Should Chiefs go to 3-4 Defense?
Ever since it was rumored that the Chiefs were interested in getting Scott Pioli I had been thinking about the possibility of the Chiefs switching to a 3-4 defense.
Scott Pioli has already proved that he can build a very solid 3-4 defense in New England and with the current state of the Chiefs defense I say now is just as good as time as any to build a 3-4.
Here is how I think some of our current players would fit into a 3-4 Defense:
Tank Tyler: Tank has the size and the strength to be a NT in a 3-4 defense (remember when Tank was drafted he benched more than anyone else at the combine). The question is whether he has the ability to play this position as NT is a very key position in the 3-4.
Glenn Dorsey: This is very interesting situation. I think that Dorsey’s ability to penetrate (shown at LSU), and especially since he does not have the size that most like in a NT, that he would make a great 3-4 DE. Now, some would say why would ‘waste’ a #5 overall pick on a 3-4 DE, and to that say I say ‘who cares’. You put your players in the best position for them to succeed. Am I saying that this is the best position for him to succeed in? No, but I’m saying that it could be.
Derrick Johnson: I think that DJ could benefit more than most if the Chiefs went to a 3-4 defense. I’m not sure if DJ would play an outside or one of the middle LB positions, but the 3-4 would definitely allow him to roam around me and get after the QB, something that he has shown flashes of.
Turk McBride: In this scenario it would appear that the Chiefs front three would consist of Tank, Dorsey, and Turk/Tamba. So whoever the Chiefs think would better fit the mold of a 3-4 DE would most likely get the nod here.
Tamba Hali: Same as Turk.
Brandon Flowers: Although Flowers was drafted to be a cover 2 corner he did enough to show me that he can hang one-on-one with almost any WR in the league. So I would not worry about Flowers whether he is in man or zone coverage.
Brandon Carr: Same as Flowers.
Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page: Page and Pollard would retain their post at their respective safety positions. In my perspective they done enough to keep their jobs on the current team (as there is no one better then them on the current roster), but not enough to not be replaced if somebody better comes along (via draft or FA).
Of course all of this is just speculation and will change once free agency and draft take place. I am of the mindset that I will trust Pioli will make the right decisions until proven otherwise. Now, with that said here is a some of what I would do to address the transfer to a 3-4 defense in FA and the draft (if the Chiefs went 3-4 of course).
3-4 Addressed in Free Agency and the Draft:
Sign Terrell Suggs: The Chiefs definitely have enough cap room to take a chance on Suggs in free agency. Suggs would add some instant credibility to the Chiefs defense and is a sack artist. We all know who badly the Chiefs needs someone who can take down the QB. He also has played big in big-time games (at least from what I saw this post-season, even baring injury and also that fact that he is a veteran who has played in big games is big). His closing speed on the QB is what really impressed me.
If the Chiefs did go to a 3-4 defense this would allow them to not worry about getting a top flight DE in the draft as well (and even more so if they signed Suggs). This would allow the Chiefs to look at drafting a MLB (Rey Maualuga from USC or James Laurinaitis from OSU ) or even Aaron Curry from Wake Forest who is being projected as in outside LB in a 4-3 or an inside LB in a 3-4.
Another option this would allow the Chiefs is draft the best available player left. Michael Crabtree anyone? Pioli had Moss in NE and we have all seen what Larry Fitzgarald has done in the playoffs this year. With Bowe and Crabtree at WR the Chiefs would be SET for years to come.
Just to add one more thing here. I am no expert on the 3-4 defense, but I do realize that with the 3-4 defense the importance of the LB position is key. So for the Chiefs to successfully run the 3-4 you have to believe the Chiefs either already have the talent at LB to can get the talent at LB to make this happen. WIth Pioli I am convinced we can indentify and get this talent on the roster.
So there it is… what do you think about the Chiefs running a 3-4 defense?
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Comments
6 Comments on Should Chiefs go to 3-4 Defense?
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Ryan L on
Wed, 21st Jan 2009 4:00 pm
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bigknoxy on
Thu, 22nd Jan 2009 9:15 am
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nick jackson on
Fri, 6th Feb 2009 7:10 pm
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ADUB on
Thu, 12th Feb 2009 5:05 pm
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Robbie on
Fri, 20th Feb 2009 9:58 pm
Hey man…long time no chat. I agree with you that if we’re going to make the switch to a 3-4 defense now is as good of time as any. It’s not like we could get much worse could we??? Please God tell me no! LOL Pioli is experienced in building the 3-4 so I say we go for it. Dorsey would make for maybe the hardest fit, too small for a NT but really too big/not fast enough for an End, but I’m sure he’d be up for the challenge and be sucessful if given the opportuntity. Anyway, good to be back, I’ll try to stay more active here heading towards the draft! TTYL.
Ryan! It’s been a while, and it’s great to have you back man.
And I also hope that it could not get any worse for the D… man that would suck!
Im a Chargers fan and I love how our 3-4 defense is run and I think the chiefs have the personnel to do it.
R-End = Glenn Dorsey
L-End = Alfonso Boone
NT = Tank Tyler
LOLB = Turk mcbride / Tamba Hali
MLB = Derrick Johnson
MLB = Donnie Edwards ( Played on the Chargers )
ROLB = Suggs? FA? Draft Choice?
CB= Brandon Flowers
CB= Brandon Carr / Patrick Surtain
FS= Jarrad Page
SS= Bernard Pollard
OK HERE’S MY TAKE ON 3-4 DEFENSE.START BUILDING THRU FA WITH PLAYERS THAT ALRDY PLAY THE 3-4 LIKE DE(IGOR OLSHANSKY(6′6/305) & CHRIS CANTY(6′7/300)) & LB(BART SCOTT(6′2/240) & CHANNING CROWDER(6′2/250)).SINCE ITS THE OFF-SEASON DORSEY(6′1/300)/TYLER(6′3/305) NEED TO ADD ABOUT 25LBS OF BULK à la (CASEY HAMPTON 6′1/325) TO PLAY NT. DJ(6′3/245) WOULD PLAY OLB & HALI(6′3/275) WOULD BE DE/OLB à la (TERRELL SUGGS 6′3/270).CB/S WOULD REMAIN THE SAME. IN THE DRAFT DEFENSIVELY,JUST IN CASE WE DON’T GET THE FA’S,MY 1ST PICK WOULD BE ILB(REY MAUALUGA 6′3/250(MONSTER-ATTITUDE)), I WOULD LOOK AT DE(TYSON JACKSON 6′5/298),DE/OLB(CONNER BARWIN 6′3/260)& FS(RASHAD JOHNSON 5′11/200 4.4/40YD). I WOULD ALSO LOOK INTO ADDING A VETERAN 3-4 CB(ANDRE GOODMAN/BRYANT MCFADDEN)& A NT WITH SUM BULK, A VETERAN LIKE(GRADY JACKSON 6′2/345) OR MAYBE IN THE DRAFT(RON BRACE 6′3 330). AFTER RESEARCHING IT, THE CHIEFS CAN PULL THIS OFF AND HAVE A MUCH IMPROVED DEFENSE! ALSO, HERE’S MY TAKE ON THE STAFF, ROMEO CRENNEL(DC & D-LINE COACH),TED COTTRELL(LB),CLANCY PENDERGRAST(SECONDARY) & KEVIN ROSS(DEF. BCKS)…..WE NEED A DEFENSE WITH A MONSTER ATTITUDE!!! PS. I’D BRING KURT SCHOTTENHIEMER BACK FOR SPECIAL TEAMS!!
Terell Suggs got franchised and Pioli rebuilds in the draft Tank Tyler, Glen Dorsey, and Boone lack one thing you need in a 3-4 defensive line which is height they are all 6′2 area and do not have the long arms needed to be good lineman. The linebackers would be alright and Tamba Hali would be gone he is no where close to be fast enough to fit in a 3-4. Dorsey was used wrong with Gunther Cunningham and be even worse in a 3-4. A possiblity would to make an offer to Chris Canty and draft Ron Starks who started with BJ Raji this year and did great also in the 3rd round. Pioli builds through the draft not free agency so don’t get your hopes up for any big signings this year.
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Brandon Y Reply:
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Hey Guys, I think glen dorsey is a great fit for the 3-4 defenses remember guys he had the biggest arm length for a DT in the draft last year and you have to look at guys like marcus spears and ty warren, all those guys are 300 plus pounds and dorsey is faster and a bit light then theose guys at 297 so i think it would be a great fit remeber in a 3-4 defense you want bigger DE’s. Its pretty much three DT’s on the line look at all the 3-4 defenses in the leage not one guy is under 185 pounds ! And Tank Tyler would be a great fit for the Nt if he put on the wieght that he had lost from last year hes Currently at 305 and h nees to put on about 20 more pounds in order too be a dominent NT but the question is what are u goin to do about the other DE im not sure if turk mcbride or tamba hali could fit in the system maybe hali could play at damarcus ware postion! Just my thought.
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