NFL.com: Brian Billick on Cushing, Kerrigan, and others

[justice98]

JJ Watt raises the bar for what you can ask of your DE in a 3-4. Kinda blows holes in the refrain I heard a lot around here in years past that 3-4 DE's aren't supposed to make plays and dominate, which was the excuse for why our DEs were invisible most of the time.

---------- Post added October-10th-2012 at 03:36 PM ----------

I'm not sure what the exact differences are between our 3-4 and the texans 3-4 (aside from them actually being a great defensive unit), but doesn't Watt play DE for their 3-4? It is absurd the level of statistics he is putting up for a 3-4 DE. I know JJ is really hyped right now but deservedly so. I think it is a little unfair to try to compare Kerrigan to him.Watt looks like he'll be in defensive MVP talks for years to come, Kerrigan will have earned his worth to us if he becomes a perennial pro bowler, which I think he will.

Let's just be real, we're adults here, we all know the reason Kerrigan and Watt are compared with each other. The same reason Cam and RG3 are compared.

[Dukes and Skins]

JJ Watt raises the bar for what you can ask of your DE in a 3-4. Kinda blows holes in the refrain I heard a lot around here in years past that 3-4 DE's aren't supposed to make plays and dominate, which was the excuse for why our DEs were invisible most of the time.

Traditionally 3-4 DE's weren't the guys to make the plays. In the Pittsburgh scheme, the 3-4 DE's for the most part would occupy the blockers so that the OLB's and ILB's had the ability to make the big play. That changed with Aaron Smith who became a good pass rusher, and now with teams moving to this 3-4 Under look that Houston runs, you are seeing more DE's make the big plays now

[justice98]

Traditionally 3-4 DE's weren't the guys to make the plays. In the Pittsburgh scheme, the 3-4 DE's for the most part would occupy the blockers so that the OLB's and ILB's had the ability to make the big play. That changed with Aaron Smith who became a good pass rusher, and now with teams moving to this 3-4 Under look that Houston runs, you are seeing more DE's make the big plays now

If you're coming in looking to run a 3-4, why wouldn't you choose to run the scheme that way? It doesn't seem Haslett/Shanahan ever had that type of 3-4 in mind when they were building the roster.

[Dukes and Skins]

If you're coming in looking to run a 3-4, why wouldn't you choose to run the scheme that way? It doesn't seem Haslett/Shanahan ever had that type of 3-4 in mind when they were building the roster.

Because for a guy like Haslett who comes from the Pittsburgh 3-4, why would he run something he hasn't run before?

[justice98]

Because for a guy like Haslett who comes from the Pittsburgh 3-4, why would he run something he hasn't run before?

People do that all the time. You as a coach evolve, schemes evolve. You're not locked into whatever scheme you come up in. I mean, it's not completely foreign, a variation of a 3-4 is still a 3-4. I'm pretty sure he can coach it.

But even before Haslett got here, Shanny watched the league and was sold on Haslett's version of the 3-4. So it's as much Shanahan as it is Haslett.

[DaSkinzBaby]

You aren't really questioning Kerrigans motor are you?

I am not, I am simply saying if Kerrigan gained all that weight back to play DE would he have the same motor that Watt has.....

[Hiro]

If given the choice between the two, I'd take Watt without question. I love Kerrigan, don't get me wrong, but Watt is playing at a top-5 defensive player level, not just 3-4 defensive end. He's insanely disruptive. While Kerrigan is steadily improving, I'm not yet seeing the consistently disruptive ability from him we really need to make our defense take a next step.

Every defense in the NFC East has a disruptive guy every other team in the league would kill to have. JPP for NY, Jason Babin and Trent Cole for Philly and Ware for Dallas. Orakpo and Kerrigan are close, but aren't at that level YET. Watt this year is playing better than anyone.

[Dukes and Skins]

People do that all the time. You as a coach evolve, schemes evolve. You're not locked into whatever scheme you come up in. I mean, it's not completely foreign, a variation of a 3-4 is still a 3-4. I'm pretty sure he can coach it.

But even before Haslett got here, Shanny watched the league and was sold on Haslett's version of the 3-4. So it's as much Shanahan as it is Haslett.

Are you sure about that bolded part?

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

After watching the Texans play I wonder if Kerrigan would be as dominant as JJ Watt if we still played in a 4-3. That dude is unbelievable knocking down all those passes and still leading the league in sacks.

Houston runs a 3-4 like we do. So....I don't get this.

[davidterzian8]

Houston doesn't play a 4-3. They play a different variation of the the 3-4 then we do though.

Yea we play the 3-4 predictable defense. I'd say Kerrigan puts up better numbers in Houston. And watt puts up worse numbers here. I kinda wish we'd get more creative with out blitz packages and move Kerrigan around more but it could be that we just don't good enough DBs to get away with it.

[DeadExField]

Rookie year:


Last week:


'Nuff said'

[Enter Apotheosis]

JJ Watt raises the bar for what you can ask of your DE in a 3-4. Kinda blows holes in the refrain I heard a lot around here in years past that 3-4 DE's aren't supposed to make plays and dominate, which was the excuse for why our DEs were invisible most of the time.

Different schemes require different things out of players at the same position. DEs that make plays and dominate are always desirable but in the scheme we run they have to be able to 2-gap and occupy blockers first and foremost.

Let's just be real, we're adults here, we all know the reason Kerrigan and Watt are compared with each other. The same reason Cam and RG3 are compared.

I would assume it was because we essentially passed on Watt by trading back and taking Kerrigan instead. The reason you seem to be hinting at is far more arbitrary and stupid than that one.

Houston doesn't play a 4-3. They play a different variation of the the 3-4 then we do though. It's a one-gapper which allows lighter DE's like Watt to excel. Kerrigan would still be an OLB in Houston.

If Watt came here, he'd still put up above average numbers, but nowhere near the elite numbers he's putting up in Houston. Different scheme.

Watt isn't a light DE even by 3-4 standards. He's not heavy, either, but he has near-prototype size.

[darrelgreenie]

I think its a misconception that 34 DEs (even 2-gap DEs) that can't be disruptive or get sacks.
It just depends on the talent level of that player.

---------- Post added October-10th-2012 at 07:12 PM ----------

Would you rather have Watt or Kerrigan? Honest question.

I think Ryan is a stud, but I woudl take Watt, without a doubt back then(draft time) and now.

[SJValleySkinz]

Would you rather have Watt or Kerrigan? Honest question.

even tougher one would you rather have Jenkins and Kerrigan or Reed and Watt?

[Hiro]

even tougher one would you rather have Jenkins and Kerrigan or Reed and Watt?

I think this question ultimately depends on how Jenkins pans out. If Jenkins were playing the way he was in training camp last year, I'd take our current situation without a doubt. Now, we're not sure if Jenkins will ever be the same player he was coming into camp, but we know knee injuries like the one he had take a while to recover so he may need another off season to recover.

If Jenkins can be that same player, then our defense will become so much better.