04-26-2021, 02:20 PM
(04-26-2021, 10:44 AM)Au165 Wrote: It's complex because people often misassign what is and isn't a linebacker's responsibility on a given play. Linebackers have specific assignments in the run game, as do safeties, on each play and most fans have no clue how that works so they see a guy run by a linebacker and assume it was his fault but it very well could have been someone else's and he had to control his gap for a potential cutback. I will disagree though, there is not enough blame put on the d line when it comes to run defense by most fans. Often times fans look at the D line as basically only being pass rushers but they play an important role in holding a gap and keeping the linebackers clean to fill. Additionally, the outside zone has made playing linebacker tough because you have to move with your assignment and if you overrun it, or a lineman gets washed out, the back puts his foot in the ground and they are gone.
The run fits were a disaster in 2020 but it was to be expected with how much the defense personel changed over that offseason then no offseason workouts.
It started to tighten up as the year went on but the beat up interior defensive line hurt the Linebackers alot.