3-4 Look For Carolina? Quoted from ESPN Insider

[Russian Bear]

By Tim Kavanagh | ESPN.com

If everyone's healthy, the Carolina Panthers have an impressive corps of linebackers; some would argue that they've got four of starting caliber in James Anderson, Luke Kuechly, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis. A natural offshoot of this is the debate over whether they should work in some 3-4 looks to their current defensive scheme.

As Panthers DC Sean McDermott indicated on Panthers Pulse this week (via Panthers.com), we may see some of that in 2013.

"When those four are healthy, there's a chance we'll experiment more with that," McDermott hinted. "We've thrown a little bit of it out there, particularly on third down. Would we like to do more? Absolutely. How much of it? We'll see."

The DC explained why the 3-4 can be a more difficult defense to face for an offensive line. "Let's face it, we're all creatures of habit, and offensive linemen are used to looking for jerseys with 90 on them," he said. "When you can hide that fourth and fifth rusher, and those rushers come with a 50 number on, or a 40 number or 20 number at times with our pressure packages, that's where you create problems and confusion."

To be clear, the Panthers aren't going to switch to a full-time 3-4; they signed DE Charles Johnson to a contract that makes him one of the NFL's highest paid players overall, and diminishing his impact in any way is foolish. Nevertheless, it appears that there could be some extra wrinkles to the club's scheme in 2013.

Then we wouldnt have to draft a DT..

[Bwood]

Yes, we would have to draft a DT, a nose tackle to be exact.

The dude who wrote this article doesn't understand football me thinks.

[MadHatter]

The problem witht he article is that neither Anderson nor Beason are really OLB types for a 3-4 scheme.

[Russian Bear]

No we could just sign some fat ass. We shouldnt waste a top pick on a 3-4 blob DT.

[Russian Bear]

He quoted McDermott though. He didnt just make it up.

[Brokenbad]

This poo again

[MadHatter]

You will definitely see some different looks from the D....inlcuding some 3-4 hybrid looks. But they still just do not have the personnel (DL or LB) to play 3-4. They would need to overhaul the Front 7.

[Chimera]

Yes, we would have to draft a DT, a nose tackle to be exact.

The dude who wrote this article doesn't understand football me thinks.

There are too many writers who don't understand football.

If anything, the closest we'd get is to run a 4-4 against the Jets. Force Sanchez to beat you with his arm. (it's hard to type that with a straight face)

[Floppin]

Four linebackers!!! We need to run a 3-4!!!! Says anyone who doesn't understand football.

Shoot me in the fuging face.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

it says right in the article that the panthers aren't switching to a 3-4 full time:

To be clear, the Panthers aren't going to switch to a full-time 3-4; they signed DE Charles Johnson to a contract that makes him one of the NFL's highest paid players overall, and diminishing his impact in any way is foolish. Nevertheless, it appears that there could be some extra wrinkles to the club's scheme in 2013.

it's just another cookie cutter "panthers are going to use some 3-4 looks" offseason fluff piece that we've seen every year since 2008.

[Frizzy350]

Just because we sometimes use a 3-4 doesn't mean we are going to use it as our base formation. Most good defenses run both the 4-3 and 3-4, but what makes them good is their ability in the nickel formation.

[Russian Bear]

Four linebackers!!! We need to run a 3-4!!!! Says anyone who doesn't understand football.

Shoot me in the fuging face.

Ya bro you know so much about football.

[MrBubba]

Key is all four guys have to be healthy, also another key unsaid is all four must be here! Good chance Beason or Anderson are moved in off season

[Zod]

The offseason is now in full swing with this 3-4 thread.

Well done