Minnesota Vikings, week 1 coaches film analysis

Here's a play that shows how Kap's legs plays a role in holding the backside contain defender.

2Q 2nd & 2
Outside zone right
Martin (red) will move to the second level, while Boone (orange) blocks the 1-tech. The player to watch is blue, the Will linebacker in this 4-3 Over front.


Zone step right. The Will (blue) is watching this play develop with no one coming to block him.


Blue is just watching.


If this was Peyton or Brady, blue would crash down the line to close backside contain. Because it's Kap, he has to be wary of the QB bootleg. This provides a very big cutback lane for Hyde.


+10 yards

Of all the running plays, I counted 5 power blocking runs. The rest were zone blocking. Of the power blocking runs for Hyde, they went for +1, -4, +9, +5. Hayne had a power blocking run that went for +9.

3Q 1st & 10
Counter Trap - Trap play on the weakside DE.
The blue DE will be trap blocked by Devey (yellow). Celek (orange) will lead through.


Staley leaves the DE (blue) to move to the second level. VD fakes the block on the DE and will move to the second level. By faking the block, it stalls the DE for Devey to pull across the formation.


Devey applies the trap block.


Hayne hits the hole.


+9 yards.

Originally posted by thl408:

+12 yards. Staley's perfect reach block allows the Hyde to gain the edge.

Could have been a flag for late hit out of bounds there, too

Although I've been watching NFL for sometime I 've never really bothered with all the technical intricacies on each play.

Very interesting read and an excellent thread, thanks.

Originally posted by Red1:
Although I've been watching NFL for sometime I 've never really bothered with all the technical intricacies on each play.

Very interesting read and an excellent thread, thanks.

Yeah...I am a life long fan and when these threads popped up it really enhanced some of the detail for me in a way you just don't get watching it live. I am huge fan of the work guys do in here. Has anyone extended a invite to our Aussie friends?...a lot of American rules football questions in the Hayne threads...this stuff is like an infusion of direct knowledge of the intricacies of the game.

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:

Originally posted by Red1:

Although I've been watching NFL for sometime I 've never really bothered with all the technical intricacies on each play.

Very interesting read and an excellent thread, thanks.

Yeah...I am a life long fan and when these threads popped up it really enhanced some of the detail for me in a way you just don't get watching it live. I am huge fan of the work guys do in here. Has anyone extended a invite to our Aussie friends?...a lot of American rules football questions in the Hayne threads...this stuff is like an infusion of direct knowledge of the intricacies of the game.

Id also recommend for anyone interested, be sure to check out the all22 concepts thread that's pinned at the top of the page.

Thl has provided with in the first 4-5 pages of that an almost clinical breakdown of all major items needed to really understand on a deeper level the X's and O's of football.

Through out the rest of the pages on that thread I've tried to show example from the dynasty day illustrating the concepts that kinda made the WCO what it was. Although formation types come and go, core concepts stay and still give defenses fits to this day. Plus, it's never a bad thing to see Joe, Steve and Jerry do their thing

Thank You all for your efforts. Looking forward to post Pittsburgh breakdown.

Originally posted by thl408:
Throughout the offseason, we talked about how zone blocking OLmen need agility and quick feet. We also talked about how Staley was the one player no one worried about making the adjustment to a predominantly zone blocking scheme. Here is a play that puts Staley's agility and footwork on display.
2Q 1st & 10
Outside zone left.
Staley will look to execute a 'reach block' on the DE. What makes it doubly hard is how wide the DE is aligned.


At the snap, Staley explodes to his left.


The yellow line is pointing to Staley's left foot, which is now on the outside of the DE.


Staley pivots around and has now won the positioning battle on the DE.


Staley is able to seal off the DE from pursuing to the outside. Now it's 2v2 (red) on the edge (VD + Miller).


+12 yards. Staley's perfect reach block allows the Hyde to gain the edge.

great example of the "reach" or what we always called the, "scoop" block. We called it a "scoop" because the lineman has to scoop up the Defender. It's really hard to fully explain how incredibly tough that block is to make and how much athleticism it takes. Talk to any former lineman about "reach" or "scoop" blocks, and they'll tell you, they didn't like a steady diet of having to do that.

One of my biggest complaints against our HS football coach last year was that he was that he was trying to run the zone-read-option offense and the lineman were having to try and scoop on almost every play - but they didn't have the horses to run.

Staley is perfectly suited to that type of role, Personally, I think this might be the best year we see out of him yet - which would be saying a lot!

Originally posted by jonnydel:

great example of the "reach" or what we always called the, "scoop" block. We called it a "scoop" because the lineman has to scoop up the Defender. It's really hard to fully explain how incredibly tough that block is to make and how much athleticism it takes. Talk to any former lineman about "reach" or "scoop" blocks, and they'll tell you, they didn't like a steady diet of having to do that.

One of my biggest complaints against our HS football coach last year was that he was that he was trying to run the zone-read-option offense and the lineman were having to try and scoop on almost every play - but they didn't have the horses to run.

Staley is perfectly suited to that type of role, Personally, I think this might be the best year we see out of him yet - which would be saying a lot!

You remember when the Staley pick was ragged on, because we traded a future 1 (2008 first rounder) to get a second first in 2007 to get Staley. I just remember how we started 2007, it was looking like the Pats were gonna go undefeated and then have like a top 5 pick because how poorly we played. Staley has been so rock solid and great it was well worth it.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
There definitely is a change in the "strategy" involved. In that, we're definitely more "horizontally" moving and less vertically moving. We had a lot of throws that were both horizontal and vertical(our flood concepts off PA), and a lot of horizontal stretch drop back throws.

One thing I noticed though - not to seem contrary, is that we didn't use pattern matching like we did under Fangio - I'll highlight it on one or Tramaine Brock's greatest plays of the game, it was so impressive because we weren't pattern matching in man-coverage.

I have not looked at the defensive snaps, but am a bit disappointed to hear this. Very surprised.

I just looked at all the defensive snaps and I saw more zone coverage than at any time under Fangio. I saw Tampa2 which Fangio never ran.

I agree in that the 49ers did not use the same kind of pattern match scheme as Fangio. What I did see is some very very odd coverages. It was like some contorted zone coverages. I think they are doing some kind of pattern matching, I'll try to show that, but I can't be sure.Just some weird stuff.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
There definitely is a change in the "strategy" involved. In that, we're definitely more "horizontally" moving and less vertically moving. We had a lot of throws that were both horizontal and vertical(our flood concepts off PA), and a lot of horizontal stretch drop back throws.

One thing I noticed though - not to seem contrary, is that we didn't use pattern matching like we did under Fangio - I'll highlight it on one or Tramaine Brock's greatest plays of the game, it was so impressive because we weren't pattern matching in man-coverage.

I have not looked at the defensive snaps, but am a bit disappointed to hear this. Very surprised.

I just looked at all the defensive snaps and I saw more zone coverage than at any time under Fangio. I saw Tampa2 which Fangio never ran.

I agree in that the 49ers did not use the same kind of pattern match scheme as Fangio. What I did see is some very very odd coverages. It was like some contorted zone coverages. I think they are doing some kind of pattern matching, I'll try to show that, but I can't be sure.Just some weird stuff.

Hey, if it's confusing you, imagine what it's doing for OC's and QB's. LOL!

Originally posted by thl408:
I just looked at all the defensive snaps and I saw more zone coverage than at any time under Fangio. I saw Tampa2 which Fangio never ran.

I agree in that the 49ers did not use the same kind of pattern match scheme as Fangio. What I did see is some very very odd coverages. It was like some contorted zone coverages. I think they are doing some kind of pattern matching, I'll try to show that, but I can't be sure.Just some weird stuff.

good. if its weird to you. its weird to coaches trying to diagnose a game plan

Here's an odd coverage.

2Q 1st & 10
First, let's get the confusion induced by disguising the 4th rusher out of the way. It's the cool part about the play, but not the interesting part to me.
Brooks will drop into coverage while Dial engages two blockers. Bow will come as the 4th rusher and be unblocked.


Bow applies quick pressure.


To the all22. At first, I was just looking at what the 49ers were doing and it looked like a warped zone coverage. It's definitely zone. But after considering how MIN lines up, I think I kind of understand what's going on. Field side is the side that has more area. Boundary side has less area. This is determined by which hash mark the ball is placed on. Notice both WRs are to the field side. On the boundary side is an inline TE, and another TE lined up in the backfield.


The interesting players here are the two safeties, Brock (26), and Lynch (59). At the snap, Lynch gives a slight jam and let's the slot WR go by. Brock will turn and run with the #1 WR. Reid and Bethea start to roll towards the field side.


Brock turns and runs with the #1 while Lynch stays in his zone to pick up the RB coming out of the backfield (blue line). The slot WR (orange) is uncovered.


The ball is swung out to the TE in the backfield, but let's take it a frame further just to see the coverage play out a bit more.
Notice how close Reid is to the sideline. That's too wide for a regular cover2 safety. It's as if he's playing a deep 1/3. Bethea is playing centerfield as if it's a middle 1/3. If this is the case, then Acker (20) is the other deep 1/3 and he's just tightening his zone since there isn't a deep threat to his side.
What I think is that this is cover2 zone, but the 49ers aggesively roll coverage towards the field side since that's where the two WRs are.


? Why is Brock running up the field if he's in zone coverage? For sure this is zone. What zone is Brock playing? Is this a cover2 or cover 3 shell?
Caught for +3 yards.

Thanks guys. Your hard work is appreciated. I love reading this thread. 👍

^^that is funky....isn't that though like a calling card of the belichick type defenses. Again, I'm assuming mangini is still very much rooted in belichick philosophies (I could be wrong though). As to Brock though, it's like he's acting like the MLB in the Tampa 2 defenses that sprints to centerfield. Just weird looking.