The importance of run defense

[Khyber53]

Rather than stopping the run or the pass, it really comes down to field position and bend-don't-break winning out. It really doesn't matter if the opposing team can move between the 20s, it matters if you can stop them inside those 20s, either when their backs are against their own end zone or are threatening yours.

Our defense collapsed so mightily last year because Rivera's traditional bend-don't-break philosophy just failed completely. While he had a number of defenses in prior years that did this wonderfully, 2019s was especially bad at this. I chalk it up to bringing in pass rush specialists (late in their years) who had no real interest in play pursuit after they made it past the O-line. McCoy and Irvin were looking to pad their sack totals and get 2020 contracts elsewhere. The rest of the d-line, well, to be honest had gone soft and also weren't in any shape to move more than five yards back or forth from the LOS. Luke and Shaq literally ran themselves ragged trying to pursue runners or short pass receivers, while Reid flew in like an unguided missile with his penchant for either knocking the hell out of a ball carrier or missing mightily. Boston stuck to his assignments well (and got a contract for it), Bradberry did what he could and Jackson proved he's a cover guy, not a tackler. Burns, while showing some sparks, was well, a rookie in every sense of the word.

As a defense, we were garbage. Combine that with lousy field position due to turnovers and poor special teams work (not our worst ever, but pretty shabby still) and it's a recipe for disaster. We had a lot of trouble getting our opponents off the field after third down, particularly after game seven (when fatigue, injuries and bad tendencies started taking their toll). Things got so bad by the end of the season, opponents could convert almost any third down by simply having the guts to run it up the middle.

Modern defenses don't have to be the dominant ones of the past. They really don't even have to be all that good. They just have to provide the other team enough of a speed bump for your team to make use of the scoring happy rules of today to give your guys a shot.

We were so far from that last year. God help us if we can't improve.

[BrianS]

I think folks here have sort of touched on the primary disconnect that people have when discussing this topic.  Many folks don't recognize that DL play isn't just stopping the run or rushing the passer - it's both.  Third down is the money down.  If you are good against the run, then most of your defensive third downs will be third and 5, third and 6 or more.  This is a huge difference from a team that is constantly trying to defend third and 2 or third and 3.

Yes, it's a passing league more and more.  No argument.  But it still remains a league that is won and lost in the trenches.  Your defensive line cannot be good at one and poor at the other if you expect to win.  You have to be good at both.

[AndrewLaskoski]

I think it's one of those things where the data set doesn't mean too much. 

All of those playoff teams are playing from ahead most of the time, therefore playing pass defense, and are more easily run on when playing against the pass. They usually stiffen up when they know a run is coming. 
 

The Panthers however put up as much resistance against the run as a wet noodle no matter the situation. I'd be interested in seeing how run yards allowed per game and win/loss record correlate.

[catnip]

Last year teams got a lead and started running the ball down our throats .  They ate up the clock not giving us time to catch up , We then had to throw the ball with a QB that was picked off .  Rivera never made game time adjustments and had poor clock management .  If he was ahead he played not to lose instead of keeping his foot on the pedal .  He was a good guy but put Cam in a bad position to win and let him play hurt . Like Fox he never let his younger players get experience . Let's see what Rhule and company can do .

[Wes21]

You don't necessarily have to be world beaters at stopping the run, but its important to at least be competent at it.  When a team can run the ball effectively, it simplifies the defensive looks because the defense can't (or shouldn't) do a lot of exotic blitzes, coverages and stunts.  The simplified looks makes the game easier for the offense and the QB.

As has been stated, you really have to look into the games and situations to assess who is good at run D and who isn't.  Stats are misleading.  

[Valentino]

That’s why spending top money on a dt that is just a fat body run stopper is stupid he’s no Aaron Donald heck he’s no kk short , I don’t want brown get me a Jeff okuduh or a Jerry jeudy in Carolina blue