Wizenhunt Was Set on a 3-4

[tpaulus_2]

I just read that part of the issue with Wizenhunt not coming to Detroit was that he's set on a 3-4 defense.

In most situations I'd be just fine with that, as I think it's a better defense in today's NFL. However, we have the front 6 to be very good in a 4 man front, be it a 4-3 or a 4-2-5, so a 3-4 should be out of the question for us right now.

If that's the case then I'm glad we didn't wind up with him. Our offense would move forward, but Suh would have been a goner if we had hired the Wiz, and our defense would have had to go into full-on rebuilding mode.

Not ideal that we ended up with Caldwell, but the silver lining is that our defense can keep building on the huge step forward they took last year...

 

[tpaulus_2]

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I just read that part of the issue with Wizenhunt not coming to Detroit was that he's set on a 3-4 defense.

In most situations I'd be just fine with that, as I think it's a better defense in today's NFL. However, we have the front 6 to be very good in a 4 man front, be it a 4-3 or a 4-2-5, so a 3-4 should be out of the question for us right now.

If that's the case then I'm glad we didn't wind up with him. Our offense would move forward, but Suh would have been a goner if we had hired the Wiz, and our defense would have had to go into full-on rebuilding mode.

Not ideal that we ended up with Caldwell, but the silver lining is that our defense can keep building on the huge step forward they took last year...

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I disagree that it would've been difficult to operate a 3-4 or that Suh would be gone. DE's=Suh, Mosley and Taylor + find a FA, DT/NT=Fairley and Fluellen/Draft DT/NT, OLB Ansah, (played it at BYU) ILB Tulloch, ILB Levy, Draft OLB or find them in FA (plus Whitehead/Palmer OLB)... not that far fetched IMO... Levy is better inside and having him next to Tulloch covers his mistakes....

 

[Thruthefog]

Wizenhunt was set on a 3-4...and keeping all of his retirement.

 

[Thruthefog]

Fucker doesn't even wear the pants in his own family and you guys want him leading the Lions?

 

[tpaulus_2]

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I disagree that it would've been difficult to operate a 3-4 or that Suh would be gone. DE's=Suh, Mosley and Taylor + find a FA, DT/NT=Fairley and Fluellen/Draft DT/NT, OLB Ansah, (played it at BYU) ILB Tulloch, ILB Levy, Draft OLB or find them in FA (plus Whitehead/Palmer OLB)... not that far fetched IMO... Levy is better inside and having him next to Tulloch covers his mistakes....

I can't really buy any of that. Yes, Suh would work at DE, but no way he's going to re-sign to be a low-paid 3-4 DE when he can get much bigger $$ playing his natural position. Mosley is much closer to a NT than a DE in a 3-4. Taylor's athleticism would be absolutely wasted at DE in a 3-4, as their job is to occupy blockers and really not much else. Fairley would make a good NT, but, just like Suh, he's off to a 4-3 team as soon as his rookie contract is up. Fluellen is way too small to be a NT. Ansah would make a good 3-4 OLB, imo, so I'll give you that one. Tulloch and Levy would be fie in the middle. Palmer doesn't fit the mold of a 3-4 OLB one bit (although I keep hearing this idea, for whatever reason)- he's not nearly big enough, nor is he a pass-rusher.

I also don't get the dig at Levy at the end there. He's coming off a All-Pro caliber season, and you're talking about covering his mistakes? What's that about?

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Levy would cover Tulloch's mistakes is what I was referring to.

 

[tpaulus_2]

Levy would cover Tulloch's mistakes is what I was referring to.

Well that makes more sense then. Tully is pretty solid overall, imo, but I think his height limits his coverage abilities. That being said he's not terrible in coverage as it is, but not being able to elevate in the seem leaves us susceptible to intermediate throws through his zone. On the whole, though, I think the good far, far, outweighs the bad with him. He's very productive and very durable. Undersized and under-rated, kind of like a young London Fletcher...

I think we got a great pair of starting LBs, though. My theory/hypothesis/whatever is that since we now run essentially a 4-2-5 as our base defense and we're set with our starting two 'backers we should be looking for "specialists" to be our back-up OLBs. I'd one of these big 6'4" 225lb strong safeties that seem to be coming out every year and convert him into a coverage-specialist "nickel" OLB. I'd work with Whitehead on his pass-rushing, since that was his specialty with Temple, and let him be our "rush" OLB. I'd draft a big-assed "thumper" LB to be the run specialist. Then I'd dedicate the 6th and final (usually) LB roster spot to a balanced guy who can back up Levy and Tully and also play a big special teams role. A guy like Ashlee Palmer fits that bill to a tee.

Pretty much I like Levy and Tully as our starting two, with Palmer backing up both spots. I'd keep Whitehead as well and look for a nickel and a thumper in the draft...

 

[RobBase]

[MEDIA=twitter]422908519386341376[/MEDIA]

Just emphasizes how dumb Mayhew is. A HC runs the whole team, including the defense. The lions wanted Wis to basically be the highest paid QB coach ever. Inept!

 

[Thruthefog]

I don't know why my roommates called me thumper when I had female company. Larry was the one who rocked the trailer.

 

[RobBase]

Fucker doesn't even wear the pants in his own family and you guys want him leading the Lions?

You're right. This is exactly like thinking Hillary is the best fit for Prez when the bitch can't keep one man satisfied let alone an entire nation of them. Good point.

FUCK WHISENCUNT!

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I agree that under Schwartz' watch it was more nickel (Palmer playing less than 35% snaps) and I'm fine with that as it has become more 3 wide sets with 11 package behind. I agree with you and see some of these tall 6'-3 college OLB more in the role of nickel, those that can run sideline to sideline yet really good in coverage. Nickles who are big enough to run with and take down the big boy TE's. Pretty much all you pointed out I agree with. Palmer I'm iffy on but his ST's play had been solid. I'm just hoping Schwartz was playing favorites and that Whitehead flashes this summer.

 

[tpaulus_2]

I'm just hoping Schwartz was playing favorites and that Whitehead flashes this summer.

Me too. He had some good moments in the preseason, and looked much better in coverage than I expected, given his DE/OLB hybrid background.

I think at the very least he's an intriguing young defender for the new staff to experiment with.

 

[TBBishop]

Just emphasizes how dumb Mayhew is. A HC runs the whole team, including the defense. The lions wanted Wis to basically be the highest paid QB coach ever. Inept!

Running the whole team for Whisenhunt means running a 3-4 defense. I'm not sure how wanting a coach who will run a 4-3 is dumb when there is a pretty good 4-3 defense in place.

 

[Thruthefog]

I'm just hoping Schwartz was playing favorites and that Whitehead flashes this summer.

One of the most interesting things this season will be finding out who our best players actually are.

 

[RobBase]

Running the whole team for Whisenhunt means running a 3-4 defense. I'm not sure how wanting a coach who will run a 4-3 is dumb when there is a pretty good 4-3 defense in place.

It's dumb because Mayhew wanted a 3-4 coach to pretty much do nothing but coach his QB.

 

[Lions=TeHsUcKs]

Just emphasizes how dumb Mayhew is. A HC runs the whole team, including the defense. The lions wanted Wis to basically be the highest paid QB coach ever. Inept!

Although you have to agree the Lions didn't have the personnel to convert to a 3-4 at the time.. I still would have been willing to give a legit HC candidate the shot to change the defense to his liking.. Like you said, that's a task a HC should be granted.. I can understand Mayhew's concerns over it, but if you were willing to fire Schwartz, you should have been willing to grant the next candidate to do his job..

 

[jayfan]

Then there's this: The money was better.


Lions got outbid for Ken Whisenhunt, according to report - Pride Of Detroit

 

[broncosmitty]

Just emphasizes how dumb Mayhew is. A HC runs the whole team, including the defense. The lions wanted Wis to basically be the highest paid QB coach ever. Inept!

Why was Whiz even a candidate after talking to him? That's what's stuck in my head. If you knew he wanted a 3-4, and you don't, seems like an easy Thanks but no No Thanks situation. Then again, this is The Lions were tallingbough, and the Lions are ran by fuck ups, drunks and guys who's friends don't return their phone calls.

 

[broncosmitty]

Then there's this: The money was better.


Lions got outbid for Ken Whisenhunt, according to report - Pride Of Detroit

That makes more sense.