All22 Analysis - Coverages & Concepts

Originally posted by thl408:

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Originally posted by thl408:

Pin concept
- Vertical stretch on deep zone defender (safety)
- Effective against: Cover 1, Quarters, Cover 2 Zone
- Progression: Post - Deep In (High - Low); 7 step timing

Called "Pin" because of the route combination (Post In). The deep In route, run behind the LB level, is designed to draw up the safety on that side of the field, then have the Post attack the area behind the stretched safety.





The defense is in some odd cover 0, so there is no safety to stretch on this play.
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This is a Post Deep Curl combination where the stretch applied to the safety is like that of the Pin concept.

Here's a great example of the pin concept from the 1994 pass install. In 1994 it looks like which ever route (post or deep in) was strong side was the primary. It also looks like we like to combine it with a back to the flat and that flat route became the secondary target.

Here is a look at some 1985 Bill Walsh route trees.

WR Trees




HB tree


I love the description of each route and the specification of what yard landmark is expected. It's also pretty cool to think that these were the first route trees that Jerry Rice saw as a niner.

Thanks for posting the route tree Niner816. I will add a "Route Tree" post somewhere within the first 6 pages of this thread.
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I'd also like to make this thread a resource for any football articles we come across that are worth mentioning. It doesn't have to be 49er related. Whether it has to do with the history of how a concept originated, a detailed breakdown of concepts themselves, or anything you may find interesting about football Xs and Os, please share it with the rest of us.

To start, here's a very nice summary of the different defensive fronts we see in the NFL. It discusses the differences in philosophy and requirements in personnel. I would paste the article, but it is very extensive:

The Ultimate Guide to NFL Defense
http://subscribers.footballguys.com/2009/09bramel_idpguide.php

great thread dude.

Best article I've found on the Curl-Flat concept with an All22 video of Jerry Rice executing the Curl.

Curl-Flat is possibly the best play in football. It is a horizontal stretch play designed to put the defensive Flat player in a bind of trying to cover both the Curl and the Flat route. If the play is properly executed, the Flat player will be unable to do both. Curl-Flat is a concept that has been around for quite a while and it has stood the test of time. Its cruel effectiveness is not hindered in any way by its familiarity; rather, the design of the play makes it almost impossible for Cover 3 defenses to stop, even if they practice against it extensively.
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Let's look at a cut-up of the San Francisco 49ers from the Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and Terrell Owens era (although Young is not the QB on this play). Jerry Rice is running the Curl route and.....

http://coachhoover.blogspot.com/2010/09/curl-flat.html

In the first 5 pages of this thread, the hardest concept to explain was Pattern Match coverage. First, because it's hard to understand at a low level, but also because there is no way to know the rules on a particular play without being in the huddle. I made it a point to state that I don't know the exact rules on the particular play and that what I listed were my best guess.

A Pattern Match "rule", for a particular coverage call, is a basically a set of keys for a defender to read.

If the #1 WR does X, then the defender does A. If the #1 WR does Y, then the defender does B. It can be as simple as that, or as complicated as the DC wants to teach it. The more complex the rules, the more accommodating the coverage can be to anything the offense throws its way.

Here's a high level article about Pattern Matching and with just one rule explained.

Pattern matching is basically a set of rules that help zone defenders play a man within their zone, and on some occasions play a coverage that will not look like the original call.

http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2010/2/9/1209031/rufios-playbook-pattern-matching

From that article above, here are the 49ers defending the Smash Flood concept with the exact rule that was described in the article.

Right side of offensive formation: GB bunched two WRs (man buster) and executes a Smash Flood concept (3 level High-Low zone buster: Smash + RB swing route).


Bowman plays the role of the SS in the diagram below and matches the #1 WR's Curl route. The CB and the safety double cover the Corner route. It plays out exactly like this diagram (from article).

Most educational thread on NT!

Good, low level read on Pattern Matching, Saban's Rip/Liz match, and Cover 7. The 49ers usually pattern match from a cover 2/4 shell.

Saban's own words on how he and Belichick developed the concept of pattern matching - "necessity is the mother of invention".

"This started with the Cleveland Browns, I was the defensive coordinator in the early 90s and Pittsburgh would run 'Seattle' on us, four streaks. Then they would run two streaks and two out routes, what I call 'pole' route from 2x2. So we got to where could NOT play 3-deep zone because we rerouted the seams and played zone, and what I call "Country Cover 3" (drop to your spot reroute the seams, break on the ball). Well, when Marino is throwing it, that old break on the ball s**t don't work."

At the time, Saban and Belichick most preferred running a Cover 3 defense, which meant there were three defenders playing zones downfield. But the Steelers had consistently shredded it by running four receivers deep against those three defenders, meaning one of them would always be open. Saban continued,

"So because we could not defend this, we could not play 3 deep, so when you can't play zone, what do you do next? You play Man (cover 1), but if their mens are better than your mens, you can't play cover 1.

"We came up with this concept; how we can play cover 1 and cover 3 at the same time, so we can do both these things and one thing would complement the other. We came up with the concept 'rip/liz match.'"
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2014/12/46950/film-study-nick-sabans-pattern-matching-pass-defense

Bill Walsh staple concept.

The Spot scheme is a common pass game concept run at the high school level all the way up to the NFL. It is also referred to as "Snag", and is known for its simplicity and ability to create both a horizontal and vertical stretch. Like the Stick Concept, Spot is a half field "Triangle" read.
http://www.syedschemes.com/spot/#more-845

http://www.westcoastoffense.com/bill%20walsh%20article%201.htm null

1979 Bill Walsh article talking about his philosophy.

"Controlling the Ball with the Pass" by Bill Walsh

THL if I remember correctly, DJ got beat the most as a slot cb, but was pretty solid as an outside CB. I really like DJ's potential as a big corner who I think should start opposite Brock this year. If you get a chance are you able to show what DJ really excels at and what he struggles with. Most people think CB will be one of the most competitive group during TC and pre season. At this point only Brock is 'penciled' in as a started. Spots 2-6 are unknown.
I love you starting to post in this thread again. Thanks again for your hard work.

Originally posted by Luckycharms:
THL if I remember correctly, DJ got beat the most as a slot cb, but was pretty solid as an outside CB. I really like DJ's potential as a big corner who I think should start opposite Brock this year. If you get a chance are you able to show what DJ really excels at and what he struggles with. Most people think CB will be one of the most competitive group during TC and pre season. At this point only Brock is 'penciled' in as a started. Spots 2-6 are unknown.
I love you starting to post in this thread again. Thanks again for your hard work.

I'll let the man go into more detail but IIRC he got burned twice on double moves from the slot against the Chargers but generally played very well there esp in the RZ (forcing a tip for an INT). Outside he looked just as confident. I know in his interview he talked about learning from that Charger's game and how much he's grown compared to last year. Good stuff!

Originally posted by Luckycharms:
THL if I remember correctly, DJ got beat the most as a slot cb, but was pretty solid as an outside CB. I really like DJ's potential as a big corner who I think should start opposite Brock this year. If you get a chance are you able to show what DJ really excels at and what he struggles with. Most people think CB will be one of the most competitive group during TC and pre season. At this point only Brock is 'penciled' in as a started. Spots 2-6 are unknown.
I love you starting to post in this thread again. Thanks again for your hard work.

I do want to revive the Offseason Film Study thread to complete the analysis of JWard, and hopefully start DJ since those two are being counted to contribute more this season. Here are the two plays he got burned on late last season. It was the vsARI game. Don't want to cherry pick plays, so I would not take this and formulate an analysis of his entire rookie season. This is just two plays.

http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/180857-arizona-cardinals-coaches-film-analysis-week/#post4
http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/180857-arizona-cardinals-coaches-film-analysis-week/#post12

I don't have any thoughts on him (yet) because I did not watch him closely at any point during the season.

Here is the route tree for TE and slot guys.