43 or not to 43

[DesertFox24]

With Wanny taking over and Gaileys comments about potentially switching to a 43 I have to think that we are going to move to a 43. Just my take.

I would expect our DT rotation to be

DT
Williams Dareus
Troup Edwards
Spencer Johnson/Heard if we keep 5

DEs
Kelsay
Carrington
Moats
Batten

That does not scare anyone. I would like Carrington to lose some weight and become our LE.

As for RE we do not have one. I also think you could see Edwards cut if we move to a 43.

FA DEs
Robert Mathis
Cliff Avrial
Anthony Spencer
Jeremy Mincey
Manny Lawson

Our LB corp would be Barnett as one OLB and Sheppard as our MLB, I am not sure who would win the other OLB maybe Batten or Moats or Morrison?

[X-Era]

If they go 4-3:

At LB:

I think Upshaw may not make sense, Barnett can handle the middle
Luke Keuchly may be a nice WLB. Love the way that kid plays
Zach Brown has very good speed, he could be a 2nd round option
Travis Lewis has very good quickness, he could be a 3rd or 4th round option

[mrbojanglezs]

I think mathis and a WR like Jackson should be the bills #1 priority in FA, spend the money

[DesertFox24]

If they go 4-3:

At LB:

I think Upshaw may not make sense, Barnett can handle the middle
Luke Keuchly may be a nice WLB. Love the way that kid plays
Zach Brown has very good speed, he could be a 2nd round option
Travis Lewis has very good quickness, he could be a 3rd or 4th round option

Doubt we would go with Upshaw if we go to a 43. If we go 43 Keuchly would probably be the pick and our starting LBs would be Barnett Sheppard and Keuchly, and then we would make Batten a strong side OLB, Moats goes to pass rush specialist, and then we have to draft some 43 ends like Branch, Perry, or someone in the second.

Also I think Sheppard is good enough to play in a 43 he played in one in college and I believe he will get even better with our strength and conditioning coaches.

[X-Era]

Doubt we would go with Upshaw if we go to a 43. If we go 43 Keuchly would probably be the pick and our starting LBs would be Barnett Sheppard and Keuchly, and then we would make Batten a strong side OLB, Moats goes to pass rush specialist, and then we have to draft some 43 ends like Branch, Perry, or someone in the second.

Also I think Sheppard is good enough to play in a 43 he played in one in college and I believe he will get even better with our strength and conditioning coaches.Sheppard just doesn't make enough plays for me. Just think he's a backup. I want way better at OLB. Guys that are quick, athletic, cover a lot of ground and get to the ball.

[Extremebillsfan247]

Run a 4-4 scheme. lol

[YardRat]

DT
Williams
Dareus
Troup
Heard

DEs
Kelsay
Carrington
Edwards
Spencer Johnson

Moats
Batten...one's gonna get cut, one may make it as a pass rusher.

[Mahdi]

DT
Williams
Dareus
Troup
Heard

DEs
Kelsay
Carrington
Edwards
Spencer Johnson

Moats
Batten...one's gonna get cut, one may make it as a pass rusher.
Yikes,,,

[The Jokeman]

DT
Williams
Dareus
Troup
Heard

DEs
Kelsay
Carrington
Edwards
Spencer Johnson

Moats
Batten...one's gonna get cut, one may make it as a pass rusher.


Troup's gotta show up in training camp otherwise he's good as gone. Spencer Johnson played DT in a 4-3 in Minny and here so I can't say he'd cut at a 4-3 DE also Edwards might cut it at as a Left DE in a 4-3 but likely mean he's backup Kelsay. Also Carringon might be another 4-3 Left DE candidate. Our last two drafts/offseasons have really made our front seven better for a 3-4, we just lack a key cog in a legimate pass rusher ie Ware. If we could sign someone to play nickel rusher (John Abraham) and draft a guy (Bruce Irvin Round 2) things might turn out okay for the 3-4. I'd also look to get a guy like Aubrayo Franklin of the Saints in UFA as he's played NT at 3-4 and good be a solid backup plan if/when Troup fails. Granted I've always felt Kyle Williams better suited as 4-3 guy so here's my depth chart:

DE Dareus
DE Edwards
DE Carrington
DE/DT DT Heard

NT Williams
NT Troup
NT Franklin

[kingJofNYC]

The roster composition as of right now is a ****ty 3-4, if we move to a 4-3 it's even worse. We have one 4-3 linebacker, that's it as far as I'm concerned.

Troup projects as a guy who can just hold the PoA, he can't rush the passer or move down the line, he's a plugger at NT, if he's anything at all.

Don't think Edwards fits in at all, Spencer Johnson should be cut because he's terrible in all facets, Moats and Batten couldn't rush from a two point stance let alone a 3 while holding up against the run.

Carrington may be a situational pass rusher, move him inside on 3rd and long and let him work against a guard, he won't get a thing done outside as evidenced last season. But if he's used this way Kyle or Dareus are going to be on the sideline for that down.

I basically feel that we've blew two drafts trying to get a 3-4 going and now we're starting from scratch.

What an awful franchise we've become, no vision or direction. Just throw **** at the wall and hope for the best.

[Mahdi]

I really think we are closer to being a 3-4 than a 4-3 at this point...

KW, Dareus, Barnett, Troup, Heard, Sheppard are really the only 4-3 capable players we have in our front 7.

Batten - Too weak for DE, not suited for 4-3 OLB due to coverage

Moats - Not strong enough for DE, also not a coverage guy

Carrington - Not fast or quick enough to be an edge rusher, may not be strong enough to play inside at DT.

Sp.Johnson -- Not good enough period.

Edwards may or may not fit as a penetrating DT.

------------------------------------------------

So basically, in order to become a competent 4-3 we need 3 or 4 DEs.. Look how long we played 4-3 for before this and could barely find one.

We need two 4-3 OLBs, we currently have no one on the roster who is considered a prototype coverage outside LB. Maybe Shep could make the transition but he would have issues covering TEs in space.

Also, Barnett has been successful as an ILB in a 3-4 in tandem with another ILB, who knows if he will succeed on his own as a MLB.

To sum up...

3 or 4 DEs (pass rushers and power ends)

2 4-3 OLBs

Basically we would YET AGAIN, have to dedicate a draft to converting into a new defense.

If we stay with a 3-4 we only need to add ONE big time OLB (pass rusher) and maybe one plugging NT if Troup is scrapped.

I haven't addressed the secondary because no matter what defense you play you need good CBs and safeties.