With the additions and losses of personal.. It would make sense.. I would have to agree that it would play to the strengths of the team right now.. They also got the players to change up also.. It would be interesting if BB does this.. But i guess we will have to wait and see!

but they can really mix things up with AT playing CB as BB said he has

I like the idea of Wilfork AND Brace in on running downs, stopping up the middle.

The 5 DB’s could change as well. A combo LB/SS like Tank Williams (who probably won’t make the cut), or a run support SS like Meriweather could essentially be another Linebacker if the role called for it.

Drop Mayo in the Sam slot, Burgess, or Thomas rushing from the Will, with Meriweather up the Mike in run support behind Wilfork and Brace.

You can put Mayo in the Mike, Adalius or Burgess rushing in the Sam, and Meriweather either covering the slot guy on the weak side, or rushing the passer (the QB doesn’t know which).

It gives you some of the rushing flexibility of the 3-4.

I agree that a 4-2-5 could be a great look for the Pats this year, specially on passing downs and as an answer to the wildcat type formations.

Though as a set D I think the Pats will say they are a 3-4, for whatever that means.
There actual D’s may end up being match-up D’s, to borrow some hoop terminology.

Depending on the offense they face, Colts, Saints, etc – the 4-2-5 could get more looks, vs. the stillers the 3-4 should be played on a higher % of downs, etc.

Assuming they stay healthy the only D they shouldn’t really run is a 4-6 or 4-4, which doesn’t really make sense in today’s NFL anyway

Causes huge amounts of confusion. The defensive backfield is flooded. There are no down linemen to assign blockers to. You might assign blockers to the LBs, but they might not even rush. You’re just as likely to get a CB blitz, as an LB rush.

Outside CB blitz, line jumps to defend against the speedsters. Line splits, Mayo blitzes up the middle and creams the QB.

It’d be great against a spread, no RB, set.

4-2-5 works well against teams like the Colts and Saints because of their strong pass and comparatively weak run offense. As a base D you’re going to run into serious problems defending a stout running/ short pass offense when you play teams like Baltimore, Jax, Tennessee, etc.

which I view as a running formation. In that case having the D in nickel provides more speed to get to the edges and still clogs the middle.

I’d be pretty shocked if the Wildcat is productive this year, like the option plays NFL team defenses are too fast across the board for it to work consistently once there is game film on it and planning against it.

I digress…

Nice post ProfessorTodd. I think the 4-2-5 can be quite viable in certain situations.

One concept from your post jumped out at me – and that is the concept of the “best 11.”

“Best 11” is a subjective thing, but I wonder if it is possible to look back historically, to see the effect of “best 11.” I see it as a study of sorts whereby a group of knowledgeable football folks (this would exclude me!) would create a list of the 11 best defensive players on a given team with the focus being on production and not position. Then historically go back and view results from when those 11 were on the field together (if applicable). I think there would need to be groupings (DL, LB and DB) involved and a control group for results. Of course a “best 11” cannot all be strong safeties – but there could be a happy medium of balance between positional groupings.

I am sure the easy response is that all teams already put out their “best 11” any given sunday and that there is no logical way to normalize for specific situations (short yardage, 3rd and long, etc). But the concept seems intriguing in an attempt to maximize productivity.

I am sure The Genius has already thought of the concept and dismissed it like 20 years ago – but I think you might be on to something Professor. Just know that my opinion and 2 dimes will get you 20 cents!