Who is Mike Tomlin? Somehow, I don't think he is related to Comedienne Lily. Seriously, he is the DB coach for the Bucs & has interviewed for Miami's DC position. If hired, a switch to the 3-4 is not going to happen. I wouldn't rule it out, though. Its my understanding that a cover 2 shell is used in the 3-4. Any one wish to clarify? If Miami can somehow duplicate the success the almighty Tampa cover 2 has had then I may take back a few of the nasty things I've said about this scheme. However, Saban has his sights set on Pats LB coach Dean Pees. I think I could live w/ that.
Tampa's Cover 2 that the Jets and Colts also play is a 4-3....they rely on the 4 lineman to get all the pressure and then they drop 7 independant zones behind them, with the safeties taking a deep 3rd of the field each, the MLB dropping into the deep middle and the rest of the defenders underneath....I have always thought that the 3-4 was better suited to play this defense because it allows more creativity in your rush packages, instead of rushing only the down lineman, now you can rush 3 lineman and any one of the linebackers, allowing you to disguise your rush package....I really think this hybrid could be good, it also puts 2 LBs in the middle of the field to help curb the inside running game, a nemisis of the traditianal 4-3 Cover-2 teams....
jets do play that but Henderson has also been switching from 4-3 to 3-4 sometimes during the game. Getting Vilma and Cowert in on the same play is a great thing for the Jets defense. Plus a rush of Ellis Abraham and Robertson is big. also Thomas is lookin good for them with Abraham was out so i might not be the end of teh world if Abraham leaves. uhhh i hate saying that its a difficult situation with him
3-4 D is the best. With a 4-3, there aren't enough guys on the second level, and thats were most plays are made.
Time will whether Saban converts Miami's defensive philosophy. I have always liked speed, especially on D. Speed kills. You can't teach speed. The thing that bothers me is replacing size (3-4) for speed (4-3). I was looking through Howie Long's book "Football for Dummies" @ Barnes & Noble (another plug for my favorite store). When Schottenmeimer was in KC, he ran version of the 3-4 that relied on speedy LB/S hybrids. This I am all for. I do like how Belichick was switching back and forth in 02 & 03.
