What Will A Shift To 4-3 Look Like?

The Colts’ season has been over for for about three weeks now, and head coach Chuck Pagano was let go the day after it ended. Now that we’re caught up, let’s get into it. The Colts are almost a 100% guarantee to land Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as their new head coach, and with that, McDaniels is rumored to bring former cowboys linebacker coach Matt Eberflus in as the Colts defensive coordinator. Some people may not know that the cowboys run a 4-3 system opposed to the Colts 3-4 system.

First for anyone who doesn’t know, the personal for 3-4 system the Colts run usually consists of a Nose Tackle, Defensive Tackle, and usually a more heavy set defensive end for the defensive line. As for the linebackers for a 3-4 system it normally consists of two pass rushing outside linebackers or edge rushers, and two middle linebackers, one normally better at tackling and one better at covering a tight end, running back, or containing the quarterback if they are mobile.

When it comes to a 4-3 system, all that really happens is the nose tackle and defensive tackle stay as the interior defensive lineman and the heavy set DE moves to defensive tackle or Nose tackle depending on their skill set. The other two down lineman are the pass rushing linebackers or edge rushers from the 3-4 scheme.

Let’s go over how the Colts could go from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 defensive scheme. First things first, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins would stay at his spot, nose tackle Al Woods would stay at his spot, but the first change would come from possible former LE Henry Anderson to either DT or NT. Like I said it would depend on what the coaches see he would fit best. Next comes the two pass rushing defensive ends or edge setting defensive ends, 3-4 pass rushers, and arguably the two best 2016-2017 offseason pick ups, Jabaal Sheard and John Simon. These two 3-4 pass rushing outside linebackers would be moved to right and left defensive ends respectively. With that move substitute, edge setter outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo would also move to defensive end to sub in and out to add more agility and quickness to the spot and some coverage if needed.

Now that I’ve gone over the down lineman if the Colts changed to a 4-3 system, now I will go over the linebackers. First thing that needs to be said is that now there will be three middle linebackers on the field at once. There’s Jon Bostic who will most likely be starting at the actual middle linebacker spot, then Antonio Morrison and Jeremiah George who will be moved to right and left outside linebacker respectively. This example of how the Colts will change from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 scheme is based off the current roster as of 1/20/18. Hopefully this offseason Colts’ GM Chris Ballard and HC hopeful Josh McDaniels will bring in talent to replace the not so stellar line backing core.