1. 3-3-5 Triple stack was one alternative I was giving a hard look. [Yes - you should be able to find my post about it a few years ago on this board somewhere. I still like it.] Just - it requires two smart SS/LB tweeners. Easier said than done. [The major merit of 3-3-5 is its ability to shapeshift into 3-5-3 on the fly. This ability gives one more option of unpredictability than 3-4 without compromising the pass coverage, while the overall defense being rock solid against any type of run.] If Jets do turn to 3-3-5, they would need a new MLB. Lee would be one tweener, but they will need another. [Then he won't need to gain more muscles either, by the way.] 2. Mo and Leo would make very good DEs in 3-4. If they were to be used in 4-3, their best bet would be 3T. I don't think they are born for the NT role. If they do run 3-3-5, I'd bet Deon Simon would be the NT, with Leo and Mo at the edge. Sheldon will be rotating with them. [And gone afterwards] Wilkerson at NT would not be a good use of talent, as he would be pretty much ineffective soaking up double teams and even triple teams every down. While it serves the purpose, I'd think he could do better elsewhere.
1. We have a lot of talented / young safeties on this roster, don't you think? Bowles will need to start utilizing the "Big Nickel". Adams, Maye, Miles, and Middleton ... that's 4 safeties I think the Jets can utilize. 3 of those safeties you can employ on a play. Miles is a solid run support safety, but cannot be trusted in coverage. The Jets cannot comprise on the pass coverage any longer, the constant sending of 6, 7 guys can't happen on each passing down. So how do the Jets get pressure without sending the house? Regardless of anything, I think we both agree the Jets need another linebacker to go with Lee regardless of schematics. 2. Leonard to me is the absolute 3 technique, and has the most talent out of all 3 lineman [Sheldon, Mo, Leonard]. He is the Jets leader and their anchor, it will start and end with him. I think one of Mo's best skill-sets is the ability to take on double teams to open up things for others, and he's excellent in the run game. That to me, is the primary responsibility of a 1 technique DT. I think obviously you let both of them eat, matchup dependent. Williams might be on fire that day, so he's going to get the work with the 3 Tech, maybe the next week Mo is on a tear, you let him play the 3 Technique. That's the beauty of those 2 specifically is they are interchangeable. Bowles so far has failed in terms of utilizing these guys. 2 seasons in. Oh and Sheldon can definitely hit the road. This is a great discussion, nonetheless. You never hear debate on why a specific formation would not work, so it's always good to have these talks. Hopefully we get a kick ass linebacker to play alongside Lee and another edge rusher in the near future.
Yay ! Another 4-3 thread ... Williams and Wilkerson are 3-4 DEs. Period . Sure you could probably plug them into a 43 but it would be a waste of their talent playing them out of their natural position . Also Lee is pretty much the only lb we have would work well in a 43. Anyways , I'm not even sure why the 43 was brought up , other than the world will stop spinning if there isn't a thread open about it . If I understood the article correctly , all it says is that Lee should play OLB and Mauldin should be on the inside . The guy says Lee has been getting beat up by tackles on the inside and would have more success rushing the weak side . Not sure about if he's correct . If it was that simple why wouldn't they have tried it yet ? I have more questions than answers now actually . Looking back to previous configurations like when Bart Scott and Harris were the long time inside lb duo that beat up tackles and stopped the inside run , to Lee and Davis , who are more lean and faster . Is there a perfect mold for ILB or does it just matter the team....
1. As for the suggestion - there is only one way to find out; and that is to let them play in the role. 2. Mo as NT - I'm not too keen on that, but for now I am willing to [agree to disagree] on that issue. No problem. 3. I still think we haven't seen what Mauldin and Jenkins could look like under a real OLB coach. [We just got one now.] 4. Moreover - now that I think of it, Lee's light frame won't be that much of a liability. He'd fit just fine as the ILB. [He will always have a support, so the opposing guard - regardless of whichever side - would be doubled with Lee and SS. RB running behind that hole would not have a field day.]
The jets have been running a 3-4 but using a mostly one-gap system, so it really resembles a 4-3 in many ways. In a traditional 3-4, the dlinemen need to be bigger because they have to be able to cover two gaps (so they have to be able to mostly hold their own against big olinemen). In a traditional 4-3, usually the linemen are smaller because they only have to penetrate one-gap and you want them to be faster and drive upfield through the gap off the snap (typically 1, 3 and 5 technique dlinemen). The Jets dlinemen are mostly playing a one-gap system, so even though its technically a 3-4, its really a lot more like a 4-3. Since they've already been playing a mostly one-gap system, I don't think it really matters if they sub out an lb and add an additional dlinemen. Given the number of talented dlinemen they have, it would make sense for them to replace david Harris with a 4th dlinemen. The main issue they have is that their dlinemen have not been strong pass rushers recently (Mo a couple of years ago was). Still, I suspect that they're more likely to play a lot of 4-3 this year.
1. My friend, that's but one brand of 4-3. [You are referring to 3T when you mention the penetrating DT.] 2. And the one-gap DLs in 3-4 were popularized by Bum Phillips. You know - he happens to be the father of *Gulp!* Wade Phillips. 3. By "traditional" I take it that you were referring to Fairbanks/Bullough 3-4. You know - that's the brand Bill Parcells used with mastery. That said, I'd say it contributes to this discussion in a meaningful way still. This means, in terms of the overall personnel, Jets don't really have the ability to run any brand of 4-3. Your post also shows this - so I am thankful for your input.
Darron Lee is a Wlb whether in 4-3( outside) or inside in 3-4 defense. ( where he plays isn't the problem). The Jets don't have a defense they can play that their personnel is perfect fit for. The Jets don't have enough speed rushers at defense End ( defense lineman are DT's) to make the 4-3 defense work. They don't have any pass rushing outside Lb's to make the 3-4 defense work. Until they start addressing those short comings on defense, it really doesn't matter what defense they run.
We should have switched to a 43 YEARS ago, however I'm not sure who is playing end in the 43 for us. It's been a question at OLB as well. Just like Richardson doesn't fit as a 34 OLB, none of our 3 DL studs fit as a 43 DL. Not only that, but if the combination of Williams, Wilkerson & Richardson are rotating at DT, when/how does a guy like Lawrence Thomas or Deon Simon see the field? Steve McClendon is then released, too, I assume? Even if you put Mo at one end spot and have Leonard and Sheldon inside, who is your other hand in the dirt 43 DE? Mauldin? Josh Martin? Jordan Jenkins? The only one who MIGHT have success in this role is Mauldin and even with him there are an array of questions. I do, however, like the prospect of the 3 LB's in a 43 look, with Lee on the outside alongside Jenkins and for one year Davis in the middle. I think Lee would be better suited as a weakside LB in a 43 look.
I agree with you that we don't have a 4-3 DE on the roster. As you stated, Mauldin could possibly fit as a 4-3 DE, but he's the only one who would really be a fit. I think there would be no need for McLendon or Simon., and probably none for Thomas as well. I disagree with your assertion that none of our 3 DL studs fits as a 4-3 DL. Mo would be an excellent 4-3 DT, and both Williams and Richardson would make excellent 3 Technique players.
Mauldin and Jenkins would make poor 4-3 DEs. OTs would have field day with them. They are both minimum 20 lbs too light. And they don't have the leeway Lee might have as 3-4 ILB, as they have to go mano-a-mano against 280+ lb [this is minimum] OTs every down. Mo, Leo and Richardson would all fit in as 3T, but they won't make good NT. Unless they go Phillips 3-4 [which is a tall order] 315 lb NT would mean rape up the middle in the running game. Maybe, the two-gap DT. Wilkerson [can] transition into that role, but Wilkerson will have to gain minimum 10 lbs for that.
I agree that Jenkins would not be a good 4-3 DE. Mauldin played 4-3 DE in college. I didn't say that he would be good, but I think he's the only player on the Jets roster that could play it in anything close to an acceptable manner. I disagree regarding Mo. I think he could play the 4-3 DT role well, and don't see him as a 3T at all. I do agree that he'd probably need to put on some weight to better hold his ground.
Oh, they for sure all fit on the inside at DT. I didn't mean to imply that they wouldn't. My mistake there. My questioning is at 1 LB spot and both end spots.
Mo doesn't need to put on any weight to be a 1 Tech in a 4 man front. Look at the Vikings wall where they had Pat and Kevin Williams. None exceed 315 pounds.
I think the discussion here shouldn't be focused on which player can be adequate or succeed playing a different position or technique, it's that overall this team doesn't have proper personnel to run either a 4-3 or a 3-4. To date (younger players can develop and surprise but I'm doubtful it happens this year) this team doesn't have any player that is a true DE in a 4-3, it doesn't have a player that has proven they can play OLB at a high level in a 3-4. Debating whether Mo can be successful as a NT is moot, you don't take your highest paid player and stick him at NT 1 year into a new contract. The question that should be asked of Mac and toilet is WTF are you doing?
At least they have some raw material for 3-4 OLB in Mauldin and Jenkins. Let's see what a good OLB coach like Kevin Greene can do with them first. 4-3... I don't know. I just don't see 4-3 front seven out of this roster. And - remember. Jets LB corp was laid bare during Rex Ryan years, and the regime before. [Mangini] We had ONE good MLB pick out of the two regimes - that is, David Harris - and then that's it. We had Gholston disaster, and Anthony Schlegel before. Rex drafted two LBs; ya know, Demario Davis *Gulp!* and Jeremiah George. So it is not unreasonable to find the current Jets roster without a young talent at LB spot. They just didn't draft one. When Macc took over, that's one of the things he did - restocking LB corp through draft. At least we have some youngsters that will play the position. Before - we had the likes of Bart Scott and David Harris in the middle, with Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas at OLB. All old farts that couldn't rush the QB.
