Offseason All22 Film Study

Originally posted by communist:
General question about Bowman/Willis:
what were the roles of both of them most of the time? I could swear that Bowman was more of a coverage guy whereas Willis was looking to stop the run in the first place????

True, in certain defenses, Willis would come off the field and Bowman would stay on the filed b/c he was a little better in coverage.

Originally posted by communist:
General question about Bowman/Willis:
what were the roles of both of them most of the time? I could swear that Bowman was more of a coverage guy whereas Willis was looking to stop the run in the first place????

Bowman usually had RB or zone; Willis had TE or zone.

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
Bowman usually had RB or zone; Willis had TE or zone.

This answer doesn't help my mock at all wanted to go after a beast like Perryman or Dawson but i am really afraid that they could come short literally against tall TEs like Graham at times.

Originally posted by communist:

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
Bowman usually had RB or zone; Willis had TE or zone.

This answer doesn't help my mock at all wanted to go after a beast like Perryman or Dawson but i am really afraid that they could come short literally against tall TEs like Graham at times.

WRATH is right with the general statement that Bow usually has the RB and Willis usually had the TE. This is because Willis mostly line up to the strongside of the offensive formation, which usually has the TE. What the 49ers did was pass off coverage when routes came across the middle of the field. So if the TE ran a short crossing pattern, then Bow would take over in coverage of the TE. Of course, this is with Fangio's defense.

This (Willis lined up on the strongside) also explains why Bow got the higher amount of tackles. It's because Willis was mostly playing the 'Ted' LB taking on guards/fullbacks to allow Bow to freely flow to the play or shoot the gap to make the tackle for loss.

I don't think you'll find a LB to totally matchup with Graham in the passing game since this is what makes him such a threat - no one defensive player can match up with him downfield. What the Fangio defense did was bracket Graham with a LB (or CB) and a safety on key downs. Here are a few plays where Graham is well bracketed.

Play#1 (Fangio thread)
Rogers (#22) lined up over Graham (post route).


Graham is bracketed inside(Whitner) /outside (Rogers)

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Play#2 (Fangio thread)
Graham doubled inside/outside, then over the top/underneath.




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Play#3 (pinned Film thread, Quarters section)
Graham is the #1 WR


Graham bracketed inside/outside). Pass knocked down by the safety.

thx Mr. mod

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by communist:

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
Bowman usually had RB or zone; Willis had TE or zone.

This answer doesn't help my mock at all wanted to go after a beast like Perryman or Dawson but i am really afraid that they could come short literally against tall TEs like Graham at times.

WRATH is right with the general statement that Bow usually has the RB and Willis usually had the TE. This is because Willis mostly line up to the strongside of the offensive formation, which usually has the TE. What the 49ers did was pass off coverage when routes came across the middle of the field. So if the TE ran a short crossing pattern, then Bow would take over in coverage of the TE. Of course, this is with Fangio's defense.

This (Willis lined up on the strongside) also explains why Bow got the higher amount of tackles. It's because Willis was mostly playing the 'Ted' LB taking on guards/fullbacks to allow Bow to freely flow to the play or shoot the gap to make the tackle for loss.

I don't think you'll find a LB to totally matchup with Graham in the passing game since this is what makes him such a threat - no one defensive player can match up with him downfield. What the Fangio defense did was bracket Graham with a LB (or CB) and a safety on key downs. Here are a few plays where Graham is well bracketed.

Play#1 (Fangio thread)
Rogers (#22) lined up over Graham (post route).


Graham is bracketed inside(Whitner) /outside (Rogers)

-------------------------
Play#2 (Fangio thread)
Graham doubled inside/outside, then over the top/underneath.




----------------
Play#3 (pinned Film thread, Quarters section)
Graham is the #1 WR


Graham bracketed inside/outside). Pass knocked down by the safety.

So, commie, what this would basically mean for your mock is that you don't need a super tall ILB (Willis wasn't especially big), you need a guy who can stay on his hip well enough to take away underthrown passes since someone else wil most likely be over the top to take away overthrown passes. If the ball is thrown perfectly, we're basically screwed, LOL. Seriously, though, a lot of shorter guys make great pass defenses by hacking at the arms once the ball arrives. I think instincts and recognition are just as important as speed and height for this job. Shoot, AJ Hawk once staid with Vernon down the field on a seam route, because he recognized it early enough to turn and run before Vernon passed him.

Like thl said, even Willis had over-the-top or outside help on the likes of Graham.

In general, I will always going after a football player rather than an athlete. "Unfortunately", McKinney and Anthony aren't athletes only and they provide some size which could be advantegous against taller TEs.

Thx for your input :)

Continuing on Darnell Dockett. I took a look at his pass rushing downs and made some observations. Re-posting this chart for some reference of PFF ratings (2013 season). I was watching the second of the SEA games and noticed midway that it was not a good indicator of how he pass rushes due to the discipline that many defenses take when playing against RW. Pocket containment is often required and so I didn't think SEA games was a good indicator of Dockett's skills as there is a strong chance he was asked to simply stay in front of RW. It sure looked that way as he didn't show much aggressiveness in getting upfield.

So I looked at PHI, IND, NO, and ATL. Four good QBs that aren't as mobile as RW and Kap, although a case could be made for Luck.


- Like his run defense, his pass rushing shows he is quicker than he is strong. Especially with his lower body - much quicker than strong.
- He has to win with the club/rip move, or club/swim move. If he can't win with either of these moves, he's not going to get much done on that play. I don't think I saw one good bull rush from him. He did show a bull/jerk move, but without a good bull rush, he rarely won with it.
- Strong use of hands to get Olinemen off balance.
- He does not push the pocket very well. More of a penetrating type of pass rusher. Due to what seems like subpar leg strength, he doesn't move guards/centers back into the QB's face. When he generates pressure, it's by getting around interior Olineman with quickness. His lack of leg strength also shows up in run defense, covered earlier in this thread.
- Very high motor. This shows up on run and pass plays as he is always chasing down plays from behind and never lets up on any play. Even when it's apparent he has no chance on the play because team mates are already around the ball, he gives chase to the ball carrier.
- Often is asked to sacrifice for the team. On stunts, he is almost always the first guy to take on two blockers to free up a looping team mate. Very rarely is he the Dlineman that is looping to take advantage of the open space.

Here's an example of his club/swim move that he loves to use on guards. Here he does it to a Center. This move allows him to use his quickness to get around interior linemen.
0-tech in nickel package


DD steps and head fakes to his right to get the Center leaning.


DD is winding up for the club move (left arm).


DD smacks the Center on the shoulder pad with a powerful shot - a club move - while getting his feet ready to step to the left of the Center.


Swim while quickly stepping to his left.

This looks like a bull/jerk move.
3-tech


DD engages square with the Guard as if to bull rush, and feels the Guard leaning forward. DD quickly places his left hand on the Guard's back.


With the Guard leaning forward to brace for a bull rush, DD pulls the Guard further forward (jerk) and uses his quickness to get around.


Sack

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More quickness from the 3 tech position.



DD squares up to the Guard and gives a stutter step.


The stutter step freezes the Guard and DD compliments the move with a club.


Swim.


Clean beating of the Guard. In the grasp. Sack.

..

Bull/jerk.


Once he feels the Guard leaning forward, DD grabs the Guard and jerks him forward, then uses quickness to get around. Nice use of hands and quick feet. Sack.

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