How important is DT to the success of a defense??

In a 4-3 defense, the DTs are VERY important. They allow the DE and the LB's to make plays away from the line.

Why? If they don't make blockers pay attention to them, then the DEs get blocked and can't get to the QB, and if they can't make the play on the run at the line, the LBs are stuck watching the run more than they should and get burned by the pass. This is a cascading effect on the defense, because then this makes the DBs pay closer attention to the middle of the field and less to the long pass (which is our problem).

So the bottom line is it's VERY important.