthy here. And regardless of that, we need to draft multiple DL in the first 2 days.

[TheSpecialJuan]

3-4-3-1

[TN05]

Why is everyone so obsessed with the 3-4? It’s not inherently better or worse but would require an entirely new o-line and linebackers.

[davos]

3 minutes ago, TN05 said:

Why is everyone so obsessed with the 3-4? It’s not inherently better or worse but would require an entirely new o-line and linebackers.

Where do you get that? The premise of the thread is the pieces that could work in both schemes currently on the roster.  

A new coach could want it, most of the league runs it, so it's not some fan obsessed thing.  It could happen therefore am am thinking about who could fit.  We don't have any quality long term assets for any scheme so it doesn't really require a rebuild, hence the thread.      

[LinvilleGorge]

I personally prefer the 4-3, but whatever. I just want better D. We pretty much need to entirely overhaul our pass rushing corps right now anyway, so if a new coach wanted to make that switch now would be the time. I wonder how Tepper feels? Lots of experience in Pittsburgh who have been a 3-4 team for my entire life.