The Linc - Eagles to use more 3-4 looks

by JasonB on May 13, 2010 1:50 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

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McDermott acknowledged what we've all been speculating on -- as he tries to find ways to use all his new personnel, he is thinking of doing more with 3-4 looks. The Eagles' base defense will remainAntonio Dixon, future nose tackle? 4-3, but they've shown 3-4 here and there in the past, and that tendency very well might increase. The biggest obstacle would seem to be the lack of a true 3-4-style, monster nose tackle. McDermott said he thought Brodrick Bunkley could fill the bill, and he noted that Antonio Dixon is "320 and rising." The Eagles also have some variations in which they employ five down linemen, and that might be something McDermott does more with, as well.

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320 and rising...

…of his own accord, or because the coaches are fattening him up to be a NT?

by ajay on May 13, 2010 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

320 and rising,

A long-delayed follow-up to De La Soul’s seminal record, “Three-feet High and Rising.” Antonio Dixon is also known as “Plug 4.”

by Tracer Bullet on May 13, 2010 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

After reading this article...

Max Jean-Gilles removed his lap-band and started “rising”….

by samson9 on May 13, 2010 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

3-4… everyon+ focused on NT… I’m more concerned with mlbs. Sims and sapp are natural fits… but big bodies are needed in the middle to handle guards. This increases the injury risk to bradley.. cole can handle RE.. trying t’eo on the other side? Is hall big enough to play mlb?

I dunno.. I was never a fan of 4-3 teams “mixing it up” with multiple fronts. Play your base defense, fill the roster spots with people who fit your roles [read: knock it off with gocongs], and get really good at what you need to do.

Mastery isn’t doing a lot of things okay, its doing a few things very good.

by corn on the kolb on May 13, 2010 3:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

This isn’t anything new with the Eagles. They’ve run 3-4 sets in the past. They’re not looking to overhaul the entire D here – It’ll just be an added look that their throw at the offense on occasion.

Formerly Bye, Dawk :(

by JimmyK on May 13, 2010 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I know its just mixing it in, not changing our base defense. Its the defensive version of the wild cat- its something we’re going to use on 3rd down to give the other team something to game-plan for once in awhile.

I just feel instead of wasting time on that (and I have the same thoughts about the wildcat), why not put that effort into improving what we do, and covering up things we don’t do well?

I don’t see any reason taking defensive practice time away from working on what we do more often, to learn something that we’ll spend 2-3 downs a game on.

by corn on the kolb on May 13, 2010 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

i think the pats and the ravens used to have sets with one or even zero down lineman in passing situations. they’ve had good defenses the last decade. you have a good take on mastery. i guess we need better coaching on defense?? the staff looks better this yr…

"Don't Give Up... Don't Ever Give Up!" - Jim Valvano
(unless it's terminal)

by Bleediots on May 13, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, and Cleveland was noted for doing it too.

But this is based out of the fact that they have great depth at linebacker.

We do not.

Someone pointed out that we do 5 man lines. This is actually a strength of ours. I think we have some of the best line depth in the league. Especially this year.

Besides, in the end… how many teams do you think don’t game-plan against 3-4’s anyway?

NFL South is the only division in football I can think of that doesn’t feature a 3-4 team. Our 3-4 look won’t change anything. They’ll have seen it before (and better versions of it!).

Just do what you do.

by corn on the kolb on May 13, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

great points. play to our strengths. i agree about LB depth, actually. i guess i was thinking with better coaching and less injuries we can try to do all things better on defense.

"Don't Give Up... Don't Ever Give Up!" - Jim Valvano
(unless it's terminal)

by Bleediots on May 13, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I am in full agreement.

The Eagles are a 4-3 team, enough with the tinkering! And frankly they can shitcan the stupid Wild Eagle formations. Somewhere Reggie and Jerome are rolling over in their graves…

by 92-74-99-96 on May 14, 2010 6:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Wow one year as DC

and Sean is bald! ha

by MightyJoeBanner on May 13, 2010 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

I think he’s been bald all along

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by JasonB on May 14, 2010 12:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

After watching those last 2 games in Dallas, I’m surprised I’m not bald also!

by 92-74-99-96 on May 14, 2010 7:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Double Jimmy K shoutout wow front page and still making The Linc.

They call me The Professor.

by Whodie126 on May 13, 2010 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

They even linked to that on Igglesblog’s front page a couple days ago. JimmyK goin’ mainstream! Watch yo’ back Jason! lol

Jim Johnson(RIP). Brian Westbrook(36). Donovan Mcnabb(5). Brian Dawkins(20). Sheldon Brown(24). Jeremiah Trotter(54).

Thanks for the memories...

by Route36 on May 13, 2010 4:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Misdirection vs. misformation

When I read Reid’s comments about how a lot of players on the Eagles, especially drafted this year, could play more than one position, (Te’o-Nesheim as DE/DT, Sapp as DE/LB, Marlin Jackson as FS or CB, and other players) I wondered out loud on here whether the Eagles were considering using a “misdirection” defense, one where you’re (from the point of view of an opposing offense) not sure what exactly you’re facing because players slide into their position at the last second. Having players who could be at more than one position helps in that regard.
Doing a 3-4, however, is another story – it means you are using your players in different ways. Being a 3-4 DE is different from being a 4-3 DE, and being a linebacker in either is different. For one thing, 3-4 defensive linemen are larger, space eaters who take up at least one blocker and focus more on stopping the run than going for a sack. 3-4 OLB’s are the main pass rushers and therefore play a bit closer to the line than in a 4-3. On this score, I’m not sure the Eagles’ defensive personnel is right for a 3-4. A 5-tech, though, is a different story.
So while I feel like a misdirection defense would be effective for us because of versatile players, I don’t think we have the right players to make a switch to a 3-4.
Maybe there might be some situations where we might want to have a 3-4, but since I’m not a defensive coordinator, I can’t rate it in terms of what kind of situations those might be (running vs. passing downs, red zone, short or long yardage situations). And since I don’t have a clear idea of how or where it might be helpful, my instinct is to say “don’t bother with it.”

"Verde que te quiero verde..."
Το πράσινο είναι ζωή!
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"if you shut someone down with class, it's more effective" - Udalango

by Rabbit T on May 15, 2010 6:02 PM EDT reply actions