blueandgold Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I've been wondering this for several months now so I will post it. Since we seem to be loaded at the LB position with excellent current players and very talented incoming freshman and transfers, why aren't we playing a 3-4 defense now? I would think that the coaching staff would at least be tinkering around with the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I love the 3-4, but JD seems sold on playing his defense.Many topics on the subject, just search "3-3-5"Example 1Example 2Example 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandgold Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I love the 3-4, but JD seems sold on playing his defense.Many topics on the subject, just search "3-3-5"Example 1Example 2Example 3 Yes I remember those. Now that we have even more talent at LB than when this was last discussed I thought I would bring it up again. I just think the 3-4 makes more sense now than before. I'd even rather have the 3-5-3, that way we are not wasting talent by leaving them on the bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'll ask JD that question on Monday (if I remember).Until then, can you name 3 successful Defenses in Division I that run the 3-4? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandgold Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'll ask JD that question on Monday (if I remember).Until then, can you name 3 successful Defenses in Division I that run the 3-4? I'm pretty sure I know the answer as well. No one knows how to run it properly. Anyway, I can only think of one semi-successful D-I team using it and that would be Virginia. I have heard that Notre Dame is switching to the 3-4 this year so I guess that would make two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Kadar Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'll ask JD that question on Monday (if I remember).Until then, can you name 3 successful Defenses in Division I that run the 3-4? Off the top of my head, Ball State, New Mexico State, Navy, Wyoming, Nevada, Virginia Air Force and Hawaii run the 3-4 and this season Alabama, BYU, Kansas State and Notre Dame are switching to the 3-4. Maryland runs a variation of the 3-4.I wish I didn't know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRasor0200 Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Wow. Kadar... As far as the 3-4 goes, Akron basically already has 3-4 personnel on the field. You could easily call Mackey a linebacker. The only difference would be the scheme.I don't see a scheme change as helping the problem -- winning the line-of-scrimmage battle -- all that much.Still, it's an interesting suggestion, and it will become more interesting once Mackey, Davanzo Tate and Reggie Corner graduate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I agree with MRasor. Mackey's position looks as if it's become more of an outside linebacker role over the last couple of years rather than an extra safety. I'll see JD on Monday also, but I try to refrain from asking him strategic questions. But, to answer some of you who feel that we should use 4 linebackers because of our talent at LB, couldn't you make the same argument that we should stay with 5 DB's because of our vast talent at DB as well?In my opinion, DB is the deepest part of this team right now, which means that we'll likely be playing the 3-3-5 for awhile yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRasor0200 Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Skip-Zip, you're right.You can't change the scheme each year depending on your personnel. I am starting to agree with Brookhart more every day because how hard it is to land serviceable d-lineman and how easy it is to grab linebackers and d-backs who can hold their own.If somehow Akron grabs three d-linemen in 2008 who will be eligible to play, it's time to start thinking about a more conventional system on which the rest of the MAC will not be able to run.At this point, it doesn't appear that will change in 2008. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandgold Posted June 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 I agree with MRasor. Mackey's position looks as if it's become more of an outside linebacker role over the last couple of years rather than an extra safety. I'll see JD on Monday also, but I try to refrain from asking him strategic questions. But, to answer some of you who feel that we should use 4 linebackers because of our talent at LB, couldn't you make the same argument that we should stay with 5 DB's because of our vast talent at DB as well?In my opinion, DB is the deepest part of this team right now, which means that we'll likely be playing the 3-3-5 for awhile yet. Yes, that makes sense as well. I agree it's hard to sit all of our talented secondary as well. My reasoning for the 3-4 is that I think it would stop the run a little better than what the 3-3-5 is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zff Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 To run the 3-4 you need more than just four good LB's. It all starts up front with the DT. You must have at least one if not two very good players for this position. If the DT can not hold the line, take on a double team and be a run stopper the other team will run wild on you. You also need two very good CB's who can handle man coverage and 'play on an island' so to speak. Plus you need an effective pass rush that can get to the QB qucikly. Regardless of how good your CB's are they can only cover the WR for so long.I am not claiming to be an expert on the 3-4 but I have been watching the Steelers run it for the last 20 years. And if you go back and look at there defensive ratings you can see the years they were bad the DT or the CB's had bad years........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 My thoughts exactly ZFF Here are the top 50 defenses from last year (Akron was 44) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 If you sort DR. Z's list by "Yds/play", we ended up tied for 20th! It just goes to show how the 2006 O often didn't help the 2007 D much, with way too many 3 and outs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Good point johnnyzip. If it looked like our defense was wearing down against the run, it appears that it may have been due to their extensive time on the field last year, and not their alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Here are a few articles on the 3-4 defense in case your reading JD If the 3-4 defense fits, wear itNot all linebackers and defensive ends are created equalWhat the 3-4 is all about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Good point johnnyzip. If it looked like our defense was wearing down against the run, it appears that it may have been due to their extensive time on the field last year, and not their alignment. Good point. The defense was wearing down, but I think it has more to do with the size of the players on the field and not the scheme. Over the course of a game, not to mention the course of a year, small players wear down against larger players. Football has moved to size up front and speed behind it. Florida didn't beat OSU because they were faster, they beat them because they had bigger and more physical players up front and backed them up with speed. An offense can run the clock out on a tired defense when they have the lead.This is no slap at Mackey, but just because he lines up a LB, doesn't make him a LB. The kid is a strong safety all the way. When he lines up and constantly plays against bigger players, his talents are not being fully used.I haven't liked the 3-3-5 defense since NIU and Memphis ran up a bunch of points on us at the end of the 2005 season. I just think it's a gimmick and I don't like gimmicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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