Report: Panthers Considering switch to 3-4

[TheCasillas]

The Athletic's Joseph Person reports the Panthers are considering a transition to a 3-4 base defense.

Ron Rivera coached a 4-3 front in Chicago and during each of his eight seasons with the Panthers, but he oversaw a 3-4 with the Chargers. In an increasingly nickel league, the "base" defense is no longer as important as it once was, but a change would affect the type of players the Panthers look for in free agency and the draft.

 

 

Thoughts? I think this would be huge for us. The talent we currently have in place would be an easy transition. Also, I believe this means it would be a given that we go after the surplus of pass rushing OLB in FA.

[KillerKat]

Not with Kuechly here. After him, then yes. 3-4 with Kuechly may mean we have to say goodbye.

[Burnout189]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but haven't some of the past years top defense been 3-4?

[TheCasillas]

3 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

Not with Kuechly here. After him, then yes. 3-4 with Kuechly may mean we have to say goodbye.

id have to disagree here. Kuechly is a monster, I dont think because he is in a 4-3 - that is why he is successful. A 3-4 would allow Shaq to shine simultaneously with Luke. Shaq's skillset fits the mold of a TED backer.

[KillerKat]

Just now, TheCasillas said:

id have to disagree here. Kuechly is a monster, I dont think because he is in a 4-3 - that is why he is successful. A 3-4 would allow Shaq to shine simultaneously with Luke. Shaq's skillset fits the mold of a TED backer.

Kuechly would have to take on more blockers. I wouldn't want to risk having to say bye to him if he fails at a 3-4.

[usmcpanthers]

That kind of change doesn't happen overnight, it takes a couple of seasons. But our D couldn't be much worse than it was last year.

[KillaCamNewton]

8 minutes ago, Burnout189 said:

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but haven't some of the past years top defense been 3-4?

The players you have is a lot more important than the scheme. Those great Seahawks defenses ran a 4-3

[SetfreexX]

The defense doesn't matter the personnel does...as well as the coordinator putting guys in position. 

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&season=2018&seasonType=REG&role=OPP&d-447263-n=1&d-447263-o=1&conference=ALL&d-447263-p=1&defensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&d-447263-s=TOTAL_POINTS_GAME_AVG

Best defenses in points allowed per game is a mix of 3-4 and 4-3 teams. The main thing trending is there are more tweener OLB / DE's coming out of college, same deal for the OLB/S hybrids. Finding traditional 4-3 defensive ends is harder based on the spread looks in college, defenses are electing for more speed and athleticism upfront. 

We DO NOT have any 3-4 pieces on our roster at the LB position specifically the pass rushing - Luke, Shaq , Carter, Smith etc are all 4-3 LBs. 

None of our current defensive ends would transition well either, Addison can't cover, Peppers if he returns is not at his best in coverage at this point, Haynes has the tools as a speed rusher off the edge, but can't hold the  point of attack based on his size. And if you're considering Obada or Horton it makes no sense. 

It would require an overhaul to make it happen, You could maybe have the front three with Poe at the NT, and KK, and Butler at the DE positions. We'd have to play Shaq, and Luke inside at MLB, and we'd need two 3-4 OLB's. Haynes is a specialist at this point, and like I mentioned I can't see Addision or Peppers at this stage as 3-4 OLB's. 

If we're going to maximize the guys under contract we need to add pieces that fit the defense we run currently, trying to switch to a 3-4 would likely take at least two off-seasons, and I don't think the leash is longer than this year. 

[TheCasillas]

6 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

Kuechly would have to take on more blockers. I wouldn't want to risk having to say bye to him if he fails at a 3-4.

In a traditional 3-4 it is all 3 down linemen's job to eat up blocks, How do you feel Kuechly would have to take on more blocks? 

[beastson]

3 minutes ago, Burnout189 said:

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but haven't some of the past years top defense been 3-4?

Idk about top, but a lot of nickel defenses has been deployed over the past few years. There's been a hybrid of 3-4 and 4-3, we're the only team to mostly stay 4-3. We probably will change things up next season, god knows we should.

[TheCasillas]

2 minutes ago, SetfreexX said:

We DO NOT have any 3-4 pieces on our roster at the LB position specifically the pass rushing - Luke, Shaq , Carter, Smith etc are all 4-3 LBs. 

You could maybe have the front three with Poe at the NT, and KK, and Butler at the DE positions. We'd have to play Shaq, and Luke inside at MLB, and we'd need two 3-4 OLB's. Haynes is a specialist at this point, and like I mentioned I can't see Addision or Peppers at this stage as 3-4 OLB's. 

 

So we just need an OLB? There are a lot in FA this offseason.

[KillerKat]

5 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

In a traditional 3-4 it is all 3 down linemen's job to eat up blocks, How do you feel Kuechly would have to take on more blocks? 

3 linemen vs 5 Olinemen. Not to mention the TE or FB.

[Khyber53]

I just don't see it happening. It would be pretty revolutionary and shake things up in the division, but the manpower changeover would be monumental. I just don't think you can make that kind of change with just one draft and a modest amount of cap space. 

I'd love to see it, but that kind of change comes with complete regime change kind of situations. Like Gruden keelhauling the Raiders level of change. <shudder>

[Lemory]

Its a whole hell of a lot easier to find quality 3-4 pass rushers vs quality 4-3 DE.