Koetter Talks 3-4 Defensive Transition
December 2nd, 2017
Lots of Tampa Bay fans wanted or expected to see more 3-4 defense this season.
It hasn’t happened for various reasons.
The most likely reason is the Bucs don’t have the personnel. Of course, one could argue that as the worst-ranked NFL defense, they don’t have the personnel to run their current 4-3, but that’s a whole different story.
On the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday, Dirk Koetter was asked what defense he would run if he could run his ideal NFL team right now.
Koetter said he’s go with a hybrid 4-3/3-4 defense.
But he did add that switching to a full 3-4 defense would take years to do it right.
“If you haven’t drafted that way, if you’ve drafted toward defensive ends, I think there’d be a two- or three-year transition to get the right number of guys at the right spots” for a 3-4,” Koetter said.
Joe agrees with Koetter. And it would take significant time for most teams. Not every club can pull stud coordinator Wade Phillips off the street, a potential Hall of Fame coordinator who is a master at quickly teaching his 3-4, like he has this season with Rams.
Also, it’s helped Phillips immensely to have versatile star linebacker like Mark Barron to lead his unit in tackles. (Ouch!)
It’ll be interesting to see how the Bucs approach the 2018 draft as it relates reloading their defense, which is aching for more defensive tackle and defensive end talent.
December 2nd, 2017 at 6:10 pm
The Bucs need to run the 5-5-6 defense
December 2nd, 2017 at 6:14 pm
Didn’t hurt either that Phillips had arguably the best 3 tech in the game willing to switch to a 3-4 DE
I’m not a coach, but this doesn’t quite add with me. Jaq Smith, LVD, Noah Spence and Beckwith could’ve all played the OLB spot. One could strongly argue, Spence is closer to a prototype 3-4 OLB than 4-3 DE. Devonte Bond played OLB at OU.
0 Techs are pretty easy (and tend to be cheap) to find but you have Baker, Siliga and Steve T.
Ayers makes most of his plays from the inside, Gholston is well suited for a 3-4 DE and I believe McCoy would transform his game into an entirely new level in this role.
Wade Phillips is a great coordinator for sure. It may take years to do the 3-4 right but we’ve done the hybrid thing wrong pretty much all season.
December 2nd, 2017 at 6:15 pm
It would not take years, if there was no, or could move the sacred cow that always seems to need more help every following year so he can finally reach full potential!!!!!! The defense is not even allowed to run to many stunts as he complains that he is not used correctly and won’t get his numbers!!!!!! If the Bucs are serious about fixing the trenches, they would trade the sacred cow, get a “real” 3-4 nose tackle and draft the best LT and move DS76 to rt or guard!!!!!!!!
The question is this regime allowed to make moves like that???????
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2017 at 6:20 pm
We do not have good enough defense of Lineman to run a 4-3… we don’t have big enough LB to run a 3-4…. and our defense of backs suck …. but we spent hi Draft picks on a kicker/ TE /WR . Don’t care what base defense we run need more talent on that side of the ball
December 2nd, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Joe Hawley is on the questionable list for tomorrow?????????
December 2nd, 2017 at 7:19 pm
Yes one could argue we don’t have the personnel to run a 4-3 and that’s why fans are calling for the change. It a simple fact that our front four absolutely can not put any pressure on the QB at all.
And they say they haven’t drafted to run a 4-3? Where? Who? Noah Spence…..and who else? What kind of response is that when we haven’t drafted any lineman except Spence who I’m sure could be taught in one offseason how to play linebacker in a 3-4.
This defensive front was awful in Lichts first offseason and is actually worse today. It should have been addressed years ago and Licht has failed the franchise with his band-aid cheap sightings. What bothers me most of all is this idiot HC hired a guy to run the same tired scheme we haD with Lovie that didn’t work and then continued to not address the personnel issues for two straight offseason.
This team has been headed down the toilet based on horrible decision making by our front office and most of us, myself included, were just too naive to realize it.
Not sure what crackpot method they use to make decisions at One Buc but it’s up to the Glazers(I just dry heaved) to make some changes and fix this mess. There is just no excuse to have a problem as import as passrush go unaddressed for four straight seasons…..I’m not on board for a fifth.
December 2nd, 2017 at 7:21 pm
Sexy Rexy , is on line number one Coach Gruden.
I can hear it now at OBP
December 2nd, 2017 at 7:29 pm
And the disgusting part is that it’s not even just our passrush. We are getting steamrolled in our rush defense too……And if you remember back a few years ago we were a good run stopping team……….And do you know why we started going down hill in run stop? As soon as Dirk took control.
Every facet of the game has gone downhill since Dirk took over. Passing game, Worse….Running game, Worse……Rush Defense, Worse……..Pass Defense, Worse…………Oh wait I’m sorry he finally got us a kicker after six tortured seasons without one so he got one area better.
Dirks absolutely sucks and if I’m wrong he sure has a screwed up way of proving it.
December 2nd, 2017 at 7:31 pm
Sunny…….I want Rexy man.
If Dirk really wanted a badass football team that would have been his hire.
December 2nd, 2017 at 7:52 pm
More excuses from a sorry excuse of a coach.
December 2nd, 2017 at 8:12 pm
5-5-6 D !!! That’s too funny. Sad but true. SLUMPBUSTERS
December 2nd, 2017 at 8:28 pm
We can’t even get the right number of guy’s at the right spots for the 4-3, after how many years? Maybe we can trade our whole draft for Wade Phillips.
December 2nd, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Wait wait wait, when did we draft defensive ends? We drafted a 3-4 OLB and tried to play him at DE. Outside that who did we draft at the position. I have liked Dirk, but now yoe’re just speaking BS.
December 2nd, 2017 at 10:18 pm
Koetters response is eye opening… I mean literally the only DE we drafted was a 255LB DE probably better suited as a 3-4 DE, and who proceeded to drop about 10 lbs in the offseason making him flat out not suited for the 4-3. So whats the difference at this point from in switching systems. The Bucs have 0 4-3 passrushers either. And it would take 3 years to switch?? maybe 3 years to be dominant.. but c’mon..
December 2nd, 2017 at 10:48 pm
I thought Devante Bond played DE at Buffalo?
Moving along, I understand the whole draft for a specific defense, but we need to try something different or stick with the horrid defense and get a better draft slot.
Look, we do have a great stable of LB’s and smaller DE’s. Stevie T will be back next year. McCoy will be a very good 34DE as his body starts to age in the next couple years. I think now is the time to really look at this transition.
December 2nd, 2017 at 10:55 pm
This team gives me diarrhea. Go Bucs!!!
December 2nd, 2017 at 11:08 pm
^^^^^^^^^ Go Bucs
December 2nd, 2017 at 11:57 pm
Mike Smith has no clue how to run a defense but, hey, Greg Schiano’s Ohio State defense looks great.
December 3rd, 2017 at 2:35 am
What defensive ends is he talking about?? We could switch tomorrow and def be no worse. Start building it now.
December 3rd, 2017 at 3:25 am
HC Jon Gruden
OC –
QB – Rich Gannon
WR – Al Saunders Asst HC
OL Joe Philbin
RB – Kirby Wilson
TE – Kevin Sumlin
DC – Vic Fiango
DL –
LB – Mike Singletary/Ken Norton
DB – Ed Donnatel/ Mike Riley/Chuck Pagano
ST –
December 3rd, 2017 at 9:47 am
I find it increasingly difficult to forgive the letting-go of Michael Bennett.
December 3rd, 2017 at 10:24 am
No that means it would take him 5-6 years for his team to transition. Didn’t the teams transition to a 3-4 defense this year? Once again can’t wait for the season to be over
December 3rd, 2017 at 12:07 pm
If Mike Smith is still on this staff next season You can expect an 0-16 season. The entire team will give up…there will be zero effort, I’m sure a handful of players will request a trade, Jameis will regress even further. This entire season is a snowball effect starting with a defense that cannot be trusted and it all goes back to his coaching and scene. I’m going to be dissapointed if Koetter gets fired because he’s unwilling to part ways with smith . Koetter has a bright future but with Smith latched onto him he doesn’t stand a chance in hell
December 3rd, 2017 at 12:23 pm
We can draft the DEs from TCU and OU to help transition to a 3-4 defense
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:22 pm
WHEN THE HELL is the NFL going to add more Refs to the game. The missed call just now NO vs CAR was totally a horror. Bumb as$ Refs blew the whole simple illegal movement… The NFL is screwed up that NFL executives are running around their building stabbing themselves in the back. This is literally what happens when you take your eye off the ball.
The NFL should be shut down, everybody fired and chimpanzees should be hired to replace them.
Don’t Get Me Started