I think we agree on some of this stuff, as well. I think the only difference is you feel the scheme is more important than I do. I can live with that. I think you are right that until we see them line up and play, none of us really know. You know what bugs me, though? Many people are writing this defense off before they have played a down. I don’t know about you tk, but I am kind of intrigued by the talent available. That’s a lot of first day picks and some savvy veterans who will be lining up. Could be interesting.

No need to apologize for having coaching experience. I, too, have a significant amount of playing and coaching experience at 3 levels, understand and agree with parts of your statements.

It absolutely is relevant to the systems in which players have played in. It is the best judge of how that player will play in that system. Sure, you can assess their abilities, but until you stick them in the new position with new responsibilities, you can only guess how they will perform. Getting the most out of the players you have is adjusting the scheme to the players, not the players to the scheme.

To pass judgement on who can play in the 3-4, or whatever they choose to run, is ridiculous at this point. Until we see the way the team plays, no one knows.

I am the first to admit that I, too, am not totally following the direction the new management is going. I am comfortable with the fact that we no longer have to follow the same GM down the long, and now expensive (based on ticket prices and such) path to mediocrity……or worse. The new team has something to prove and hopefully they are setting a course to a successful revival of the once truly great franchises (in my obviously biased eyes). The draft and subsequent trades and signings have left me with a lot of questions. I have little understanding for many of those decisions. I do understand the importance of allowing management to make roster changes and moves to fulfill the visions they have. But at this point, I am not impressed. Sounds more like mincemeat pie to me.

Additionally, it seems likely we will be using 4-3, 3-4, and hybrid sets in 2009. Some people are unwilling to accept this fact and want to believe we have to be on or the other.

Finally, I believe the Jury is more or less out on Hali, as i’m a firm believer in the 3-year rule of judgement. Hali has proven to be a adequate COMPLEMENTARY DE in the 4-3, but without a superstar on the other side, is near worthless. Plus, his run defense has always been relatively poor. A somewhat out-of-the-box move to OLB is our best chance to recoup value from that 1st round pick, IMHO.

First of all Carl Sagan (God rest his soul) was nothing if not overly verbose and dramatic. (i.e. billions and billions) If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, first you get yourself an apple, and then another, and then another, and so on. If you want to make a football team, first you get a football player, and then another, and then another. Whether or not they have played in a 3-4 is irrelevant, what is relevant is can they play football? We will see if Herm was able to judge football talent or not. If not, Tamba et.al. need to not let the door hit them in the ass on the way out. Pioli and Haley need to sort out the grain from the chaff right now, not later.