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The Difference Between a 4-3 and a 3-4

Argus Plexus

By Argus Plexus,
in Carolina Panthers

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Argus Plexus Newbie

Argus Plexus

Posted
Posted

To end this fuging discussion FOREVER I will now explain the difference. Anytime I see an abundance of n00bs talking about 3-4 I will bump this topic.

In a 4-3 scheme, what we run, there are four down lineman. The the UT, the NT, and two DEs. One DE and the NT take up double teams to allow the faster UT and the other DE to work one-on-one. The primary responsibilities of the 4-3 DE are to set the edge against the run and to rush the passer on passing downs. That is a basic understanding of the 4-3 D-Line.

In the 4-3, there are three LBs. There is one ILB, called the MLB or MIke, and two OLBs, called the WLB or Will and the SLB or Sam. The SLB is always lined up on whichever side the offensive formation is unbalanced to. (In derp terms, whichever side of the field the offense has more players on) The Mike's responsibilities are to patrol the middle of the field and cover the middle gaps of the D-Line on running downs. The Mike is a sideline-to-sideline player. The Will often ends up covering RBs and watching for the dumpoff pass and screens. The Sam usually ends up covering TEs down the seam. They all, as a whole, are meant to plug the gaps created by the D-Line. If the RB gets past the D-Line, the LBs are supposed to be there to stop him before he gets into the secondary. Although they have different responsibilities, the ILB and OLBs are very similar players. They are meant to support the D-Line, thus the name Linebacker.

The secondary is pretty much exactly the same in a 3-4 and 4-3. Same amount of players, anyways.

In a 3-4, the D-Line is different. Their main purpose is to take up as many blocks from the O-Line as possible. The NT in a 3-4 is the biggest, fattest, strongest motherfuger you can find. His purpose is to take up at least two (If not three) blockers. The 3-4 DEs are meant to take up blocks as well, but they are faster than the big fat ass NT and sometimes get to the QB if they can shed their blocker.

The 3-4 D-Line has these responsibilities, but it's main purpose is to make the jobs of their two OLBs as easy as possible. 3-4 OLBs are big, fast, athletic, MEAN motherfugers. Think Von Miller or Clay Matthews. Their one and only purpose is to obliterate the opposing QB. They are NOTHING like a 4-3 OLB. 4-3 OLB is a stop-gap in run support and drops into coverage on passing downs with the occasional blitz. 3-4 OLB is a QB killing machine. The 3-4 ILB is a lot like the Mike in a 4-3 in that they drop into coverage on passing downs and fill gaps on the D-Line in run support. There are two of them.

The only thing the 3-4 and 4-3 OLB have in common is their title. So please stop with the TD-Beast-Keek-Andy stuff. Why isn't Kurb banning people for asking about 3-4 anymore?

P.S. It's CORPS not CORE for fugs sake. They sound the same when spoken but corps is the proper spelling. The P and the S are silent. It's the Marine Corps not the Marine Core.

P.P.S. If you don't understand even the position abbreviations, why are you on a football message board? Go watch it on TV and leave the discussing to us professional know-it-alls.

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theyhateme45 Newbie

theyhateme45

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While I don't see us making the switch I also believe the posters who keep saying NEVER EVER are off base also. The Indianapolis Colts was one of the latest to make the transition... When they had the 4-3 they drafted for that system... but you know what Freeny and others adjusted and they now run a 3-4. Other teams have adjusted... So If a coach comes in an wants to run that scheme I am sure we will adjust just like other teams have. It may not be a 1 season easy transition, but we will do it just as others have.

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magnus Rookie

magnus

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Not really, on the 3-4. More teams run it one-gap than they do two-gap anymore. When this team is 3-4, it's one-gap. The DL aren't trying to take on as much as they can - they're penetrating just like they are in the 3-4. Most teams in the league attack now.

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