3-4 or 4-3

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:
To better understand the signing of Evans, you have to consider three things:

~configuration of most offenses
~how 3-4 defenses align to these configurations
~our current 3-4 DE talent (what they can do, and what they can't)

~Most offenses are set up with a quicker (and usually lighter) tackle on the left side, for the obvious purpose of being able to handle quicker pass rushers off the edge (and the blind side of most QBs). Being lighter, they don't always get the best push in the run game, so teams tend to run a little more to the right-side of their offense, where (typically) a more stout/stronger tackle sits.

~Since 3-4 defenses are short 1 person on the d-line, and most teams tend to run to the right-side of their offense the left defensive end in a 3-4 has to be a true anchor...someone who is stout enough to take on double-teams not get pushed around by the bigger right tackles (which is why you see guys like Richard Seymour, Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, etc. on the left side of their defense).

~Balmer is the likely starter at LDE this year (with Smith and McDonald the likely rotation at RDE), and he definitely has the size (6'5", 315) and strength to be an anchor LDE in a 3-4. However, at this stage of his career, he hasn't shown the ability to provide much of a pass rush (neither did Soap last year, who essentially has the same skills as Balmer).

That's where Evans (6'4", 280ish) comes into play.

Balmer and Evans will play in a rotation, with KB on 1st/2nd downs, and Evans coming in on passing downs to provide a pass rush (much like the Patriots have used used Jarvis Green, who is essentially the same size as Evans). Now, we don't need a Julius Peppers-type of pass rush out of the 3-4 LDE (that's the OLB's role)...just someone strong enough to not get manhandled by the RT, yet who has enough moves to keep that RT occupied and the offense at lest respect what's happening on the front side.

That also explains why we didn't go after Olshansky (who is essentially a duplication of Balmer).

Makes perfect sense only problem is Evans isn't that good. I watched him a lot he seems to work hard but that's about it. He never gets the the qb and is easily stonewalled. I don't see Evans accomplishing what this defense needs. Green is a better player.

Originally posted by AmpLee:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:
To better understand the signing of Evans, you have to consider three things:

~configuration of most offenses
~how 3-4 defenses align to these configurations
~our current 3-4 DE talent (what they can do, and what they can't)

~Most offenses are set up with a quicker (and usually lighter) tackle on the left side, for the obvious purpose of being able to handle quicker pass rushers off the edge (and the blind side of most QBs). Being lighter, they don't always get the best push in the run game, so teams tend to run a little more to the right-side of their offense, where (typically) a more stout/stronger tackle sits.

~Since 3-4 defenses are short 1 person on the d-line, and most teams tend to run to the right-side of their offense the left defensive end in a 3-4 has to be a true anchor...someone who is stout enough to take on double-teams not get pushed around by the bigger right tackles (which is why you see guys like Richard Seymour, Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, etc. on the left side of their defense).

~Balmer is the likely starter at LDE this year (with Smith and McDonald the likely rotation at RDE), and he definitely has the size (6'5", 315) and strength to be an anchor LDE in a 3-4. However, at this stage of his career, he hasn't shown the ability to provide much of a pass rush (neither did Soap last year, who essentially has the same skills as Balmer).

That's where Evans (6'4", 280ish) comes into play.

Balmer and Evans will play in a rotation, with KB on 1st/2nd downs, and Evans coming in on passing downs to provide a pass rush (much like the Patriots have used used Jarvis Green, who is essentially the same size as Evans). Now, we don't need a Julius Peppers-type of pass rush out of the 3-4 LDE (that's the OLB's role)...just someone strong enough to not get manhandled by the RT, yet who has enough moves to keep that RT occupied and the offense at lest respect what's happening on the front side.

That also explains why we didn't go after Olshansky (who is essentially a duplication of Balmer).

Makes perfect sense only problem is Evans isn't that good. I watched him a lot he seems to work hard but that's about it. He never gets the the qb and is easily stonewalled. I don't see Evans accomplishing what this defense needs. Green is a better player.

I wasn't trying to compare the quality of Green to Evans, only the type. Since Green isn't available, and we needed someone with that type of size/skill-set, I don't think Evans is a bad fit at all (nearly 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks for a LDE).

If we got those numbers from him, I'd be happy....especially if the OLB next to him had an even bigger year!

So does this move put Soap back at NT in rotation with Franklin? Does this then mean we likely will not draft a NT or DE very high in the draft?

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:
To better understand the signing of Evans, you have to consider three things:

~configuration of most offenses
~how 3-4 defenses align to these configurations
~our current 3-4 DE talent (what they can do, and what they can't)

~Most offenses are set up with a quicker (and usually lighter) tackle on the left side, for the obvious purpose of being able to handle quicker pass rushers off the edge (and the blind side of most QBs). Being lighter, they don't always get the best push in the run game, so teams tend to run a little more to the right-side of their offense, where (typically) a more stout/stronger tackle sits.

~Since 3-4 defenses are short 1 person on the d-line, and most teams tend to run to the right-side of their offense the left defensive end in a 3-4 has to be a true anchor...someone who is stout enough to take on double-teams not get pushed around by the bigger right tackles (which is why you see guys like Richard Seymour, Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, etc. on the left side of their defense).

~Balmer is the likely starter at LDE this year (with Smith and McDonald the likely rotation at RDE), and he definitely has the size (6'5", 315) and strength to be an anchor LDE in a 3-4. However, at this stage of his career, he hasn't shown the ability to provide much of a pass rush (neither did Soap last year, who essentially has the same skills as Balmer).

That's where Evans (6'4", 280ish) comes into play.

Balmer and Evans will play in a rotation, with KB on 1st/2nd downs, and Evans coming in on passing downs to provide a pass rush (much like the Patriots have used used Jarvis Green, who is essentially the same size as Evans). Now, we don't need a Julius Peppers-type of pass rush out of the 3-4 LDE (that's the OLB's role)...just someone strong enough to not get manhandled by the RT, yet who has enough moves to keep that RT occupied and the offense at lest respect what's happening on the front side.

That also explains why we didn't go after Olshansky (who is essentially a duplication of Balmer).

Makes perfect sense only problem is Evans isn't that good. I watched him a lot he seems to work hard but that's about it. He never gets the the qb and is easily stonewalled. I don't see Evans accomplishing what this defense needs. Green is a better player.

I wasn't trying to compare the quality of Green to Evans, only the type. Since Green isn't available, and we needed someone with that type of size/skill-set, I don't think Evans is a bad fit at all (nearly 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks for a LDE).

If we got those numbers from him, I'd be happy....especially if the OLB next to him had an even bigger year!

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:
To better understand the signing of Evans, you have to consider three things:

~configuration of most offenses
~how 3-4 defenses align to these configurations
~our current 3-4 DE talent (what they can do, and what they can't)

~Most offenses are set up with a quicker (and usually lighter) tackle on the left side, for the obvious purpose of being able to handle quicker pass rushers off the edge (and the blind side of most QBs). Being lighter, they don't always get the best push in the run game, so teams tend to run a little more to the right-side of their offense, where (typically) a more stout/stronger tackle sits.

~Since 3-4 defenses are short 1 person on the d-line, and most teams tend to run to the right-side of their offense the left defensive end in a 3-4 has to be a true anchor...someone who is stout enough to take on double-teams not get pushed around by the bigger right tackles (which is why you see guys like Richard Seymour, Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, etc. on the left side of their defense).

~Balmer is the likely starter at LDE this year (with Smith and McDonald the likely rotation at RDE), and he definitely has the size (6'5", 315) and strength to be an anchor LDE in a 3-4. However, at this stage of his career, he hasn't shown the ability to provide much of a pass rush (neither did Soap last year, who essentially has the same skills as Balmer).

That's where Evans (6'4", 280ish) comes into play.

Balmer and Evans will play in a rotation, with KB on 1st/2nd downs, and Evans coming in on passing downs to provide a pass rush (much like the Patriots have used used Jarvis Green, who is essentially the same size as Evans). Now, we don't need a Julius Peppers-type of pass rush out of the 3-4 LDE (that's the OLB's role)...just someone strong enough to not get manhandled by the RT, yet who has enough moves to keep that RT occupied and the offense at lest respect what's happening on the front side.

That also explains why we didn't go after Olshansky (who is essentially a duplication of Balmer).

Makes perfect sense only problem is Evans isn't that good. I watched him a lot he seems to work hard but that's about it. He never gets the the qb and is easily stonewalled. I don't see Evans accomplishing what this defense needs. Green is a better player.

I wasn't trying to compare the quality of Green to Evans, only the type. Since Green isn't available, and we needed someone with that type of size/skill-set, I don't think Evans is a bad fit at all (nearly 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks for a LDE).

If we got those numbers from him, I'd be happy....especially if the OLB next to him had an even bigger year!

Maybe i just don't see it hopefully i'm wrong but watching this guy on the skins the last 3/4 years he hasn't shown anything more than being a barely average player. But it was the Redskins one of the few teams with a worse pass rush than the niners.

Originally posted by AmpLee:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean:
To better understand the signing of Evans, you have to consider three things:

~configuration of most offenses
~how 3-4 defenses align to these configurations
~our current 3-4 DE talent (what they can do, and what they can't)

~Most offenses are set up with a quicker (and usually lighter) tackle on the left side, for the obvious purpose of being able to handle quicker pass rushers off the edge (and the blind side of most QBs). Being lighter, they don't always get the best push in the run game, so teams tend to run a little more to the right-side of their offense, where (typically) a more stout/stronger tackle sits.

~Since 3-4 defenses are short 1 person on the d-line, and most teams tend to run to the right-side of their offense the left defensive end in a 3-4 has to be a true anchor...someone who is stout enough to take on double-teams not get pushed around by the bigger right tackles (which is why you see guys like Richard Seymour, Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, etc. on the left side of their defense).

~Balmer is the likely starter at LDE this year (with Smith and McDonald the likely rotation at RDE), and he definitely has the size (6'5", 315) and strength to be an anchor LDE in a 3-4. However, at this stage of his career, he hasn't shown the ability to provide much of a pass rush (neither did Soap last year, who essentially has the same skills as Balmer).

That's where Evans (6'4", 280ish) comes into play.

Balmer and Evans will play in a rotation, with KB on 1st/2nd downs, and Evans coming in on passing downs to provide a pass rush (much like the Patriots have used used Jarvis Green, who is essentially the same size as Evans). Now, we don't need a Julius Peppers-type of pass rush out of the 3-4 LDE (that's the OLB's role)...just someone strong enough to not get manhandled by the RT, yet who has enough moves to keep that RT occupied and the offense at lest respect what's happening on the front side.

That also explains why we didn't go after Olshansky (who is essentially a duplication of Balmer).

Makes perfect sense only problem is Evans isn't that good. I watched him a lot he seems to work hard but that's about it. He never gets the the qb and is easily stonewalled. I don't see Evans accomplishing what this defense needs. Green is a better player.

I wasn't trying to compare the quality of Green to Evans, only the type. Since Green isn't available, and we needed someone with that type of size/skill-set, I don't think Evans is a bad fit at all (nearly 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks for a LDE).

If we got those numbers from him, I'd be happy....especially if the OLB next to him had an even bigger year!

So does this move put Soap back at NT in rotation with Franklin? Does this then mean we likely will not draft a NT or DE very high in the draft?

Originally posted by NinersSF:
Yeah, that's true. I forgot about that. So our 3-4 seems to be working now. I guess it's ok to stick with it.

Originally posted by Watchutalkinbout:
It's a little trickier to build a 3-4 as opposed to a 4-3. It take a little time. We gotta find our WILL and NT. That's about it.

Originally posted by NinersSF:
What is so good about the 3-4 as oppose to the 4-3? The only thing it does is disguise the 4th rusher. Why are our coaching staff seem to be so in love with the 3-4 when we have players to fit the 4-3 better. If we want to be a 3-4 team then why not get players that suits that defense by now? I think we might be better off with a 4-3 but then again our linebackers are pretty good with the 3-4.

Originally posted by B650:

Originally posted by NinersSF:
Yeah, that's true. I forgot about that. So our 3-4 seems to be working now. I guess it's ok to stick with it.

You're an easy sale.

Seriously though, I think the strength of our defense the last couple of years has been linebacker, so it only makes sense, unless we had some really good and physical DTs like Warren Sapp.