Quote:
Originally Posted by kccrow
So many speedy, undersized rushers coming out these days that it seems it would be advantageous to switch back to a 3-4. There are also a lot of 3-4 LBs composing the top 20 of sack leaders.
That said, most teams run the majority of plays out of 4-2-5 nickel alignments over the past couple of seasons, rendering a base front relatively moot.
With a guy like KC has in Chris Jones who can be a multiple player at either 5T or SDE, it would seem the benefit would be in running 4 man under and over fronts in a 4-2-5 base.
This is where I get the idea that playing Gay as the SAM could be a huge benefit for the Chiefs. In that under front, you could send him instead of your WDE at times, similar in operation to a 3-4, where his size and athleticism should allow him to generate pressure. When you pop into an under front, he plays back in space like he does now.
This would let you take a guy like Arnold Ebiketie, Drake Jackson, Nik Bonitto, and so forth to play WDE early without worrying as much about size since alignment will be wider much of the time. You end up being able to run kind of a multiple defense without much change in personnel.
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I think we're going to see some teams break out a true 3-3-5 as a base sometime in the near future.
But with more traditional even front "LE" types as the ends (rather than the beefier Es you usually see in a 34). The SAM backer is a traditional odd front OLB (bigger, good at rushing the passer, more of a RE in a traditional even front) and you're rolling with your coverage sideline-to-sideline MIKE and a WILL who also has pass rush traits.
basically, adapting a 34 to match up better in the passing game by putting an extra DB on the field instead of the "THUMPER" downhill-only MLB.