It certainly seemed a bit Schotty-esque. I kind of understood it though. If you're Payton, you're hoping Rex sells out in the middle to stop a punch through attempt.
I'm struggling to remember but wasn't the middle pretty clogged as well? A punch through may not have worked either.
The front 7 is underrated. The line is getting all of the credit, but with a healthy Coples, this LB corps is formidable.