The Miami Dolphins hired away Brian Flores from the New England Patriots. Flores was Bill Belichick's linebackers coach who started out as a scouting assistant with the team in 2004. Since then, he's become another sought after name from the Patriots coaching tree.
The New England Patriots over the years have primarily run a Fairbanks-Bullough 3–4 defensive system, though they have also used a 4–3 defense and increased their use of the nickel defense over time. The evolution of the modern NFL offense has required defenses to be versatile.
The Dolphins have used a 4-3 defense over the past few years. This defensive set up has three linebackers, one middle and two outside, two defensive tackles and two defensive ends.
A 3-4 defense uses four linebackers, one nose tackle, and two defensive ends. These linemen are usually much bigger and plug the gaps on running plays. The two outside linebackers in a three-four mostly rush the quarterback. It seems as if new coach Brian Flores plans to mix in some 3-4.
However, this would require Miami acquiring pass-rushing linebackers if it’s going to make a 3-4 work.
Miami can relieve themselves of about $12.9 million in cap space by cutting defensive end Robert Quinn. Otherwise, the team will need to draft pieces that are versatile and can play either defensive system.
Flores during his press conference:
“I’m unable to say I’m 3-4 or 4-3. I’m not wired that way. You have to be scheme versatile. We want to do that. Each game is different. Each opponent is different. Their strengths, their weaknesses are different every week, so every week we’re coming up with a different plan. A lot of that is tied to who you have personnel-wise, what we can do versus what they can do. It could be different every week. I think in this game, you have to be multiple. If you sit in one thing, the coaches are too good. They’ll find a weakness; they’ll take advantage of it. I think you have to be multiple and we’re going to try to do that.”
It remains to be seen how Flores' defensive scheme will look moving forward.
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