1) Unconvinced SDs D IS good; past few years they've blitzed like crazy because their line's sucked since Jamal Williams got old and their secondary was even worse. Maybe Mebane and Verrett can change both, but I'm waiting to see that before "crowning" anyone.
2) Three TDs in a whole game is only impressive by comparison to how awful our offense has been the past few years, especially if SDs D is nothing special. The big improvement was finishing all but one drive that reached the red zone.
That's his sole strength: He's not a great coach and has never made any player any better, but is good enough to recognize what players do well and game plan around it—as is Kubiak. Neither can be faulted for being saddled with players who do few things well; contrary to popular belief, coaches neither draft rookies nor sign vets.
Regardless, heavy dependence on running to set up equally heavy reliance on play action is no more nor less unimaginative, predictable and outdated NOW than it was the last two year. An IDENTICAL game plan can't suddenly and inexplicably go from pathos to perfection just because a different guy's calling all the same plays.