London Fletcher’s Role in Washington’s New 3-4 Defense

By wbowne | Monday, May 17, 2010 | ( 0 )

Got something to say?

This offseason the Redskins will transition to a 3-4 defensive alignment. This seems to be the growing trend in the NFL, each year we hear about another team making the switch, last year it was Green Bay when they hired Dom Kapers. Jim Haslett brings with him a dedication to a pressure system. Much like what we have seen teams like the Ravens use, we will most likely see a system predicated on perimeter pressure with an emphasis on turnovers, something Redskins fans haven’t seen in some time.

One question posed: Where will London Fletcher find himself in all this?

He may find himself posting similar numbers that he has post in previous seasons with the Redskins. I say this for one reason, Ray Lewis had similar questions surrounding his effectiveness in a 3-4 alignment when the Ravens decided to make the switch and he flourished. There was a lag period where Lewis was exposed to more contact with blockers and as a result had to adjust his game play to that. Fletcher, while smaller, possesses the same physicality. Matt Mosley asked Fletcher last week and Fletcher stated he’s tired of the word “small” being tossed around.

The problem with all this is the nature of a 3-4 alignment. There’s one less man on the line of scrimmage to absorb and occupy offensive lineman. That means one more offensive lineman runs to the second level and makes contact with a linebacker. The desire has typically been for linebackers who are larger to be used in these systems. Being a big LB doesn’t mean you are great in a 3-4 but it doesn’t hurt.

London is 5’10” and listed at 245 lbs. He isn’t tall but he is certainly not underweight. He plays the position like a fire hydrant on wheels. Smaller linebackers have sometimes had a hard time making the transition to a 3-4 alignment after historically playing in a 4-3, names like Dexter Coakley, and Zach Thomas can be mentioned and even a player like Bobby Carpenter who played the 4-3 LB spot so well at Ohio State couldn’t seem to make it work in the 3-4 alignment Dallas uses and he possesses the typical size and speed that coaches look for in a 3-4 LB.

This is why using LB dimensions to predict success in a particular system is a crap-shoot. Fletcher may come out next season and show everyone that system doesn’t dictate success, the player dictates success. London Fletcher has really turned into one of the most dependable tacklers in the game. He isn’t flashy, he didn’t come out of a marquee program but he’s solidified himself as a consistent producer who doesn’t get injured. This is where I believe Fletcher’s most unheralded ability comes into the picture. He doesn’t miss games, he’s logged 148 consecutive starts…playing linebacker. He’s built to stay on the field. Players who are taller playing his position often find themselves absorbing contact at a disadvantageous position. The NFL plays tall these days and London is built in such a way that he doesn’t have to. He can play standing up and still avoid taking shots from guys in his midsection. Leverage wins in football and London Fletcher knows that. Look at shorter players who have realized this over the past several seasons. Men like Elvis Dumerville who are short and thick and are able to use a leverage advantage to beat their competition. The mentality was once that if a player was small he couldn’t succeed close to the line of scrimmage; this mentality has since shifted as more players are able to compensate for a lack of stature with utilization of leverage.

Something else to consider is the way in which Haslett will utilize his defensive lineman. 3-4 linemen are usually asked to take on roles as space occupiers, coaches like them to eat up blockers and maintain the point of attack. This in turn allows the linebackers more freedom to roam and make plays on the ball carrier. If Haslett has the Redskins’ defensive lineman assume a role like this then Fletcher may be able to roam free and this conversation becomes moot. Additions of Ma’ake Kemoeatu and Adam Carriker suggest this will be a defensive line that will strive to occupy blockers but the presence of players like Albert Haynesworth also give this defensive line the potential to be dynamic.

London Fletcher will have an opportunity to flourish in this defense if for no other reason than he has done nothing but flourish for his career. There are concerns yes, but I cannot discount the fact that this is a player who has consistently made plays his entire career. He isn’t gaudy or flashy but he is consistent and serves as a coach on the field for younger players. He has become a mainstay on the Washington defense and in 2010 that will not change.

Got something to say?