Ex-Bucs discuss Cowboys transition to Tampa 2

[Deb]

-- Charean Williams

The key to Kiffin's Tampa 2 is the 3-technique, the defensive tackle position Warren Sapp made famous in his nine years with the Bucs.

"They’re about to turn a 3-4 team back into what?" Sapp said. "Now who is the motor in that 3-4? Because it’s got to be the 3-technique."

Jason Hatcher would have to play the part of Sapp, one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The top 3-technique in the draft is Utah's Starlite Lotulelei, according to CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler.

"[Derrick] Brooks and I always joke about it," former Bucs safety John Lynch said. "We tell the story where Tony [Dungy] once told us, 'I want to make something very clear: You and Derrick are wonderful players. I think you're Hall of Fame players. But this defense doesn’t work without this guy [Sapp]. This is where it all starts.' He went back to the roots of the defense with Mean Joe Greene. I think that’s where it all starts on that defense. When you have a guy in that particular system who is wreaking havoc, it’s tough to deal with."

After the 3-technique, it's the WILL and the strong safety who are most important in Kiffin's defense. That was Brooks and Lynch. In Dallas, it will be Bruce Carter and Barry Church as it stands now.

"It starts at the ball and works right down the middle," Dungy said. "They’re all important, but in order, I think it would be the 3-technique, that dominating weakside linebacker and the safety. That’s what you have to put in place to have that system be great. So to me that’s where if they do want to do that, they’re probably a couple of drafts away. They’ve got some dominating players. They’ve got two corners who are going to be big-time players. They’ve got two outside linebackers who are tremendous. But they don’t have what this system takes. That’s why I will be curious to see what they end up doing."

One thing the ex Bucs agree on is: DeMarcus Ware will be fine with whatever system he is in. He currently is an outside linebacker but would be an end with his hand on the ground in a 4-3. Brooks said Ware's job will be simple: Rush the passer. Ware no longer will be asked to drop into coverage.

Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com...technique.html

[Robert]

This article backs up my belief that the Cowboys should be doing everything that they can to get Sheldon Richardson, the DT out of Missouri, in the upcoming draft. I don't think they'll have to trade up too much to get him either. And then they get a safety like Eric Reid (from LSU) in the second round.

[ragman]

I think the Cowboys will need about 2 years to make the transition to the Tampa 2. They just don't have the players right now to make that move. The players that they do have are too small, IMO.

[Brandon]

When the Trojans were on this year, it was because Leonard Williams was getting tons of pressure from the 3-tech. That holds true.