Is it time to start implementing a 3/4?

C

CAARHawk

Banned
With Alvis going down, the defensive line situation has even gotten worse.

Right now, there are 4 serviceable linemen and then a huge drop-off.

Seems that going to a 3/4 at times would help provide a bit of a break for the D line and also allow Iowa to get more effective players on the field.


Morris and Kirskey on the outside, with Neilson and Alston on the inside would be as strong as anything we have to offer with the 4/3 after Alvis went down.

Daniels can play the nose with Binns and Daniel/Nardo at end. Also, Davis might be more effective as a big body to clog up the middle instead of having to do as much as Iowa asks their DTs.

I am not saying this should be the base defense. But as the DLine is now one player away from disaster, it might be a good idea to start working this system in just in case.
 






We have other DL that will play and I know people here want to see what Cooper can do. I really doubt that Norm will ever shift away from a 4-3 to a 3-4. I may be wrong but I really don't see it happening.
 


SECisCRAP said:
We have other DL that will play and I know people here want to see what Cooper can do. I really doubt that Norm will ever shift away from a 4-3 to a 3-4. I may be wrong but I really don't see it happening.
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We have less depth at LB than we do at DL. We have trouble with assignments sometimes in the 4-3 which we play all the time, what do you think would happen if we suddenly switched to a 3-4 three quarters of the way through the season.

It's a very silly idea.
 


I am not saying to make the switch. I am wondering if some might not be worked in.

Seriously, we have two guys that have been effective at LB that aren't getting much playing time and one that has started and played, albeit with limited effectiveness.

On the DL, we are down to two reserves that have not been effective.

So no, we are not more thin at LB.

And seriously, Cooper? If you are going to throw in Cooper, I will throw in Derby at LB.
 


I'd like to see some of this. Hitchens can play as well. Iowa would have to blitz more, but maybe we could finally get some pressure then. I like the thought.
 


CAARHawk said:
With Alvis going down, the defensive line situation has even gotten worse.

Right now, there are 4 serviceable linemen and then a huge drop-off.

Seems that going to a 3/4 at times would help provide a bit of a break for the D line and also allow Iowa to get more effective players on the field.


Morris and Kirskey on the outside, with Neilson and Alston on the inside would be as strong as anything we have to offer with the 4/3 after Alvis went down.

Daniels can play the nose with Binns and Daniel/Nardo at end. Also, Davis might be more effective as a big body to clog up the middle instead of having to do as much as Iowa asks their DTs.

I am not saying this should be the base defense. But as the DLine is now one player away from disaster, it might be a good idea to start working this system in just in case.
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Are you crazy? Norm's philosophy is to not deviate from what you do and to not let other teams dictate our scheme. Do you know how confusing it would be late in the year to start teaching our guys different responsibilities for different schemes? Neilsen is about the only LB with the size to play middle in a 3-4 anyway. We have more than four serviceable linemen, we just need some of them to step up.
 


Hitchens and Donatell could play some. Donatell has been exposed as a 4/3 backer, but might be able to be covered up a bit in a 3/4.

Again, I am not advocating for a wholesale switch. Just saying working some in might not be a bad idea.
 


BackNBlk said:
Are you crazy? Norm's philosophy is to not deviate from what you do and to not let other teams dictate our scheme. Do you know how confusing it would be late in the year to start teaching our guys different responsibilities for different schemes? Neilsen is about the only LB with the size to play middle in a 3-4 anyway. We have more than four serviceable linemen, we just need some of them to step up.
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Wrong. Alston (typo) is more than capable to play the middle in a 3-4.

Also, this isn't about letting your opponent dictate your scheme to you. This is about adjusting to your own personnel issues.
 
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I agree we cant start trying to be something we are not.
On another note, I would like to see if Carl Davis or Cam Hayward (I know they are fresh) could plug the middle. Has anybody seen them pratice/play? I wonder how they are coming along.
 


CAARHawk said:
I am not saying to make the switch. I am wondering if some might not be worked in.

Seriously, we have two guys that have been effective at LB that aren't getting much playing time and one that has started and played, albeit with limited effectiveness.

On the DL, we are down to two reserves that have not been effective.

So no, we are not more thin at LB.

And seriously, Cooper? If you are going to throw in Cooper, I will throw in Derby at LB.
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I never said he would start, I mentioned that people here on HN would be excited to see what he could do. all 3 of the LBs that played are good and still learning. I really believe that Morris is much better on the edge than in the middle. I really liked how Kirksey played against Michigan as well.
 


Davis has had serious trouble. Really has been more than ineffective.

Cam Hayward would be awesome, but pretty sure the whole NFL thing makes him ineligible.

:) think you mean Cooper.
 


It is common to see Iowa have 3 DL in long distance & late game situations so this idea isn't as crazy as people are making it sound. Remember Iowa basically plays a form of prevent the entire game with a few blitzes sprinkled in.

Weather Iowa has 3 or 4 DL, they're not going to pressure the QB regardless so it may be a good idea to get an extra athlete in there at LB to cover instead of wasting a 4th DL who isn't getting any push anyway. Plus you can use either OLB to blitz and still have 3 left to cover the middle of the field.

Now will they actually do it? I'd be shocked if they did. The 3/4 requires big guys on the DL. Iowa's DL is traditionally & currently very small.

However, I wouldn't mind seeing it.
 


CAARHawk said:
Davis has had serious trouble. Really has been more than ineffective.

Cam Hayward would be awesome, but pretty sure the whole NFL thing makes him ineligible.

:) think you mean Cooper.
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Did he dress for the Michigan game? Pretty sure he didn't even make the trip to Minneapolis.
 


I'm no coach...

CAARHawk said:
Can you elaborate?
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but we don't seem to have the type of d-linemen you need to play a 3-4. You need large d-linemen who can eat up blocks and stand their ground. There's not any of the current d-linemen who would be appropriate for a 3-4 with the exception of Carl Davis, who can't stay healthy enough to make a difference from week to week.

The type of change you are talking about are the ones you make in the off-season, and ones that require a major change in the types of players you recruit. Not sure a one-year hiccup on defense means that we should completely change philosophies on defense. Does it mean we need to bring in better players? For sure. But changing to a 3-4 on the fly would be inviting disaster.
 


I can see the occasional 3-3-5 package with Lowery coming in. Thats a guy we need to get on the field.
 


I realize you have a hard on for Alston, but playing a 3/4 for the sole purpose of getting him on the field is laughable.
 


We'll see.

and it isn't about just getting Alston on the field. It is about having the best 7 guys available in the front 7. If one more DL goes down. The dropoff is huge enough that having an undersized guy like Daniels have to gut it up in the middle of a 3/4 would be better than the alternative.
 


CAARHawk said:
We'll see.

and it isn't about just getting Alston on the field. It is about having the best 7 guys available in the front 7. If one more DL goes down. The dropoff is huge enough that having an undersized guy like Daniels have to gut it up in the middle of a 3/4 would be better than the alternative.
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Before they switched to a 3-4 I would see them converting a linebacker to DE similiar to Matt Roth halfway through this freshman year. This lets them maintain the 4-3 and only one person has to learn a new position and responsibility rather than 7.
 


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