Video discussing how Fangio defenses suck against the run and underneath stuff. (Sean Desai was a Fangio student.)
Thanks for this - really interesting video.
One of the things highlighted was how the coverage scheme generally dictates light boxes due to keeping both safeties deeper, and how YPC is at an all-time high as teams take advantage of this. I think the 3-4 Bear/Tite is one way to cope with that - The A, B, and C gaps are all essentially covered by the front 5.
In theory this means that the ILBs (or ILB + Nickel) don't have to be big run stuffers who consistently take on O-Linemen at the line of scrimmage. My understanding is that generally one ILB needs to be ready to fill whichever A-gap is open when/if the 0-tech commits to one of the two A-gaps, and the other ILB needs to be ready to take an outside gap on the TE side, on either side of the Edge to that side. Both need the speed to move laterally on outside runs or on screens or quick passes to the flats, in addition to being able to carry routes down the field. This is why Bobby was no longer a fit, and smaller faster players like Brooks and Barton were out there - and Jamal Adams could potentially play ILB/Big Nickel as well if the front 5 are holding up. Unfortunately they didn't consistently play this base scheme up front (it was often just two IDL instead of three) and we were run over.
The other thing is the OLB/Edge players have to be able to set the edge consistently against the run. Taylor was getting bullied so unless he magically improves in this area he's looking like a pass-rush specialist albeit a pretty effective one especially if he can focus his play there. Mafe was clearly better against the run but a Will Anderson would be a big upgrade there. I'm also curious how the team sees Nolan Smith - he's not the biggest but he actually holds up well against the run and has the athleticism to be great in coverage.