It’s fairly well documented at this point, but those who believe in the 3-4 defense around the league, believe in it passionately because of the versatility it allows.
In essence, the defense can choose the fourth and fifth pass rushers and send them from anywhere in the formation. In a 4-3 look, the four rushers in a base defense are fairly well defined simply by where they line up.
As a result in a 4-3 look, Elvis Dumervil pretty much lined up at right defensive end for the Broncos and that was that. Down in a three-point stance he battled left tackles the majority of the time to get to the quarterback.
However, in the Broncos 3-4 look, Dumervil can appear all over the formation. He can stand up, get down in his stance, play inside the defensive end, line up outside the end and even change sides.
And Sunday the Broncos did just that. In many passing situations Dumervil lined on the defensive right and battled Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, a two-time Pro Bowl selection in his two seasons.
Dumervil had his first sack of the game Sunday when he escaped Thomas as Browns quarterback Brady Quinn stepped up in the pocket to elude safety Brian Dawkins.
But the Broncos also, especially in the second half when they had control of the game, flipped Dumervil to the other side of the formation where he could face Cleveland’s right tackle John St. Clair.
And St. Clair is not Thomas. Dumervil dominated the 10th-year veteran, goading St. Clair into a false start, then beating St. Clair for three sacks, two of those in the same series.
Dumervil also forced a fumble in the third quarter when he had dropped out into pass coverage. Cornerback Champ Bailey hit Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs low and Dumervil finished him off up high, knocking the ball free.
