01-04-2018, 04:46 PM
No.
Switching from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense isn’t going to happen in Cincinnati for several reasons. First, neither Marvin Lewis nor any of his current defensive staff have ever coached in a 3-4 base scheme. The Bengals will continue to show occasional 3-4 “looks” but that will be it. Next, Cincinnati doesn’t have the right personnel to run a 3-4. Geno Atkins at nose tackle would be disappointing and I say this as a fan of #97.
Linebacker play is different in a 3-4 defense as well. Look at James Harrison, a future Hall of Famer for sure: He was lost in Cincinnati. A 3-4 outside linebacker has a different role than a strong or weak side linebacker in a 4-3.
Finally, a 3-4 requires at least one linebacker to drop into coverage on pass plays. We know how well that doesn’t work.
Switching from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense isn’t going to happen in Cincinnati for several reasons. First, neither Marvin Lewis nor any of his current defensive staff have ever coached in a 3-4 base scheme. The Bengals will continue to show occasional 3-4 “looks” but that will be it. Next, Cincinnati doesn’t have the right personnel to run a 3-4. Geno Atkins at nose tackle would be disappointing and I say this as a fan of #97.
Linebacker play is different in a 3-4 defense as well. Look at James Harrison, a future Hall of Famer for sure: He was lost in Cincinnati. A 3-4 outside linebacker has a different role than a strong or weak side linebacker in a 4-3.
Finally, a 3-4 requires at least one linebacker to drop into coverage on pass plays. We know how well that doesn’t work.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
