Should the Dolphins switch to a 4-3 for the remainder of the season?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I saw Mike Bernardino address this in the Sun Sentinel.  I like the idea for the following reasons. 

JT would be moved back to his natural DE spot.  Cameron Wake can play the other side and both can pin their ears back and go after the QB.  Phillip Merling would also be playing at a natural DE spot. 

Tony McDaniel, Randy Starks, Kendall Langford, and Paul Solai can rotate in and out at DT.  Only Solai is built to handle the NT position, so having two of them in there would greatly help with run stuffing.

Channing Crowder is athletic enough to play at MLB or OLB.

Reggie Torbor can be moved to his natural OLB spot with Joey Porter on the opposite side. 

Matt Roth can play both DE and OLB. 

What say all TDMMCers?

[Brian Fein]

No.

Switching would be a step back for the team.  Losing one guy isn't worth changing your whole scheme.  I'd say stick with the 3-4, move Starks to the nose and put JT back at end, leaving strong side LB for Charlie Anderson.

[Sunstroke]

I have to agree with Brian there...week 12 is definitely not the best time to be switching your primary defensive sets.

[Phishfan]

JT is way too undersized for a traditional 3-4 end. I don't like the idea of switching schemes or switching players. We have a philosophy and injuries are part of the game. Shuffling back and forth constantly does not help build any continuity.

[Brian Fein]

^^ I see what you're saying but there's no continuity anyway when there's 4 starters and an important role-player all on IR.

[fyo]

there's no continuity anyway when there's 4 starters and an important role-player all on IR.

I don't think that's really accurate, though, when you consider the way Sparano / Pasqualoni rotate players. Ferguson only gets about 25 snaps a game (per Sparano, as quoted in the Sun-Sentinel). That's less than 40% of all defensive plays, so continuity is not THAT big an issue. Sure, Ferguson was always the guy on obvious run-downs and that's going to be the issue going forward. Not sure switching to 4-3 will obviate that, though...

[BigDaddyFin]

It won't be all that different even if we do, mostly because our linebackers aren't that great in pass coverage and all we do is blitz. 

While I'll agree that it's a given that the 3-4 calls for more blitzing than the traditional 4-3, they won't be able to blitz out of it the way we do now.  He brings the safeties and corners down too much to go to a 4-3 and the other thing the 3-4 gives you is one more linebacker to plug up the short passing lanes even if he does so on his way to the quarterback.

[NADS]

It's way too late to switch.  Odds are it'll be a 3-4 next season, but I like the 4-3 better.  Our linebackers aren't that dynamic and I liked the old days when offenses knew what we had and still couldn't beat us. 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

BUMP

Well.... I called it like I saw it.  And sure enough....

The defense. I noticed that Miami played a lot of 4-3 which I was surprised to see. I think that playing the 4-3 is more effective than playing the 3-4.

The Dolphins have been playing more of a 4-3 and you need all the bodies that you can against Chris Johnson. To me, the guy is better than Adrian Peterson. If Miami plays a 4-3, they can handle the Titans. Chris Johnson is dangerous running off tackle, especially to the right side where Randy Starks lines up. You have to make Johnson go back to the middle and cut the edges off.

[Phishfan]

He is the only person I have seen mention 4-3 defense. I couldn't watch the game last week so I'm not sure they actually did it. Just because a rush linebacker puts his hand down, it doesn't automatically mean they are in a 4-3. Are we sure this switch is actually is happening?

[Doc-phin]

He is the only person I have seen mention 4-3 defense. I couldn't watch the game last week so I'm not sure they actually did it. Just because a rush linebacker puts his hand down, it doesn't automatically mean they are in a 4-3. Are we sure this switch is actually is happening?

Agree.  This is probably where a lot of the hybrid 3-4 talk comes from.  We just happen to have OLBs like Taylor, Porter and Wake that are really affective with their hands down.  But this doesn't mean they will always rush from this position.  Not only that, but a lot of it depends on how the offense lines up.  This is were Crowder becomes so important (and he is important even if he isn't a sack machine).

[YoFuggedaboutit]

He is the only person I have seen mention 4-3 defense. I couldn't watch the game last week so I'm not sure they actually did it. Just because a rush linebacker puts his hand down, it doesn't automatically mean they are in a 4-3. Are we sure this switch is actually is happening?

It's not about a rush LB putting his hand down, it's about having 4 DE's and 3 LB's. 

For some reason, a lot of defenses in the NFL are switching to the 3-4 which was popular during the 80's and early 90's, then disappeared for a time.... but colleges are running the 4-3.  It is getting very hard to find personnel for the 3-4 nowadays. 

[Phishfan]

^^^So my questions still stands if this is really being done. A few members of this board have continually referred to Taylor all season as a DE when he was really playing Linebacker in a 3-4. Has anyone else seen that the shift to 4-3 has been made?

[Sunstroke]

I'm still seeing JT lined up as the OLB in the 3-4...

[JVides]

If JT puts his hand down to rush the passer, along with a DE and 2 DTs, are we calling that a 3-4 or a 4-3?  Depending on how you view it, Miami could be running one or both on any given play.