Conversion to 3-4 Base Defense

[slowhand429]

I was wondering what people on this board would think about converting the base defense to a 3-4. I feel like the 3-4 is superior as you always have the threat of the pass rush with 5 people on the line. You also have more athletic people on the field to make plays.

[jonny1234]

I would like it, however, we would have to change our personel up too much. Dont see it happening.

[BengalChris]

The team should play the scheme that best fits the personnel they have. The key to the Bengals defense has been the ability to man coverage on both sides. This is why a cover corner is pretty much a must in this year's off season.

[Shake n Blake]

Nooooooo.... We have a top 10 defense in the 4-3. Why mess with it? Especially when we don't even have the proper personnel? Also, Zimmer has clearly stated in the past that he's not a fan of the 3-4.

Remember the late 90's? We switched to 3-4 for a few years and it didn't work out so well. It takes awhile to establish it.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by Shake n Blake

Nooooooo.... We have a top 10 defense in the 4-3. Why mess with it? Especially when we don't even have the proper personnel? Also, Zimmer has clearly stated in the past that he's not a fan of the 3-4.

Remember the late 90's? We switched to 3-4 for a few years and it didn't work out so well. It takes awhile to establish it.

Were we still running the 3-4 Justin Smith's first 2 years here?(2001 & 2002)

[henrizzle]

Originally Posted by Bryan

Were we still running the 3-4 Justin Smith's first 2 years here?(2001 & 2002)

No.

[wizbengal21]

i believe we have the talent to run the 3-4 right now we just need one linebacker and a nose if peko cant do it

[Shake n Blake]

Originally Posted by Bryan

Were we still running the 3-4 Justin Smith's first 2 years here?(2001 & 2002)

I can't remember. I'm pretty sure they switched to the 3-4 in 1997. Just can't remember how long they went with it. Dikk LeBeau was our D coordinator at the time, then he became our HC until 2002. Can't remember if LeBeau kept the 3-4 as HC. I know the 3-4 in why we took Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons in the 1st round.

[OSUfan]

Originally Posted by slowhand429

I was wondering what people on this board would think about converting the base defense to a 3-4. I feel like the 3-4 is superior as you always have the threat of the pass rush with 5 people on the line. You also have more athletic people on the field to make plays.

This same thread appears every year. Why change a defense that was in the top 10? We are not Pittsburgh and we are not Baltimore. We do not have the personnel to consistently play a base 3-4.

How about continuing to build upon the success we are having in the 4-3?

[M.W.]

Originally Posted by OSUfan

This same thread appears every year. Why change a defense that was in the top 10? We are not Pittsburgh and we are not Baltimore. We do not have the personnel to consistently play a base 3-4.

How about continuing to build upon the success we are having in the 4-3?

I agree, it would not be so far fetched if we had more 3-4 style players and a bad 4-3 defense already but that is not the case. Switching would be so crazy and stupid, even too much so for our beloved franchise.

[Jasonew6]

This comes up every year.

EVERY single year since I have been on this board.

It hasn't happened.

It's not going to happen.

Not while Zimmer is here, anyway.

[lqhybrid25]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

This comes up every year.

EVERY single year since I have been on this board.

It hasn't happened.

It's not going to happen.

Not while Zimmer is here, anyway.

I was the one who asked the question last year. lol So I can't knock OP for asking.
BUT! I'm now on the 4-3 train + ugh not again train. OP will join soon. It's a step by step process.

[TGISunday]

We have personnel that is best-suited for the 4-3.

We were a top-10 defense with said 4-3.

We have a coach and DC who prefer the 4-3.

We have linebackers who (mostly) work best in a 4-3.

...
..

We are gonna be in a base 4-3 for the foreseeable future.
But thanks for the inevitable off-season question.

[thebullfrog24]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

This comes up every year.

EVERY single year since I have been on this board.

It hasn't happened.

It's not going to happen.

Not while Zimmer is here, anyway.

This x100

[XenoMorph]

Originally Posted by slowhand429

I was wondering what people on this board would think about converting the base defense to a 3-4. I feel like the 3-4 is superior as you always have the threat of the pass rush with 5 people on the line. You also have more athletic people on the field to make plays.

Zimmer loves the 4-3 so until he leaves dont expect it to change... they do run some 3-4 plays but our base will be a 4-3 as long as zimmer is here

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by slowhand429

I was wondering what people on this board would think about converting the base defense to a 3-4. I feel like the 3-4 is superior as you always have the threat of the pass rush with 5 people on the line. You also have more athletic people on the field to make plays.

You realize this thread has been rehashed on these forums more times than you have IQ points?

You realize Mike Zimmer is a 4/3 coach?

You realize that because of the former point above that the latter point has had the same answer for the last 4-5 years?

You realize how infuriating it is when people post stupid, right?

You've been on these forums for nearly three years and you post THIS? You're whole premise is pointless due to the coaching staff and personel we have, and ridciulous cosndiering the success Zimmer has been having.

So to sumarize: Zimmer is a 4/3 guy and our personel is geared toward a 4/3. Zimmer has been having success. You point is what?

[POLLOS]

They don't have the right personnel for the 3-4.

Besides the 4-3 is doing well, just need to fill some gaps at corner, safety and linebacker.

[THEBURG]

Man the o.p. must have been asleep for the last five years, this has been a topic more than I can guess.

[BoboFett]

Originally Posted by slowhand429

I was wondering what people on this board would think about converting the base defense to a 3-4. I feel like the 3-4 is superior as you always have the threat of the pass rush with 5 people on the line. You also have more athletic people on the field to make plays.

We do run some 3-4 packages at times. Rreguardless, we have built a 4-3 for years, and we can always use Michael Johnson OR Dunlap as a standing DE that is technically a linebacker. In the end, we just dont have a NOSE tackle. Geno atkins is good, dont get me wrong, but he isnt the force up the middle that a Ndomakung Suh or Haoli Ngata is.