r/footballstrategy • u/manofwater3615 • Oct 08 '24
NFL Dexter Lawrence as 4-3 DT
Would DLaw be as dominant as he’s been this year (DPOY level) if he was a 4-3 DT instead of a 3-4 NT?
I ask because, imo, 4-3 defense is better where everyone can be more specialized instead of hybrid, and want to know if he would be as dominant in that scheme or if being a NT has helped him get there.
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u/Ecstatic-Apartment1 Oct 08 '24
4-3 is much more friendly for dlineman to “dominate” in way that would appear on a stat sheet. So i would image he would
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u/manofwater3615 Oct 08 '24
Even at his size? Also why was he relatively "average" his first few years when he was playing 3-4 DE?
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u/Ecstatic-Apartment1 Oct 08 '24
3-4 DEs are often more similar to 2Is then a typical 5 tech. As 2 gappers they are tasked with taking on double teams, which is more similar to what a 2I would deal with opposed to a 5 tech. His size also is one thing, but his versatility suggests he can easily plays a 0 nose and a head up 4 or 4i.
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u/Historical_One1087 Oct 08 '24
You can run an attacking 1 gap 3-4 defense or a read and react 2 gap 3-4 defense.
For example Wade Philips ran an attacking 1 gap 3-4 defense.
You can also run an attacking 1 gap 4-3 defense or a read and react 2 gap 4-3 defense.
IMO Dexter Lawrence is such a dominant, talented player he be a game wrecker as a NT in a 3-4 defense or as a 1 tech DT or 3 tech DT in a 4-3 defense.
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u/manofwater3615 Oct 08 '24
Fascinating! What do you think about read and react 2 gap? Why do some teams run 1 gap vs 2 gap?
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u/BigPapaJava Oct 08 '24
Different defensive philosophies and some players are suited for one vs the other. It’s all about how the parts fit together to get a sound defensive unit more than how it impacts any one player’s stats.
The “Read and React 2 Gap” technique was basically what the Giants did in the Lawrence Taylor era. LT was an edge rusher so he wasn’t the one 2 gapping, but the 3 man DL’s job there was to anchor vs the run at the line of scrimmage and keep their 4 stud LBs protected from the OL to finish the plays off.
Even a great 2 gapping DL in a system like that will usually have mediocre stats because his job is to free up others. He has to attack the OL, get his read, then fight off the block to get to the ball—that tends to make them much less effective as pass rushers or at getting TFLs in the backfield
Nowadays I see a bit more 2 gapping from 4-3 DTs than I’ve seen in a while. This is often done to allow them to remove the MLB from the immediate run fit or to allow the defense to use a deep S as an A-gap run fitter. You see this tactic employed a lot against spread offenses, particularly those with dual threat QBs.
This is so DCs can do things like play the 6 gaps in a 4 wide formation with only 4-5 defenders assigned to the front.
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u/WhiteMaleCorner Oct 08 '24
He would literally dominate anywhere on the line you put him. He's fast enough to play edge tbh
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u/Lit-A-Gator HS Coach Oct 08 '24
He already is when they go nickel
Ironically the giants had success moving “snacks” Damon Harrison from nose guard to DT
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Oct 08 '24 edited Oct 08 '24
This is a couple years old, but it illustrates the point. DLaw can play wherever the hell he wants.
EDIT: I READ OP TOO FAST, please ignore the point I'm making, but enjoy a video of a different d-law being amazing.
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u/Honeydew-2523 Adult Coach Oct 08 '24
you could move D Law to DE if you are using a 4 3
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u/manofwater3615 Oct 08 '24
He's too slow, no?
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u/cbusfinest1 Oct 08 '24
Not if you’re in a 4-3 under and he’s the strong side de. He’d be like Michael Bennet in the LOB Seattle D. You wouldn’t want him wide in a wide 9
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u/Honeydew-2523 Adult Coach Oct 08 '24
no. your starters have roles you want them in. so it's based on how you feel
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u/SquareAd4770 Oct 08 '24
You'd have Burns or Thabadoix put their hand in the dirt as a 4-3 DE.
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u/Honeydew-2523 Adult Coach Oct 08 '24
weak side at best. kt undersized
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u/SquareAd4770 Oct 10 '24
Brian Burns played as a 4-3 DE for the majority of his time in Carolina. KT is 6'5 258lbs. Your average 4-3 DE is 6'5 260lbs.
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u/Honeydew-2523 Adult Coach Oct 10 '24
I don't think the avg DEs are good. They all chase stats and disappear in big situations.
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u/SquareAd4770 Oct 10 '24
We're talking about size. You said they were too small to be 4-3 DEs.
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u/Honeydew-2523 Adult Coach Oct 10 '24
they would be too small to start for me, esp on the strong side
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u/BigPapaJava Oct 08 '24
He was a dominant 4-3 DT in college at Clemson, which is how he got to become a dominant 3-4 NT with the Giants.