Panthers Switching to 3-4 Defense...

[Riverboat Ron]

Another 3-4 defense thread they said, post in it they said.

[Dpantherman]

Carolina Panthers ‏@Panthers

Ron Rivera confirmed that the 3-4 will be an option for the #Panthers this season.

Rivera: “When teams have to prepare for more than one type of defense, that helps."

Not quite sure why so many of us jump to conclusions. This does NOT mean we are switching to a 3-4. It infers that we are going to show 3-4 looks.

[davos]

If we have a mix and hybrid type sets lets just make up some goofy nickname for the damn defense...I just want results

[Snake]

It just makes since to play both sets if we can. Different looks equal a harder time for OCs to know who is on the field.

[Ricky Spanish]

look on the bright side.

Can it really be much worse than the Defense last year?

[DaCityKats]

i think we will run a hybrid but a lot more 3-4 sets than last year.

[methodtoll]

They are still running a base 4-3 defense, just with added 3-4 packages.... Atleast that is what it says in the latest panthers.com article

[pOpCoRnPoPpEr]

The LB core of Anderson-Beason-Kuechly-Davis sounds damn good.

not for the 3-4

[mj4life]

i doubt we go 3-4 any time soon. d lineman in a true 34 are required to occupy lineman first & attack second which basically would waste all our de's since that is not what they do best, all we are looking to do IMO is a updated version of the elephant lb position,but i still think we will want our line to attack & be as disruptive as possible.

[TylerDurden]

Was reading about this earlier but was too lazy to post it, but I assume part of the speculation comes from this (from the same article about Neblett's statements on suspension and Gettis' PUP stint):

http://www.panthers....98-17263a49bed9

CHARLOTTE – Last season, the Panthers experimented with a 3-4 defensive alignment for a handful of plays.

This year, the Panthers hope the 3-4 can become a handful for opposing offenses.

“When teams have to prepare for more than one type of defense, that helps. It’s the same thing as how we want defenses preparing for an offense that’s multi-faceted,” Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday after the second day of a three-day camp leading into training camp.

“The biggest thing is that we have some guys that have some ability to play linebacker and defensive end for us, and we’ve got to look at utilizing their talents and their abilities. That may mean us playing a little bit of 3-4. We’ve got to be flexible and keep our options open.”

The Panthers still plan to operate out of a 4-3 base, but Rivera wants to take full advantage of the flexibility among his personnel along the front seven.

Defensive ends Antwan Applewhite and Jyles Tucker played outside linebacker in a 3-4 during Rivera’s tenure as defensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers, and Eric Norwood played both spots in college. Defensive end Charles Johnson lined up at defensive tackle during the 3-4 experiments last season, and defensive end Greg Hardy is athletic enough to play linebacker in a 3-4.

The Panthers also have four linebackers capable of playing every down with the addition of first-round draft pick Luke Kuechly. However, 3-4 alignments out of a 4-3 base are at least as likely to feature a fourth defensive lineman at outside linebacker as they are four traditional linebackers.

Making such flexibility more possible in 2012 is that the Panthers have enjoyed plenty of rehab time and classroom time this offseason.

“The thing that helps us is that our middle is back,” Rivera said. “We lose Ron Edwards, who understands playing the nose in the 3-4. We lose our two primary inside backers (Jon Beason and Thomas Davis). Getting them all back helps, plus having Organized Team Activities and minicamps has given us more of an opportunity to prepare.”

Unless one lacks reading comprehension, it's basically saying the same thing that Rivera said last year regarding 3-4 looks... In summary: "We'll use them."

[Swaggasaurus]

"We lose our two primary inside backers (Jon Beason and Thomas Davis)" this is an interesting little nugget considering Davis has played almost exclusively OLB since the safety debacle. I mean to have two primary inside backers does suggest some serious 3-4isms

[TruCatzFan]

Our Defense is going to be so FUGGING SICK this year......I'm trying so hard to temper my expectations...but damn....I sure in the hell am pretty excited!

[Razzy]

How many times do we have to go over the same crap at the Huddle.

Switch to 3-4 is going to take a couple seasons as they don't have the personell.

The defense is mean to be more of a hybrid, running both formations.

No fuging all black jerseys.

[csx]

I just hope they can play one defense effectively before attempting to be complex.