How to fix the Skins' Defense

[Schneed10]

Going to a one-gap scheme along the defensive line is causing issues - the plus is the linemen shoot gaps and penetrate to disrupt running plays in the backfield and get additional pressure on the passer. Two problems with that:

1) our D line isn't penetrating often enough lately

2) it means guards and centers are getting to the second level much more easily as our line shoots by, and thus our middle LBs are getting blocked. It seems to me if you're going to run a successful 1-gap like Barry is running, you need your MLBs to be athletic enough and quick enough to beat those guards and centers to the spots. Right now Robinson and Riley look too slow.

The one-gap puts the onus on the middle LBs to fight through the wash. Robinson and Riley looked better under Haslett when the line was two-gapping and keeping them clean to run to the ball. Now they're getting exposed for being fairly mediocre (in Robinson's case) and downright inadequate (in Riley's case).

If we're going to run a one-gap we need a stud MLB in there.

Also what does Trent Murphy even do?