How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

[patmoran2006]

Forget the secondary as they're irrelevent for this excercise, but if you take a look at a 3-4 defense and we had a football game tomorrow, I just do not see how we could possibly pull it off.

This would be our front seven in a 3-4 as of today.

NT- Marcus Stroud, never has played in a 3-4 before and won't start now. He'll be a goner if we switch.

DE- Kyle Williams- I suppose he'd have to work, I dont like it at all.

DE- Spencer Johnson- The only person on this front line I think would work.

OLB- Aaron Maybin- Unknown but big upside

OLB- Aaron Schobel- Another Kampman? And that's assuming he doesn't retire or get cut for defensive/cap purposes.

ILB- Kawika Mitchell- LIke It

ILB- Paul Posluszny-- HATE IT. He's an OLB in a 3-4, a 3-4 LB has to be able to shed off blockers and that's his weakness.

( I think you can say goodbye to Kelsay in a 3-4 and McCargo no matter what. Same with Ellison (RFA) who is a cover two guy only)

That just seems like too much to overcome and you cant forget about the offense either.

HOw the hell do you guys see this working? Especially since Nix already stated we wont be big players in FA?

[patmoran2006]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

Minimum IMO you're talking 3 starters needed in one offseason.

DT, DE, LB

and that's minimum--- and again we also have QB, LT and other things to worry about.

Scary transition if this 3-4 goes down.

[tatersalad]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

I agree 100% there is NO way this personal can switch to a 3-4 and that will be a huge set back

[SeatownBillsFan21]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

Yeah this will be a tough sell if they do make the switch. a lot has to happen for it to be effective maybe too much i know a lot of fans want to make the switch but i like Pat just think it is outta reach with what we have pre draft

[BoyILuvLoznStupidly]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

Minimum IMO you're talking 3 starters needed in one offseason.

DT, DE, LB

and that's minimum--- and again we also have QB, LT and other things to worry about.

Scary transition if this 3-4 goes down.

Don't forget we will need depth as well. IMO I think we will keep the 43 and replace Ellison. They need to focus on the O.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

we will pick up our nt and de in fa. we will aslo pick up a olb in fa... this isnt that hard of a switch...

[patmoran2006]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

I love a good 3-4 better than anything, just dont see how it can be done in one year by a team that admitted GM who says they wont do much in FA.

I reported what I was told, and the same guy gave me the Catavolos scooop, so I stand by it.

I just simply from a personnel level don't see how they can pull this off without signing at least 2-3 starters defensively in free agency, and thats a minimum.

I suppose all defense in FA (2 maybe 3 guys) then heavy drafting on offense in April?

[patmoran2006]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

we will pick up our nt and de in fa. we will aslo pick up a olb in fa... this isnt that hard of a switch...

Do you think its that easy to go find 2-3 starters in a weak FA class when Nix said we wont be very active?

HOpe you're right my man, I want a 3-4, just wont work with this personnel right now.

[wmoz11]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

It's no secret we're going to suck next year. If Gailey wants to run a 3-4, then he's implementing it for the future and not for success in 2010.

I don't think there's any chance Stroud is gone, either. We JUST signed him to an extension, so we'd be eating a lot of money.

[DraftBoy]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

Forget the secondary as they're irrelevent for this excercise, but if you take a look at a 3-4 defense and we had a football game tomorrow, I just do not see how we could possibly pull it off.

This would be our front seven in a 3-4 as of today.

NT- Marcus Stroud, never has played in a 3-4 before and won't start now. He'll be a goner if we switch.

DE- Kyle Williams- I suppose he'd have to work, I dont like it at all.

DE- Spencer Johnson- The only person on this front line I think would work.

OLB- Aaron Maybin- Unknown but big upside

OLB- Aaron Schobel- Another Kampman? And that's assuming he doesn't retire or get cut for defensive/cap purposes.

ILB- Kawika Mitchell- LIke It

ILB- Paul Posluszny-- HATE IT. He's an OLB in a 3-4, a 3-4 LB has to be able to shed off blockers and that's his weakness.

( I think you can say goodbye to Kelsay in a 3-4 and McCargo no matter what. Same with Ellison (RFA) who is a cover two guy only)

That just seems like too much to overcome and you cant forget about the offense either.

HOw the hell do you guys see this working? Especially since Nix already stated we wont be big players in FA?

How do you think the secondary is irrelevant in this excercise? We are a zone cover predominant team and most 3-4's run more bump and run, man cover schemes, McKelvin would be fine as would Florence but players like McGee, Corner, Youboty, Lankster, Harris are all zone guys not man. So the secondary would need work as well. How would you do it?

Well first off you'd have run a 1-gap scheme and tomorrow your starting lineup would be;
DE-Spencer Johnson
NT-Kyle Williams
DE-Marcus Stroud
OLB-Aaron Maybin
ILB-Kavika Mitchell
ILB-Poz
OLB-Schoebel
CB-McKelvin
CB-McGee
FS-Byrd
SS-Whinter

So we could at least fill out a starting lineup. Now heading into FA Id have two main goals, one find another CB or two that can play man, and find some 3-4 DE's.

Id target the following players;
DE Derrick Burgess
NT Aubrayo Franklin
ILB Larry Foote
CB Dunta Robinson
CB Roderick Hood

Going into the draft Id make grabbing a playmaking SS, a 3-4 OLB, a DE, and NT my top priorities;
Targets;
3-4 DE's;
Arthur Jones-Syracuse-2nd Round Value
Corey Wooten-Northwestern-1st-2nd Round Value
Carlos Dunlap-Florida-1st Round Value
Greg Middleton-Indiana-6th Round Value
D'Anthony Smith-Lousiana Tech-2nd Round Value

NTs:
Terrance Cody-Alabama-1st Round Value
Vince Oghobaase-Duke-2nd Round Value
Corey Peters-Kentucky-3rd Round Value
Cam Thomas-North Carolina-5th Roudn Value

OLB's:
Jason Pierre Paul-South Florida-1st Round Value
George Selvie-South Florida-4th Round Value
Austen Lane-Murray State-2nd Round Value
Thaddeus Gibson-Ohio State-3rd Round Value

SS:
Reshad Jones-Georgia-3rd Round Value
Chad Jones-LSU-1st Round Value
Myron Rolle-FSU-5th Round Value
Barry Chuch-Toledo-6th Round Value


That's a very BASIC outline of how I'd do it.

[DrGraves]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

You are right pat. the fact of the matter is we have a roster full of ****. it doesn't matter what your defense scheme is, the playbook, the coaches... if your players are **** your team will suck regardless.

[John Doe]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

I think that Williams would play the nose and Stroud the end position.

A smaller guy can work at the nose if he is quick and tough, but it would certainly help to have a good back-up as well.

[T-Long]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

How do you think the secondary is irrelevant in this excercise? We are a zone cover predominant team and most 3-4's run more bump and run, man cover schemes, McKelvin would be fine as would Florence but players like McGee, Corner, Youboty, Lankster, Harris are all zone guys not man. So the secondary would need work as well. How would you do it?

Well first off you'd have run a 1-gap scheme and tomorrow your starting lineup would be;
DE-Spencer Johnson
NT-Kyle Williams
DE-Marcus Stroud
OLB-Aaron Maybin
ILB-Kavika Mitchell
ILB-Poz
OLB-Schoebel
CB-McKelvin
CB-McGee
FS-Byrd
SS-Whinter

So we could at least fill out a starting lineup. Now heading into FA Id have two main goals, one find another CB or two that can play man, and find some 3-4 DE's.

Id target the following players;
DE Derrick Burgess
NT Aubrayo Franklin
ILB Larry Foote
CB Dunta Robinson
CB Roderick Hood

Going into the draft Id make grabbing a playmaking SS, a 3-4 OLB, a DE, and NT my top priorities;
Targets;
3-4 DE's;
Arthur Jones-Syracuse-2nd Round Value
Corey Wooten-Northwestern-1st-2nd Round Value
Carlos Dunlap-Florida-1st Round Value
Greg Middleton-Indiana-6th Round Value
D'Anthony Smith-Lousiana Tech-2nd Round Value

NTs:
Terrance Cody-Alabama-1st Round Value
Vince Oghobaase-Duke-2nd Round Value
Corey Peters-Kentucky-3rd Round Value
Cam Thomas-North Carolina-5th Roudn Value

OLB's:
Jason Pierre Paul-South Florida-1st Round Value
George Selvie-South Florida-4th Round Value
Austen Lane-Murray State-2nd Round Value
Thaddeus Gibson-Ohio State-3rd Round Value

SS:
Reshad Jones-Georgia-3rd Round Value
Chad Jones-LSU-1st Round Value
Myron Rolle-FSU-5th Round Value
Barry Chuch-Toledo-6th Round Value


That's a very BASIC outline of how I'd do it.

Yeah, what DB said.

[Mahdi]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

Forget the secondary as they're irrelevent for this excercise, but if you take a look at a 3-4 defense and we had a football game tomorrow, I just do not see how we could possibly pull it off.

This would be our front seven in a 3-4 as of today.

NT- Marcus Stroud, never has played in a 3-4 before and won't start now. He'll be a goner if we switch.

DE- Kyle Williams- I suppose he'd have to work, I dont like it at all.

DE- Spencer Johnson- The only person on this front line I think would work.

OLB- Aaron Maybin- Unknown but big upside

OLB- Aaron Schobel- Another Kampman? And that's assuming he doesn't retire or get cut for defensive/cap purposes.

ILB- Kawika Mitchell- LIke It

ILB- Paul Posluszny-- HATE IT. He's an OLB in a 3-4, a 3-4 LB has to be able to shed off blockers and that's his weakness.

( I think you can say goodbye to Kelsay in a 3-4 and McCargo no matter what. Same with Ellison (RFA) who is a cover two guy only)

That just seems like too much to overcome and you cant forget about the offense either.

HOw the hell do you guys see this working? Especially since Nix already stated we wont be big players in FA?

I don't really agree with your assessment.


1) Stroud cannot play NT. He is too tall and not stout enough at this point in his career. We already have a potential NT on the roster. Lonnie Harvey (6'3 346) perfect size and style of play for the position.

2) Kyle Williams is wayyy to short to play DE in a 3-4 and definitely not stout enough against the run. The only players on the roster that fit the 5 technique position in a 3-4 are Stroud and Sp. Johnson. Both have the height and strength to hold up as DEs in a 3-4.

I think the Bills are closer to running a solid 3-4 than a 4-3. If we stay 3-4 we need 2 DEs and another DT.

If we go 3-4 we have a decent front 3 with Stroud - Harvey - Sp. Johnson and then go with Maybin - Poz - Mitchell - Schobel/Draft choice at the LB spots.

We can also easily add another DE in FA or the draft and be even better set up to run it.

It really is not a tough transition and we only really need to address 1 or 2 positions at most.

No one thought GB could do it either and they were a top 5 defense.

[BoyILuvLoznStupidly]

Re: How in the world will a 3-4 work here?

How do you think the secondary is irrelevant in this excercise? We are a zone cover predominant team and most 3-4's run more bump and run, man cover schemes, McKelvin would be fine as would Florence but players like McGee, Corner, Youboty, Lankster, Harris are all zone guys not man. So the secondary would need work as well. How would you do it?

Well first off you'd have run a 1-gap scheme and tomorrow your starting lineup would be;
DE-Spencer Johnson
NT-Kyle Williams
DE-Marcus Stroud
OLB-Aaron Maybin
ILB-Kavika Mitchell
ILB-Poz
OLB-Schoebel
CB-McKelvin
CB-McGee
FS-Byrd
SS-Whinter

So we could at least fill out a starting lineup. Now heading into FA Id have two main goals, one find another CB or two that can play man, and find some 3-4 DE's.

Id target the following players;
DE Derrick Burgess
NT Aubrayo Franklin
ILB Larry Foote
CB Dunta Robinson
CB Roderick Hood

Going into the draft Id make grabbing a playmaking SS, a 3-4 OLB, a DE, and NT my top priorities;
Targets;
3-4 DE's;
Arthur Jones-Syracuse-2nd Round Value
Corey Wooten-Northwestern-1st-2nd Round Value
Carlos Dunlap-Florida-1st Round Value
Greg Middleton-Indiana-6th Round Value
D'Anthony Smith-Lousiana Tech-2nd Round Value

NTs:
Terrance Cody-Alabama-1st Round Value
Vince Oghobaase-Duke-2nd Round Value
Corey Peters-Kentucky-3rd Round Value
Cam Thomas-North Carolina-5th Roudn Value

OLB's:
Jason Pierre Paul-South Florida-1st Round Value
George Selvie-South Florida-4th Round Value
Austen Lane-Murray State-2nd Round Value
Thaddeus Gibson-Ohio State-3rd Round Value

SS:
Reshad Jones-Georgia-3rd Round Value
Chad Jones-LSU-1st Round Value
Myron Rolle-FSU-5th Round Value
Barry Chuch-Toledo-6th Round Value


That's a very BASIC outline of how I'd do it.

Then how would you address the offense? Like Buddy said we are not to far off from winning. I think we need to stay with the 43 and replace Ellison. The main focus should be the offense. We can't afford to spend all our resources on transforming into a 34 and neglecting the O.