Originally posted by Ninefan56:
Thanks jonnydel:
When I looked at games it seemed to me that everyone was out of sync especially in the second half. I appreciate your input and hopefully we will get some of these things smoothed out.
The WCO offense is so predicated on timing and the ball coming out on time that rhythm and having your QB be in rhythm is so crucial.
Here's an example of how CK makes the right read, the right throw- it's accurate, but it's just a little bit late in coming out and the play isn't nearly as effective.
This play is either a spacing concept or curl flat. I say spacing because of how inside the curl is - what makes me question it is that Boldin doesn't look like he's running a "spot" route - which is usually the inside route on a spacing concept. It looks like he's running a mid-cross. Either way, it creates the same read on the key defender.
I've highlighted in grey the clues to Philly playing a cover 3 zone - you see the corners have opened up their hips inside, revealing an outside leverage - when corners are playing man, they usually play inside technique to use the sideline as their help defender. Also, you see the LB's are aligned straight up, not aligned with the TE and RB - they'd be dead to rights if it was man-coverage.
This reveals that the concept will work a vertical stretch on the underneath flat defender - who I've highlighted in yellow. He's the key defender on the play. CK is to read this defender, if he drops, he throws it underneath to VD, if he plays VD underneath - it's the curl - simple read. 3 step drop after a PA fake. With this play, the ball HAS to be out at the last step.
At the snap you see the key defender dropping back - CK should know right here that he's throwing to VD and get the ball out in rhythm on time to a receiver as Bill Walsh would say, "1 foot in front of the numbers". Brent Jones used to tear guys up with this route with his RAC.
you see how the key defender has dropped back, Ck has hit his back foot but the ball isn't out. If he throws it now, VD catches the ball in stride with room to turn and run up the sideline - he'd get 8-10 yards easy.
Instead, the ball is out a half second to a full second late - you see now where it's going to put VD at the catch, with a lot less room to run - the WCO offense is all about getting your athletes in space to run, when you haven't given them the ball with much space, not much they can do.
you see how close VD is to the sideline when he makes this catch, he should be 5 yards more inside, which gives him room to turn and run upfield. Now, pinned against the sideline he doesn't have anywhere to go, so it's only a 3 yard gain - should be 8-10.
Just highlighting how CK was reading the right defender, just got the ball out late - this is just after his last step, he should be in the middle of this throwing motion right now.
It may seem like splitting hairs or that VD wouldn't have done anything with it either way - not the point. The point is, the WCO is predicated on exact timing. Bill Walsh, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan - all were VERY strict on exact timing in the offense. Only a half second can separate a successful play from an unsuccessful one.
If someone might help me out with a GIF on this play it might help illustrate the whole thing. It's the first offensive play of the niners in the Philly game.
[ Edited by jonnydel on Apr 14, 2015 at 10:36 AM ]
