(10-17-2023, 12:36 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote:

(10-17-2023, 08:43 AM)flgatorsandjags Wrote: It's because of our run defense.  If teams continue to not being able to run against this defense they will get more opportunities because teams will have to pass and especially if we get a lead.  When we get Hamilton back our run defense might be elite and possibly the best in the league.  

That's one area this defense is much better at than the 2017 defense.  Our 2017 defense we had one of the worst run defense in the league and we traded for Dareus and if put us about middle of the pack run D.  This defense is much better against the run, up to this point at least

You're not stating the Dareus impact correctly.  The trade for him was almost a worst to first transition immediately after the trade as far as run defense went.  We might have ended the season middle of the pack for the year, but from the game after the Dareus trade to end of season we were one of the best if not the best against the run.

Truth.

The other glaring difference is this squad also has Foley Fatukasi. 2017 team did not have that.
 Fatukasi's run grades may be down this year compared to last year after getting dinged up, but he and Hamilton split time last year lined up over center almost right down the middle.
 Hamilton was the one getting better push in the pocket against the pass while Foley's strength has usually been vs the run. 

Dareus wasn't added to a team with a Foley Fatukasi to split NT duty with.
He was added to a team with Eli Ankou and Abry Jones. 

Big difference. 

Hamilton will help this run defense, but it's what he might do vs the pass that excites me about his return.

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