Personnel for 4-3?

Should the Steelers consider switching to a 4-3 next year?

I know this has been brought up a lot but I feel like the Steelers have the personnel to run the 4-3 now more than ever.

Cam Tuitt McLendon Bud

Spence Timmons Shazier

I switched Heyward to LE because he could seal the edge better and handle double teams.

Dupree came into the NFL at 270 and could easily bulk up. He would be a monster at 285+.

Tuitt and McLendon would be a formidable DT tandem (especially Tuitt).

I feel like Spence and Shazier would both benefit from more DL to take on blockers. They have both had injuries and neither is very big by LB standards.

*I don't see Jarvis coming back at 9M or whatever.

I am curious to see what people think because the top OLB in sacks this year is Houston with 7 which makes him 7th in the NFL.

Most of the top sack getters are in a 4-3.

Wouldn't most of us be pissed to see a high pick go to another OLB project? There haven't been any instant successes like Von Miller or Aldon Smith lately. Dion Jordan, Barkevious, Jarvis etc. all seem to be busts. Shane Ray and Randy Gregory have 12 tackles and 2 sacks combined this year.

I realise the Steelers are likely going to make the playoffs this year. I am not suggesting they switch now.

I am more interested on other opinions on a) how adept the current front 7 would be in a 4-3 b) whether a high pick on another OLB would be required if Jarvis leaves and the 3-4 stays c) is it getting more difficult to project tweener pass rushers and d) is the 4-3 becoming more effective with more passing?

 

Consistent pass rush with sacks will always help a deficient secondary.

 

In years past this rang true, but IMHO, this logic is now antiquated. The NFL is currently a passing league. QBs get rid of the ball faster than ever. To win consistently and to be able to stop QBs like Brady, we need CBs that are good at man coverage. Has Colbert gotten stale? Is it time we move on? I know he has done a few things in attempt to address the secondary, but the results are beyond miserable.

 

For me, the big mistake in the draft was to not go for a SS. Maybe they were confident in Shamarko stepping up. Maybe there just wasn't the right guy there. But that's the biggest gap for me. Amongst many other big gaps, it must be said.

 

No. They need to draft defensive backfield players and also address it in FA. I would love to see them get Weddle at SS this off-season and draft CB's. Our problem has nothing to do with the front 7. It is the back 4.