Houston Texans: What Moves Wade Phillips Would Need to Make To Switch To 3-4

The Houston Texans are interviewing Wade Phillips to be the team's defensive coordinator. It was an awful season for the Texans' defense and adding Phillips—a well respected defensive mind—could be what is needed to turn around the defense.

If Phillips is indeed hired, the Texans would most likely switch to Phillips' 3-4 defensive scheme, which he has had success with in the past. It would be a major overhaul for Houston on the defensive end, but it isn't out of the question that they can do it.

Here's a look at what the Texans would need to do to switch to the 3-4 defense.

Find a dominant defensive tackle

The most important position in a 3-4 defense is the nose tackle, who's primary job is to take care of the A gap. There are three top prospects in this year's NFL draft at DT. Nick Fairley, Marcell Dareus and Stephen Paea all could be possible options for the Texans in the draft.

Another possibility would be Albert Haynesworth, although he has already made it known he doesn't want to play in a 3-4 defense. But who knows, maybe Haynesworth just wants out of Washington—which is going to happen.

Regardless of who it is, the bottom line is that the Texans are going to need to find a big DT to take up as much space as possible. An in house option is the 6'4" 310lbs Shaun Cody.

What about Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye?

Williams has excelled as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, but could he in a 3-4?  That all depends on how he would be used. Williams and Okoye were both top 10 picks, respectively. And Okoye isn't the prototypical DT in a 3-4 scheme meaning that he would have to move to DE.

That would be perfectly fine if, and only if, Williams sheds some weight and moves to outside linebacker. Williams has the athleticism to come off the edge and be a disruptive force in Phillips' 3-4.

It may take some convincing to move an established player like Williams, but if he buys into it, he could tear up the league.

How the rest of the defense would shape out

Brian Cushing would be the perfect fit as an OLB in the 3-4, and DeMeco Ryans would fill out one of the inside linebacker positions. The benefit to moving to the 3-4 is it covers up a poor secondary. Having quicker faster players on the field will allow Houston to bring exotic blitzes to bring pressure.

Houston ranked last in the NFL against the pass so it makes sense that Gary Kubiak is willing to move to a 3-4 scheme. There is talent on Houston's defense but the biggest question mark is how that talent would translate in a 3-4. 

If the Texans can upgrade at nose tackle and bring in a young guy to compete for the free safety position, the move could work out.