Cowboys changing their defense because of us? What teams have we played in the 4-3 and in the 3-4?

[redskins4ever28]

Cowboys fired Ryan, hired Kiffin. ryan ran a 3-4, and Kiffin runs a 4-3/Tampa 2. Reading over Cowboyzone forums, theres a few posts over there that think the change is because the 2 games we had against them we exposed them through the air and the ground and they are saying that the read/option and pistol formations are not as effective against 4-3 defenses. So I ask you, what teams have we played this year in the 4-3 and what teams in the 3-4?

I will say this, Ware wont be nearly as effective in a 4-3 as he was in a 3-4.

[HeluCopter29]

I've got us at 6-6 v. 4-3 D's and 3-1 v. 3-4 D's.

IDK if I'd call that a good enough sample size to prove anything.

[ncr2h]

Median performance vs the 3/4:
16/26, 210 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 87.3 Rat, 7.4 YPA; 7 Rush attempts, 32 Yards, 0 TDs

Median performance vs the 4/3:
19/26, 206 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 101.9 Rat, 8.3 YPA,; 9 Rush attempts, 72 yards, 0 TDs

This basically reflected my general feeling, which was that the zone read is much less effective when there is an extra linebacker to account for - that's extra speed for the defense, more versatility, etc. Pittsburgh gave us some serious trouble this season (Baltimore and Dallas not so much). If Dallas is switching to a 4-3 due to us, they are probably making a mistake.

[Hitman21ST]

I've got us at 6-6 v. 4-3 D's and 3-1 v. 3-4 D's.

IDK if I'd call that a good enough sample size to prove anything.

That puts us at 9-7. You're one game off.

[orlskinsfan]

Monte Kiffin did a steller job at USC. NOT! Im not worried about this change.

[thesubmittedone]

I don't know if it's really about 4-3 versus a 3-4 defense... that would probably be over simplifying things if the Cowboys were making a decision like that for us.

That being said, Jerry Jones was emphatic about us being the team to beat in the NFC East and how they were going to make changes in the offseason to combat our offense after the last game of the season, so who knows?

We did completely nullify Ware though in their scheme. Without even blocking him, lol.

[emor09]

The only teams who really stopped us were Atlanta and Carolina. (Don't anyone dare say Pittsburgh, we beat ourselves with drops)

Both of those teams run 4-3, correct?

[Hitman21ST]

The only teams who really stopped us were Atlanta and Carolina. (Don't anyone dare say Pittsburgh, we beat ourselves with drops)

Both of those teams run 4-3, correct?

The odd thing is, in general the ZBS works better against 4-3 teams. The 3-4 causes more confusion in the blocking schemes.

[Popeman38]

The only teams who really stopped us were Atlanta and Carolina. (Don't anyone dare say Pittsburgh, we beat ourselves with drops)

Both of those teams run 4-3, correct?

Atlanta beat us because RG3 got knocked out and Cousins wasn't prepared. They picked him off twice. Carolina, RG3 had his worst day reading a D all season. He missed Moss and Robinson WIDE OPEN for 2 easy, long TDs. Robinson didn't have a DB within 15 yards. Moss was streaking down the sideline with no DB within 20 yards. The whole endzone section rose expecting TDs both times. He pulled the ball down and second guessed himself, resulting in short pass and scramble. He throws those 2 balls, we walk away from Carolina easily.

Also, the Giants and Eagles run a 4-3 and they were SOOOO successful shutting our O down.

[thesubmittedone]

The odd thing is, in general the ZBS works better against 4-3 teams. The 3-4 causes more confusion in the blocking schemes.

Yeah, in the end, we shouldn't worry either way. This offense has an answer for everything. The Giants had no answer for our offense both times we played them and they run a 4-3 as well.

[skinny21]

Yeah, in the end, we shouldn't worry either way. This offense has an answer for everything. The Giants had no answer for our offense both times we played them and they run a 4-3 as well.

Though the Giants held us under 20 both times, didn't they?

I was pretty surprised that Dallas gave up on Ryan so quickly missing so many key guys. Guess they needed a scapegoat and Wonderboy wasn't gonna be it. Maybe there was something else behind the scenes I didn't hear about.

I've got a lot of respect for Kiffin though I don't know much more about him than your average fan.

I'm less worried about the type of D we face than the personell. Carolina seemed to kill us because they got consistent penetration on our line.

[NIKKI8]

I was pretty happy to see Dallas hire Kiffin, I would have rather that they kept Ryan but I think although he was a great defensive coordinator at one time I don't think he still has it at his age now. I was worried that they might hire Lovie Smith because I think he would have put some motivation into that unit and made them alot better. Now I just hope Philadelphia hires Brian Billick and I will be happy with the coaching changes in the nfc east this offseason. I sure am glad the Redskins were not looking for a coach this year with the names that are out there. I can't believe David Shaw from Stanford didn't even get an interview.

[DeMarco Murray 29]

I was pretty happy to see Dallas hire Kiffin, I would have rather that they kept Ryan but I think although he was a great defensive coordinator at one time I don't think he still has it at his age now. I was worried that they might hire Lovie Smith because I think he would have put some motivation into that unit and made them alot better. Now I just hope Philadelphia hires Brian Billick and I will be happy with the coaching changes in the nfc east this offseason. I sure am glad the Redskins were not looking for a coach this year with the names that are out there. I can't believe David Shaw from Stanford didn't even get an interview.

Kiffin will do a great job here. Even if it's only for a few seasons. Word is, he is bringing Raheem Morris along (whose contract ends in Feb.)

Word also was, that Ryan missed tons of defensive meetings and didn't put in the work needed to put our defense over the top.

To me, it gets 2 guys off the field who could not rush the passer (Spears and Coleman) and lets us rush Ware, Ratliff, Hatcher and (hopefully) Spencer.

[elkabong82]

I don't think such was the motivation considering Kiffin's defenses struggled against the read option at USC.

[NoCalMike]

I don't think 4-3 vs. 3-4 is as much the difference as is bringing in a Coordinator you think can improve the defense regardless of scheme.