Was back in their Falcons days under Reeves. That defense struggled in the conversion to the 3-4 and Wade took the reigns after Reeves was fired. Here's
Johnson's quote from an NFL.com story, and every time I see it I think how different he sounds from Wade (who hasn't ever seemed to be as focused on the size part of the equation):
"You've got to have the personnel to make it work," New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Bill Johnson said.
Johnson was with Dan Reeves' Atlanta Falcons staff when Wade Phillips was the defensive coordinator and took over as interim head coach. Under Phillips, the Falcons switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4. The personnel wasn't ideal, and after a few seasons -- and a coaching change to Jim Mora in 2004 -- the Falcons reverted back to a 4-3, the scheme they still play.
"The problem they had in the 3-4 scheme wasn't with one game," Johnson said. "There were 16. It takes large men to play that 3-4 over the course of the season. You've got to hold some people off those linebackers, so it takes good-sized people and some luck.
"To have that defense be highly effective, it takes special people playing off the edge at outside linebacker. If you lose one of those guys, they're hard to replace. You've got to have not just good starting personnel but depth."
"I prefer a 4-3, but there are some beautiful things about a 3-4."
