Originally posted by Heroism:
Originally posted by thl408:
What do you think of this 'gap and a half' technique that might be spreading around the league? I don't think it's an easy thing to teach and if many NFL players (DLman) are not yet exposed to it, it will take time to learn. This goes for the LBs too that have to read the way their DL is being blocked. Brandon Staley was able to work with ADonald and he made everything easier. With 2021 LAC, they struggled mightily against the run as they were adjusting to Staley's defense, learning new techniques while not having the proper personnel (big DTs).
A byproduct of this defensive shift, that I'm still not positive is spreading, is that the value of safeties is higher when compared to the past few seasons. They need to be very quick and strong in run support while also having the ability to man cover on deep routes. Staey said that it all came together quickly when he was with LAR, but that it took 3 years for it to gel in CHI.
What I really like about this is that there will be another scheme in the NFL where we can compare and contrast to see which is better. Like you said, traditional two gapping is dead and on the other side is Kocurek's scheme and other pure one-gap schemes.
It's fun to watch the evolution and/or adaptation of schemes by brilliant football coaches and then learning about it as fans. The technical chess match is one of my favorite aspects of football.
I think it's cool watching the Fangio stuff spread across the league, and it's definitely going to continue to spread as more and more teams see how successful it's been against the Shanahan offense. One thing that stands out to me is how tricky and sneaky the Fangio defense is with the perceived lightbox and 2-high safeties. It simultaneously baits offenses into thinking they can run into a lightbox or throw against space downfield. One thing is for certain this type of defense requires a certain type of personnel and total commitment from all 11 players. As you pointed out, there will be increased demand moving forward for big, beefy IDL and safeties that are good in run support.
An advantage the wide 9 has over the gap-and-a-half approach is that it's a little less dependent on personnel, especially when it comes to getting after the QB. Injuries or simply not having the players can unravel the 1.5 scheme. On the other hand, one of the wide 9's greatest attributes is its ability to prop up and maximize each player's pass-rush ability with assignment simplicity and alignment leverage. We've seen with our own eyes how the wide 9 can turn a nobody into a legitimate pass rusher.
It's going to be fun to watch Shanahan counter Fangio's stuff because we all know he will. 
On the whiteboard, this 1.5 stuff makes a lot of sense from a tactical standpoint. Unless college players are exposed to this in some manner, I think it'll be a crapshoot when drafting players for this scheme. Even with the best NFL coaches, who knows if a player will quickly catch on, be slow to catch on, or never catch on. So that's one advantage that one gap schemes have over this 1.5 scheme since every DL/LB can easily grasp, "this is your gap, go wreak havoc", but if they are asked to transition, it's unpredictable how each player will handle it. To the bolded above, agreed, it's not easy finding beefy DTs that also have pass rush ability. So LAC loaded up on Edge to compensate for any pass rush deficiencies from their DTs (Bosa + Mack).
The diversity of schemes will be fun to watch. Most analysts say that the NFL is boring when it comes to diversity of schemes - it's college that has a wide range of schemes. There will be two branches of defensive fronts in the NFL, and at some point, some analyst will make a quantitative comparison between one gap schemes versus 1.5 gap.
Kyle knows what's up, that's why he brought in Fangio to talk ball. What's also interesting is if Kyle would ever ask his DCoordinator to consider a switch, or if Kyle stands firm with a one gap scheme that John Lynch had success playing in while with Tampa.
I don't have anything bad to say about Fangio, and if he is our DC, I wouldn't mind. But I'd want somebody young and willing to be 2nd fiddle to Kocurek on the defensive side. I think Fangio would want to (possibly) change the D-Line scheme Kocurek implements, if he becomes DC here.
Already talked to him and had him at practice this year.