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Where's Jason? That's the game the Dolphin's will play with Jason Taylor—now you see him as a 3-4 linebacker, now you don't—in their new varied approach

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005 by Kara Yorio

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In theory, it all makes sense. And Taylor is confident in his athletic ability to take on blocks, drop into coverage and perform the other physical aspects of his new job. His bigger concern is reacting to adjustments the offense might make. It's different when the "bodies are flying around," he says.

It'll be different for opposing offenses, too. They'll have to look for Taylor because he won't always be where they remember him, in pure rush mode. He's working on becoming a multidimensional threat--and that's a scary notion.

This is ... Jason Taylor

Childhood dream: Play in the NBA

Brother-in-law: Teammate Zach Thomas

Favorite book: Bible

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Favorite movies: The Godfather, Gladiator

Favorite TV show: The Sopranos

Featured on: MTV Cribs

Favorite type of food: Italian

Charity: Jason Taylor Foundation, benefiting South Florida children

Also: Has gone on USO/NFL tours to overseas military bases.... Once caught a 70-pound bull dolphin in the Bahamas.--K.Y.

Keys to resistance

The Browns and 49ers are making a full-fledged switch to the 3-4 this season, and the Cowboys are expected to use it more than half the time. For each move to work, many players must learn new responsibilities. An inside look at what the key player on each of those defensive units is up against,

Andre Carter, 49ers

Carter had a choice to make when new coach Mike Nolan installed the 3-4 defense--adapt or confront the possibility of being left without a position.

One of the team's best pass rushers but considered too light at 265 pounds to continue playing end in the 3-4, Carter chose to switch to outside linebacker. As the primary backup at both outside spots, he now must operate in space from a two-point stance rather than put his hand on the ground and beat offensive tackles off the edge.

Carter has been learning a lot--techniques to fight off blocks, how to read the pass and adjustments to his pass-rush moves to reflect the potential for increased participation in blitz packages. Carter is absorbing the nuances of the position quickly.

"More importantly," says Nolan, "when I saw him out there working, he was excited about it, even verbalizing that, 'Hey, I love doing this. It changes up my job.' The linebacker job in the 3-4 is very versatile. Guys get to do a lot of stuff."--Dennis Georgatos

Greg Ellis, Cowboys

Coach Bill Parcells wants Ellis to play right end in the Cowboys' new 3-4 scheme, so he'll give it a shot--even though he doesn't want to. He thinks he's too light--way too light.

According to Ellis, most 3-4 ends weigh 300 pounds. The lightest, he says, weighs 285. He weighs 270, or about 50-60 pounds less than most offensive tackles he'll play head-on. In the 3-4, he won't be able to line up on the outside shoulder of the tackle like he did in the 4-3, which gave him a better angle to use his speed and technique to get to the quarterback.

"I'm not comfortable because it's a new position and the odds are stacked against me because I'm the smallest guy in the NFL trying to play this position;' he says. "For me to be successful, it's going to be extremely hard--harder than it has ever been before--because I'm undersized to play that position."

Where's Jason? That's the game the Dolphin's will play with Jason Taylor—now you see him as a 3-4 linebacker, now you don't—in their new varied approach

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005 by Kara Yorio

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