I don't think we'd be as good in Monte's D as we'd be in a bastardized 3-4. We could handle McCluster a heckuva lot better with 4 LBs, I can tell you that much.
It's not quite as important that the nose be like Haoli Ngata in college as it is in the NFL because a good 280lb nose in college can demand double teams whereas in the NFL the nose is gotta be 325lb min.
Am I crazy here?
not crazy .....but that 280 lber would have to be EXCELLENT . The nose has to be special even in high school for the 3 foe to be effective . Without a 2 gap nose ....a 3-4 is nothing more than an annoyance to the offense . There job is to be big and hog a bunch of space ...and bend the line to the point that the 4th D lineman is not needed.