How knowledgable is Dom Capers about the 3-4 defense? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

How knowledgable is Dom Capers about the 3-4 defense?

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phinfan2003

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Now I know that Capers was a great DC for the Steelers in the 90's and he had a pretty good D with the Panthers in their early years but I have a question about his D w/ the Texans. From all the info I've gathered, in order to run a very effective 3-4 D you need your LB's to be somewhat big guys. Speed would be a plus but your LB (especially OLB), need to be big in order for them to be pass rushers at times. If that's the case, why would Dom give a big contract to Morlon Greenwood who is more the small, fast LB that is more geared to what JJ wanted in a LB? I admit, I didn't watch much of the Texans this year so I really don't know how they used him but it's something I've been wondering about.
 
I just wonder how realistic of a shot we have at landing him for the DC position. Now that he is fired all sorts of great comments are being made about what a defensive mind he has. If he is that respected he should probably be in line for another HC position with all the openings.

I remember the Carolina defense he ran and their defense was tough. Took a young Carolina team 12-4 and won NFC. Also ast. coach with the Steelers so I have no doubts he can run tough defense, just don't know if we have realistic shot at landing him. Hope we do, but no matter who it is Saban's thumb print will be on every game plan so no worries if we don't get Capers.
 
IAFINFAN said:
I just wonder how realistic of a shot we have at landing him for the DC position. Now that he is fired all sorts of great comments are being made about what a defensive mind he has. If he is that respected he should probably be in line for another HC position with all the openings.

I remember the Carolina defense he ran and their defense was tough. Took a young Carolina team 12-4 and won NFC. Also ast. coach with the Steelers so I have no doubts he can run tough defense, just don't know if we have realistic shot at landing him. Hope we do, but no matter who it is Saban's thumb print will be on every game plan so no worries if we don't get Capers.
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Do you think any other team is going to give him a shot at a head coaching job this year? I personally dont. I think he is going to need to find someplace that already has a good setup and just needs a little help getting better. He would be walking into one of the most talented defense's in the NFL. Then after a couple years of giving a team another dominate D he will once again get another shot at head coaching. I think that if he's not going to be a head coach, there is a very good chance that he ends up in Miami.
 
I think most of the personell decisions were made by the GM Charlie Casserly not Dom Capers. I have said this before, Dom is a defensive coordinator not a head coach. I think he is really the kind of guy who could futher energize this defense. He has had sucess with veteran ran defenses in the past i.e. Kevin Greene, Sam Mills. Insert Zach and JT as leaders for us now obviously. Dom would work wonders with the multiple defensive packages Saban runs. The question that will arise when guys like Dom and other more high profile names come up will be how much will Saban let them control on their own? My hope not much, I would love a guy like Dom but still for this to be Nick Saban's defense.
 
I think Dom is good enough to make things run (3-4) without having prototypical LBs.

Remember, he ran a pretty successful D in Carolina (granted, he was HC) with Sam Mills at one MLB spot.

I'd venture to say ZT is just as good as Sam Mills.;)

I sure hope Dom winds up as our DC.

I seriously doubt he'll be re-treaded as HC this year.

I don't think anyteam that is re-****ing thier HC position is going to energize thier fan base bringing in Dom, but, they might by bringing him as a DC.
 
It does'nt matter what Dom knows about the 3-4....we run Nick Saban's attacking, blitzing, stunting 4-3 defense that runs some odd man fronts occasionally.
 
Capers knows what it takes to run a 3-4, he just doesn't have the right players to do well in it. If we do bring in Capers, it won't be because we want to install a 3-4, it will be to improve our DC and help with the scheme and make it even more fearce.
 
To be fair to Capers, he didnt have authority when it came to acquiring players.

Greenwood went about 6' and 240lbs and they figured he would work well as an inside guy in the 3-4. His run defense is pretty steady, but Casserly was gambling that Greenwood would blossom with a move and a new system and make him(Casserly that is) look really clever. Obviously instead the result was yet another item on the "Casserly makes a stupid FA signing" list.
 
phinfan2003 said:
Now I know that Capers was a great DC for the Steelers in the 90's and he had a pretty good D with the Panthers in their early years but I have a question about his D w/ the Texans. From all the info I've gathered, in order to run a very effective 3-4 D you need your LB's to be somewhat big guys. Speed would be a plus but your LB (especially OLB), need to be big in order for them to be pass rushers at times. If that's the case, why would Dom give a big contract to Morlon Greenwood who is more the small, fast LB that is more geared to what JJ wanted in a LB? I admit, I didn't watch much of the Texans this year so I really don't know how they used him but it's something I've been wondering about.
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You dont need your linebackers to be anything in the 3-4. Sam Mills was 5'9" 225 pounds, and Levon Kirkland was 6'1" 275 pounds. There are different kinds of 3-4 defenses, and different styles.

Morlon Greenwood is not undersized at 3-4 ILB at 6'0" 238 pounds. Look at the Steelers interior linebackers, who play the same style 3-4 as Dom Capers... Larry Foote is 6'0" 239, James Farrior is 6'1" 243. There are plenty of 3-4 players in that size range.
 
Disgustipate said:
You dont need your linebackers to be anything in the 3-4. Sam Mills was 5'9" 225 pounds, and Levon Kirkland was 6'1" 275 pounds. There are different kinds of 3-4 defenses, and different styles.

Morlon Greenwood is not undersized at 3-4 ILB at 6'0" 238 pounds. Look at the Steelers interior linebackers, who play the same style 3-4 as Dom Capers... Larry Foote is 6'0" 239, James Farrior is 6'1" 243. There are plenty of 3-4 players in that size range.
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Size is not as much of an issue as strength is. In the 3-4, your ILB's MUST be strong, by nature of alignment. You are lined up directly over the guards and must be able to shed blocks, more than you would in a 4-3 stack type Defense.
 
By the way, Saban's Base Defense is a 3-4 alignment. Yes, we ran a lot of 4-3 this, but I don't think it's a coincidence that we stopped using the 3-4 around the time Taylor got his foot injury (which limits his agility, a key component in LB coverage which Taylor would have to do in the 3-4) and possibily the loss of Seau (less likely).

I remember Taylor saying the major problem he has was changing directions when he was injured. Also, there was talk about wanting bigger LBs at the beginning of the year when he announced he wanted to do 3-4.
 
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