Listen, this team was built to run a 3-4 and the personnel was drafted to run a 3-4, and they run it quite well too.
3-4 101:
In the 3-4 4 players are sent, but that 4th rusher is harder for the offense to identify. In the 4-3 the 4th rusher is known pre-snap and thus, scheme-wise, it's easier to gamed around. In the 3-4 because that 4th rusher isn't known pre-snap it puts pressure on blockers (backs and lineman) to adjust at the point of attack. That makes the offense more susceptible to stunts, twists, and a host of other things, which make it much easier for the D to get pressure with just 4 guys. Pressure is the word in the 3-4. It's as important as sacks. In this pass-happy league you have to have constant pressure to disputed what the offense wants to do. And this is what this team is doing very well. In addition, most football technicians will tell you that the most important aspect of the 3-4 is the 0-Technique - the NG. Your 0-Tech. must be selfless and able to control both A-gaps (a two-gapper), otherwise your LB's - no matter how good they are - are gonna get exposed in the run game due to OG's getting free into the "2nd level". This is were Issac Soap. and Ricky Jean has been so good at. They have really done at good job at keeping Willis and Bowman relativity clean while clogging the A-gaps. Finally, our base 3-4 package is extremely good on passing downs, giving us the ability to easily move from 3-4 to nickle pre-snap. (YOU CANNOT DO THAT IN THE 4-3!!) That's vital in this pass happy league. In no-huddle situations this team won't be as exposed as most in the NFL, and why this defense is so good.
So lets please put this 4-3 nonsense to rest and end this thread.
