Okam seems ready to step up in year 2

barrett · #1 07-07-2009, 09:45 AM

Not to mention Demeco is very small to play ILB in the 3-4. Fewer DL in front of him means more OL getting into him, and his biggest weakness is getting off of blocks. And that Mario gets minimized as a pass rusher in the 3-4.

All around it would be a stupid idea to switch 7 guys' positions because one guy fits a 3-4 better.

Blitzwood · #2 07-07-2009, 10:35 AM

While I don't totally agree with a previous poster, I don't believe it would be a bad idea to switch to a 3-4 during games to throw off opposing offenses, especially to run blitzes or fake blitzes. I think the ability to have different lineups and looks would make us less predictable on defense and more disruptive in the backfield. Given some of the flexibility we have now on defense, I'd be open to the idea. I think Barwin could play DE, OLB or ILB in a 3-4, as well as Cushing. If Okam is going to have a breakout year, that could be HUGE for us this year with all the recent additions on defense.

I cant wait till August.

edo783 · #3 07-07-2009, 12:17 PM

I hope you realize that if you use Mario as a DE in a 34 you basically lose all the speed he has? A 34 DEs and NTs primary purpose are to occupy the blockers on the line and allow the LBs to flow to the QB from multiple points. IMO, we would be wasting him, Smith and likely Barwin not to mention that other than Cushing we are more than a little light in the butt at LB. Add to that that as far as I know none of our coaching staff are what could be called 34 gurus. So, it doesn't sound like a very good idea at this pint.

papabear · #4 07-07-2009, 12:55 PM

Nice to hear about Okam....but all the "news" this time of year is nothing more than fluff pieces. There just isn't anything else going on.

Mario would be a waste running a conventional 3-4. I have no problem with running multiple fronts, using a 3-4 alignment as a change-up mid-game...but asking Mario to eat up blockers would be totally negating his biggest asset, even though he would be good at it.

One of the things that hurt Demeco on draft day was his size....that problem would only be exacerbated by moving him to a 3-4.

Bigtinylittle · #5 07-07-2009, 01:03 PM

I will refuse believe Okam has taken a step up until the day he is promoted to starter. Until then, it's all talk.

nunusguy · #6 07-07-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papabear

Mario would be a waste running a conventional 3-4. I have no problem with running multiple fronts, using a 3-4 alignment as a change-up mid-game...but asking Mario to eat up blockers would be totally negating his biggest asset, even though he would be good at it.

There was a time when I would have completely agreed with what your saying here, but the market value, the importance of 3-4 DEs is changing as quickly as teams in the NFL are converting to the 3-4 defense. The best example I can site for this is that former NE personnel man & new Chiefs GM Scott Pioli used his teams 3rd overall pick in this years draft to select dlineman Tyson Jackson to play in the Chiefs 3-4.

papabear · #7 07-07-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nunusguy

There was a time when I would have completely agreed with what your saying here, but the market value, the importance of 3-4 DEs is changing as quickly as teams in the NFL are converting to the 3-4 defense. The best example I can site for this is that former NE personnel man & new Chiefs GM Scott Pioli used his teams 3rd overall pick in this years draft to select dlineman Tyson Jackson to play in the Chiefs 3-4.

3-4 ends are absolutely vital to the teams success running that system, but that doesn't mean it's a good use of one of the best, freakishly talented, 4-3 ends. I'm not saying they aren't important, only that Mario wouldn't get to use a large portion of his skill set in a traditional 3-4 and to me that is a waste of a guy with once in a generation size and speed. There are variations of the 3-4 now that allow for some 1 gap stuff from the down lineman (I think Wade Phillips does some of this) but in general 3-4 lineman aren't there to make plays. Their job is to eat up blockers and let the linebackers make the plays. 3-4 end and 4-3 end are two different beast....there's a reason no one was looking at Tyson Jackson as a 4-3 end (specifically a RE).

barrett · #8 07-07-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nunusguy

There was a time when I would have completely agreed with what your saying here, but the market value, the importance of 3-4 DEs is changing as quickly as teams in the NFL are converting to the 3-4 defense. The best example I can site for this is that former NE personnel man & new Chiefs GM Scott Pioli used his teams 3rd overall pick in this years draft to select dlineman Tyson Jackson to play in the Chiefs 3-4.

None of this has anything to do with how Mario Williams is used.

Even if 3-4 DEs are becoming more valuable, we would still be taking our best (only?) pass rusher and limiting his pass rush effectiveness and opportunities. That makes no sense.