Raiders going 3-4

[crizpynutz]

That includes players such as quarterback Chris Simms, who the Raiders had in for a visit. It could include running back Willis McGahee, who will scope out at his special workout April 22. It could include any defensive ends that might slip to them to augment a pass rush that has been deficient at that spot in recent years.

But not necessarily.

"The mere fact we do play a 3-4 defense means if there is an opportunity to take a linebacker we covet we will take a strong look at that," Callahan said.
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OK, so maybe I've stepped ahead of myself, but draft Boss Bailey to put next to Romo, Harris and Barton would be pretty cool.

[RaiderRex]

Originally posted by crizpynutz
"The mere fact we do play a 3-4 defense means if there is an opportunity to take a linebacker we covet we will take a strong look at that," Callahan said.

That's a strange quote, the first part. We might have the 3-4 in the playbook, but I don't recall us using it hardly at all last year. Didn't we toy with it early on, maybe in preseason? But I don't remember us using it.

I wish we would though, if we can. That would be great, a bitch to prepare for since so few use it.

[daraydaz]

As I recall, we did use it last pre-season and were somewhat successful with it. Honestly, I'd be surprised if we go exclusively 3-4 but I like the possibilities. Bring in a Bailey or EJ Henderson or a hybrid like Antwan Peek. The possibilities are endless. We would need to draft more than one LB IMO, unless we go FA after 6/1.

[Mr.Murder]

Peek and Banta-Cain both can play lb if need, be, very similar to Nap Harris in that regard...
Get both , we used 3-4 when Travian was a def end sometimes, Rod Coleman played ILB on a rough 3-4 where he usually blitzed also... our 4th lb was a guy with d line skills, the kind of guys Peek and Batna-Cain are.
We didnt use it a lot, and blitzed when we did, was something that you didnt want to overuse or show too many plays from.
Lots of the formations Gruden showed us in the superbwol were done just to see what we lined for them in, was why they didnt score early.
Once he had us winded from wide sweeps and knew what we use for a situation he opened the book up some and ran plays using his last option or read as his primary to get sure chain moving plays.
The more options we have the better, and Callahan prefers with versatility in reserve or support roles.

[TIBERIUS]

If the RAIDERS were serious about going 3-4, we would have aggressivly went after SEAU. Untill we dump our defensive coach (gag), ...........

[SoCalRaider]

You know, there's a bit of a rumor going around that the Raiders were actually playing a 3-4 last year. At least that's what Cally thinks...

[RaiderInNY]

The 3-4 made sense for us...will it happen, probably not, can it work theoretically, yes!

Rod coleman, Parella and Grant on the d-line...stubby comes in to make the line bigger at times!

Barton OLB, Harris ILB, draft pick or Travian smith ILB, ROMO OLB

then the 2ndary... C.Wood, P.Buch, Woodson and Polamalu or Gibson... that would be sweet...

WONT HAPPEN! We do have good ole bresnahan!

[aldavisfan]

The 3-4 defense requires way too much thinking and reacting rather than attacking. The Raiders do not have the personel for the 3-4. When the defense stopped thinking and started attacking is when the d really stepped up. i cast my vote against the 3-4

[crizpynutz]

I'm not for or against the 3-4, just thought the quote was interesting. If we had the personel for the 3-4 then sure sounds great to me. If we had the personel for the 4-3 then sure sounds great to me. Just thought it was interesting because like you guys when did we run a 3-4?? Calli says so, but I don't remember seein' it.

[daraydaz]

I wouldn't mind seeing it used from time to time just to give opposing offenses a new wrinkle to worry about. I think we have the personnel to do it but don't have a DC that can grasp it and make it work.

[Mr.Murder]

We used the 3-4 or a 3-3-5 , both of them in passing situations, usually when we had at least a 2 score lead because teams would be less likely to run on first down when trailing.
We didnt use it a lot, when we did Rod Coleman would play ILB or Travian would play OLB , our 4th d lineman became our 4 th lb, but still was sent in to rush passer 80% of time, it was just easier way to disguise the underneath covers so teams couldnt auidible hot routes to the blitz side of field for big gains.
Every team in our div had money rb so this tactic was a change-up that prevented them from using long handoff flat passes as a way of controlling time and moving chains.
Chucky had this well scouted when we used any formation even similar in SB, like when we put Regan at stand -up de and he missed his zone blitz cover jam on the slot wr side, or when we put Travian at de and had him cover guys over middle from zone cover.

[liebo84]

3-4 is great. Think about it, we do have Travian Smith

Nap "Happy to be a raider" Harris

Eric Barton

and Romo

[RaiderInNY]

nice liebo...thats what i said in my post....never will happen though.....its funny because we have the most important part of a 3-4 system already in place. A 2 gap technique DT, Parella!

[Towner13]

If you remember, last season they invented that new position called "Elephant Backer" . Basically a position using D. Grant as a DE/LB look.... They ran that D fairly frequently on some of the running teams we faced... While it isn't an exact 3-4 Defense, I think htis is what Cally is referring to. Grant would set a little farther back off the line and sometimes not even get in a 3 point.

[Mr.Murder]

You dont want to 3-4 a west coast style line, they will cut the Nt's knees off from either or both sides and hurt him, then run at the backup all day. Only way you can that is to pinch the d ends down to guard-tackle gap, our guys arent big enough to do that.
Schlereth and shanarat's others do that all the time, against that team you have to line up a man on and beat them straightforward, they are not big. Giving them room to move and finesse plays into those nasty cut blocks.
Paybacks are a mofo Schlereth, somebody rolled your knees out and now you are in studio with preppy qb who are smarter than you or coaches who would have broken your game film down like angelo dundee did the rope-a-dope...
Enjoy getting proven wrong on Raiders predictions every week.