[Mathis Tweets He Will Play Sam]

As someone else already mentioned, Mario Williams was injured and put on IR. He had 5 sacks in 5 games. While an unrealistic pace, he wasn't having any trouble converting and would realistically have been able to achieve his second or third best season in terms of sack production, and his best if that absurd pace stayed true.

And the Bills were already reverting back to a 4-3, even before they had Mario Williams. Note the "Posted on" date. His best fit is indeed in a 4-3, but from the 5 games he played, he was having no trouble with a 3-4.

I forgot about him being on IR......he had two against the Colts on opening day (almost don't count?).....anyway, the jist of my concern is....if Freeney stays....aren't he and Mathis most effective in their natural positions?....won't they both be forced to play coverage at least on occassion?.....the Ravens have great players in their front seven who are natural 3-4 players.......the Colts don't have those players right now.....they really only have one piece...Redding........of course Pagano...and probably alot of people reading this know more about football than I do....but in my opinion...there are so many missing pieces....it's questionable have two great players change positions for the sake of a scheme....

[Mathis Tweets He Will Play Sam]

I dont think Freeny is going to be running around chasing a slot receiver or tight end. Give me break. I think Pagano knows what Freeny and Mathis do best.

No need to take it personnally.........I just have an opinion... Mario Williams dropped into coveage on occasion last year in the Texan's new 3-4....and his sack production went down.....the Bills are reverting back to a 4-3 now that they have Williams.....

[Mathis Tweets He Will Play Sam]

I believe Freeny and Mathis would line up (stand up) outside the DE's on the line of scrimmage. Freeny and Mathis would then be able to be rush the passer or use their speed to chase running backs down behind the line.

That does'nt answer the concern about slot recievers and tight ends...........

[Mathis Tweets He Will Play Sam]

Mathis and Freeny are not offensive linemen. How could they look silly in their pass protection? I believe Freeny and Mathis would line up (stand up) outside the DE's on the line of scrimmage. Freeny and Mathis would then be able to be rush the passer or use their speed to chase running backs down behind the line.

I meant coverage (obviously)

[Mathis Tweets He Will Play Sam]

Seems to me that Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and others will use their slot receivers and tight ends often and effectively to make both Freeney and Mathis look silly in pass protection. It's not like the Colts have all but a couple of pieces to run an effective 3-4. They don't have the big interior linebackers, they have only one DE and no nose tackle. In my opinion, the only asset the entire team has is the Mathis/Freeney pass rush. They are going to be taken out of their natural positions..............and the one thing that is not broke is being fixed?...............it must be me, because I don't see anyone else questioning this.

[Defensive Foundation]

He also mentioned that if he doesn't see a problem making the transition considering the Texans did it with practically no offseason.

What I took from that is that he wants to build the Ravens style of defense, with that physically dominant mentality, and that that will take time. So that's the overall picture. The transition to a 3-4 hybrid, if I'm correct, is what he expects to be able to change pretty quickly.

Thanks for the info..............interestingly though, the Bills are switching back to a 4-3 now that they have Williams.

[Defensive Foundation]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I understood Pagano to state that a 3-4 or even a hybrid would be something the defense would evolve into ....not over the next few months.... but over the next few years....I could be wrong of course, but I don't see a successfull 3-4 front seven with the current roster....

[Freeney & Mathis, Game Wreckers!]

egg....

Did Pagano ever say this (or anything else) specifically about Freeney and Mathis

I think if he talked to Freeney and told him how he'd fit in maybe it would sway him...

he is under contract to us..

If you go to Colt's main page and scroll back through videos, you can listen to Coach Pagano at a press conference during the combine answer a question about the 3-4 and then aother question specifically about Freeney and Mathis.

[Freeney & Mathis, Game Wreckers!]

Coach Pagano Feb. 23 : ......."Again, if we can't make the transition over night, and go pure 3-4, or a hybrid of a 3-4, we're going to do what's best for our players....to put them in the best spot to be successfull right now.................first and foremost, we're going to make sure we put both those guys in position to make plays......I don't think it would be very smart on my part, or anyone else's part to not make sure that that doesn't happen.....I fully expect to have them here as long as we can."

[Rotoworld Reports Freeney Unlikely To Be Traded..]

I know most will disagree, but I think the Colts will still try and extend his contract and lower his imminent cap hit by 10 or 12 million, if it can be done.