I'm definitely old school. But I still believe that, even in today's NFL, you must be able to stop the running game. Then you play SF or TENN and it's a matter of survival.
Pass rushes don't work on 2nd and 2. And if you have to distort your scheme to deal with power runs you open doors elsewhere.
Stop the damn run. A genuinely sound defense does that.
We've had "elite" defenses over the last decade or so that could not straight up contain running games. It's driven me crazy and it has cost us. Weak run defense has been a big part of SF's dominance over us.
For the first time in years I am excited about our prospects defending the run. Gaines + Ashawn backed by EJ and freaking Bobby Wagner ...
Bring on the Whiners!
