4-3 for sure

[TeeTee]

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dhaCm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=pittsburgh-steelers

So it's now 100% that we will be running some pure 4-3 defenses.

My question is: Who are our 4 DLman who we can field for a legit 4-3 line?

Our DEs are 3-4 guys. We don't really have 4-3 DTs.

It would force us to sit one of our best defenders (either Timmons or Shazier).

On the surface, this looks like a mess. When the Pats run both, they at least have some semblance of the personnel to run either one.

I don't see how we do. Without the DEs to get to the QB, who can this work?

[Count Steeler]

From the article:

That hasn’t been the case with the new 4-3 look. In the first two preseason games, Butler used a 4-3 alignment that keeps the nose tackle on the field, shifts one of the outside linebackers to defensive end and stacks the other three linebackers behind the line.

They’ve only done it a handful of times in each game, but they have done it enough that future opponents will have to take notice.

“It’s something we can do no matter who’s out there,” said backup inside linebacker Sean Spence. “It probably adds some diversity to our defense and gives offenses some different looks, makes them game plan for different things.”

It’s a look that allows the Steelers to easily slide inside linebackers Lawrence Timmons or Ryan Shazier to the outside, perhaps giving them some additional pass rushing duties coming off the edge.

Same personnel, different alignment. meh.

[teegre]

Groundhog Day!!!

[vasteeler]

havent we always mixed in 4-3 formations with our 3-4 defense

[ALLD]

Rush Deshea Townsend to the QB on a delayed blitz.

[tube517]

havent we always mixed in 4-3 formations with our 3-4 defense

Yes, but since LeBeau is gone and we run it one time (ONCE!), ZOMG!!!!! Tomlin got his wish....Butler is going to put the Tampa 2 and our whole defensive philosophy has CHANGED!!!!!!

[steelreserve]

My question is: Who are our 4 DLman who we can field for a legit 4-3 line?

Our DEs are 3-4 guys. We don't really have 4-3 DTs.


Not too hard. A DE in the 3-4 is about the same size as a DT in a 4-3 if they can play the position; and the heavier OLBs can make 4-3 DEs, also if they can play the position. So we'd have Tuitt, McLendon and McCullers who could play DT (as well as Cam Thomas, I guess, but - ugh). Heyward and possibly Dupree as ends; if not, I suppose Tuitt or McLendon could play there if needed.



It would force us to sit one of our best defenders (either Timmons or Shazier).

Since both of those guys have good speed and have played OLB (which was Shazier's natural position as of a year and a half ago), I don't see that as a problem. More like Shazier plays OLB and it gets Jarvis Jones off the field. Which unless he really improves, I don't see as a bad thing.

[TeeTee]

From the article:


Same personnel, different alignment. meh.

IDK about "meh."

"Meh" is what our opponents will say when we attempt to use one of our OLBs as a DE. A lot of our OLBs were called "tweeners" in college for a reason: because they weren't big enough to play DE in the NFL. So now they are telling us we will be using these "tweeners" actually as DEs..............color me not too confident that any of our OLBs will make for solid DEs. Now we are going to take Jones or Moats and have them put a hand in the dirt?

Well, so far in the PS, the D they are throwing out there can't stop jack crap. There are open receivers everywhere and we can't stop the rush either. We made Gerhart - slow white guy - look like Earl Campbell in his prime.

I know, I know, only PS, but the longer we look inept on that side of the ball the bigger concern it becomes. We should start getting concerned pretty soon. If this trend continues, Belichick is gonna rush the ball down our throats come the season opener; it won't even matter if Brady isn't playing.

[polamalubeast]

IDK about "meh."

"Meh" is what our opponents will say when we attempt to use one of our OLBs as a DE. A lot of our OLBs were called "tweeners" in college for a reason: because they weren't big enough to play DE in the NFL. So now they are telling us we will be using these "tweeners" actually as DEs..............color me not too confident that any of our OLBs will make for solid DEs. Now we are going to take Jones or Moats and have them put a hand in the dirt?

Well, so far in the PS, the D they are throwing out there can't stop jack crap. There are open receivers everywhere and we can't stop the rush either. We made Gerhart - slow white guy - look like Earl Campbell in his prime.

I know, I know, only PS, but the longer we look inept on that side of the ball the bigger concern it becomes. We should start getting concerned pretty soon. If this trend continues, Belichick is gonna rush the ball down our throats come the season opener; it won't even matter if Brady isn't playing.

I understand your concern but the steelers have said that the defense would be very vanilla in the preseason......

[TeeTee]

I understand your concern but the steelers have said that the defense would be very vanilla in the preseason......

I know P-beast, but that's what we kept telling ourselves that last PS and once the regular season came on, we discovered our D was as bad as it looked all PS.

At some point, the writing on the PS wall becomes a reality. I want to be wrong, trust me.

[Craic]

Go back and watch the first half again, and this time, do it without the excitement of "ZOMG! A Steelers game! We gotta win!" (which pretty much all us fans bring into each game, even PS games).

I think if you do, and you start picking the plays and things apart, you'll find it's not as bad as you might think. In fact, while it wasn't anything to write home about, the first half was played decently well. We had a couple breakdowns in the Zone D, but they're still learning how to implement the new wrinkles. On top of that, there really wasn't any scheming. I am concerned about the run D a bit, but even there, some of the things that originally worried me fell away upon re-watching the first half.

So, for me, I'll withhold any worry until the true third preseason game (I don't count the HOF game as a preseason game. It's more of a scrimmage between second team players).

[hawaiiansteeler]

Go back and watch the first half again, and this time, do it without the excitement of "ZOMG! A Steelers game! We gotta win!" (which pretty much all us fans bring into each game, even PS games).

I think if you do, and you start picking the plays and things apart, you'll find it's not as bad as you might think.

https://i0.wp.com/www.gifwave.com/download/3eyW/tv-reactions-crash-airplane-panic.gif

[86WARD]

havent we always mixed in 4-3 formations with our 3-4 defense

Yes. A lot.

[teegre]

Yes. A lot.

Yeah... but... what about the 4-3???

[Steeldude]

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dhaCm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=pittsburgh-steelers

So it's now 100% that we will be running some pure 4-3 defenses.

My question is: Who are our 4 DLman who we can field for a legit 4-3 line?

Our DEs are 3-4 guys. We don't really have 4-3 DTs.

It would force us to sit one of our best defenders (either Timmons or Shazier).

On the surface, this looks like a mess. When the Pats run both, they at least have some semblance of the personnel to run either one.

I don't see how we do. Without the DEs to get to the QB, who can this work?

Timmons and Shazier will probably stay on the field. Harrison might be the odd man out unless they utilize him as a 4-3 DE.

[steelreserve]

"Meh" is what our opponents will say when we attempt to use one of our OLBs as a DE. A lot of our OLBs were called "tweeners" in college for a reason: because they weren't big enough to play DE in the NFL. So now they are telling us we will be using these "tweeners" actually as DEs..............color me not too confident that any of our OLBs will make for solid DEs. Now we are going to take Jones or Moats and have them put a hand in the dirt?


They're "tweeners" in our defense because they're too small to play DE in a 3-4. But since 4-3 DEs don't all have to be 310 pounds, the bigger "tweeners" could do the job, no problem. A guy like Dupree at 270 pounds is easily big enough; he'd be a pass rushing end who occasionally drops back into coverage - or in other words the same exact job we're asking him to do at OLB, only with a different job title and lining up a foot and a half to the left. The bigger linebackers we've had, like Woodley and Kirkland could've done that too. A guy the size of Jones or Moats, probably not, they'd keep being OLBs.

Ideally at 4-3 DE you'd want one guy who's a pure lineman and can get some pressure (Heyward) and one guy who's a little quicker and more versatile. Again, not a hell of a lot different from the personnel we have now, except that I actually think that would let us get more of our best players on the field at once. Heyward might have 15 sacks as a 4-3 end. And it would also solve a HUGE problem, which is that playing a 4-3 with one DE possibly on the small side is a hell of a lot better than trying to play a 3-4 with no nose tackle.

I really don't see the problem with it, with the guys we've got. Jones would be the only one who's really the odd man out, but that's not much of a change from today. Harrison might also be harder to find a place for, but let's face it, that's a short-term problem. And a guy like that, I have no doubt that as long as he's still able to play at the pro level, he'll find a way to get himself on the field for goddamned sure. Like, if Timmons and Shazier both got busted smoking crack in the locker room 10 minutes before the game, I have no doubt Harrison would randomly come in and play the best game at middle linebacker we've seen in years. He's just that kind of dude. I'm not worried about what happens to him.