This defensive scheme is flawed against the run. It relies on smart, stout and physically superior players in order to maintain success over an extended period of time.
The line is instructed to slant and hit a designated gap based on offensive alignment. Each player picks a side of the offensive lineman in front of them to run through and they do with reckless abandon. The LBs do the same, pretty much. They each have a hole to fill and if there is a lineman in the hole when they get there, they have to stack and shed AND most importantly, stay in that hole. They make the play if it’s there to make. If not, they eliminate the cut back for the ball carrier.
Ideally, there is nowhere for the ball carrier to go because there is a defender in every gap. That’s only if the linemen upfront win their battles and the LBs stay clean.
It heavily relies on winning individual battles and/or having a crazy amount of hustle on each play. That’s why we see so many substitutions on long drives.
With all that said, it’s not too hard to see why Rod Marinelli was available.
The defense is antiquated. The caliber of players you need for this defense to succeed are too expensive if you want to have a capable offense. The bulk of our salary cap is distributed amongst the offensive players so this whole system is just a bad idea for Big D.
Sean Lee on the field reading plays presnap like a 2017 Tony Romo is a great deodorant for this coaching staff. When he’s out this defense shows the flaws it’s supposed to show.
We need new coaches on both sides of the ball.
Sorry for the long post...
