To start this discussion I'll list players the players along the DL and at LB.

LB: Baron Browning, Tuf Borland, Malik Harrison, Justin Hilliard, Keandre Jones, Pete Werner, Nick Conner. Incoming players are Dallas Gant, Teradja Mitchell, and K'Vaughan Pope. (Not sure on Dante Booker's status)

DE: Nick Bosa, Jonathan Cooper, Chase Young. With incoming Tyreke Smith, Alex Williams and possibly 1 or 2 others.

DT: Dre'mont Jones, Robert Landers, Malik Barrow, Davon Hamilton, Jashon Cornell, Jerron Cage, Haskell Garrett. With incoming Antwuan Jackson Jr., Tommy Togiai, and Taron Vincent. 

The personnel I just listed is the ideal type personnel needed for a 3-4 defense to work. We also had a new hire this past week, DC Alex Grinch. Grinch ran a 3-4 at WSU, so you have to at least speculate that Grinch will implement some of his philosophies and packages on the defense. Possibly that is the reason why Meyer sought after and hired Grinch. 

Guys like Baron Browning, Malik Harrison, Tuf Borland, Justin Hilliard, Keandre Jones, Werner and the other Linebackers listen have the ideal skillset for 3-4 scheme linebackers. 

DL Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Dre'mont Jones, Jashon Cornell. Are guys that could play both the inside and outside. Along with Jackson, Vincent, Togiai, Garrett, Barrow, Landers, Hamilton being ideal middle DT in a 3-4. Cooper has the ideal size and skillset to play standup OLB/DE.

With our lack of true DE depth it makes it hard to stick with a 4-3 base . Couple that with the fact that our best chance of getting our best defensive talent on the field all at once is through a 3-4, and the fact that we hired a coach with a 3-4 background. It seems like that is the direction we are headed. 

What are your thoughts?