Trasistioning to a 3-4 defense...

[SorthNarolina]

I was thinking about this just now and for the longest time I have poo pooed the 3-4 ideas and I believe I am still in favor of staying a 4-3. But a 3-4 doesn't sound as crazy as it used to. I'll name a few reasons.

Pros

1. Thomas Davis doesn't fit a 3-4, but his contract is up at the end of this year. So it's not like their is a penalty for getting rid of him, his contract would be comparable to the contract for a top 3-4 backer. He wouldn't want to stay anyway.

2. Jon Beason doesn't really fit too well but I think he is good enough to be effective. It's not ideal but I think he can handle it.

3. We could get Dan Connor on the field more often.

4. We don't have anybody committed at DT most guy's this year have their contracts end in 2011. So you could add in some 3-4 guys easy.

5. Eric Norwood and Dan Connor fit better in a 3-4.

6. We have a ton of cap room to bring in whoever we want.

Cons

1. Dan Connor and Jon Beason probably couldn't be consistently effective blizters.

2. I don't see Everette Brown working out at OLB.

3. New system.

4. We'd be inefficiently using the talents of Beason, Davis, and Anderson.

So overall I'm not in favor of it. But I don't see it being a total trainwreck like my previous thoughts on it. It could be done and it work out well within a season or two.

[SOJA]

It's definitely possible, but are personnel doesn't match it at all. It would take more than two years to build a competent defense. Our defense isn't awful and actually is playing pretty well considering how young they are. It sucks Connor can't play more but depth is not a bad thing.

[pantherfan49]

We now have 2 3-4 OLBers- Jason Williams and Nic Harris

[Squirrel]

Sorry we are going to the 3-3-5.

[Brokenbad]

Sorry we are going to the 3-3-5.

This.

What about 3-3 with four db's and a "monster" (Start Beason, Davis, and Anderson. Bring in a ringer to rush from the outside like Hardy, Brown, etc.)

[Joscott]

It would be way to much of an overhaul on this team. I mean the heart and sole of this D would have to put on about 10-20 more pounds of muscle to really be an effective every down guy. Let's not even get started on the line and secondary. Even the guys that are big enough, I don't really think you want them starting. Complete overhaul and a long process just to get the right guys in and filter out the ones that are not fit for it.

[natty]

Pros:

Beason Conner

Cons:

Everything else

[magnus]

so the best thing to say about it is that most of what we have doesn't fit, so that leaves space for the massive changes needed to make it work.

[Kurb]

Cut the entire front 7 and you can run a 3-4

Saying it's not that "hard" makes you look stupid.

[Ja Rhule]

Godfrey would be terrible for 3-4... Charles Johnson would be a good DE in 3-4. We got no good LB's for 3-4. We also have no NT or another DE or any depth.

[Kurb]

No charles johnson wouldn't be a good DE.

WTF people.

[Baschski]

In regards to the LB position, our top 3 linebackers are much more suited to a 4-3 and would struggle in a 3-4. The only linebackers we have that may be suited to a 3-4 are second and third string guys, so it makes no sense from a linebacker standpoint.

D-line needs a complete overhaul regardless, but Johnson and Hardy are going to be our best DE's next year (barring a FA signing) and neither of them would do well in a 3-4.

[Kurb]

Jason Williams sucked ass in a 3-4 btw.

[Dpantherman]

3-4 defense is now becoming the equivalent of all black uniforms and logo on the field threads.