Originally posted by thl408:
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-defensive-scheme-analysis-32-nfl-teams-2021
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
2020 Defensive Pass Efficiency Rank: 9
2020 Defensive Rush Efficiency Rank: 5
2020 Base Coverage: Cover 3 and quarters
2020 Third-Down Mentality: Blitz and play Cover 1
DeMeco Ryans takes over for Robert Saleh as the 49ers' defensive coordinator for 2021. Ryans worked under Saleh, so we can expect the defense to stay relatively stable. The 49ers played one of the highest rate of quarters coverages on early downs to go along with basing out of Cover 3. They have a low blitz rate on early downs but then turn up the pressure on passing downs. San Francisco ranked 19th in early-down blitz rate and third on third down last year. Overall, the unit ranked in the top 10 on early downs and third downs in EPA allowed per play.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bolded underlined really showed up on film and I'm glad PFF was able to kinda quantify it. Not sure how much of that is because they lost Bosa/Ford early or if that was the plan coming into 2020. We'll see how accurate this PFF breakdown is since I doubt anyone outside of 49er HQ knows what Ryans will be doing specifically.
Great stuff. There was definitely a massive need to manufacture pressure with Bosa (and Buckner) gone. So this adds up.
The question will be if Ryans attacks on early downs.