The Steelers have been running the 3-4 defense for years, but it may be time to think about making a change. Sure Dick LeBeau’s defense was ranked first in the league statistically in 2012 and things seem to be fine on the defensive side of the ball. Yet with aging defenders and players expected to be on their way out of Pittsburgh in the next few years things are going to change drastically for the Steelers’ defense.
One change that could be positive is changing the defensive scheme from the 3-4 to the 4-3. Back in the 1970’s the Steelers ran the 4-3 defense with an amazing defensive line made up of L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, Joe Greene, Dwight White; they were known as the Steel Curtain.
In the 1980’s the team moved to the 3-4 defense to fit the talent on the team, but it may be time to make a change once again. The Steelers have talent built for the 4-3 that have been molded into the 3-4.
LaMarr Woodley was a 4-3 defensive end in college and now plays outside linebacker in the 3-4. Lawrence Timmons was a 4-3 outside linebacker that moved to inside linebacker in the 3-4.
The Steelers current defensive ends both played defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense in college and are now changing to play defensive end in the 3-4. As fans are well aware, though, both Cameron Heyward and Ziggy Hood have had their struggles playing in the 3-4 defense early in their careers.
Last year the Steelers drafted a middle linebacker in the third round. Sean Spence, who was draft out of the University of Miami, played middle linebacker in the 4-3 defense in college and is considered to be the perfect fit to play middle linebacker in a 4-3, but the Steelers implement the 3-4.
So why not switch to the 4-3 and fit the players into positions that they are more suited for?
Woodley would move to defensive end; he has the size and ability to play the position. As a defensive end Woodley would also be able to rush the passer on every play and not have to worry about dropping into coverage. The other defensive end would be Heyward who has pass rushing skills, but may not have the size to play defensive end in the 3-4 defense.
Hood and McLendon would play defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense. Hood would be back to the position he dominated in college and McLendon would be able to rush the passer and would have more single blocks than he currently sees while playing nose tackle in the 3-4. Those single blockers would be in trouble against McLendon’s size and strength.
The linebackers would be Timmons, Spence and Jason Worilds. Timmons would be back at outside linebacker which is the position he played in college. Spence would play the position he played in college which is the middle linebacker spot in the 4-3 defense. Worilds, on the other hand, has struggled in the 3-4 as an outside linebacker, but would be the perfect fit in a 4-3 defense with his speed.
With James Harrison, Casey Hampton, Larry Foote, and Brett Keisel all potentially on their way out of Pittsburgh this off-season a change may help the defense. With players more suited for the 4-3 a change makes sense, but would it ever happen?
The Steelers have not made any comments about switching defensive schemes and after finishing first in the NFL on defense a change doesn’t seem likely. However, Dick LeBeau, Mike Tomlin, and Keith Butler all have experience with the 4-3 defense so a change is possible.
During the 2011 season the Steelers practiced in the 4-3 defense when Harrison and Woodley were injured just in case they would have to switch to it. That in itself shows that the coaching staff is open to the 4-3 defense.
The biggest benefit to this switch is that the Steelers would go from having multiple needs on defense to having very few. Safety is a need with Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark aging, but if they sign Keenan Lewis in free agency the only other need would be to find a middle linebacker if they didn’t trust Spence.
However, they could always leave Timmons in the middle and move Stevenson Sylvester to outside linebacker. Sylvester is a large 3-4 middle linebacker, but a small 3-4 outside linebacker so outside linebacker in the 4-3 may be the perfect spot for him.
Regardless of who would play where and what line-up they would finalize in the 4-3 defense two things are certain: First, the team would finally be able to put their players into the scheme that fits their skills and the 4-3 is where many of these players made names for themselves in college. Second, it is unlikely they will be switching from the 3-4 any time soon so this is most likely just a fantasy built off of a lack of Steeler’s playoff football.
