Originally posted by NCommand:
Agreed. So, for discussion, here are my (early) concerns:
- 12 man penalties...this is a BIG sign of major confusion in just getting personnel on and off the field. I believed he referred to his play calling systems as "air traffic control" which sounded like HaRoman's offensive system. It shows on the field. If personnel are confused about who is to come on/off the field, imagine the assignment confusion ON the play. This is why we see so much pre snap talking (making us a step slow at the snap), oh-s**t moments, hands raised, players talking to each other after the play, not playing the ball (but trying to play their spot/player), etc.
- Speaking of HaRoman, part of the struggles week-to-WEAK is that the defensive game plans are a hodge-podge of schemes...multiple schemes wrapped up into one game plan that changes every week. In short, they don't have a foundation...and if you don't have a foundation defense, you can't build on top of it.
- Neither Bowman nor Wilhoite can cover underneath all game long and cover half the field like they do. Way too much is put on them and the S's in this scheme. Way too much. Someone had noted that Bowman has had 21 of 21 straight completions on him at one point. Their strengths, like we saw yesterday, are playing down hill and blowing up running plays. This is the opposite of their strengths.
- Personnel choices. Yes, the hurry-up is forcing our base defense to get stuck in mismatches (Lynch on a RB for 50 yards who just missed a TD). But at what point do you realize we don't need our base run defense in there with Dorsey - Williams - Dial? 20 straight passes? 30? 40? 50? In two games now, two QB's have attempted 107 passes against our secondary and instead of getting better coverage players such as Tartt and Ward or Hodges/McCray in a Big Dime and instead of going with straight pass rushers along the DL such as AA - Purcell - Tank, he stays in the base defense in zone (Dorsey - Williams - Dial - Wilhoite - Bowman). The only base defense that should be out there when a team is passing that much is Brooks and Lynch and the secondary.
- CB's/S's...with the personnel we have in Acker and Brock, they have the ability to play press or in pattern matching. Same with Ward. And the S's are best in read-react and Bethea is esp. great inside the box diagnosing running plays. In short, Mangini is playing against their strengths too (obviously).
- Retention. Mangini is the opposite of Geep right now. Mangini is trying to sink or swim his personnel into a square-peg/round-hole scheme and varying game plan from week to week and HE is not adjusting to the proven strengths and flexibility of our players. He, like Roman before him, is just asking for better execution within HIS scheme. And we can see how they can somewhat hold up in the first half but by the second, they are wiped out and tired and have a hell of a hard time getting off the field. He did not learn anything from the GB game where he asked both OLB's to rush the passer and contain the edges all game long. I can't wait to see his scheme against Seattle!
Good points!
Tomsula explained the 12 man issue as injured players coming in the game and some confusion with subs. That makes sense, as does the fact that they use so many players that it's natural for some confusion early. They should start smoothing that out...soon!
Defensive schemes seem to be in flux but I wouldn't know whether it's better to establish a "base" rather than a number of schemes. Seems like a good idea to use multiple schemes and work into them, improve over the year, rather than a consistant base folks can scheme for. It's actually worked out that the opponents are keeping the niners in a base by no huddle or hurry up plays, catching them trying to sub out of the base. I do miss Donatel more than any other assistant!
At what point do you shift from guys who can play ILB against the run (Bowman and Wilhoite) to guys who can play cover? I agree that with the strength of the DL it may be good to play more safeties in those spots for the whole game. Bowman's leadership is important though!
When you have a team down and they have to pass, it seems a perfect time to use Tank/Purcell and Armstead, with Tartt and Ward. Call it the full pressure D.
Not sure I agree regarding Mangini playing players against their skill set. He is forcing them to learn multiple ways to play. I thnk of it as a tryout to see which players will be most useful down the road...which ones can learn and adapt? Also believe that's why they picked up Hodges...Bowman isn't back 100% and Wilhoite is an over-acheiver with limited athletic ability. They need a dominant rusher either on the DL or OLB spots and I'm extremely disappointed they haven't tried Purcell yet. The guy showed great energy and quickness during preseason. Even if he isn't an every down guy...when you are ahead by two scores late in the game you can turn a guy like that loose!
[ Edited by dtg_9er on Oct 19, 2015 at 10:09 AM ]
