Have to decide on a 4-3 or 3-4 line

[Jmac]

Before hitting the draft and hiring a new D-coach, things need to be sorted out. Will they go back to the 4-3 or stay in 3-4. I myself prefer the 4-3.  Makes all the difference in the world with personal. 

What do you prefer?

[KillerKat]

3-4 is great, just need to stop holding onto 4-3 guys and forcing them into it.

[La Pantera]

If we remain a 3/4 scheme, we desperately need a real NT AND OLB.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Gimme a 4-3 with Derrick Brown and Mason Graham, TYVM

[LinvilleGorge]

Agreed. It's why I have no idea how to evaluate defenders on the draft. I have no idea what scheme we might be running. Do we need 4-3 DEs or 3-4 OLBs? Do we need single gap DTs or two gap DTs? Do we need man corners or zone corners?

The bad thing about having such a depleted roster is that you suck. But the good thing is that you're very scheme versatile because you need so many new faces that you can go pretty much any direction. Brown is definitely scheme versatile. Horn would be better suited to a man cover dominant scheme. Those are the only two I would be concerned with on terms of scheme moving forward.

[Jon Snow]

You have to be able to play both fronts. Incase you hadn't noticed the Panthers run a lot of 4-3 looks. They just really suck at anything they try.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

You have to be able to play both fronts. Incase you hadn't noticed the Panthers run a lot of 4-3 looks. They just really suck at anything they try.

Gotta be able to do both but most defenses are predominantly even or odd front. Same with coverage schemes. We all talk about zone schemes versus man schemes but every NFL team does both, they're just predominantly one or the other. 

[CarolinaRideorDie]

a lot of these "elite pass rushers" coming out of college are really undersized now. Their weights are in the 250-270s,  it's hard for them to hold up against the run. They don't make Julius Peppers prospects like they used to. I think the game has transitioned to more speed than strength. I think there is more scheme versatility in 3-4. Regardless, you just need playmakers period!

[CPF4LIFE]

4-3.

Not entertaining anything  else

[La Pantera]

2 minutes ago, CarolinaRideorDie said:

a lot of these "elite pass rushers" coming out of college are really undersized now. Their weights are in the 250-270s,  it's hard for them to hold up against the run. They don't make Julius Peppers prospects like they used to. I think the game has transitioned to more speed than strength. I think there is more scheme versatility in 3-4. Regardless, you just need playmakers period!

This is the biggest issue. It’s easier to find OLBs, simply from a numbers standpoint. True 4/3 DEs are far and few between.

[LinvilleGorge]

6 minutes ago, CarolinaRideorDie said:

a lot of these "elite pass rushers" coming out of college are really undersized now. Their weights are in the 250-270s,  it's hard for them to hold up against the run. They don't make Julius Peppers prospects like they used to. I think the game has transitioned to more speed than strength. I think there is more scheme versatility in 3-4. Regardless, you just need playmakers period!

What is "undersized" about 270? Peppers was a freak of a prototype. A Cam Newton of DEs. If that's your benchmark for size and athleticism very few will measure up.

[ColumbusCounty]

9 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

The bad thing about having such a depleted roster is that you suck. But the good thing is that you're very scheme versatile because you need so many new faces that you can go pretty much any direction. Brown is definitely scheme versatile. Horn would be better suited to a man cover dominant scheme. Those are the only two I would be concerned with on terms of scheme moving forward.

This. !!!

I'd say puttem all back in 4-3 !!! ... And I don't ever wanna see Clowney dropping back in coverage again.

Switch 4-3 and target 3 starters: DE, OLB and MLB in free agency. Add a C and WR and we could actually draft BPA on both sides. 

Considering Dan Morgan is our GM it's kinda wild that I think they underestimated ILB importance. Josey is cool but I always looked at him as a solid backup. 

Honestly our run defense fell off a cliff the second Luke retired. 

[SCO96]

4 minutes ago, CarolinaRideorDie said:

a lot of these "elite pass rushers" coming out of college are really undersized now. Their weights are in the 250-270s,  it's hard for them to hold up against the run. They don't make Julius Peppers prospects like they used to. I think the game has transitioned to more speed than strength. I think there is more scheme versatility in 3-4. Regardless, you just need playmakers period!

I agree that you have more versatility with the 3-4. But, unless you have a mountain playing NT and a couple of studs playing on each side at OLB you are going to have a hard time stopping the run. You also need some bigger ILB to take on those blockers at the guard position.

I honestly thing they should go with the 4-3. I'm ok with the 3-4 if you can find the right players to run the scheme. I don't think our defenses have been nearly as good since we converted in to the 3-4 in 2019, and that's largely b/c we've never got the right talent to fill the front 7.

[pdub0702]

43 minutes ago, La Pantera said:

If we remain a 3/4 scheme, we desperately need a real NT AND OLB.

This. Not having a true NT or OLB is killing us. Personally, I think it’s easier to find 3-4 lineman than 4-3 in a draft. I prefer the 3-4 for that reason only.