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View Full Version : Is the 3-4 the New Cool Thing in the NFL???

Tigers#1
03-30-2005, 10:51 PM
Every year or two, theres some thing new that half the league copies from the latest superbowl champ. Whether it's a high powered offence, "defence wins championships" the West Coast Offence, Quarterbacks win championships, you don't need a great quarterback to win a championship, and so on. Now, after it failed for most of the 90's, everyone is copying the Pats 3-4 defence. Here's all the teams i know that are either doing it, have already done it, or are flirting with it this year:

Patriots
Broncos
Steelers
Browns
Texans
Dolphins
Falcons
Ravens
Cowboys
Raiders
49ers

I'm sure there's more, but thats all i know off the top of my head. I just think it's comical how high schoolish this is.
BPBlueSox
03-30-2005, 11:10 PM
or everyone could just be copying the Steelers' 3-4 like the Patsies did...
Tigers#1
03-30-2005, 11:12 PM
The Steelers are the one team who was able to consistantly keep the 3-4 around for the last decade. I think at one time they were the only team left with the 3-4 after the Bengals converted.
Thedatch
03-31-2005, 05:43 AM
hell, if it gets the job done...
Durango53
03-31-2005, 11:31 AM
Like all defense and such if you have the right players then you can do this. As Dan said the Steelers have been doing this for years with one of the best there is. It is hard though to find the LB's that can do this though. They have to be big to take on the o-line men and they have to be fast to handle the LB job. Not to many of those guys out there but if you can get them then sure go to the 3-4. Do what best fits your team.
Tigers#1
03-31-2005, 01:36 PM
A lot of people don't know what their doing with it though. The D-Linemen are there only to stuff the holes, and to tie up the linemen so the linebackers can make the play.
PissedPrincess
03-31-2005, 01:56 PM
The 3-4 defense isn't why the Pats have won 3 of 4 Superbowls. They play a fair amount of 4-3 too. The key to winning is to have a balanced team.

That 3-4 Steeler D gets torched every time it plays a Chamionship game.

Versatility is the answer.
cxlx
03-31-2005, 02:22 PM
Another key to the sucess of the 3-4 defense is the nose tackle. Someone that can clog up the middle and be forced to get double or triple teamed so the LB's can do their jobs. But PP is right, doesnt matter how you lineup, if you have the staff that does the job, then you will be successful. Even though the Pats line up majority of the time in the "3-4", it looks more like a 5-2 with Vrabel and Mcginest on the outside.
MainEventMT
04-01-2005, 05:14 PM
The 3-4 defense isn't why the Pats have won 3 of 4 Superbowls. They play a fair amount of 4-3 too. The key to winning is to have a balanced team.

That 3-4 Steeler D gets torched every time it plays a Chamionship game.

Versatility is the answer.



The Steelers only got beat down handily one time in the AFC Championship Game. Their losses in those games were close. The real reason they lost was not becasue of defense anyways. It was mainly because they had no QB. Sure Roethlisberger didn't play to well in the playoffs but he will be a special QB.
cxlx
04-01-2005, 05:25 PM
The Steelers only got beat down handily one time in the AFC Championship Game. Their losses in those games were close. The real reason they lost was not becasue of defense anyways. It was mainly because they had no QB. Sure Roethlisberger didn't play to well in the playoffs but he will be a special QB.

It was the defense. It failed to contain the passing game. You cant say it wasnt the defense when they gave up 41 points.
MainEventMT
04-05-2005, 07:27 PM
Sure last years game the D didn't play to well. But you said every time they are in the AFC Championship game they get torced and last years one was the only time they lost by a score of more than 1 td.