Fixing the Run Defense

[AJ Duhe]

Everyone on the defense must do their jobs in concert for an effective and consistent run defense, but one position group consistently failed in 2013 and our run defense suffered. It's not secret that our linebacker play last year was inconsistent and inadequate at times. Fans and media alike were clamoring for some kind of personnel fix during the offseason, but it never came. It looks like Ellerbe and Wheeler might still be starting in their designated positions in 2014.

I personally think some of the problems can be fixed by a scheme change. Not blitzing Ellerbe and Wheeler so much might give them a better look at the action in front of them and hopefully they will start to take more effective angles to the ball carriers. So what do you see coming in the future as a possible fix...scheme changes, surprise personnel change, or a miraculous improvement in performance?

 

[Spiff]

Scoring more points and forcing the opposition to pass the ball more will fix the run defense. Our LBs corps is built for the pass, not so much for the run.

 

[rickd13]

Everyone on the defense must do their jobs in concert for an effective and consistent run defense, but one position group consistently failed in 2013 and our run defense suffered. It's not secret that our linebacker play last year was inconsistent and inadequate at times. Fans and media alike were clamoring for some kind of personnel fix during the offseason, but it never came. It looks like Ellerbe and Wheeler might still be starting in their designated positions in 2014.

I personally think some of the problems can be fixed by a scheme change. Not blitzing Ellerbe and Wheeler so much might give them a better look at the action in front of them and hopefully they will start to take more effective angles to the ball carriers. So what do you see coming in the future as a possible fix...scheme changes, surprise personnel change, or a miraculous improvement in performance?

I agree with you about a scheme adjustment helping the run defense. There was too much stunting up front with the intention of getting penetration. I think that was a mistake. I believe Starks, Mitchell, and Odrick are talented enough to get penetration and disrupt without stunting. As a matter of fact, penetration is their forte.

 

[Mudder1310]

There are two big factors in the run defense that need to change. First, linebackers need to be better tacklers. Hands down right now. Tackle better, the D gets better. Second, the offense needs to have better ball control. There were a whole lot of three and outs last season, way too many. At least give the D a breather before putting them back on the field.

 

[Digital]

We lost our best run defense asset--Paul Soliai. We will never have a strong run defense with all gap penetrators like we have now. Expect our ability to stop the run to be worse this year. The best thing we can hope for is our offense to explode grabbing the lead in most games an teams getting away from the run. Because we can't stop it consistently.

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[So Be]

We lost our best run defense asset--Paul Soliai. We will never have a strong run defense with all gap penetrators like we have now. Expect our ability to stop the run to be worse this year. The best thing we can hope for is our offense to explode grabbing the lead in most games an teams getting away from the run. Because we can't stop it consistently.

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Starks had a better year individually but, am not discounting Solia's importance in taking up 2 blockers. In addition, Wake was much worse vs the run, as was our run support from safties Jones and Clemmons from a year ago. Bottom line is still that Ellerbe and Wheeler must be much better or, maybe we get lucky in a late cut. I believe both will improve, just don't know how much.

 

[Ruckus45]

We lost our best run defense asset--Paul Soliai. We will never have a strong run defense with all gap penetrators like we have now. Expect our ability to stop the run to be worse this year. The best thing we can hope for is our offense to explode grabbing the lead in most games an teams getting away from the run. Because we can't stop it consistently.

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I don't think losing one guy on the defensive front, our unit with the most talent and depth, will spell doomsday to the D. There could be some drop off because of losing Soliai but having these guys in year two of the system with more time with the coaches should add a good benefit. Yes, the O needs to score more points to take the pressure off of them and based on the draft and FA it seems the FO agrees.

 

[vagrantprodigy]

We didn't use Soliai effectively last year. We stunted way too much, and got too cute. If we stop the stunting on run downs, we will be better off even without Big Paul.

 

[ChrisEAS]

with our current LB corps....idk. I cant wait to see what Tripp can do

 

[So Be]

with our current LB corps....idk. I cant wait to see what Tripp can do

I don't expect anything from Tripp this year other than VG special team's play. Jelani Jenkins could be interesting. He only playd 122 snaps last year, 83 in coverage, and was a bit below average. I was not a fan of the pick but, he did hold up pretty well in limited play. He could take a step up, and challenge for playing time in his second year.

 

[Irishfinfan1]

Our run D is probably our biggest weakness as of now, and tbh I'm expecting it to be quite poor this year. LBs definitely a weakness v run, but they are only part of the problem.

 

[Digital]

I don't think losing one guy on the defensive front, our unit with the most talent and depth, will spell doomsday to the D. There could be some drop off because of losing Soliai but having these guys in year two of the system with more time with the coaches should add a good benefit. Yes, the O needs to score more points to take the pressure off of them and based on the draft and FA it seems the FO agrees.

Well in this case that one guy was the most important guy on the DL. He commanded double teams freeing up the other guys (stunting DE’s, DT, and flowing LB's) to stuff the play ... as well as his sheer size and strength plugged holes and forced the flow elsewhere.

The best analogy I can think of is a basketball one. It's like taking Shaq out of the lineup and replacing him with a 5'10 guard. Sure, it can work, but you fundamentally change your gameplan. With Shaq demanding double teams down low your quick forwards are free to slash and exploit gaps getting good shots to the basket. Without Shaq in there commanding double teams there are far less gaps to exploit and the other team can man up everyone.

Soliai made it much easier for Odrick and Starks, and really made things easy for Ellerbe. We didn't replace him with a guy who can do those things. And, we don't have JJ Watt wreaking Havoc inside to force offenses to single team our anchor DT.

Mitchell is the replacement for Starks long term. We didnt replace Soliai at all.

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[Avalanche of Wins]

Ive always been more of a fan of starks than big paul, imo it would be a much bigger loss if we weren't a 43 team.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

I'm a Coyle fan. But i think he contributed heavily to our run d problems last season.

We did stunt and blitz too much, particularly blitz.

Wheeler was a SLB at Oakland, iirc. Coyle played him weakside and Wheeler struggled. Ellerbe was a WLB and Coyle played him in the middle, where he struggled. He particularly looked uneasy as the guy setting the defense. Neither tackled well, but they were out of position. Misi stayed at Sam, but was asked to cover more last season, which i thought he did a lot better than prior seasons, but at the expense if his run defense.

Coyle switched Clemons and Jones, essentially. Certainly, Jones featured far less as the enforcer against the run and we had Clemons, who's best attribute was well, closing the stable door after the horse had bolted.

So, for sure the players let us down with poor tackling, but Coyle needs to shoulder some of the blame for moving around the pieces somewhat unsuccessfully.

 

[Atila]

I've mentioned this allllllllllllllllllllll off season, but the best way to fix our run defense is by getting a better offense. If we can put points on the board, if we can play with a lead, then we will be able to effectively protect our defense and specifically our run defense.

If we continue to score 20points/game then we'll continue to get the run pounded on us.