Should Bears fear Packers New 3-4 D?
by ChiCity85 on May 12, 2009 9:27 PM CDT
28 comments
I posed this question to Brad Biggs, editor of the Inside the Bears blog hosted @ Suntimes.com. Here's the exchange:
Q: My question concerns the Green Bay Packers implementation of the 3-4 Defense. Under Lovie Smith's tenure, the Chicago Bears' record versus teams that run the 3-4 is 2-6. Here are the results:
- 2004: Houston Texans (coached by Dom Capers) 24 v. BEARS 5
- 2005: Cleveland Browns 20 v. BEARS 10; BEARS 17 v. San Francisco 49ers 9; Pittsburgh Steelers 21 v. BEARS 9
- 2006: BEARS 41 v. San Francisco 49ers 10; New England Patriots 17 v. BEARS 13
- 2007: San Diego Chargers 14 v. BEARS 3; Dallas Cowboys 34 v. BEARS 10
- 2008: no 3-4 Defensive opponents
Dom Capers (an associate of 3-4 students Bill Cowher 7 Dick LeBeau) has taken three separate basement dwelling defensive units and flipped them into formidable forces in his first year on the job. The 3-4 defense can can prove to be exotic, dynamic & perplexing all within the same possesion. What are your thoughts on Dom Capers and his history? Any insights on how the Bears prepare themselves for the Packers new defense?A: To take your well made point a step further, the Bears are 0-6 vs. teams that implement the 3-4 defense that are not in San Francisco. I think the 49ers were running more of a hybrid 3-4 there at the time, however, because of some personnel shortages. At any rate, Capers' success has been well documented and Dan Pompei recently put together a nice story in the Tribune about it. There is a lot of work that goes into switching a defense and the key is acquiring the personnel. The Packers believe they are off to a good start after landing tackle B.J. Raji and linebacker Clay Matthews in the draft. I don't know what to say about that 2004 game with Houston, though. That meeting came at the end of a disastrous offensive season for the Bears. If you recall, Chad Hutchinson was the quarterback at the time. I think the one thing the Bears have going for themselves in this situation is new quarterback Jay Cutler. He comes from the AFC where the 3-4 has been more prevalent and he's played twice a season against one of the better 3-4 defenses in the league in San Diego.
He's got experience against the scheme and that's going to be useful because the Bears are destined to see the best the 3-4 has to offer this season. They will see it against Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland and Arizona. So that's at least six games vs. the defense by our count. Cutler may have a better feel against the defense than Kyle Orton. If the Bears don't feel they have a lot of experience vs. it, they'll be singing a different tune after opening against the Packers and Steelers in the first two weeks. A little tidbit: teams using the 3-4 have won six of the last nine Super Bowls.
The Lions are beginning anew under a changed regime. The Vikings & Brett Favre continue to play footsies. The Windy City can not wait for the Jay Cutler Era to begin. As far as NFC North storylines go, I feel as if the Packer's switch to the 3-4 has not gotten the attention it deserves. Dom Capers has proven to be one of the most successful defensive minds of this era. Dan Pompei did a great breakdown of his credentials. On top of that hire, the Packers went out & grabbed two great 3-4 prospects in BJ Raji & Clay Matthews
What say you, Bears Nation? Will the Packers ride the 3-4 to a division title? What role will Jay Cutler's experience versus 3-4 teams in the AFC play? I'm hoping this post serves not only as a projections post, but as an educational one as well. The 3-4 is a complex system. Any of you guys out there with defensive knowledge, please, share your thoughts. . .
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Not fear, but certainly respect it.
There’s no secret they’ve struggled against the 3-4, but remember the Pack will have a learning curve initially and may struggle out of the gates.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
3-4 is great for Pass Rush
but not as good against pass defense. Once an OLB runs in that side of the field becomes much more open, which is why we need one of our WR’s to blossom).
It’s all about the personnel though, we’ll see what GB can do. I don’t fear rookies like BJ Raji against the likes of Olin Kreutz and Frank Omiyale.
If you want to crown em...
yes
I’ve watched quite a bit of game tape from his last season at Carolina. I’m more questioning how Pace will perform than Omiyale.
This hybrid Oline could be amazing or very bad. My money is on amazing.
If you want to crown em...
by JohnnyTruant on May 12, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Where did you find that game tape?
I know he played in several games last year, but I have found difficulty in finding actual game tape. A buddy of mine back home is a die-hard Panthers fan, and records all of their games… I was thinking I was going to have to get that from him in the next couple of months for an article on Omiyale.
But, if you have game tape, we need to talk… you can email me when you get time. Thanks!
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3-4 pass rush
A defense has more blitz options but that does not mean generates a better rush overall. As has been said here already, it all depends on the personnel. If your personnel fits a 3-4 better, you go with that. If it fits a 4-3 better, you go with that. The packers are making the change on the fly so to speak. A lot will depend on their first pick, Raji. He needs to be that anchor at NT.
by lookingdeadred on May 14, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
cutler can dissect the 3-4
phew….that was easy
by chicagosports23 on May 12, 2009 10:22 PM CDT reply actions
Two TE Sets are Key
Strong TE play can do as much damage to the 3-4 scheme as the 3-4 scheme can do to a traditional offense. The key to the 3-4 is deception: the offense doesn’t know where the rush is coming from. But in two TE sets with competent receiving personnel, the 3-4 defense needs to be much more cautious in who it sends after the qb and who it leaves unmarked at the TE position. It helps, of course, when you have a QB who not only is able to quickly read plays but also scramble a bit and buy time with his feet. I actually believe that our offense with good receivers in the backfield and at TE, sets up quite nicely against the 3-4.
by The Kaiser on May 12, 2009 11:56 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Just the type of analysis I was looking for.
Well thought out. Your scheme seems to follow basic football logic at the very least. Obviously it won’t always be this cut & dry, but it seems to me that the Bears might be well stacked v. the 3-4
the 3/4 will take a while for the Packers to run 100% effectively… but I love the 3/4 defense, with the right players it’s tough to pick apart, you just never know where the pressure is coming from, and with the zone blitz posibilities, it could be confusing. Big giant offensive lines with a pounding running back is the ideal way to attack the 3/4
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on May 13, 2009 9:07 AM CDT reply actions
If the 3-4
is not as well schemed against the pass as the 4-3. WHAT THE PH*** was our 4-3 doing last year?
It was being run by Bob Babich
Do I have to give anymore analysis than that?
Because as far as we're concerned, there is still no team in the history of the NFL that could beat the '85 Bears.
by Ditkavsworld on May 13, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Cutler will disect the 3-4 defense's we face.
I think he will have enough weapon’s to make the 3-4 system pay. We have two speedy WR’s now and all kinds of talent at TE plus a rb who has good hands. You can pick them apart with TE end play, screens to Forte, quick possesion pass plays to Iglesias in the slot, and when they are back on their heels, down the field to Hester or Knox.
Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.
by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 13, 2009 9:54 AM CDT reply actions
We have nothing to fear, except fear itself.
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
And ifuwanna's dreams.
Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.
And that old lady that was posted in honor of ChiFan's B-day
Because as far as we're concerned, there is still no team in the history of the NFL that could beat the '85 Bears.
by Ditkavsworld on May 13, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Bleach won't remove it....
Because as far as we're concerned, there is still no team in the history of the NFL that could beat the '85 Bears.
by Ditkavsworld on May 13, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Fella's, your killing me.
Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.
by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 13, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Thats not a good history against the 3-4
But the Bears have made a lot of changes since last facing an exclusive 3-4 defense. QB Cutler has experience, nimble feet, and a strong arm to combat that defense. Eluding the rush has been a huge weakness of recent Bears QBs and Cutler is said to be quite adept at that skill.
RB Forte hasn’t faced the 3-4 yet and has good size, speed, and strength to get 3 or 4 yards every carry against one less defender on the LOS.
OLine looks to be bigger and stronger to match up better against the bigger 3-4 DLine.
The pass catchers we have are unproven, but probably are a little quicker than previous groups, so maybe that can be used as an asset. Which leaves the coaching, game-preparation, and play-calling as the major proponent of past-performance equaling future success argument. Ron Turner and Lovie Smith dont inspire me with a lot of confidence in their ability to creatively attack an unknown quantity on defense. So I predict modest improvement in the Bears record against 3-4 defenses because of the personnel changes; but the coaching will continue to hold the team back from excelling on offense against 3-4 defensive teams.
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