bearadonisdna wrote:BullHeaded wrote:Radical idea... I'd give Peppers 1/3 of the defensive snaps at 3-technique and see how he does. Under Marinelli he moved all along the line, so its not completely new to him. He's strong enough to move the line of scrimmage against the run, and I can't imagine many guards being able to stay in front of him on passing downs. Who knows, maybe he can be Dan Hampton 2013?
This is a becoming an apocalyptic situation for our defense. Melton and collins out and with the way Peppers has been playing it willbe impossible to justify an 18m cap hit for him next year. its almost already unjustifiable now.
My only gripe tho is if emery purposely built a limited ceiling 4-3 knowing it had little chance of sucess to justify blowing up this D for a 3-4 which will almost seems inevitable now.
I mean cmon i think dj williams is done. hes been done for awhile before even coming to the bears. We sign turk mcbride? Turk mc fn bride? to replace idonije? Idonije singed for league minimum btw.
6/25/2013: Signed a one-year, $905,000 contract. The deal contains $485,000 guaranteed, including a $65,000 signing bonus. 2013: $840,000, 2014: Free Agent
I don't necessarily know about switching to a 3-4, but I certainly can see a personnel reset. I think the team already started restocking on LBs with Bostic and Greene but you are right about the DL and we also have to think about the future of the secondary. Pep is taking up what... 25% of the entire team's capspace next year? And aren't both Wooten and Melton free agents? Also, 3/4 of our starting secondary are free agents.
Personally, I think you could be every bit as successful with a 4-3 as you can with a 3-4. You just need to find the right coordinator and the right personnel for the system you're running with. Going into 2014, we are probably a little better equipt to run a 4-3. I know the argument most will make all revolves around Shea McClellin being a LB not a DE. But our other LBs are pretty prototypical for a 4-3 (Briggs, Bostic and Greene) and we don't have that big mountain of DT to play nose. That said, if a couple of the perfect pieces present itself in the draft, it may be opportune to make a switch like when GB had BJ Raji and Clay Matthews fall into their laps. Just as importantly, we have to decide what the best coverage schemes are for the future success of the Bears (man? zone?) and find the right replacements in the secondary to make that transition as well.
Going back to my original point... finding out if Peppers can be a full time star at 3 technique may help shape the strategy going forward. If he can, and we also find out that we have other edge rushers who can start (maybe Cornellius Washington or David Bass surprises us... or Shea McClellin starts doing his best Jared Allen impersonation with more playing time)... we all may be thrilled to see the 4-3 front stay put. If Peppers cannot be effective there and the other edge rushers don't excite, then maybe we do explore changing to a new front. But I agree... no matter what, for Peppers to be on the roster next year, at his salary he needs to be an absolute centerpiece to a DL that just beasts. And right now, that DL is not beasting.
