The Jets are surprisingly keeping their 3-4 defense in place even after hiring Gregg Williams — who’s historically run 4-3 fronts — as their new defensive coordinator, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post.
Gang Green has deployed a 3-4 look dating back to 2006, and the club still believes that scheme is the best fit for its current personnel. Additionally, new head coach Adam Gase hired Williams in part due to the latter’s ability to utilize multiple, hybrid defenses, so it’ll be up to the veteran defensive play-caller to mix up formations with regularity.
On a macro level, the contrasts between 4-3 and 3-4 defenses are less important than ever. The Jets faced three or more wide receivers on more than 75% of their defensive plays in 2018, per Warren Sharp. On those plays, New York was typically deploying nickel and dime packages that not only put more defensive backs on the field, but allowed for four down linemen.
As Costello, notes, however, the Jets’ decision to retain their 3-4 defense could have implications for the team’s free agent and draft strategy. Ever in need of edge rushers, New York can now continue to target outside linebackers who have the ability to get after opposing quarterbacks. And a player like pending free agent defensive end Henry Anderson — a better fit in a 3-4 than a 4-3 — now remains on the table as the Jets attempt to improve their front seven.
Always fit your defensive schemes to your players’ abilities, not the other way around.
Agreed. If the coach is good, ‘they’ should adjust, not the players/talent on the field. D’Antoni in the NBA is a good example of someone who fails when a coach forces their philosophy on players to play outside of their strengths/talents. Players in Phoenix and Houston fit his philosophy, but didn’t work in NY and LA. Jackson was another.
Who do they really have that makes there personnel better for the 3-4. Leonard Williams could b a 4-3 DT and get up the middle rush. Who else screams 3-4 on that roster that can’t b replaced fairly easy?
That’s true dust, but they lack the edge rushers
to pull off 4-3 right now. Leonard Williams can do anything they ask. He will break out under Gregg Williams.
But don’t NFL teams switch back and forth between 3-4 and 4-3 anyway? Doesn’t it end up being like a 60% to 40 % rate if even that?
Yeah, it’s probably gonna be a 3-4 base with tons of subpackages.
Some games even less than 40
I think a 4-3 team is a lot more likely to alternate between 4-3-4 and 4-2-5 than between 4-3-4 and 3-4-4. A fifth defensive back – usually a slot corner but sometimes an extra safety or hybrid safety/linebacker – is now used on probably over 60% of all defensive plays, and you’re more likely to lose a LB than a D linemen when the extra DB comes onto the field.
From my own experience following the Vikings, we often only dress five linebackers for a game, and rarely, if ever, run a play using three defensive linemen, let alone a 3-4 set.
Williams is a good coach. Saw it coming.