LA Rams News: Will Aaron Donald face more right tackles in 2020?

Staley/Fangio Philosophy- How

While many cite the Rams 3-4 defense as unchanging in the transition from former defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ philosophy to that of Vic-Fangio-schooled new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s philosophy, there will be some significant differences.

But in a Fangio-like defense, the more traditional two-gap assignments for defensive linemen are emphasized. That means defensive linemen may shade an offensive lineman to one side, but engage that blocker head-on, with the responsibility of shedding that blocker to one side as soon as the ball carrier commits to the hole.

Interior linebackers line up directly behind the uncovered linemen (usually the offensive guard), while the outside linebackers play closer to the line of scrimmage. That forces the outside linebacker to make instantaneous reads

One of the easiest components of disguise out of the 3-4 Fangio/Staley defensive front is the ability to generate a pass rush from virtually any of the linebacker spots.  While the Phillips 3-4 defense emphasized three defensive linemen, plus either Dante Fowler Jr. or Clay Matthews, that will not be the case under Staley.  In the Staley 3-4, the pass rush can take the shape of an interior linebacker going against an offensive tackle. That releases that defensive end to commit to an outside rush, engaging a tight end and routing back to the quarterback.  Not many offenses can stop Aaron Donald in that pass-rush configuration.