Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Originally posted by NCommand:
LOL. I was just watching NFLN and they were describing how you defeat Manning. You'll never guess what the game plan was...queue Rodney Harrison's quote.
4-3 defense, man press coverage at the LOS (esp. jam) which allows your pessure to get there and don't be afraid to bring pressure up the gut as well in conjunction with that man, tight, press coverage at the LOS. Of course, they were only showing highlights of 4-3 teams like Seattle, Indy, Jets, etc. But you get the idea.
What did we do? Drop 8, "rush" (using this loosely) 3 = zero pass rush. 22 for 26 with 3 dropped passes and only played 3 quarters. 42 points.
There is no way a SF coordinator could have a poor game plan, right? #blamepersonnel
Before the game I thought they should use an extra safety to help disguise some blitzes, but then Ward was out and my thoughts changed...again. LOL! It seemed that everytime I considered a plan someone was out making it less likely to be successful. Dropping LBs into coverage while blitzing DBs...not with three of the top four LBs out. Not sure how Lynch would cover but doubt he has the D down well enough to be effective. Even thought about a 3/0/8 with eight DBs and no LBs...but there weren't enough healthy DBs. Then I thought...how about a 0/0/11 and use Kaepernick and Hyde back there...
Not sure Fangio could do much with all the injuries cropping up. The back ups probably had the basics down but it's difficult to adlib with so many subs. If he had the bye week to prepare and plan they might have done something creative.
Edit: I would really look forward to a rematch in the SB because we'd have Bowman and A Smith back, a healthy Brock, Culliver and a potentially upgraded center. It would still be one heck of a game!
That is a tough hand to be dealt but if anyone can manage it, it's Fangio. Let's see who we had to start the game:
DL: McDonald - Williams - Smith (no changes here)
OLB: Brooks & Lynch (no changes here)
ILB: Wilhoite & Borland (for Willis)
S: Reid & Bethea (no changes here)
Slot: Cook or Cox or both? (for Ward). Ward has been "decent" at best thus far. I would have been injured if I knew I was playing Manning. LOL. I heard Cook started and then Cox slid inside to slot once Cook got hurt more later in the game? If confirmed, Cook would be a very odd choice here. Another report noted that when Cox slid inside to the slot, Johnson started outside for his "fisrt start, essentially." No issues with that! In fact, I love Brock and Johnson outside with Cox in the slot a lot!
LCB: Brock (for Culliver); you'd think this would be an instant upgrade or at least stalemate as Cully played poor last game.
RCB: Cox. I don't know why Fangio moved the "hot hand" at LCB to right when Brock is more used to playing both RCB and LCB and RCB, IIRC, is his more natural side?
Debate...I read a report on FB that confirmed what I thought; ESPN (Louis Riddick) said
"#49ers pass def. vs. #Broncos painfully basic and easy to read. Like 1st day of training camp stuff for P. Manning to figure out #nochance"
I figured we'd be more vanilla with defensive alignments perhaps with Wilhoite out there relaying the play calls instead of Willis.
In short, you can still come up and play man and jam-press with Cox, Brock and Johnson to start the game...play off coverage as well...come up and press with no jam...blitz off the (jam) press (esp. with Bethea). Even Bethea got into the act some by coming up in press against Welker but he DIDN'T jam him and gave him a clean release and naturally, got beat b/c of it. You don't think Bethea would love to punch Welker in the mouth at the LOS and make his job easy?
Anyhow, lesson learned...I hope.
[ Edited by NCommand on Oct 22, 2014 at 8:11 PM ]