Analysis from Seahawks Game coaches film

jonnydel, in couple of other threads I've posted that it seems like Kap too often has poor footwork on passing plays. Watching old man Peyton Manning play last night, you could see him still "bouncing" on his feet on plays that are not quick hitters. Kap seems to me to often be rotating his upper body but with his feet kind of stuck or slowly moving. I wonder if he's had to concentrate so much on the "abstract" X and O's part of the game that he's so much in his head that he's neglecting his footwork. I'd like to hear your opinion about that. I'll totally understand if you pass on commenting on it.

I promise this is the last time I'll ask about this (if someone may be getting tired of me bringing this up).

Originally posted by jonesadrian:
We're starting to. Boldin does a good job, vd does a good job and crab does a good job. Manningham doesn't do a good job of adlib patton shows a natural knack for adlib plays macdonald when given the chance has found creases in ad libs.. and kyle williams is kyle williams... route done and stand there.

that's all it comes down to. the 1st step is having them all feel they can catch a pass..and that's by assigning them a route and not a decoy play. you can see the players when they run their decoy routes they're not into the play.. so yes they clear out but it isn't with urgency it's a going through the motions thing.

Yes and no, it's also on the receiver to stay alert to what's going on. Green Bay, in the Holmgren years and beyond, after they adopted a WCO, I remember one of their receivers talking in an interview about how he knew he always needed to look back for the ball even if the play design wasn't for him because Favre just might throw it to him. He talked about that even if he was running a clearing route, if Favre thought he could fit the ball in he would throw it.

Originally posted by jonnydel:
I'm working on this, I'm going to show some examples from other games to show how we play our man and zone coverage. In this game it was all about gameplanning against Russel Wilson. It will make sense when I can grab and analyze all the stuff, my internet is running really slow right now so it's taking longer.

Bowman mentioned keeping Wilson in the cage. I think we played off and Zone because of their ability to adlib on plays and extend drives. When you're locked up man to man you don't see what the qb is doing and can sneak passes in there.
With the zone their heads are looking at him and he has fewer options really or appears to.

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by vrabbit:
I loved this, AJ and I will be talking about Gore again this week and I've already done a review of some of Gore's big plays against the Seahawks. If you could take a look at these two plays:

1st and 10 at SEA 34(Shotgun) F.Gore up the middle to SEA 30 for 4 yards (E.Thomas, K.Wright).

--> end of the 1st quarter

1st and 10 at SF 26F.Gore right guard to SF 34 for 8 yards (R.Sherman, E.Thomas).

--> early in the 2nd quarter

I'd be interested to see if you see what I see RE: Gore's vision (and cutbacks)

Here's my take on the first run you asked about. As you will see, Gore's ability to see the cuts and make the cuts are elite. I think we all know that. What I will show might give you even more appreciation for Frank.



Here we're running the zone read. Goodwin and Snyder get a combo block on mebane at the DT spot(he lined up at the 1 technique, being on the strong shade of the center) which calls for a double team block from the guard. The 8 man front, with a combo block, leaves 2 defenders who won't be blocked. Really this play should go for no gain. Chancellor(highlighted with blue arrows) stays at home in position to take on Miller or keep contain. Frank sees the 2 linebackers who won't be blocked and sets up his lineman. He starts to go behind the combo block of Goodwin and Snyder.



It's hard to see from this angle but Frank's initial move forces the backside linebacker to move right in pursuit. As soon as he sees the linebacker move that way he cuts back behind Goodwin(Frank's behind all those guys in the yellow circle)



When Frank cuts back it gets the backer moving back to the left and Snyder comes off his block and gets on #50, which Frank cuts again behind Snyder



Here you see where Frank gets tackled. In the end he only gets 4 yards but he shouldn't have gotten any. He makes 3 cuts in a very short span setting up his blockers and seeing the blocks. Very few backs in the league can even do this with that kind of vision.

I am in total awe of this mans pure skills. theres noone on our roster to even match it. I really hope Lattimore is whats advertised because when Frank retires soon we are gonna tank at RB

Originally posted by jonesadrian:
Cannot and that should change considering how strong Kap's arm is.
We should take a couple shots a game from the 20, just a play action and let it rip. I think it would probably be best if it was vd who went into motion and then ran it either in the middle or out wide and let him run as fast as far as he can and have Kap throw it as far as he can.

He's getting there I believe with his touch throws he has the chemistry with Manningham and Boldin for the back shoulder throws. Crab is not thinking back shoulder he has the step he's thinking go further out. that's why some of those passes were incomplete. I think Kap needs to adjust to him not the other way around. Throw it out there and let him go get it, he's not boldin or manningham, he'll get the step and keep the step and keep running past the defender he doesn't need to stop in order to assure the catch.

True, VD would be a GREAT option b/c 1) he always makes those over-the-shoulder catches 2) he runs so many go routes for clearing-purposes and then stops his route, he'd catch everyone off here and 3) I've noticed on many of these go routes, he does this little stop-go-like hitch that freezes the LB (LB isn't sure of he will stop, cut, continue on) and it absolutely opens him up past the LB...if he can pick up his 4.3 speed from there he could blow right by a S often times...play design could free him up even more if we run a bunch formation to the opposite side and draw the S's over in support.

Originally posted by NCommand:
THIS has been a HUGE issue all year long. They know damn well their part of the play is over and they aren't getting the ball. That said, it should be COACHED INTO THEM that if that AR doesn't get the ball, they better bust their asses to give CK some viable options b/c we all know he is going to buy some time with his legs. Sometimes these ad lib receivers get caught in no-man's land b/c they don't know whether to get AWAY from the defender as a passing option for CK or engage and block for him while CK runs. Often times it leads to CK just throwing it away or it goes for no gain as CK runs out of bounds.

True, but that goes with the options on the routes, they just attack it different. Even if its designed to get someone open the coaches should drill into them that this is an actual route.. so if the AR read is not open YOU WILL get the ball. that'll make them run with more intent. also have the meeting with the wr's and Kap and say that on these AR routes, If the decoy (clearing out deep) is actually open before the designed clear out happens then the clear out can get the ball on the deep pass... which is how it should be anyway. Because if they're instructing him to let the deep route clear things and then this area will be open for x receiver then he's not even looking to see if the decoy happens to beat his man badly, he's just waiting for the play to develop as planned. and that's not his fault imo.. i believe and i stand by it, kap does exactly what you tell him to do.

Originally posted by jonnydel:
Yes and no, it's also on the receiver to stay alert to what's going on. Green Bay, in the Holmgren years and beyond, after they adopted a WCO, I remember one of their receivers talking in an interview about how he knew he always needed to look back for the ball even if the play design wasn't for him because Favre just might throw it to him. He talked about that even if he was running a clearing route, if Favre thought he could fit the ball in he would throw it.

Right I just addressed that lol we're on the same page with this. The seed needs to be planted that the option is actually out there.
They know that this team follows instructions, its the best part about our team on all sides of the ball.
If you tell them to do something it's what they do...exactly..so put that seed in there and say kap this is the ar..however if at the snap the decoy route is open before the ar is, hit him..

Originally posted by NCommand:
True, VD would be a GREAT option b/c 1) he always makes those over-the-shoulder catches 2) he runs so many go routes for clearing-purposes and then stops his route, he'd catch everyone off here and 3) I've noticed on many of these go routes, he does this little stop-go-like hitch that freezes the LB (LB isn't sure of he will stop, cut, continue on) and it absolutely opens him up past the LB...if he can pick up his 4.3 speed from there he could blow right by a S often times...play design could free him up even more if we run a bunch formation to the opposite side and draw the S's over in support.

Also lulling them to sleep. Vd plays every snap he's on the line most of the time. I think if we put him off the line or in the slot position and ran some of those short routes or quick hitting routes..that gets the backer and safety comfortable. don't even have to really throw it to him on those routes all the time just show that, he's a threat from there. and then when the time is right and they cheat up.. have him split out like you had been and have him run a go especially off of a play action.

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Yes, he really showed up this game. I'm seeing elevated play...he's standing out now when the ball is in the air. He seems to be playing faster, with more passion, etc. Between he and Brock, this is starting to become a special group. Brown who? Now, if we can get Mr. "1/2-assed" Rogers to play with some passion, urgency and physicality, we'd be unstoppable, esp. on 3rd downs.

thl408...perhaps we can now start analyzing schemes (theorize) on the defense as to why we tend to play our CB's sooooo far off at times (and back pedaling), esp. on 3rd and shorts for easy completions.

I'm working on this, I'm going to show some examples from other games to show how we play our man and zone coverage. In this game it was all about gameplanning against Russel Wilson. It will make sense when I can grab and analyze all the stuff, my internet is running really slow right now so it's taking longer.

I have a few hypotheses about why the CBs play with such a cushion. Run support, coverage disguise, and pattern matching (which requires the CB to see plays develop in front of him). Run support to attack downhill on a run. Coverage disguise because if the CBs are playing off, the first few steps that the WR takes as he begins his route will reveal nothing to the WR or the QB about what coverage is being played (man or zone) since the CB just stands there and waits for the WR to approach him. A QB is always looking for keys (tells) that let him know what coverage it is. If the CB is just standing there not making a move, no information is being revealed. Then the pass rush comes and it's panic time.

Pattern matching is essentially a hybrid coverage scheme where a CB will play man coverage on any WR in his zone. This is hard for me to identify on film, so I'm really eager on your take jonnydel. Like you mentioned way earlier in this thread, the 49ers may have gone basic versus SEA due to a scrambling QB. I will try to look for something in the NO game where the 49ers faced a potent passing attack.

Originally posted by 49erphan:
jonnydel, in couple of other threads I've posted that it seems like Kap too often has poor footwork on passing plays. Watching old man Peyton Manning play last night, you could see him still "bouncing" with his feet on plays that are not quick hitters. Kap seems to me to often be rotating his upper body but with his feet kind of stuck or slowly moving. I wonder if he's had to concentrate so much on the "abstract" X and O's part of the game that he's so much in his head that he's neglecting his footwork. I'd like to hear your opinion about that. I'll totally understand if you pass on commenting on it.

I promise this is the last time I'll ask about this (if someone may be getting tired of me bringing this up).

You know, I have to admit, I've gone into a lot of this film with some of his errant throws looking to blast his footwork and everything, but, honestly, as of a lot of this year, his footwork is much improved. I'll just re-post some pictures from earlier one after another to show the difference. It's kind of redundant pulling new stills cause they all look the same.



This is from last year against the Rams. He wasn't hurried on the play but he didn't plant his backfoot and drive through the ball. This causes his left shoulder to dip because it's not the legs that drive the ball he's having to muscle it with his arm(similar to when a pitcher dips his left shoulder and causes an errant throw). This all causes the ball to sail high and right.



Here, he scans the field and drives off his backfoot into the throw keepint it from sailing on him.



Here you see good flex in the legs, he's driving off his back foot, keeping his shoulders square. I think his only mistake here is he really wants to point that front foot right at his target. He's pointed a little in which will actually cause the ball to go slightly left.

Originally posted by thl408:
I have a few hypotheses about why the CBs play with such a cushion. Run support, coverage disguise, and pattern matching (which requires the CB to see plays develop in front of him). Run support to attack downhill on a run. Coverage disguise because if the CBs are playing off, the first few steps that the WR takes as he begins his route will reveal nothing to the WR or the QB about what coverage is being played (man or zone) since the CB just stands there and waits for the WR to approach him. A QB is always looking for keys (tells) that let him know what coverage it is. If the CB is just standing there not making a move, no information is being revealed. Then the pass rush comes and it's panic time.

Pattern matching is essentially a hybrid coverage scheme where a CB will play man coverage on any WR in his zone. This is hard for me to identify on film, so I'm really eager on your take jonnydel. Like you mentioned way earlier in this thread, the 49ers may have gone basic versus SEA due to a scrambling QB. I will try to look for something in the NO game where the 49ers faced a potent passing attack.

I really am working on this It has a lot to do with coverage disgiuse. I show you when I have a few minutes to grab all the screenshots

The knee bend!

LOL!

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by olapac:

First off, great thread. I've been offline a few days and come back to an early Christmas gift. Really good work.

Second, when I watched the replay of the game, this play had me screaming mad - but for another reason. Not sure if already discussed, but from the broadcast angle, it looks like we gave away a possible TD.

We had two WRs to Kap's left, but Seattle countered with only 1 CB - Maxwell. Why couldn't we just throw a quick screen to Crabtree and have Boldin block Maxwell? We could definitely get the first down and more than likely Crab walks into the end zone.

If you still have access, can you post a picture from the sideline angle and let me know your thoughts?

On the broadcast it looked like they were open but they weren't, I'll show you.



It looks like the 2 receivers are open but they're not. They bunch tight, meaning they probably had two plays in the huddle, one for man coverage and one for zone. If it's man Kaep changes the play and they run a "rub" route. Seattle, instead runs zone cover 3. You can tell it's zone because Sherman doesn't move over to the 2 receiver side. They always dropped the weakside OLB into coverage from this front. So Seattle has 3 guys in position on the two receivers plus the availability of Thomas to rotate over and still double Vernon with Sherman and Chancellor. Where they run the dive is open pre-snap. Seattle just did a good job of gamesmanship. However, because of this play we were able to score our TD in the game.

The WR screen is probably open, but remember, it was 3rd and 1(really less) and we would've had 4 downs to punch it in from the 4 yard line. Several things can go wrong on a WR screen and if the dive is there, take it. We gotta give it to Seattle(I really hate saying that!).




Because G-Ro saw the zone 3 in the red zone of the previous 2 possessions he runs a great cover 3 buster. Vernon said he knew before the snap that he had won. As well do I. It's too hard for a linebacker moving laterally to cover Vernon running across his face. I touched on this play earlier so I won't say much about it other than this was a good, "game within a game" recognition by G-Ro to call the right play.

Thanks for the images. I guess I didn't mean a screen in the sense that the lineman get out in front. But something where the olineman and backs run the called running play, but Kap takes the snap and throws quickly to Crabtree. I still feel he could walk in with a good Boldin block but I see where you're coming from.

Anyway, thanks again. And good work.

Originally posted by jonnydel:
You know, I have to admit, I've gone into a lot of this film with some of his errant throws looking to blast his footwork and everything, but, honestly, as of a lot of this year, his footwork is much improved. I'll just re-post some pictures from earlier one after another to show the difference. It's kind of redundant pulling new stills cause they all look the same.

[snip picture]

This is from last year against the Rams. He wasn't hurried on the play but he didn't plant his backfoot and drive through the ball. This causes his left shoulder to dip because it's not the legs that drive the ball he's having to muscle it with his arm(similar to when a pitcher dips his left shoulder and causes an errant throw). This all causes the ball to sail high and right.

[snip picture]

Here, he scans the field and drives off his backfoot into the throw keepint it from sailing on him.

[snip picture]

Here you see good flex in the legs, he's driving off his back foot, keeping his shoulders square. I think his only mistake here is he really wants to point that front foot right at his target. He's pointed a little in which will actually cause the ball to go slightly left.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess it just seemed like it to me on a few plays (like the pass to the flat to Miller that he missed in the Seattle game), but probably isn't much of an issue.

Lock all other threads and put this guy on the payroll.