I think you’re on the money that the return to the 4-3 has helped but I think Siliga made that possible because he can adequately play the 1Tech as 2-gap DT which allows us to play the fronts we used with Wilfork which is a hybrid front.
LDE (1-gap): Ninkovich
3Tech DT (1-gap): Jones (#94)
1Tech NT (2-gap): Siliga
RDE (2-gap): Jones (#95)
The way I saw it (I could be wrong) was – Vellano and Jones were not capable of taking on 2 OL due to their smaller stature and lesser strength so the team was getting beat up the gut which forced the team to move to a 3-4 front which at first was Chris Jones at the NT, Vellano at LDE and Fortson at RDE, then they trade for Sopoaga who didn’t appear to fit as anything other than a 0Tech NT so they put him at the nose and replace Fortson with Chris Jones, in this front they were exposed a lot in coverage because it had Chandler Jones and Ninkovich as the OLBs, with Spikes and Hightower as the ILBs all very limited in coverage. Siliga has allowed them to return to the 4-3 which takes Ninkovich or Jones out of coverage put Jamie Collins on the field more in coverage. This is where I see the most dramatic difference.
This post gives me thinky pain. Just a couple of things to note on this.
1) It is impossible to 2-gap on a shaded technique. Odd techniques mean that the defender is aligned on the outside shoulder of the offensive player they are over. If you are shaded, it is simply impossible to stack the blocker and control two gaps.
2) It is also impossible to both 2-gap and 1-gap on the same play...well, I mean you "can", it just wouldn't work.
3) There is, however, accuracy in your general sentiment that they Patriots have recognized that they lack the personnel to effectively 2-gap up front and have made a shift to single gapping way more than they usually play the run.
4) Siliga is getting too much credit. He's just much better than Vellano who was really, really bad.
5) The players who really deserve the credit in the improvement in the run game are the linebackers, especially Spikes and Hightower. If you 1-gap or have linemen who can't tie up the gaps you have to have linebackers who can get off blocks easily. It is one of the few true advantages of having a pair of minus speed mike linebackers on the field in your 43, they should and do get off blocks.
6) Of course what this means is that you will be hindered in your pursuit game unless your ends can maintain the sealed edges and turn the plays back inside, which they have been doing an exceptional job of. Ninkovich is so exceedingly solid at everything it blows my mind. I'll take 11 Ninkovich's any day. He's not flashy, he just wins. Edge Bruschi.
7) If your ends play well and your backers can get off blocks you can play well in the run game with sub par defensive tackles. Which is exactly what is happening this season. I know it's the season of "Oh man, can you imagine if _______ was healthy?", but seriously, if Wilfork and Kelly were healthy this defense would be scary good. Like best since '03/'04, probably third best under Belichick good.
