Are we a 4-3 over D?

SteveYoung · 2018-03-26T12:53:32-07:00

Need some help from our resident defense gurus. I think Saleh runs an OVER front as he studied under Gus Bradley in Jacksonville. I believe the OVER front has our SAM (Eli Harold) on the line of scrimmage over the TE alongside our 5T DE (Solomon Thomas) over the RT and our 3T (Deforest Buckner) is a 2 gap rusher while our NT (Earl Mitchell) is a one gap. I'm basically trying to determine which LB we may be interested in. Tremaine Edmunds or Roquan Smith. If we are indeed in an OVER front I think we don't place a HUGE need on a SAM linebacker because his main job is essential to set the edge on run plays and cover the flats if a TE sneaks out. I think Edmunds would be a SAM in our scheme which makes him the less desirable pick. It doesn't make much sense to spend the 9th overall on a player that we don't put that much emphasis on. Where-as the WILL and MIKE are interchangeable in a 4-3 OVER which makes a tandem of Roquan Smith and Reuben Foster an ideal fit. Am I correct here?

Mar 26, 2018 at 12:56 PM

49erKing
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Roquan Smith with #9 and then Jeff Holland in the later rounds and we're good!

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:06 PM

Sanfran_chrisco
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not sure let me check madden brb

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:07 PM

SteveYoung
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----LT - LG - C - RG - RT - TE
LEO---3T--------NT-----5T-------SAM

----SS-------WILL----------MIKE

[ Edited by SteveYoung on Mar 26, 2018 at 1:13 PM ]

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:13 PM

Heroism
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No, but Saleh will use over fronts against certain formations/personnel.

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:15 PM

SteveYoung
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----TE - RT - RG - C - LG - LT
SAM------5T------NT-------3T---LEO

-----MIKE---------WILL------SS

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:16 PM

Heroism
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Originally posted by SteveYoung:
----LT - LG - C - RG - RT - TE
LEO---3T--------NT-----5T-------SAM

----SS-------WILL----------MIKE

This is an under front.

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:17 PM

SteveYoung
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Originally posted by Heroism:
No, but Saleh will use over fronts against certain formations/personnel.

If he runs an UNDER front doesn't that mean that our SAM isn't on the LOS then?

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:18 PM

Heroism
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Originally posted by SteveYoung:
If he runs an UNDER front doesn't that mean that our SAM isn't on the LOS then?

No, you've got it reversed. Over fronts detach the SAM; Under fronts have him on the LOS ie Eli Harold.

Mar 26, 2018 at 1:41 PM

SteveYoung
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Originally posted by Heroism:
No, you've got it reversed. Over fronts detach the SAM; Under fronts have him on the LOS ie Eli Harold.

Oh ok. So we are a 4-3 under with Harold on the LOS outside the TE AND Tartt as a 3rd linebacker on the weakside.

So basically we are looking for a Bruce Irvin type at SAM. A guy who can set the edge and then rush the passer in nickle Which Edmunds isn't unless the team thinks he can be a WILL next to Reuben.

Would Okoronkwo be a fit at SAM? Or maybe USC's Nwosu? He seems to have the traits we look for in a SAM.

[ Edited by SteveYoung on Mar 26, 2018 at 1:42 PM ]

Mar 26, 2018 at 11:43 PM

#10

JTsBiggestFan
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4-3 Under was/is the standard Seattle look.

4-3 Over I imagine is used on occasion but not main dish.

Mar 27, 2018 at 5:14 AM

#11

tjd808185
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Jax has Myles Jack at Sam so they did end up valuing that spot. They just did something unconventional and Jack has some play calling duties out of Sam and stays at lb for nickel.

I don't necessarily think we should value lb top 10 but if we do go down that route the league is versatile.

Mar 27, 2018 at 6:30 AM

#12

SoCold
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4-3 over and under are interchangeable with the use of a NT. The use of a NT is what defines the over under alignment.

4-3 even uses 2 DT, no NT

Saleh was with Houston for 5 years and Seattle for 2 before going to Jax. He's learned many styles from many coaches. His defense uses many different alignments. Any good DT, DE or LB can be shifted to fit many alignment.

Mar 27, 2018 at 5:30 PM

#13

jonnydel
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Originally posted by SteveYoung:
Originally posted by Heroism:
No, but Saleh will use over fronts against certain formations/personnel.

If he runs an UNDER front doesn't that mean that our SAM isn't on the LOS then?

No. The "under" front is in reference to the positioning of the 3 technique and 1 technique. In a regular 4-3 your 3 tech is on the strong side and your 1 tech in the weakside. The "Under" tackle then moves your 3 tech to the weak side and your 1 tech the strong side and you compensate your edge by stacking the TE with your SAM. And "over" is when you stack your interior LB's over the guards.

Mar 27, 2018 at 6:27 PM

#14

SteveYoung
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Originally posted by jonnydel:
No. The "under" front is in reference to the positioning of the 3 technique and 1 technique. In a regular 4-3 your 3 tech is on the strong side and your 1 tech in the weakside. The "Under" tackle then moves your 3 tech to the weak side and your 1 tech the strong side and you compensate your edge by stacking the TE with your SAM. And "over" is when you stack your interior LB's over the guards.

Great.

Thanks for the info guys.