Hybrid or a traditional 4-3? (1 Viewer)

[FatCitySaint]

So with the addition of Robinson and the departure, for now at least, of Vaccaro what do you guys think our D will look like this year? More hybrid nickel stuff or more of a straight up 4-3 defense? How do you see this measuring up to last years defense? Will playing a more tradition 4-3 add more pass rush? Will we suffer on the back end at all because of this?

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

As always I think our groupings will be situationally dependent

 

[xardoz]

As always I think our groupings will be situationally dependent

... as they have always been. The ability to flex and disguise is imperative.

 

[Slaw]

More nickel than 4-3. It's just the way of the NFL today.

 

[Mudbug67]

Traditional hybrid.
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[meily]

It will be the same defense.

 

[insidejob]

Pretty much the same as it's always been. A traditional 4-3 that plays in a lot of nickel and other sub packages based on situational play.

 

[dutar76]

I think we'll be more "multiple". Meaning we'll see everything. 3, 4, and 5 man fronts, 1, 2, 3, and even 4 LBs at times. We know DA likes to use up to 6 DBs here and there. Swapping Vaccaro for Coleman, we can disguise coverages and even play some cover 2... finally. With a real honest to goodness Bad*** LB in Demario Davis, I think we'll even see some 5-1-5 this year. Adding P-Rob allows us to only use 3 safety sets or big nickel when the situation calls for it instead of being a staple due to lacks on our roster. Having added Rankins, Onyemata, Hendrickson, Okafor, and Davenport over the past few seasons shows the same. All of these guys can play multiple spots in the front 7.

To sum it up... Barring injury or players falling off a cliff performance-wise, we have a complete roster on defense (with very high quality depth). We've been somewhat limited as to what defenses we were capable of manning. That's not the case this season. We should finally see Dennis Allen's defense this year. His whole defense.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I think we'll be more "multiple". Meaning we'll see everything. 3, 4, and 5 man fronts, 1, 2, 3, and even 4 LBs at times. We know DA likes to use up to 6 DBs here and there. Swapping Vaccaro for Coleman, we can disguise coverages and even play some cover 2... finally. With a real honest to goodness Bad*** LB in Demario Davis, I think we'll even see some 5-1-5 this year. Adding P-Rob allows us to only use 3 safety sets or big nickel when the situation calls for it instead of being a staple due to lacks on our roster. Having added Rankins, Onyemata, Hendrickson, Okafor, and Davenport over the past few seasons shows the same. All of these guys can play multiple spots in the front 7.

To sum it up... Barring injury or players falling off a cliff performance-wise, we have a complete roster on defense (with very high quality depth). We've been somewhat limited as to what defenses we were capable of manning. That's not the case this season. We should finally see Dennis Allen's defense this year. His whole defense.

Nice writeup
Real quick
Who are the 4 LBs and what’s the situation when they’re on the field together?

 

[Slaw]

I think we'll be more "multiple". Meaning we'll see everything. 3, 4, and 5 man fronts, 1, 2, 3, and even 4 LBs at times. We know DA likes to use up to 6 DBs here and there. Swapping Vaccaro for Coleman, we can disguise coverages and even play some cover 2... finally. With a real honest to goodness Bad*** LB in Demario Davis, I think we'll even see some 5-1-5 this year. Adding P-Rob allows us to only use 3 safety sets or big nickel when the situation calls for it instead of being a staple due to lacks on our roster. Having added Rankins, Onyemata, Hendrickson, Okafor, and Davenport over the past few seasons shows the same. All of these guys can play multiple spots in the front 7.

To sum it up... Barring injury or players falling off a cliff performance-wise, we have a complete roster on defense (with very high quality depth). We've been somewhat limited as to what defenses we were capable of manning. That's not the case this season. We should finally see Dennis Allen's defense this year. His whole defense.

Couldn't agree more. He finally has the pieces to do just about anything he wants. I think this is a first, for as long as I've been watching the Saints.

 

[Slaw]

We have so many quality players on defense.

DL (7)
Rankins, Davison, Onyemata, Jordan, Okafor, Hendrickson, Davenport

LB (4)
Davis, Klein, Anzalone, Te'o

DB (7)
Lattimore, Crawley, Robinson, PJ, Marcus, Coleman, Bell

18 players that are worthy of snaps on defense. And that's with everybody healthy, they should all still get snaps.

 

[dutar76]

Nice writeup
Real quick
Who are the 4 LBs and what’s the situation when they’re on the field together?

You know who our LBs are. But I think there's a chance we see Okafor, Cam, Hendrickson, Kikaha, Davenport, and maybe even Muhammad stand up at times.

 

[bobad]

I think we'll be more "multiple". Meaning we'll see everything. 3, 4, and 5 man fronts, 1, 2, 3, and even 4 LBs at times. We know DA likes to use up to 6 DBs here and there. Swapping Vaccaro for Coleman, we can disguise coverages and even play some cover 2... finally. With a real honest to goodness Bad*** LB in Demario Davis, I think we'll even see some 5-1-5 this year. Adding P-Rob allows us to only use 3 safety sets or big nickel when the situation calls for it instead of being a staple due to lacks on our roster. Having added Rankins, Onyemata, Hendrickson, Okafor, and Davenport over the past few seasons shows the same. All of these guys can play multiple spots in the front 7.

To sum it up... Barring injury or players falling off a cliff performance-wise, we have a complete roster on defense (with very high quality depth). We've been somewhat limited as to what defenses we were capable of manning. That's not the case this season. We should finally see Dennis Allen's defense this year. His whole defense.

Well said. We have some players I think are pivotal, that could make a huge difference in our alignments and performance. If half of our already good players Rankins, Onyemata, Davison, Hendrickson, and M. Williams turn the corner, our D will have endless options.

 

[Nightshade]

We have so many quality players on defense.

DL (7)
Rankins, Davison, Onyemata, Jordan, Okafor, Hendrickson, Davenport

LB (4)
Davis, Klein, Anzalone, Te'o

DB (7)
Lattimore, Crawley, Robinson, PJ, Marcus, Coleman, Bell

18 players that are worthy of snaps on defense. And that's with everybody healthy, they should all still get snaps.

You need to add Robertson to that list.

 

[Slaw]

You need to add Robertson to that list.

With everyone healthy, Robertson is probably Special Teams captain again. I don't see him playing on defense unless Anzalone or somebody goes down.