Dorsey gives us a ferocious 4-3 front on passing downs!

Mike Sando has an interesting read on the defensive scheme implications of Dorsey's signing:

Again, I don't think the 49ers are suddenly going to unveil a 4-3 base defense. But they do have flexibility with their personnel. They could be headed in that direction. As Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. noted when I reached out to him Wednesday, Smith was a 4-3 defensive end coming out of college. Ray McDonald was seen as an up-the-field lineman. The fact that Smith and McDonald have flourished in a 3-4 reflects well on them and on defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. There's precedent for Dorsey to make a transition, too.

On the other hand, Dorsey appears ideally suited for a 4-3 defense. That was the word on him as the fifth pick of the 2008 draft and that remained the word on him heading into free agency. And the 49ers do have the personnel to become more of a 4-3 team on defense should they choose to head in that direction.

"I could see McDonald as a three-technique type and maybe Dorsey as one-technique," Williamson said. "Ahmad Brooks could project as a 'SAM' linebacker pretty easily and Bowman would be great as the 'WILL'. Justin Smith could be a strong-side end, Aldon Smith could play the weak side. They do have the personnel."

We ran a 4-3, in our nickel and a 4-2 in our dime packages on 70% of our D snaps last year.

Sando also mentions that the Pats, one of the original 3-4 teams moved to a hybrid with more 4-3 fronts partially because of personnel, and partially because the 3-4 has become so popular, that it is now easier and cheaper to get 4-3 players in the draft. Its a good read:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/74001/glenn-dorsey-and-3-4-questions-for-49ers

Sure if we can get more depth and players stay healthy

I wouldnt mind some 4-3 splashed in with our other defensive packages ...but we are a 3-4 team .....we will have a versatile rotation of defensive lineman for nickel and dime packages ....but if we land woodson , our pass coverage in our base defense gets better the second Woody hits the field

Originally posted by NeeJ49er:
I wouldnt mind some 4-3 splashed in with our other defensive packages ...but we are a 3-4 team .....we will have a versatile rotation of defensive lineman for nickel and dime packages ....but if we land woodson , our pass coverage in our base defense gets better the second Woody hits the field

Meh Woodson is ooold and not the player most here on the zone are making him out to be. Our pass D will improve marginally while our run D suffers significantly should we sign him.

With teams passing so much you pretty much have no choice but to go to a 4 man front to bring in an extra DB.

We have the personnel to do it, and offenses are too good to only have one scheme nowadays. The one worry is if the team tried to get too fancy and outhink themselves leading to allot of mistakes.

Originally posted by lamontb:
With teams passing so much you pretty much have no choice but to go to a 4 man front to bring in an extra DB.

Technically, we are (from a personnel standpoint) a 2-4-5 on passing downs. We could go to a 3-3-5 to defend more against the run while including the extra DB. it would probably go: Cowboy-Dorsey-RayMac/Pat,Bow,A.Smith or Brooks.

A four man front is not necessarily a 4-3. A 4-3 indicates 4 lineman and 3 LBs. Our alignment on passing downs is a 4-2-5, generally (but the ends are actually our OLBs).

I thought Dorsey's reputation was that he is a good run-stopper but next-to-useless as a pass rusher?

Originally posted by theduke85:
I thought Dorsey's reputation was that he is a good run-stopper but next-to-useless as a pass rusher?

He's useless as an outside pass rusher, from the 3-4 DE spot. There's more distance to cover and your matched up against an OT often. Dorsey's short stout frame is a better matchup against guards and centers.

A 4-3 DT's pass rush is usually a 1-gap, split the double team, flush the QB from the inside sort of thing. That is what Dorsey is better suited for.

He was incredible at LSU and projected to be a monster in the pros. I really don't know if he under-performed or was over-rated.

I'm confident he'll be used effectively by Fangip & company.

An added benefit is [hopefully] that he'll want something to prove and be pissed off. He had to be reading and hearing all the negative press in KC - so this may be his chance.

Could we see somthing like this ala Seifert? kind of a cross between 3-4 and 4-3 without needing a true 3-4 type NT

The inside guys playing 1 and 3 tech, A.Smith as the Elephant, Willis shines with the freedom as a Wil

who doesnt play well under the tutelage of the great Jim Tomsula?

Originally posted by cools:


Could we see somthing like this ala Seifert? kind of a cross between 3-4 and 4-3 without needing a true 3-4 type NT

The inside guys playing 1 and 3 tech, A.Smith as the Elephant, Willis shines with the freedom as a Wil

Wouldn't Bowman be the WIl?

Originally posted by monsterzero789:
who doesnt play well under the tutelage of the great Jim Tomsula?

The only undefeated HC in 49er History!

Originally posted by FunkNinerFlex:

Originally posted by cools:

Could we see somthing like this ala Seifert? kind of a cross between 3-4 and 4-3 without needing a true 3-4 type NT

The inside guys playing 1 and 3 tech, A.Smith as the Elephant, Willis shines with the freedom as a Wil

Wouldn't Bowman be the WIl?

I can see this happening. But will wait until we see who else we sign and draft. And yes, Bowman would be the Wil.

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