Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 2/22

but I was just shocked mostly that Clayton made a logical argument……for once.

Unfortunately, I agree. If the 3-4 works here, it won’t matter, but I hope their reasons for using it extend beyond the “it’s hard to prepare for” argument.

finding capable players, specifically NTs and DEs, is really hard.

throwing it out there – but wouldn’t it be easier? not the transition – but to find guys ilke this.

the NT is tough for sure – but 3/4 DE’s can be found because they aren’t typically asked to be penetrators.

then with LB’s – a TON of guys have that makeup and can be more versatile (ST). so instead of trying to find 2 quality pass rushing DEs and 2 quality DTs we can find 1 NT, 2 DEs that have to occupy blockers and a bunch of LBs that seem to be, well everywhere.

i might be a little off on that – but past NT – seems like the 3-4 might be easier to draft for.

I mean, there’s that Super Bowl he won as head coach…………, wait, no, that playoff win he was head coach for………………….., hold on, no, that national champtionship he lead Georgia Tech to in college…………………nope, um………wait for it……………..I’m still thinking……………ah, I know, he was offensive coordinator when the Kansas City Chiefs went 2-14 in 2008, but Tyler Thigpen showed some improvement and is now a favorite target of many here on this website!

K is right.

Can you put that one in your Rumblings’ quotes library?

How can you say that Nose is the hardest to find when you can get by in some 3-4 schemes with a big fat immovable object in there? They don’t have to be athletic, they just have to occupy blocks and eat up space.

What you mean is it’s hard to find a NT that can collapse the pocket and penetrate. That’s indeed very hard to find and those are the guys you are seeing getting tagged. But they are a luxory, but not a neccesity.

But so are 3-4 pass rushing OLBs. It’s essentially the same position.

I don’t think this holds up.

The vast majorioty of pass rushing ends in college come into the league as “tweeners” who need to bulk-up to be effective against the run – ala Maybin. It’s much more rare to find a kid who is ~20 years old who has the athleticism to beat a professional tackle on the edge yet be stout enough to hold up against the run.

Buffalo has time-and-time again had to trade off between guys who could rush the passer and guys who could hold up against the run, and eventually settled for guys who were mediocre at one or both. With the exception of Schobel who was a freakish athlete – which is what the 4-3 end position calls for.

The 3-4 spreads these roles better and allows you to get-by with less than freakish athletes in your front 3. That’s reason #2 why we are making the switch after all. Reason #1 being the variability of scheme.