Offseason Film analysis thread - Passing concepts

Originally posted by jonnydel:
One reason I didn't have a whole lot of info on the double posts was because it seemed like most of the time when we ran this play there'd be a penalty of some kind either on the offense or defense. So, because I didn't tabulate any numbers on plays with penalties most of them aren't recorded.

Also, as the season wore on, we seemed to try less and less 7 step drops like this.

I don't recall the 49ers running the Double Posts concept often in 2014. And I know they didn't complete passes to Post routes often in 2014. That's for sure.
...
When I was looking through 2012 film, I saw Kap hit the Corner route when running the Smash concept a handful of times, and looked good doing it. If you get a chance, check it out. With NFL Rewind's Search feature, just search for "Kaepernick, 2012, Big Plays". He's hitting DWalker, Crabs, and VD on Corner routes with pin point accuracy.

Originally posted by defenderDX:
yep. if you compare to how he dropped back in that game to what he'd been working on in that 10 week program

worth a bump

anyone notice a difference? and if so explain your thoughts.

Originally posted by defenderDX:

worth a bump

anyone notice a difference? and if so explain your thoughts.

His hips are low and ass sticking out.

Looks better.

Originally posted by Young2Rice:

Originally posted by defenderDX:
worth a bump

anyone notice a difference? and if so explain your thoughts.

His hips are low and ass sticking out.

Looks better.

yeahhh. with that allows him to have a much wider base too. like others have said in the gif vs. the Eagles above his base is so narrow that when he throws he has to open up his front foot. wasted movement that's not needed

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by defenderDX:
yep. if you compare to how he dropped back in that game to what he'd been working on in that 10 week program

worth a bump

anyone notice a difference? and if so explain your thoughts.

3 step drop, plant and throw. No wasted movement with his feet.

It looks as though they are also working on Kap reading key defenders. Looks like a slant-flat combo as the two guys on the left side of the screen run off the screen. One is a WR, one is a defender. As the defender moves with the WR to the flat, the window to the slant opens up and Kap targets the slant.

Slant-Flat concept: Horizontal stretch on the underneath curl-flat zone defender

The key defender is blue and his movement determines who gets the target. Often times a 3 step timing route combo, here the Slant (Crabs) + Flat (Hyde) is run out of a 5 step timing. This allows the slant to run at a greater depth and the Flat route to start from directly behind the QB instead of from a slot WR position.

versus cover3


Kap takes his dropback and looks to Boldin on the snag over the middle. This causes the weakside hook-curl defender (orange) to react to Boldin. Blue, the weakside curl-flat defender, flows with Hyde towards the flat.


The actions of these two defenders give a nice throwing lane to the slant.


With blue removed from the throwing lane due to Hyde's Flat route, the correct throw is to the Slant. Mid windup.


If blue sags and covers the passing lane to the Slant, then the Flat route is the correct throw.


Kap asks for motion from VD. When none of the LBs react to the pre-snap motion, this tells Kap it's zone coverage. This looks very much like the Hank concept (covered earlier in the thread) where the first read is the Snag route (Boldin). By first looking to the Snag, the natural progression of the play allows the eyes to manipulate the underneath coverage (orange).

Originally posted by defenderDX:
yep. if you compare to how he dropped back in that game to what he'd been working on in that 10 week program






there's definitely a difference. Same drop too.(even though he's simulating it from under center) he doesn't take that extra hop to open up his base to make the throw

Wanted to mention his footwork - specifically into his throwing motion, if you look at the above GIF, notice how he sort of "hops" into his throwing motion. He doesn't step from his back foot through the throw. He's not driving off his back foot - this is what causes an all arm motion throw. That's where he's struggled in his footwork mechanics- with his short throws. With his throws downfield he usually does a good job of driving off his backfoot(not always) because he has to, to drive the ball downfield. With his short throws, it's almost all arm - it's why they come out so hot actually, or, if he throws them softly, they're off target. When he drives off his backfoot, it allows his shoulders to remain square through the delivery - notice on the below GIF how square his shoulders are through the delivery opposed to the above GIF where his right shoulder rises. That back foot drive through the delivery allows a much smoother motion all the way through the throw in every way.

Also, notice how the coach behind him is pretty much just watching his footwork.

Damn, this is a good read. I cannot wait for the season to begin!

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by defenderDX:
yep. if you compare to how he dropped back in that game to what he'd been working on in that 10 week program

worth a bump

anyone notice a difference? and if so explain your thoughts.

3 step drop, plant and throw. No wasted movement with his feet.

It looks as though they are also working on Kap reading key defenders. Looks like a slant-flat combo as the two guys on the left side of the screen run off the screen. One is a WR, one is a defender. As the defender moves with the WR to the flat, the window to the slant opens up and Kap targets the slant.

as well as hips sunk, with a much wider base. let's hope it sticks!

Originally posted by jonnydel:
Wanted to mention his footwork - specifically into his throwing motion, if you look at the above GIF, notice how he sort of "hops" into his throwing motion. He doesn't step from his back foot through the throw. He's not driving off his back foot - this is what causes an all arm motion throw. That's where he's struggled in his footwork mechanics- with his short throws. With his throws downfield he usually does a good job of driving off his backfoot(not always) because he has to, to drive the ball downfield. With his short throws, it's almost all arm - it's why they come out so hot actually, or, if he throws them softly, they're off target. When he drives off his backfoot, it allows his shoulders to remain square through the delivery - notice on the below GIF how square his shoulders are through the delivery opposed to the above GIF where his right shoulder rises. That back foot drive through the delivery allows a much smoother motion all the way through the throw in every way.

Also, notice how the coach behind him is pretty much just watching his footwork.

he's throwing to OBJ too

Here's a highlight from a QB I think we're all familiar with. I wanted to highlight this because, if all this offseason stuff sticks, Mr. Kaepernick looks a lot more like this guy in his mechanics.


This is Mr. Rodgers against the team that I don't like to talk about....
Rodgers makes this play against them because of how sharp his footwork is. CK, last year, on these throws almost always took an extra hop step or two.

This is after PA, 5 step drop, Rodgers is making his last step of his drop right here.


This is a split second later, he hits his last step and immediately drives into the throwing motion - there's no wasted "hop". Sometimes, the WCO will call for a 5 step with a hitch, this isn't one of those.

Notice how he's securely pushing off his plant foot, he's got good bend in the knee and his front foot is driving out - pointing to the target. All this allows his shoulders to remain square through the throw.


You can see how his front foot is pointed right at the target, he's got good front knee bend and it's all allowed his shoulders to be square.


Because of all this, he's able to put the ball right on it's spot with a ton of velocity out to a curl against an 8 man cover 3. The outside curl route is one that CK struggled with last year because he had a hard time with tight footwork to get the ball out quickly and accurately.

If these workout sessions stick, he'll look a lot more like this guy next year - which would be awesome.

^^^


Nice example of a playaction drop, plant, and throw in a fluid succession of movements.

I don't follow stories on QBs who attempt to change their mechanics very closely. Can you guys point me to a quarterback who, around the age of 27, was able to successfully and consistently implement some of the same corrections that Kap needs to make / is trying to make? I know Tebow has been unable to fix the flaws in his mechanics to the satisfaction of an NFL team, but I don't know what exactly he was working on.

Any success stories to make me optimistic that the improvements Kap is working on will stick?

The good thing for Kaep is he's still learning the mechanic of playing under center. He doesn't have to unlearn the bad mechanics. I think it's very doable. Alex Smith had to learn to play under center from scratch. Took about 2-3 years. You look at him now, you can't tell that he was out of the shotgun/option offense.

Originally posted by VinculumJuris:
I don't follow stories on QBs who attempt to change their mechanics very closely. Can you guys point me to a quarterback who, around the age of 27, was able to successfully and consistently implement some of the same corrections that Kap needs to make / is trying to make? I know Tebow has been unable to fix the flaws in his mechanics to the satisfaction of an NFL team, but I don't know what exactly he was working on.

Any success stories to make me optimistic that the improvements Kap is working on will stick?

Whether it's changing mechanics or refining is a subtle difference! Kaepernick might have been a bit sloppy in areas he has done well with in the past, just needs reminding and someone who can keep an eye out. He seemed to tighten up last year because he was trying to play longer in the pocket, so some of his mechanics went out the window.

I'm more concerned with Kaepernick working with different guys in the offseason, but it's better than just running or lifting. Too bad the rules don't allow more mini camps for the skill positions.