Wade ran a 1 gap 34 in Denver and I assumed with the DL he had in LA, he would run a 1 gap there as well.
A couple of things to know about a 34 defense. The weak spot in a 34 is passes over the short middle. In a traditional 2 gap, the DL basically holds his ground and allows the LBers to make the plays, in a 1 gap system the DL are attacking, creating pressure. a 2 gap is better against the run, a 1 gap is better at creating pressure.
In a one gap, everyone has an assignment (a gap to fill) before the snap. The problem with having light ILBers means you have 225 lb guys filling (or trying to) a gap. In Denver, Wade had Trevathon and Marshall as the ILBers. Those 2 could cover and fill the run and were very under rated in that defense. Littleton and Barron can cover but they can't fill for anything.
As far as Shannon Sharpe saying the DL is too busy stunting and swimming their way out of the play, as long as they are maintaining their gap integrity, they are doing exactly what a 1 gap 34 DL is supposed to do. A 1 GAP 3-4 WINS BY BEING DISRUPTIVE.I'm not sure if everyone is maintaining gap integrity, but I do know a couple of things. You need at least 1 ILBer that can cover and plug the run. The Rams have none. That is why I was so high on Leighton Vander Esch last year @23.
The other thing that has me confused (1 actually have 1 more) is if they aren't creating enough pressure, why not blitz more, it is why you run a 1 gap in the first place. You can blitz from anywhere, and it is easily disguised.
The last issue I have with Wade's defense. Peters is better in space. He is not a physical press corner. So why force him to be? Wade has ran a 2 gap and a 1 gap 34 in his career. YOu know why? Because he adapts to what his players do best. So why doesn't he do what's best for his CBs?
So to recap:
ILBers are too light. There is no fix to that this year.
Wade needs to blitz to start creating pressure.
Wade needs to let his smaller starting CBs play a little more zone and not press man at least until Talib gets back.
Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok
