How Do the Browns Stack Up in a 4-3 versus 3-4

Jamie Meder and Danny Shelton assess the potential of a 4-3 defense for the Browns.

Size isn't everything, and numbers don't always tell the whole story, but the numbers say that the Browns were underweight in their front seven, and actually match up better as a 4-3 defense.  

I took the trouble to obtain NFL average weights for 3-4 defenses from falcoholics.com, and the  4-3 from bloggingtheboys.com and some additional information from David Sheldon of quora.com.   The 4-3 linebacker weights were not broken down in sufficient detail, so I used my own estimates of 235 pounds for a outside linebackers and 250 lb for middle linebackers.   

I can't 

4-3 defensive lines weight

3-4 avg NFL weight

 NFL avg weights by position group

Comparing this the the 2016 Cleveland Browns, it is obvious that there is a major misfit on the outside.  Our defensive ends are giving away 31 pounds each.  That's like sending a middleweight to fight a heavyweight.  The outside linebackers are a little better, but still undersized by an average of 15 pounds.   Maybe that has something to do with our poor performance against the run last year.  I believe bad teams, and especially our dear Cleveland Browns, are always looking for sacks, and neglect other functions on defense. Hence we wind up with lighter players who are best at rushing the passer, but perhaps can't play the run or defend against passes. Ogbah and Nassib are too light to play DE in the 3-4, but you are not going to move them to right outside linebacker with All Pro Jamie Collins in that spot. 

3-4 Defense
Position	Avg wt		Player	wt	Difference
DE	306		Ogbah	275	-31
NT	323		Shelton	335	12
DE	306		Nassib	275	-31
OLB	263		Collins	250	-13
ILB	241		Kirksey	235	-6
ILB	241		Davis	248	7
OLB	263		Schobert	245	-18

The 4-3 defense removes a linebacker and adds a defensive tackle, so overall there is less of a requirement for big guys at each of the front seven position.  In the case of teh Browns, I decide to send Meder in for Schobert, which adds 63 pounds to the front seven.  But some of the guys who were on the small side in the 3-4 match up much better in the 4-3.   

4-3 Defense
Position	Avg wt		Player	wt	Difference
DE	269		Ogbah	275	6
DT	307		Meder	308	1
DT	307		Shelton	335	28
DE	269		Nassib	275	6
OLB	235		Colllins	250	15
ML	250		Davis	248	-2
OLB	235		Kirksey	235	0

What's not shown here is speed.  We can be sure that former All-Pro Jamie Collins has sufficient speed for the position, and I feel positively about Christian Kirksey as well.   Maybe the biggest question is whether Danny Shelton fits the 4-3. He was the perfect nose tackle in a 3-4.  Here again, though, it doesn't bother me one bit to play a guy who is a run stopper at his position.