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db
I'm not saying their defensive sets/structure will change, but I can tell you for sure what specifically has been discussed in the building, which is in the past few years they spent a great deal of the defensive front game plan being around how to isolate Donald with 1 on1's. That was literally at the top of their game plan every week. That will necessarily change of course, and they believe/hope it will be for the better on defending the run, and I'll make the bet right now that they will be statistically better against the run. Trying to move Donald around took its toll at times with the run D, but obviously was better for penetration and pass rush. Of course, if they can't find a way to get a consistent pass rush as well it will all be a moot point.
When they moved Donald it was for pass-rush isolation ... they used a 3x1 with hin on the "1" side. Or they might move Donald away from the running back or set the 3-tech to the field ... all that is for trying to isolate Donald.
With the run defense, the gap-1/2 they take their primary gap and squeeze or help the gap next to them. The were never trying to get him 1-on-1 in the base (3-4) or Penny (5-1).
The way they would try and "scheme" run defense was to slant and things like that, but it's hard to show without Xs and Os but what I see on film is them trying to get Donald singled as much as possible on passing down and distances and when the other team is not in 21 or 12 personnel.
If they have their base offense in, Rams run base and it's gap-1/2 for the front 5. (What helped and what Rams will miss is Donald could freelance on running downs, he'd just single gap it and make a play)
When they offensive in in 11 then Rams bring in 4-2-5 and yeah, they will set the 3-tech in a certain way to try (not always successful) to limit the double teams. Or they would do the 3x1 with Donald on the edge ...
My opinion is if the run defense goes from say top 10 to top 5 it will be guys like Fiske making plays that Willams couldn't. And Brown getting better but also Verse and Young not losing contain like Hoecht and rookie Young did.
If they do that -- with better personnel at the surrounding positions plus Kobie doing somewhat what Donald did, (will never do it fully) --they can have that top 5 run defense like in 2021 or so. And will be top 5 for next few years rather than just top 10.
Add to that, better depth, meaning when they rotate the second-team should be better and keep the run defense almost as good as the staters. That is when Tyler Davis and Desjuan and maybe this monster rookie come in.
I see what you are saying, but it's just my opinion it's not done on run-downs, just passing-downs. That is what film tells me anyway. But, you obviously disagree and that's fine. We're just seeing seeing different things, not a big deal.
