3-4 or 4-3? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

3-4 or 4-3?

Rich

Rich

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Merling and Langford are under 300 pounds. Randy Starks is big enough to be a 3-4 DE, but is no better than Steve Fifita(who we just cut).

If we're going 3-4, who are the 3 defensive linemen?

NT-Ferguson is set.
In competition for the other 2 spots are Holliday, Rod Wright, Langford.

Is a 3-4 combination of R.Wright,Ferguson,Holliday good enough?

Or should we just go 4-3, where you can use smaller d-linemen? Merling and JT could be the DEs with rotation of other players, with a decent rotation of Roth, Langford, R. Wright, Starks.

Do we use a hybrid-system(both 3-4 and 4-3) like Saban used? What is the best use of personnel this year, since we have all of these small(light) guys?
 
Rich said:
Merling and Langford are under 300 pounds. Randy Starks is big enough to be a 3-4 DE, but is no better than Steve Fifita(who we just cut).

If we're going 3-4, who are the 3 defensive linemen?

NT-Ferguson is set.
In competition for the other 2 spots are Holliday, Rod Wright, and Langford.

Is a 3-4 combination of R.Wright,Ferguson,Holliday good enough?

Or should we just go 4-3, where you can use smaller d-linemen? Merling and JT could be the DEs with rotation of other players, with a decent rotation of Roth, Langford, R. Wright.

Do we use a hybrid-system(both 3-4 and 4-3) like Saban used? What is the best use of personnel this year, since we have all of these small(light) guys?
Click to expand...

Starks is not all that but he is better than Fifita, now is Solai better than Fifita that is a legitimate question although he may join him on unemployment line.
 
I think we should use a hybrid but is mostly 3-4. If the 3-4 doesnt work you have the 4-3 system already installed to use
 
Parcells' goal is to be a true 3-4 defense. He has always been for that D, so I don't see it changing.. Or else he wouldn't have tried for Calvin Pace.

With that said, Merling really has to gain alot of weight to be a 3-4 DE. He needs to be at about 295 pounds.

Langford I am not worried about. With his frame he is the prototypical DE in a 3-4. Gaining 5 to 10 pounds should be easy for him, but not for Merling.

There is a reason why the smaller 3-4 DE's in the league get run over,, Up until Miami's game against Pitt, Keisel who is their 3-4 DE at a smalll 285# had a whopping 10 yards per carry on his side of the line. The worst in the NFL.. The Jets have a smallish DE as well, and running to that side produced one of the worst figures of running to one side in the NFL as well.

This has been a consistent thing. It is not an anomaly. DE's in a 3-4 are 2-gap linemen. Alot of the time they have to take up 2 O-lineman. Unless you have the proper weight, teams will run on you and run well... Merling needs to be at least 295 to be a successful DE in a true 3-4 that I am sure Parcells wants Miami to implement
 
I will also like the hybrid system with the dolphins using more 3-4 than 4-3
 
Great post. I really think Merling was drafted to be an OLB not a DE. The guy is alot quicker and athletic then most people think. He is just to small for a 3-4 DE and the position really wouldn't play well to his strengths.
 
Here is our front 7 I predict;

DE- Starks/Langford NT- Ferguson/Solia DE- Holliday/Wright

OLB- Porter/Merling ILB- Ayodele/Anderson ILB- Crowder/Torber OLB- Taylor/Moses
 
mike43 said:
Here is our front 7 I predict;

DE- Starks/Langford NT- Ferguson/Solia DE- Holliday/Wright

OLB- Porter/Merling ILB- Ayodele/Anderson ILB- Crowder/Torber OLB- Taylor/Moses
Click to expand...

So you have Matt Roth getting cut?
 
mike43 said:
Here is our front 7 I predict;

DE- Starks/Langford NT- Ferguson/Solia DE- Holliday/Wright

OLB- Porter/Merling ILB- Ayodele/Anderson ILB- Crowder/Torber OLB- Taylor/Moses
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I think Merling is a OLB and they took him anticipating JT being traded and porter potentialy being gone within a year or two. I think Langford may be able to get the starting spot, other than that I think this depth chart is right on the money
 
My thing with Merling is . . the man LOOKS like Shawn Merriman . . . built just like him . . . and I think with a good camp, he will get that speed up. Obviously it will be a transition . . .as he was a run stopper DE at Clemson . . . who also got 7 sacks . . . but I can see him replacing JT.
 
They will put the 1st teams against each other and see what works best. Our Run O is pretty dang good and will be a good test. I go with whatever that data yields. Some times special ability can overcome a size issue. Although, like my wife always tells me, size does matter, and these guys are smaller than others ;p
 
Then again, you could bulk these guys up with steroids, like Merriman. (Note: this is not a serious comment)

Merling is 6'5", 272 pounds. He has the size of Jason Taylor. Perhaps the potential as well. If he can get to 290 pounds (not by taking the method shown in the movie "Supersize me"), then maybe he'll be a factor on the D-line. Unclear whether that's this year or next year.
 
I think we should go 3-4, this is text book BP and text book ole school Miami Dolphins. We have always been LB heavy, and with the DL we picked up we should be able to have the best fresh D since JJ's first year.

I also think we should pick up some vet CB's, Oakland is fishing Starks around like I thought they would, we should try to trade something expendable for him, he was an awesome Cane back in the day.
 
dolfan348454999 said:
I couldn't agree more. I think Merling is a OLB and they took him anticipating JT being traded and porter potentialy being gone within a year or two. I think Langford may be able to get the starting spot, other than that I think this depth chart is right on the money
Click to expand...

Porter is going NOWHERE!
get use to it he is the new face of our defense.
I agree I think Merling will be OLB as well.
IF JT is traded I think Merling will have a chance to battel it out with Tobor for the starting spot opposite for Porter.
 
I think we should work on Merlings speed and have him trim 10 lbs off and play OLB at 260. I think that would be the best thing for him. I'm just not sure how capable he would be covering a RB or TE if needed. Personally I think it was a mistake picking Merling, I would have much rathered Devin Thomas. But thats for a different post to argue about. That being said, my defensive lineup would be.

CB-Will Allen, Michael Lehan
FS-Jason Allen
SS-Yerimiah Bell
ILB-Akin Adoyle, Channing Crowder, Reggie Torbor
OLB-Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Abraham Wright, Phillip Merling, Charlie Anderson
DE-Randy Starks, Rod Wright, Kendall Langford, Vonnie Holliday
NT-Jayson Furguson, Paul Soliai.
 
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