Coaches Film Thread Week 12 2016: at Dolphins

It's most enjoyable watching 49er wins on film, but since that's not happening, watching an offense that gets yards is the next best thing. They were getting yards, converting 3rd & longs, and running the ball okay. Kap had the big day rushing.

Tim Ryan (49ers radio color guy) says that Chip told him, "every pass play has an answer for the coverage that the QB will see" (paraphrased). The majority of the plays, there are Cover 1/2/3 busters all intertwined. Most route combos are good against more than just one type of coverage so that makes this possible (ex: Smash is good against Cover1 and Cover2 zone, Sail is good against Cover1 and Cover3, etc). This isn't some new idea that Chip thought of, it's just a new concept to the 49ers. In the recent past 49er offenses, the RB was most times performing a check-release, where they take a few post snap moments to check for blitz, then release into a check route. Chip doesn't do this often, and it allows for him to design plays where there's a 3 route combo on one side of the field + a 2 route combo on the other. Not all the plays have the cookie cutter route concepts seen in the Coverages & Concepts thread, but they're always trying to achieve the same thing, get a WR open against a certain coverage.

MIA came with a variety of coverages Cover1/3/6. On most of his dropbacks, Kap was making on time decisions. He used 9 different pass catchers which has to be a first time thing. His decisions to run wasn't always correct, he twice had a WR coming open, but his scrambles resulted in gains so it's hard to complain. He had chunk 20 and 30 yard scrambles so those indicate he is still a very dangerous runner. It's too bad he couldn't get that last play. One game doesn't erase 1.5 years of spotty play, but it was fun to watch exciting 49er QBing.

I thought Tannehill's really good throws and missed tackles were what beat the 49ers. MIA was missing 3 starters on their OL so that helped the 49er run defense. Dorsey and Brooks stood out. The TE #80 on MIA is a terrible run blocker. Tartt was a mixed bag in the run game, and wasn't really tested by Tannehill. He was in the area for the TD catch at the end of the half. I'll show some of Tartt's plays, what I mean by 3x2 route combos, and some key plays. Mention any plays you want cut up.

It's easy to see a 3x2 play concept when it's empty back. Lately, the 49ers have used a lot of formations were there are 2 TEs to one side, and two WRs to the opposite side. This is an attempt to give the QB a clearer presnap read. If there is a CB over the slot WR, it's man coverage. If there is a safety or LB over the slot WR, it's zone. This has been happening over the past few games, is on film, and here MIA makes an adjustment to fool Kap.

With both CBs to one side to match the WRs, and a safety over the RB (should be #32 Harris), this shows man coverage, but it's actually Cover3 with the deep zones being played by 2 safeties and 1 CB (deep safety, black CB, and white S).



Kap takes the snap and looks to his left. Underneath zone defenders highlighted. Blue is the weakside hook/curl defender and he shaded towards the strongside of the field to help. This leaves a passing lane to Patton's Slant.


Looking left to move #46 out of the passing lane.


+12

This was a big 3rd down conversion for MIA. It's 3rd & 7 and if the 49ers hold, they will have good field position.

We've seen this concept vs this coverage a number of times this season: Mills vs Quarters


Bethea gets drawn up by the Dig (red route), and this opens up space for the Post to work. This is one reason Cover 6 is called, to defend Mills. If this is Cover6, Tartt is deep and is in position to cover the Post. Fangio rarely played Quarters, and preferred Cover6.


+46


Great catch.

Outside zone vs 3-4. 49ers put on a shift towards the strongside to combat the double inline TEs. Tartt (off screen) is the 8th defender in the box so he's the unblocked defender.


Dorsey gets good push on the RG and forces Ajayi to go lateral. Tartt is reading the play.


Tartt gets close to Brooks but keeps himself clean.


Tartt jumps inside to hit the opening and makes the -1 tfl

Chris Jones looks like a find.

This play coulda been ripped out of Shanny's 2002 WCO playbook....empty set and all

Great posts & breakdowns

Thanks for all of the time you put into these. I look forward to it each week.
Was it Miami's defense in the 4th quarter (playing prevent?) or do Harper and Streater actually look to be an upgrade at WR? They seemed to make the most of their opportunities at the very least. As bleak as this year has been, I'm looking for any sign of hope for the future.
Also, defense looked stout against the run. Dorsey's return or Miami missing key linemen?

Thanks again

Thanks Thl. Good stuff.

Originally posted by Sourball:
Thanks for all of the time you put into these. I look forward to it each week.
Was it Miami's defense in the 4th quarter (playing prevent?) or do Harper and Streater actually look to be an upgrade at WR? They seemed to make the most of their opportunities at the very least. As bleak as this year has been, I'm looking for any sign of hope for the future.
Also, defense looked stout against the run. Dorsey's return or Miami missing key linemen?

Thanks again

The 49ers DL held their ground much better than in those games where every RB was getting 100+ yards, and that's what led to the improved rush defense. Without knowing much about MIA's backup OLmen, going against 3 backup OL is going to make things easier for the 49ers. Still, I remember when in the first ARI game, ARI had both backup Guards in and was still running the ball well. So a combination of dropping a safety into the box, Dorsey's return, and missing 3 OL starters contributed to MIA's 3.7 yds/carry average.

Here's a few gifs of Dorsey getting good push against the backup center:
http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/187291-49ers-week-2016-thoughts-rewatching-game/page2/#post25

The 49ers committed 2 turnovers that led to 10 points for MIA. This was a tough one because the 49ers were in the red zone. MIA would recover this fumble and score a TD so this was basically a 10 point swing.

This is a go to play for Chip and it incorporates two route concepts over the middle of the field.
Mesh (red + orange) is a man coverage buster
Shallow Cross (orange + yellow) is a zone buster
vs Cover3


The Mesh concept draws the two hook/curl defenders (orange) forward.


This allows Celek to sit in the quiet spot and find a passing lane.


+16 but a lost fumble in the red zone.

After the Celek fumble, here's a play where Tartt gets caught up and allows a good gain for Ajayi. MIA has 6 inline blockers with a one RB backfield. So Tartt is the extra man in the box and should be unblocked.
Outside zone vs 49ers nickel 3-3-5


As the play develops, Tartt gets caught up inside.


This allows the blue TE to block 2 49ers Ward and Tartt. Ajayi gets the edge because Tartt was too far inside.


+10

I think you are very under appreciated thl. This stuff fuels my interest level and learning.

And nice to see some positives in an otherwise forgettable team.

Also proves that the leaky boat that is the 49ers is getting coaching attention on the issues. Now, about that one who hires the guys filling holes.......

Here's the finish to MIA's TD drive (from the Celek fumble)

MIA goes trips and that gets Tartt to shade towards the strongside.


The RB's circle route (red) draws Bellore forward. The inline TE takes a quick jab step to the outside to get Ward leaning, then hits the skinny Post. Tartt, starting off shaded to the opposite side of the field, has too much room to make up for and won't get over in time.


Tannehill quickly looks at Tartt to freeze him, then targets the skinny Post.


Not sure what Tartt is coached to do here so I can't put fault on him even if he was in the area. He has to be wary of the trips side of the field. Ward playing soft over the top. Was Ward expecting more help from Tartt? Only the players and coaches in the meeting room will know. Very nice ball placement from Tannehill to make the TE reach back for the pass which means it's further away from Tartt.

Busting man coverage can be done by using a route(s) to clear out space for another route to work, or by designing ways to create picks/rubs. Refs will call offensive pass interference so the pick has to be subtle. Here is the 49ers drive after the TD catch above.

Burbridge is clearing out the sideline area for Harper's Out to work. But Burbridge is also trying to create passive interference to pick off the blue defender, the CB covering Harper. If this is done correctly, Harper can make the catch and turn upfield for the first down.
vs Cover1 blitz


Burbridge starts out his route by stemming inside, to get closer to the CB covering Harper. Burbridge lined up outside the numbers on the field and is now inside the numbers.


Not sure if it was the spacing or if Burbridge ran his route too fast or what, but there is no pick action, and the CB on Harper is able to break downhill to break up the pass. There's a blown coverage over the middle as Celek is uncovered, but Kap is looking in the correct spot here, going to the pick play versus man coverage.