Players who fit our 3/4 Defense | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Players who fit our 3/4 Defense

S

SamIam

Starter
Joined
Dec 20, 2002
Messages
766
Reaction score
205
I found this nice read by Pat kirwan regarding 3/4 and 4/3 defenses.. he lists players who fit the 3/4 and where are they projected to be picked.

From this article, it seems that Okoye ( like others said ) does not fit a 3/4 and he is more of a 4/3, so if we go D-line I am guessing Branch and not Okoye

Here is the link:
http://nfl.com/draft/story/10066679
 
The only reason he isn't listed as a good DE in a 3-4 is b/c of his height. Coaches typically like the DE's in 3-4 to be taller with longer arms. Okoye is only around 6'2 or so and not 6'4-6'5. I say big deal. Otherwise, he's perfect for DE in a 3-4. He's big enough to hold up against the run and quick enough to rush the passer.
 
PSU Cane said:
The only reason he isn't listed as a good DE in a 3-4 is b/c of his height. Coaches typically like the DE's in 3-4 to be taller with longer arms. Okoye is only around 6'2 or so and not 6'4-6'5. I say big deal. Otherwise, he's perfect for DE in a 3-4. He's big enough to hold up against the run and quick enough to rush the passer.
Click to expand...

Okoye is not a good prospect for our organization at this time. The best we can hope to get out of Okoye is a team like STL falling for him and wanting to trade up.

Branch is a better prospect but I have my doubts about the guy's stamina/motor. His size and speed/quickness for that size is truly amazing though.

Hopefully they'll both garner enough interest to have some team want to trade up to 9.

We are in dire need of offense. It doesn't get much simpler than that.
 
Okoye's a good 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT, but he's no NT, the key to a 3-4 defense because the NT keeps those C's and OG's away from the LB's. And right now, only Traylor has experience playing NT on our squad.
 
Manny Wright showed tremendous amount of potential when he played...so i say right now, we dont need to look at DT so soon...maybe in the 3rd or 4th, i dont mind
 
Okoye could develop into a NT in a couple of years. He's going to add 20 LBS in a NFL conditioning program because he's only 19. I wouldn't be opposed to taking the kid. You've got to think about who's the best pick at #9 that is available. Levi Brown is the only offensive player that's going to be available at #9, but he might not even be there. I'm afraid defense is going to be the way to go at #9 just because there aren't going to be any offensive players available that warrent the 9th pick.
 
LouPhinFan said:
Okoye could develop into a NT in a couple of years. He's going to add 20 LBS in a NFL conditioning program because he's only 19. I wouldn't be opposed to taking the kid. You've got to think about who's the best pick at #9 that is available. Levi Brown is the only offensive player that's going to be available at #9, but he might not even be there. I'm afraid defense is going to be the way to go at #9 just because there aren't going to be any offensive players available that warrent the 9th pick.
Click to expand...

I don't know if Okoye will ever truely grow into a NT. I don't know if his frame is big enough. Even if he adds 20 pounds, that only puts him at about 305 (he's about 285 now), at 6'2 inches tall. That's not big enough to be a run stuffing NT. He needs to add more like 40 pounds . . . and that's a lot. He's still young and could, but i don't know. To be successful at the nose, you need a monster like Traylor (6'2 340), Ted Washington (6'5 365), Jamal Williams (6'3 348), Casey Hampton (6'1 325), Vince Wilfork (6'2 325-344), Haloti Ngata (6'4, 340).
 
LouPhinFan said:
Okoye could develop into a NT in a couple of years. He's going to add 20 LBS in a NFL conditioning program because he's only 19. I wouldn't be opposed to taking the kid. You've got to think about who's the best pick at #9 that is available. Levi Brown is the only offensive player that's going to be available at #9, but he might not even be there. I'm afraid defense is going to be the way to go at #9 just because there aren't going to be any offensive players available that warrent the 9th pick.
Click to expand...

That is why it's imperative that we move out of #9 either up or down.

You're absolutely correct, unless we have a miracle fall to us, defense will be the only value at 9. This franchise can not afford a defensive first round pick and I'm not talking cap space.

I've heard a plethora of clamoring for LaRon Landry and while I think the kid will be an absolute ballhawk in the secondary for some lucky team, those finheaveners have seriously underestimated our offensive woes. It's as if most of you have erased the last 7 years from memory.

There is no defense for Miami in the first round. None. There is only trade, reach, or destiny. That's it.
 
I don't understand how Kirwan could write that article and fail to mention the best prospect for the 3-4 defense in the entire draft. Gaines Adams is an undersized, quick, pass rushing terror of a defensive end that seemingly would be perfect as an outside linebacker in the 3-4.

I just hope that we start to get some of these players that fit the 3-4 system. Our players we have now don't really fit the typical position descriptions, although it really didn't seem to matter much last year.
 
Its not Okoye size that doesnt make him a NT, its his game. Okoye is a John Randle and Warren Sapp type of player. Their style of play is not to hold up blocking but to apply pressure in the back field with their speed and quickness.
 
PSU Cane said:
I don't know if Okoye will ever truely grow into a NT. I don't know if his frame is big enough. Even if he adds 20 pounds, that only puts him at about 305 (he's about 285 now), at 6'2 inches tall.
Click to expand...

He actually showed up at the combine at 302lbs and he looked to be in very good shape. Branch looked like crap and I have concerns about his drive and motor. I have little doubt that Okoye will turn our to be the better player even he doesn't fit our scheme. Personally I think we can find a spot for a guy that will be 320 in a couple of years with far more ability to penetrate than Branch. He reminds me of a young Warren Sapp. Again I do agree he may not fit a prototypical Nose.

If we do go defense at 9 I am really hoping it's Landry. I don't see Adams falling that far.
 
It saddens me to read you guys conforming to defense. All of you that love JT and ZT so much, but not enough to demand an offense to get them to the big game.

Guys, we don't have to stay at 9, we don't have to pick defense, we don't have to pick BPA if that is or isn't your preference. Mueller can do as he pleases. Some of you seem programmed as if this stuff is written in stone. It's really not. Dare to be daring fellas. Don't succumb to the mundane.

Mueller will be ruthless. He will steal Cameron an offense. He will rock the Dolphin fan base. I promise you'll enjoy every minute of it.
 
IluvJuMiami said:
It saddens me to read you guys conforming to defense. All of you that love JT and ZT so much, but not enough to demand an offense to get them to the big game.

Guys, we don't have to stay at 9, we don't have to pick defense, we don't have to pick BPA if that is or isn't your preference. Mueller can do as he pleases. Some of you seem programmed as if this stuff is written in stone. It's really not. Dare to be daring fellas. Don't succumb to the mundane.

Mueller will be ruthless. He will steal Cameron an offense. He will rock the Dolphin fan base. I promise you'll enjoy every minute of it.
Click to expand...

I don't think most of us necessarily want defense but the fact of the matter is at number 9 its highly likely the best player will be on the defensive side on the ball. It is shortsighted to say we have no defensive needs as our secondary had a pathetic 5 picks on a team with 49 sacks (why I like Landry). Now if we can trade down and pick up first day pick I'm all for it, but it's not always that easy as you have to find a partner to move up. I think the best case scenario to find a team to trade with us would be to have Peterson fall to us. I think you'll find at least 3 or 4 teams that may move up to snag him. A second benefit would be to prevent him from falling into Buffalo's hands.
 
PJack said:
He actually showed up at the combine at 302lbs and he looked to be in very good shape. Branch looked like crap and I have concerns about his drive and motor. I have little doubt that Okoye will turn our to be the better player even he doesn't fit our scheme. Personally I think we can find a spot for a guy that will be 320 in a couple of years with far more ability to penetrate than Branch. He reminds me of a young Warren Sapp. Again I do agree he may not fit a prototypical Nose.

If we do go defense at 9 I am really hoping it's Landry. I don't see Adams falling that far.
Click to expand...

I don't usually go by combine weight b/c players will do anything to help their draft positioning, even if they can't maintain it. So players like Okoye put on weight b/c teams want him to, while other players may lose weight quickly to impress teams. But typically, that is not their true playing weight at the moment, and not a true measure of how they might take care of their bodies over the long haul (fat linemen for instance may come in good shape at the combine but get fat every other offseason). For a guy like Okoye, he would probably have a lot harder time maintaining that weight during the season if he was working out every day and practicing. In the offseason it's easier to add the pounds.
 
Here's two guys that can fit our 3-4 defense:

104. (4th) Baraka Atkins, DE, Miami (FL) 6’4, 271, 4.69/40 – Dolphins really need some depth at DE and this is the guy to help them. He’s got solid speed and he’s another guy that simply gives plenty lot of production. In four years at Miami he has 169 tackles, 32.5 tackles for losses, and 18 sacks. There’s no way to find another DE this fast in the fourth round with this kind of production. A classic tweener that would be a perfect fit in Miami’s 3-4 defense.


201. (7th) Antwan Applewhite, DE, San Diego St. 6’3, 250, 4.73/40 – Another late round steal with good speed and great production. In the last three years he’s logged 125 tackles, 21.5 tackles for losses, and 16 sacks. This is another DE that will fit the Phins 3-4 system and will provide great depth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom