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Logic Dictates Lions Go With A 3-4 Defense
Based on their personnel, the Lions should be running a 3-4 defense.
Seems like Cliff Avril and Dewayne White would be ideal ends in the 3-4. There is plenty of depth at linebacker with Julian Peterson, Larry Foote, Ernie Sims, Jordon Dizon and DeAndre Levy.
Unless Grady Jackson finds the Fountain of Youth, the Lions don’t have the ideal nose tackle for the 3-4. Then again, they’d only have to play only one inside tackle instead of two in the 3-4. As it stands, inside defensive tackle is clearly the Lions most glaring weakness.
Random Thoughts
- I don’t know what was more disappointing Tuesday - Jarrod Washburn’s underwhelming pitching performance or the Tigers’ hitters getting schooled by Orioles rookie lefty Brian Matusz in his major league debut. Matusz, by the way, has to do something about the way he wears his cap. I know he is trying to be cool and all that, but he looked like Jamie Kennedy in "Malibu’s Most Wanted."
- They did get Patrick Eaves for a good price, but I don’t see where he is going to add much scoring punch for the Red Wings. Don’t see the comparisons to Daniel Cleary, either. Cleary is a bigger, more physical presence.
- One game back? The White Sox are getting a little too close for comfort. Suffice to add, this is a big game for the Tigers tonight against the O’s.
Seems like Cliff Avril and Dewayne White would be ideal ends in the 3-4. There is plenty of depth at linebacker with Julian Peterson, Larry Foote, Ernie Sims, Jordon Dizon and DeAndre Levy.
Unless Grady Jackson finds the Fountain of Youth, the Lions don’t have the ideal nose tackle for the 3-4. Then again, they’d only have to play only one inside tackle instead of two in the 3-4. As it stands, inside defensive tackle is clearly the Lions most glaring weakness.
Random Thoughts
- I don’t know what was more disappointing Tuesday - Jarrod Washburn’s underwhelming pitching performance or the Tigers’ hitters getting schooled by Orioles rookie lefty Brian Matusz in his major league debut. Matusz, by the way, has to do something about the way he wears his cap. I know he is trying to be cool and all that, but he looked like Jamie Kennedy in "Malibu’s Most Wanted."
- They did get Patrick Eaves for a good price, but I don’t see where he is going to add much scoring punch for the Red Wings. Don’t see the comparisons to Daniel Cleary, either. Cleary is a bigger, more physical presence.
- One game back? The White Sox are getting a little too close for comfort. Suffice to add, this is a big game for the Tigers tonight against the O’s.
posted by Pat Caputo at
8:26 AM
8 Comments:
Pat,
I can't agree with your logic that the Lions should run a 3-4 defense. Neither Dwayne White or Cliff Avril would make good ends in a 3-4 defense. Both are WAY too small, especially Avril. You could use Avril as an outside linebacker, since he has the size speed and experience, but then he was horrible at Penn State when he played OLB. He didn't shine until he became a down lineman. Grady Jackson would make a good nosetackle, but he is only good for less than half a game, and will sit out the first four. Who is going to play nose tackle when he is out? Sammie Lee Hill is really the only choice in that case, and he is as raw as a rookie can get. A 4-3 defense can get by with a smaller NT, but a 3-4 defense would be dominated if they didn't have one. Next we come to the Linebackers. Ernie Sims does not play well in a 3-4, as it has almost the same responsibilities at the Tampa-2 which he has already stated kept him from playing with his eyes and instincts. Larry Foote has the experience as a MLB, and Julian Peterson has the skill set to play OLB, but who would play the other two positions? Also, do you really want IAF, Cohen, and Fluellen as your DE rotation? Those are the only players on the roster who could play those positions. Dwayne White would be an expensive bench warmer, and Avril would need to play out of position at OLB. I don't like the idea at all. Maybe next year, if they pick up the personnel for the scheme.
-Marty
Marty,
You make a good point about the size Avril. He is only about 260 - and 275 is the ideal size of a 3-4 rush. Still, it would put him more areas to be moved around.
Caputo
Pat,
I think you are talking about OLB when you say DE. DE's in a 3-4 are usually around 300lbs. (They are usually the tweener DE-DT type, like Fluellen, IAF, and Redding) The OLB in a 3-4 are more like a DE in a 4-3 so I can see what you mean. I do think they have the personnel to run it, but I just don't think they could run it well. Avril has done better as a DE than an OLB in his career. I don't see any of the personnel playing well at NT. I am unsure of Sims as an ILB, where he has to stay in his lane. Also, the best player on the line, Dwayne White, wouldn't have a position in a 3-4. Maybe you could trade him for a servicable NT, but then you are trading a good player for an adequate player just to change schemes. (NT's that can play the 3-4 are rare and thus more valued than DE's). I wouldn't mind seeing them switch to a 3-4, but I think their best chance of success is to stay with a 4-3 based on the personnel they already have.
-Marty
Marty,
Usually, they are in the 276-to-280 range - a little smaller and quicker than in the 4-3, but not that much. Woodley with Pittsburgh classic example.
Caputo
Pat,
Lammarr Woodley is a Linebacker.
http://news.steelers.com/team/player/76323/
I see that you are infact talking about Outside Linebackers when you are saying Defensive End. Again, they are similar to DE's in a 4-3, but they have additional coverage resposibilities and usually are in a 2 point stance, versus a 3 point stance.
Just look at the Steelers roster, and you won't see a single defensive end under 298 lbs.
http://www.steelers.com/team/player/
I am sure you know more about this than I do, which is why i am suprised that we are having this conversation.
-Marty
I don't think the Lions have the personnel to run a 3-4 defense at all. First off your looking for DE to in the 280-300 range. Alama-Francis is the only DE to reach 280. DeVires and White are close but both would be undersided. Avril would have to switch to LB. Jackson and Hill have the size to a NT but Hill played DE in college and Jackson is on his last legs. Rest of the DT would have to move to DE.
I'm sure Foote and Peterson could play in a 3-4 but I'm not so sure about Sims or Avril as LB. Dizon played there in college but I think he's too small to play there in the pros.
I'm pretty sure these are reasons the LIons stuck with the 4-3. If you go back to the days of Edwards and Rogers you might have a strong arrugument for the 3-4.
Mary,
I look at the 3-4 as a glorified versionof the Oklahoma 5-2 with the ends having contain, but they are considered linebackers in the 3-4. I see needing only one anchor tackle and two defensive end types inhe 3-4, and two ends and two big tackles for the 4-3. That's my point. The Lions have linebackers. They don't have d-linemen.
Caputo
Anonymous,
I think they do have the size to play end in the 3-4. I also feel the set would give the Lions more options to move Avril - their best playmaking d-lineman - around.
Caputo
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