If we switched to the 4-3 why not just let Coples play DE? Simplest solution. Coples/Wilk/Harrison/Richardson with Douzable and even Babin rotating in
not really, you wouldn't want that personnel group against 3 wr set too often. but the way the league is passing nowadays,smaller faster lb's are going to be the norm. that's why i like alllen in that role
if you want to split hairs,yes.but it would not be the defense against 3wr sets that the nickel is used to defense
Yeah lets jeopardize our strongest position. Yup. Just like a Jet. I'd agree with the 4-3 switch but i dont agree with trading any of the 3. They all need to be retained, just add one more guy or draft one. The only big signing to the front 7 on D is a pass rushing OLB
I'm not sure I understand what your point is...And, basically, most base offenses have pass catching TEs, so what specific use is your defense it if can't actually defend a 3 WR set?
Why change whats not broken. The true peices in our front 7 that need to be adressed are DE/OLB and I think its time to move on from Harris. Our D-linemen are capable of lining up in a 4-3 or 3-4 as of right now I say keep the hybrid D and get younger and more athletic at OLB and MLB. Randy Gregory would be a great pick if the QBs are gone and could help this defense tremendously. MLB we could address in FA, any idea who is out there?
You really can't take a defensive player in the first round unless we deal Wilkerson and get another pick, which would be foolish. There's enough talent on the defense and too much invested to try to go get another defensive lineman (or rush backer) to the point where we can't try to build a super front 4 with all the holes on this team.
First round is always BPA for good teams, and that goes triple for really high picks like the one we will have. If Gregory has a chance to potentially be the next Aldon Smith or Von Miller, it would be crazy to reach for a need at that pick. And that's not to mention that pass rushing is still sort of a need for us, we are not terrible at it, but we don't have a guy who consistently scares QBs either.
We have some very good players on the DL but I do not see them terrorizing good QBs all that much. I see them getting double teamed to death. This has become a passing league and you need to rush the passer. Good QBs eat up blitzing linebackers. Super Bowl winners invariable do a great job of getting to the QB. I am for a 4-3 that will put our superior talent in more 1 on 1 situations.
Another reason I want to see 4-3, is that I believe 3-4 is more of a coach's defense and 4-3 is more of a players' defense. In 3-4 there is a lot more emphasis on coaches making creative calls, calling exotic blitzes, and running complex schemes, because with anywhere from 3 to 5 players possibly rushing or dropping back, you have a lot more room for coaching creativity. 4-3 is a simpler defense, with most plays 4 guys rushing upfield, but simpler doesn't necessarily mean worse. I read somewhere Lovie Smith talking about why he loves the 4-3 and he said it's because it lets players focus on doing just one thing, and do it well (that thing being rushing upfield through their one gap to the QB or the RB along the way). In a 3-4, linemen and OLBs have a lot more on their plate, sometimes they have to drop back into coverage depending on the situation, sometimes they have to rush, and the linemen are also often responsible for 2 gaps, so they can't just pin their ears back and rush, and abandon another gap. Maybe it's just backlash from having Rex as the HC for 6 years, but I am tired of all the complex stuff on defense. Neither Rex's nor Rob's defenses are doing that well right now in the NFL, and think this overcomplicated approach might be part of the problem. These systems might work well with a certain type of experienced veteran player, but for lots of players, they make them think too much, whether it's the DBs thinking about what they are supposed to be doing and not being able to intercept the ball, or the front seven having too many responsibilities which prevents guys like Richardson, Wilkerson, Coples from just roaring upfield constantly and doing what they do best.
I just want to bump this thread because this is a quality topic amongst a lot of nonsense. This is good football talk and hopefully there will be new contributors to this conversation. Let's get more X's & O's type conversations on here
This WAS an excellent post... I agree with the second paragraph very much. I think Rex way overthinks defense, as if he's enamored with the notion of his genius. I think the Jets have the building blocks for a great defense. They just have neglected the second level (LBs). IMO, the Jets basically do play a 4-3. Coples is a DE trying to play LB and it's limited his effectiveness. Sure, he can do it, but not as well as he probably would playing DE. He's simply not fast or nimble enough to play LB consistently well. Maybe part of that is his own inconsistency, that is, maybe he'd be just as inconsistent on the DL. But I think we'd see more from him if he were playing his natural position. But, hey, it's not a terrible thing to have a Coples at LB if you had a real playmaker at OLB playing on the other side. Pace nor Babin are that caliber player. And that's why I'm torn about the 1st round draft pick. I'd like to see the Jets scoop up a difference maker for that OLB spot. But I'd also like them to draft Amari Cooper, WR. I know that the Jets have drafted defense-first for forever. But the defense still seems incomplete. And, to be honest, I think I'd rather they complete that unit with a real OLB than go for a WR, especially if they haven't fully addressed the interior OL positions significantly.
I'm not a fan of the 4-3 front but I do agree that it's the scheme that would maximize the talents of our most talented players. My approach would be as follows: 1. Attempt to trade Wilkerson for a 1st round pick I love Wilkerson but love Richardson more. If I have to tie up a big chunk of cap space on an interior defensive lineman, it would be the latter not the former. As great as Richardson has been, I think he would all world as a 3 technique. If I can't get a first for Mo, I would use Wilkerson inside next to Richardson similar to how Detroit lines up Suh and Fairley inside. Mo and Sheldon can interchange between the 1 and 3 techniques. 2. Offer Snacks a 2nd round tender with the hopes someone bites. Snacks has been great, but he is replaceable. If no one bites, then we have him at a more than reasonable price. I'd also resign Ellis. 3. Sign a Greg Hardy. I'd rather sign an accomplished edge rusher than take a chance with a pick. With quality of players he'd have playing along side him, Hardy should easily amass double digit sacks every year here. My 4 would be Coples, Rich, Snacks/Ellis and Hardy.
One interesting thing lately has been IK Enempali. He constantly made plays for us in the preseason, but then was pretty much forgotten during the regular season games until last week. But once he got some playing time, he was right back to making plays. A sack that was wiped off due to a penalty, a couple of batted down passes, almost an interception. Now it is the Titans, but still, it says something when a guy is constantly making plays. Would like to see him play more the final two games. Seems almost like the opposite of Coples, good motor and intangibles but without the physical gifts. I know people are weary after years of defensive picks in the first round, and Cooper seems like a sure thing at WR, but for me, it's not even close. You just don' t see elite WRs make much of an impact in the NFL in terms of the team success. Most of the great WRs play on the shittiest teams, and those teams never seem to get better. Elite pass rushers, on the other hand, have a tremendous impact. So in the top 5-10 picks, I would definitely consider pass rushers way before WRs.
Elite Pass Rushers / or Great Defensive pressure. Both can be accomplished. We haven't had an elite PR since J. Abe, but I believe with the proper personnel we can get elite pass rush from the DL. Also, I believe Richardson can be an elite Pass Rusher. I truly believe that.
