Why Not? 4-3 Defense
Since the Chargers' front 3 in 3-4 aren't good enough after the loss of Jamal Williams. Basically three teams: Baltimore, Miami, and Pittsburgh have found the way to move the ball against us: Run the ball. Defeat us one on one in the front 3. All our guys do is get pushed back. and the secondary does not look good because they couldn't stop the run. If they line up 4-3 they would have two NT in Ogemdi Nwagbuo and Alfonso Boone. It will make it easier in goal line situations
Why not?
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34 comments
Comments
LB is a strength
I’m not sure much is gained by taking a relatively strong LB off the field for a relatively weak DL.
by CoastalBronco on Oct 5, 2009 12:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Things may change
as players get healthier or adjustments are made, but nothing about the Chargers front seven on DE is strong right now. Currently I believe they are playing at the lowest level of any front seven in the NFL.
I am not in favor of trying to make a mid stream change to the 4-3, but it is not because of any so called strength that we (as charger fans) may want to believe that we currently have.
by JeromeB on Oct 6, 2009 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We've sort of been doing that
Putting one of the OLBs in a 3 point is how we stopped Oakland’s rush.
Last night against the Steelers we tried it again. But their O Line just dominated us with double teams, blocking schemes and most of the head to head contests. Our front seven on D is just not as big, not as strong, not as talented at stuffing the run as their front six. Then you mix in a FB in at full speed, and you have gigantic holes to run through.
by Trendsearcher on Oct 5, 2009 1:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
On 3rd down against the Steelers
Merriman didn’t come in as a LB. He always lined up as a DE. It wasn’t a 4-3 most of the time because they were in Nickel (Actually, they are in Nickel a lot, so it’s hard to even call the D a 3-4 at this point).
Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.
by Wonko on Oct 5, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Running a 4-3 would not work right now...
So we have two nosetackles, and…Two undersized DE’s in English, Merriman, or an oversized 4-3 DE in Martin…
In my opinion this would not work…
Formerly, thats a no-go.
I apologize for my ignorant and blatant lack of refinement in terms of my cursage. I did not know much of this Tuel feller so I accidentally used another innocent mans picture. Believe me, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN!
by CaDuck on Oct 5, 2009 4:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
So....
3-4 would work better against the run?
by BFTB_zach on Oct 5, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it would work better against the run than having 2 woefully undersized DE's
and only 3 linebackers to stop a halfback once he inevitably breaks through our D-line
I hate knee injuries.
The masses have spoken, Kevin Prince it is!
by CaDuck on Oct 7, 2009 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We'll have Martin,Boone,Merriman,and Castillo line up with their hands in the dirt,
and English,Coop,and Phillips at backer,no?
Chance favors the prepared mind.......
by Gorditoe1 on Oct 5, 2009 6:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
With the current injuries
I would have Castillo and Nwagbuo at DTs and English and Merriman as DEs. Phillips, Cooper and Burnett would be the LBs with Burnett becoming an OLB. Tucker and Cesaire would be backups DEs (although I think Cesaire may be too big and slow to play the position effectively these days). Applewhite, Siler and Dobbins would be the backup LBs. Although, I’m not sure Siler really fits any position in the 4-3 and Applewhite is more of a passrusher so injuries to the LB corps would really cause problems (but maybe not worse than our current injuries to the DL).
It’s all moot though. You can’t make a change like that in-season.
Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.
by Wonko on Oct 6, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Chargers ran 21 plays on Sunday where they had 4 defenders playing with their hand on the ground. We made a stop on 33% of those plays. On the 48 plays with 3 down lineman? 42%. 2? 100%. 5? 0%.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Oct 6, 2009 4:11 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
It was only one play.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Oct 8, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Silly.
We don’t have any good DTs, though we have a couple oversized DEs for the 3-4. We have too many LBs, none of whom are true standouts but all worth keeping. So the solution is to drop off an LB in favor of a DT? Sorry, no. This is a 3-man front. Is it going to be weak against the run? Maybe. What’s the solution? Get the opponent out of running situations. Stop trying to come from behind. Play better offense in the first half. Worked for the ’06 Colts.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Oct 7, 2009 12:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
3-4 defense
is all about the nose tackle he need to take on two player at a time and we don’t really have anyone like that
by BFTB_zach on Oct 7, 2009 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Understood.
There are ways to cope. Denver’s nose tackle is only the same size as Travis Johnson or OG Nwagbuo. I’m not saying we can go back to 2006 up front, but if we solve a couple of momentum issues on offense and continue to play good pass defense, we can manage our run-D issues fairly well anyways.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Oct 12, 2009 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As AJ said and I've stated before
The Chargers are soft. The LBs, with Merriman nowhere near back and English still young, are vastly overrated. Phillips and Cooper talk way too fricking much for being average NFL players. Weddle and Castillo are smart players but there is no intimidation or physicality, just like the LBs sans a healthy Merriman. I like the 4-3 idea since Rivera has plenty of experience and as I’ve said before, we’ve had no plan B for Jamal even though he’s been wearing out for the past 3 seasons.
At least Al Davis isn't running my team's drafts.
by bringbackbuddytrees on Oct 7, 2009 5:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Doug Flutie?
I hate knee injuries.
The masses have spoken, Kevin Prince it is!
by CaDuck on Oct 7, 2009 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem with going to the 43 is that you’re further away from having from having a competent 43 defense than you are a 34.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Oct 7, 2009 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
The problem with 3-4
is that ron rivera is a 4-3 defense thats is running a 3-4
by BFTB_zach on Oct 8, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem with going with either one
is that our front seven are getting their collective asses handed to them. Unless they decide to man up and stop getting blown off the ball we could go with a 4 – 4, play 12 men on DE and still not get the job done.
by JeromeB on Oct 8, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about a
0-0-11 defense! It will have just as good of a pass rush (or lack thereof) as our defense has now, and will be just as effective at stopping the run (by which I of course mean we cannot stop a run) Plus 11 people defending the pass!
I hate knee injuries.
The masses have spoken, Kevin Prince it is!
by CaDuck on Oct 8, 2009 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i read DE as “defensive end.” like the pirate captain said of the steering wheel attached to his nards," it’s driving me nuts!"
by BORTZ on Oct 8, 2009 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
but we're already running a 4-3
when four guys have thier hands in the dirt that’s a 4-3 line up. 3-4 means you are deep enough at LB, you can move them around, to attack the weak points in the O-line. and maintain a rush with 3 linemen. this is exactly what isn’t happening. we are lining up OLB on the outside, and ILB on the inside. Wade lined the up the LB’s where he needed them, not according to thier title.
The peanut gallery has spoken!!!
by gatesoftds on Oct 8, 2009 8:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I know what a 4-3 is
I just rec’d it becuz we have a 4-3 specialist DC
by BFTB_zach on Oct 8, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
sorry , replying to JeromeB
The peanut gallery has spoken!!!
by gatesoftds on Oct 9, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure what your reply was about
but thanks I guess. All I said was that our front seven are playing terrible so far this season. Unless they improve the level of their play it really will not matter how they line up. My mention of a 4-4 defense was meant to be a joke. The joke part was that we are playing so bad even an extra player would not help. Perhaps it was not funny.
by JeromeB on Oct 11, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
34 d, but mix it up
The Chargers have to rush 5 to put any heat on the passer, but not the same 5 every time. how about a corner or a safety or a nickle? And the linebacker doesn’t need to scream out “Hey I’m comin in” by lining up in the nuetral zone. He’d have a better chance if he’d let the o line engage ,then find a hole; especially the way teams like Pittsburg like to trap block. And although this is off the subject Hey Cromartie, your a freakin corner not a safety. Read your reciever, Not the quarterback like a safety does. We are not counting your INT’s . We are counting your god damn holding penalties.
by RTChargerfan on Oct 10, 2009 11:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
delayed blitz , cross over, loading gaps, stacking to one side, etc. as long as we contiue to rush, 4 guys. the same 4 guys, in the same positions. the offense knows who to block. we don’t create any confusion or guess work, with our D.
The peanut gallery has spoken!!!
by gatesoftds on Oct 10, 2009 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs





















