The Houston Texans are going from a base defense of a 3-4 to a 4-3, which seems like quite the transition as the standup outside linebackers line up in a three-point stance at the line of scrimmage.
However, defensive line coach Bobby King, who is also making the transition from inside linebackers coach to his new position, says the Texans were running four-man fronts even when their base defense was the 3-4 last season.
“We’ve done a lot of this stuff,” King told John Harris on “Texans All Access.” “Our base defense was a 3-4. There’s no doubt about that. But the big thing is we’re going to be in three-point stances a majority of the time, and that’s the big thing for defensive ends. They’re hungry to do it, and they’re loving it so far. The two-point stance, it’s not going to be around.”
The move from a 3-4 to a 4-3 means that outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Whitney Mercilus will line up with their hand in the dirt. Mercilus and Greenard have experience playing in 4-3 defenses going back to their college days.