Hitchens was very good in a 4-3 and DoD is a BORN modern day Sam linebacker, IMO. And frankly, Ford can absolutely succeed as a Will given his first step quickness and development as an edge over the years.

Not all major shakeups are simple, no. This one, OTOH, is. This team is absolutely well suited to make a 4-3 transition.

At least it had better be because if Veach brought K-Pass and Speaks in here expecting them to play in a 3-4 long-term, we're in trouble. That suggests that the guy simply doesn't know what he's looking for in a defensive player. However, if he brought those 2 in (and later DoD) with an eye on a long-term shift in base fronts...well I'll give him a pass.

Ah ok, I thought I had read somewhere that DE in 4-3 had the main job of setting the edges. Guess I will go read more about it then.

I think it was more along the lines of "Bob Sutton doesn't play young players when he should".

“I got here late after the four preseason games,” Ward said. “I just had to catch-up with the playbook. I’ve been learning the playbook all season. The playbook is kind of difficult. That’s really why I haven’t been playing. But I know it now, so I’m out there. I’ve just got to get better, help this team win.”

A 4-3 switch might make the Hitchens contract halfway salvageable.

If we stick with the 3-4, I’m afraid he’s just going to be another guy that we have to count down the years until we can cut him and have the savings outweigh the dead money

On running downs you would be correct. But a DE's primary job in a 4-3 is rushing the passer.

I'm not celebrating much until we see the new hire. If it's a non attacking DC then we haven't gained anything.

I think he is still salvageable in a 3-4, he just needs to be #2

No, he said he wasn't playing because he needed time to learn the system.

So what you're saying is that a UDFA from Middle-Tennessee State couldn't be dropped onto an NFL field on day 1 and play as a starter?

Stunner.

Ward wasn't ready to play because of COURSE he wasn't ready to play. Most 1st rounders aren't quite ready for that transition at CB, let alone UDFA's who played at FCS schools. Don't you think you're reading a little too much into how that went down? It would have been something of a miracle for the guy to contribute in the first 6-8 weeks. Hell, we should consider ourselves pretty damn fortunate he came around by the time he did - it's no easy feat for an undrafted, small college player to transition to this level.

Like, as in DEPTH? Or as in he should be a 2 down guy?

Oh. That's right.

A UDFA from an FCS school who MISSED CAMP.

C'mon man, how the hell quickly do you think he's going to absorb anything? Of course he was learning the playbook all season - it's hard to get a guy like that anything more than mental reps. And any NFL coverage system is going to seem difficult when you're coming from low level college ball.

Again - if being a backup for 14 weeks with limited practice reps after he didn't even attend camp here got him to where he 'knows it now', it just ain't that complicated.

Ah makes sense, appreciate it.

Look I'm just saying it took the Cowboys YEARS before they had a half way decent 4-3. Years of hitting on draft prospect AFTER DRAFT PROSPECT.

- Randy Gregory
- Leighton Vander Esch
- Jaylon Smith
- Demarcus Lawrence
- Maliek Collins

Well...this is the guy who said that in Dallas....all Hitchens did was play clean up and never attacked the LOS.

Maybe because their old, alcoholic GM is the one making the picks. Think that might have something to do with it?