Transition from 4-3 to 3-4

[DemonDeaconz]

I'm UCLA and I run a 4-3, but I'd like to switch to a 3-4 next season. My question is, what should I do differently recruiting wise?

[nortobc]

Recruit very strong OLBs, DTs and DEs. Go to bench press and sort by the strongest and recruit them. Get one coverage MLB and run stopper MLB.

[YeOldTonk]

To work on the reverse of this, how would you recruit going from a 3-4 to a 4-3?

[DemonDeaconz]

I've heard a lot of people recruit safeties with high block shedding and convert them to OLBs. Good idea or no

[nortobc]

Quote: Originally Posted by DemonDeaconz

I've heard a lot of people recruit safeties with high block shedding and convert them to OLBs. Good idea or no

For 4-3? or 3-4? Alot of people do this but they run a 3-3-5. I personally run a 3-4. Here is my breakdown:

att = attributes to look for in recruiting in order of importance

34 defensive players:
DE: 7 total
4 run stoppers; att: str, blk shed, acc
3 pass rushers; att: fmv or pmv, acc, speed
pass rushers are used in some nickel and all dime packages

DT: 4 total
att: str, blk shed, acc

OLB: 6 total
att: str, blk shed, tak

MLB: 4 total
2 coverage; att: speed, ply rec, mcv or zcv
2 run stopper; att: str, blk shed, tak
coverage MLB will be the MLB on dime;

CB: 7 total
coverage: att: speed, acc, mcv or zcv (which ever you prefer)

SS: 3 total
att: str, tak, hit power (he will blitz alot and lay the wood)

FS: 3 total
att: speed, acc, zcv (I almost always play zone with him over the top)

[YeOldTonk]

What about for a 4-3?

[yourfavestoner]

There is literally zero difference in this game between the 3-4 and 4-3, because players don't have run fits or gap responsibilities.

Recruit for speed, because the defensive AI logic is based on flowing to the ball and nothing else. The most deadly 3-4 team in the history of Madden online was the Colts, with Freeney and Mathis as 3-4 ends.

To be perfectly honest, though, there isn't a whole lot of difference between most 4-3s and 3-4s in real life, either. Almost everything is a one-gap, hybrid Over/Under defense and you can just stand up the end man or put his hand in the ground. Very few teams run a true, 2-gapping 3-4 from an Okie front. The further trend has been to incorporate 2-gapping and 1-gapping into the same play on different sides of the D (like Belichick and Carroll do), but alas, I'm rambling.

[C the Lyte]

Ramble on young fella. I have been reading on Carroll's scheme as it is supposed to closely mirror Tennessee's defense this year. But enough of the off topic.

I'd recruit smaller, quicker D-ends and convert them to pass rushing OLB's.