Week 2 Pittsburg Steelers coaches film analysis

Originally posted by thl408:

Agree with your assessment of Fangio's defense. I find it a mistake to have a good foundation of pattern match principles that have been taught by the previous staff to go to "waste" if Mangini doesn't continue it. About SEA, I think they do pattern match with their LBs out of a cover3 so it's not simply a spot dropping scheme. What makes their scheme work though is that their pass rush was so good and their safeties are so smart.

The reason why it seemed like any CB could play well with the 49ers was because they were taught so well in the pattern match scheme. Drop 7 and play coverage as a unit. It allowed so many CBs to look good as CBs benefited from LBs and safeties. If the pass rush with 4 is lacking this season, then pattern matching will tighten up windows for the QB to throw into.

Spot dropping gets exposed when the pass rush can't get home. A good example is on the long pass play where Wilhoite found himself deep downfield covering a WR. If the 49ers were pattern matching, there wouldn't be any defenders covering grass, being useless. Because the 49ers were in Tampa2, there were 3 defenders covering a lone WR on one side of the field while it was 3v3 on the other side. This never happens when pattern matching out of a Quarters or Cover7 look.

When Mangini was named DC, I thought for sure he would continue with pattern matching, and I have yet to see it.

For some reason I thought I remember either Tim Lewis or Bethea talking about the young cb's doing well in training camp and mentioning pattern matching. I think they were talking about Reaser. I could be wrong, maybe I was just assuming they were talking about pattern matching, I'll see if I can find the quote.
Also I could see Tomsula telling Mangini to add in some pattern matching. Tomsula already mentioned in his Monday morning conference call with the media that he's looked at possibly changing having the S's play so close to the line at times only to get burned deep. I like how Tomsula willingly admits that something didn't work and say they will make it right. He just seems like a coach that would tell Mangini, hey let's add in some more pattern matching to help the defense in certain situations

Wow, I thot it wouldn't hurt to try out Easton just to see what if anything he could bring to the table. But after watching some of this film, why is martin still on the field? Whether it is Easton or someone else...anyone else...would have to be an improvement. Man, martin was bad. He is obviously really slow in reaction time, as noted, he didn't extend his arms 1 inch as noted by elephant, and looked like a bowling pin, just nicked by the ball(DT), and spun around. This was just pathetic....and there is plenty more just like it. good grief...somebody has to do better than that. I'd bet after reviewing this tape, JT sits martin. Hard to believe he is in his 2nd yr. Whatever coaching he has gotten to date...it didn't stick.

He's very very young so chill. But he shouldn't be in there, true.

Um, note to Jim Tomsula: I wouldn't be so public with our tactical thinking. Please put lid on giving away our thoughts and game plans.

Question thl/jd: did we stick with the safety faux blitz in the second half, or did we adjust t the four touchdowns we gave up in the first half?

If this has already been answered, please just give post# thank you.

Originally posted by SoCold:
I noticed every time they ran play action they rolled Kap to the right. Right into the worst blocking side of the line. It wasn't hard for the defense to stop. Made it nearly impossible to make the plays work.

Most read option runs were to the left and right into a LB. Only seen one time that it worked. Kap didn't look fast. He was run down by the middle LB almost every time. Twice pulled down by the back of his jersey. Kap should be able to take a line to the sideline and beat that LB every time. He made some really suspect moves and cuts on his runs.

Shazer might have ran a ran a faster .40 than CK . He's fast. Not to mention he's coming at full speed while CK is still accelerating. And the problem with those runs were that the o line were letting one defender take up 2 of them freeing Shazer to make plays in the backfield. He was never blocked. The o line issues are causing problems everywhere.

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by SoCold:

Originally posted by NinerGM:
I really don't understand the conclusions that are the complete OPPOSITE of what's been discussed. I really don't get it. I really believe some people choose to be argumentative and bitter without reasoning. They dominate first game defense and what did some say? It's just one game. They fly to a rested, prepared opponent on a short week against an elite QB and offense that has been tops in the league for 3 seasons and the resulting conclusion? I wish we had our old coaches back. LOL. Well I'll use the same logic. It was just one game. Making excuses for Fangio is a joke in Chicago - the Bears have been playing poorly, period - AT HOME. No excuse. And many here thought Gase was a better option than Fangio and both are aided by a 2-time super bowl appearing HC in Fox. The Bears should play better - point blank. Oh it does come down to talent does it now? I thought Baalke was a terrible GM who has failed?

Double double standard standard.

If you look at how the team went about trying to stop Pitts offense you can clearly see that our coaching staff had no idea what they were doing.

Those zone plays were never going to work. No way Bowman or Whilhoite can cover Darrius Heyward-Bey. When they ran more of a nickle set with Ward there was decent coverage. Couple times Miller the TE was Bens only option. They should have been doing that all game. In the first half the coaches simply did not put the players in the best positions to compete in that game.

This is absolutely not what's been discussed. Period. People here even went through the trouble of breaking down, frame-by-frame the poor technique used in press coverage (something the Seahawks do effectively). I mean seriously - on huge, big chunk plays or TD. You're talking about a COUPLE of plays and the analysis here is about the technique used as a whole on defense and the disguise coverages employed putting our safeties in a bad spot when the CBs aren't playing proper technique, ALONG WITH not generating a pass-rush with only 4 rushers. Dude what are you talking about? SoCold you're a rational dude and have been posting for a while. Your summary doesn't even come close to what has been said. Ben was calling audibles at the LOS with sub-packages to counter what the 49ers were doing and the center was reading the LBs. Coaches stop what? The only thing I understand as a difference between what's being done this year opposed to last season was pattern matching - which for unknown reasons have not yet been used. But christ, a little early to decisively say "they don't know what they're doing" no? I certainly didn't see you post that last week. Same coaching staff. Same team. There's this myth that we are going to dominate every team in every situation every game on a short week flying cross country playing a 2-time SB QB with protection and speed on the outside against a young but learning defense. Yet when you discuss Fangio just 3 posts above, you rationalize that it's totally ok to get blown out AT HOME two weeks in a row with a vet coaching staff, and a HC who's coached two super bowls.

Come on man......

the 49ers lined up in that stupid zone defense against their 3 wr set. Ben knew exactly how to combat that he read the D in 2 seconds and changed the play. Hit DHB for a TD when he ran right through the D to the back of the endzone. Players never had a chance.

Put a fast CB on DHB would have been a better option instead of trying to stop them with that hybrid zone d.

That is what I am saying. Why does it matter what other are saying?

Originally posted by Niners816:
I hate it for 3rd and 7. The catch 2 was basically goal to go from the 25 with 2 shots left at the endzone. I like all verts then, I just think there is better stuff to call on 3rd and 7.

On this particular play, I'm assuming they were running the all verts to either catch a seam or hopefully draw coverage from the curl at the sticks.

agreed, I don't like it for 3rd and 7. We ran it at least twice, maybe 3 times, can't remember for sure.

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:
He's very very young so chill. But he shouldn't be in there, true.

Um, note to Jim Tomsula: I wouldn't be so public with our tactical thinking. Please put lid on giving away our thoughts and game plans.

Question thl/jd: did we stick with the safety faux blitz in the second half, or did we adjust t the four touchdowns we gave up in the first half?

If this has already been answered, please just give post# thank you.

It's been over a day since I watched the whole game through, so I'm trying to remember exactly how the sets were. IIRC, they did do a little bit less of it in the 2nd half.

finally have some time to cover the play where Wilhoite was the only guy deep down the field.


Here, it's 3rd down again - we don't bring a safety too far down, only thing is that Bethea comes down a little bit, not a lot. We also press the corners. Here's where the press is used more as a disguise. When you bring these guys down, you can disguise variations of cover 2 - if your corners are real good, you can also use it to disguise a cover 3 or man too.

Out of this, we're going to run a tampa-2 zone. The key on this play is the breakdown of the rushing lanes. Pitt runs a deep "smash" concept.


You see the corners redirect their men and turn into zone. Wilhoite trails the deepest man in the middle of the field and Bethea widens out for the threat of the outside vertical threat. This is just how they're supposed to play this zone, so far.


Pitt, again, max protects. The key is, Lynch, desperately trying to get to the QB, takes an inside move on the line and gives up contain. So, Big Ben is flushed out to his right. Reid has to widen out because of the threat from Brown. So far, they have decent coverage, but, over time, it breaks down.


As Ben rolls out right, the 2 underneath zone defenders come up, this puts Bethea in a tough spot. He comes up to cover the mid-level route - which is in position for the 1st down, it was 3rd and 2, so you expect the QB to be looking at the first down throw. I can't blame him for never checking his backside, with a receiver already open and a QB rolling out your direction, you generally don't take your eyes off that to look behind you. So, we now have a receiver breaking away from a MLB.


As Bethea is clued in on the underneath route, the Sail route opens up.


They then sling it downfield.



The major breakdown was, again, in the pass rush. Ben had around 5-6 seconds to throw this ball. You can't expect the defense to cover for that long.

Originally posted by jonnydel:
finally have some time to cover the play where Wilhoite was the only guy deep down the field.


Here, it's 3rd down again - we don't bring a safety too far down, only thing is that Bethea comes down a little bit, not a lot. We also press the corners. Here's where the press is used more as a disguise. When you bring these guys down, you can disguise variations of cover 2 - if your corners are real good, you can also use it to disguise a cover 3 or man too.

Out of this, we're going to run a tampa-2 zone. The key on this play is the breakdown of the rushing lanes. Pitt runs a deep "smash" concept.


You see the corners redirect their men and turn into zone. Wilhoite trails the deepest man in the middle of the field and Bethea widens out for the threat of the outside vertical threat. This is just how they're supposed to play this zone, so far.


Pitt, again, max protects. The key is, Lynch, desperately trying to get to the QB, takes an inside move on the line and gives up contain. So, Big Ben is flushed out to his right. Reid has to widen out because of the threat from Brown. So far, they have decent coverage, but, over time, it breaks down.


As Ben rolls out right, the 2 underneath zone defenders come up, this puts Bethea in a tough spot. He comes up to cover the mid-level route - which is in position for the 1st down, it was 3rd and 2, so you expect the QB to be looking at the first down throw. I can't blame him for never checking his backside, with a receiver already open and a QB rolling out your direction, you generally don't take your eyes off that to look behind you. So, we now have a receiver breaking away from a MLB.


As Bethea is clued in on the underneath route, the Sail route opens up.


They then sling it downfield.



The major breakdown was, again, in the pass rush. Ben had around 5-6 seconds to throw this ball. You can't expect the defense to cover for that long.

Notice how Bowman is worthless on that play just sitting there in the middle of the field with no one around him. If he's blitzing and gets through the line that's a game changer.

Originally posted by SoCold:
Notice how Bowman is worthless on that play just sitting there in the middle of the field with no one around him. If he's blitzing and gets through the line that's a game changer.

that's also the benefit of hindsight and knowing that Pitt was only coming with 1 underneath route. On 3rd and 2, you're expecting an underneath concept, not 2 deep and one intermediate. If Bowman blitzes, the short middle of the field would've been WIDE open and a free first down. I don't have a problem with the call, I would've done the exact same thing on 3rd and 2, play with 2 deep, 5 underneath.

Here's another play where Martin went full on potato....

It's 3rd and 17 3rd QTR.


We're going to try and get VD deep on a deep "smash" concept. It's not too dissimilar to what Pitt ran on us on the previous play I showed. Mixed with a "levels" concept. We're trying to get VD over the corner on the short side of the field.


The underneath defender locks on to Davis and the corner onto T. Smith. I've highlighted the area we're trying to hit.


You see the corner jump T. Smith's route. With the safety having to play mid because of the coming underneath routes, we have the possibility to take a shot to Davis - might work, might not. But, I like the concept.


Pitt comes with a strong side blitz and pulls a stunt up the middle.


Martin and Boone take the 1 Tech and Devey take #95. I think Martin was supposed to stay middle and let Boone take the DT alone.


Because Martin helped on the DT and a wide rush by #95, you see a gaping hole open up for the end looping around. Staley is trying to push his man upfield, but CK doesn't have anywhere to step up.


CK is effed...the next event will be censored for those who are squeamish to seeing CK sacked...


After the play, Staley had just motioned at Martin, then both Boone and Devey point him out. Martin was obviously wrong about his protection on this play....when you have 3 members of the O-line pointing at you after a sack....yeah....
Full....on...Potato...

Originally posted by SoCold:
Notice how Bowman is worthless on that play just sitting there in the middle of the field with no one around him. If he's blitzing and gets through the line that's a game changer.

Thanks for pointing that out. jonnydel, I'm going to break this play down as how I saw it. Hope you don't mind because there are a couple talking points here, one of which is what SoCold mentioned - worthless defenders covering grass. This is why spot dropping zone is inferior to pattern matching. Here are the strengths to Pattern Matching as listed in the Coverages and Concepts thread:
Strengths:
- Tighter windows to throw into
- Defenders are less likely to cover grass as the coverage morphs to man coverage
- Ability to play split coverages to confuse the QB
- Can be incorporated into any cover shell (Cover 1/2/3/4)

I know I am debating with no one here and am just talking to myself, but for Mangini to stop pattern matching as a team concept is a travesty. It takes a lot of reps , film time, and learning to achieve this on a team wide scale. To stop doing it is a huge mistake imo. There are DCs that would kill to have a sound pattern match scheme in place. But they won't do it because they either can't teach it, or their players aren't smart enough. Reid and Bethea are smart enough and the 2014 film is proof. Bow and Wilhoite fully grasped the concepts.

Here's the last big play that we gave up - this time it's just piss poor play... 3rd and 3 8:48 4th qtr. I don't think this was the actual playcall from Pitt, it was the result of how they play a defensive off-sides.


We're running a cover 3 zone and we're sending Dial on a contain rush. Note, Brooks jumped off-side.


Brock doesn't show a lot of urgency coming off the ball. Brown was looking in at the snap and saw Brooks jump off-side. I think Pitt is doing what GB often does in these situations. If a receiver see's that a defender jumps off-side, they'll change whatever route they're running to a "go" route and they'll take a shot. Why not? Free play. So, you have to keep playing. You see Brooks just stand back, like, "man, I got caught" You have to still freaking play!!!!


So, Brock's lazy jump off the ball let's Brown run free, either he should have jammed him up(or held..really...they already had a first down as a result of a penalty...EFF!!) Or he should have bailed out much sooner. He doesn't have the speed to keep up with Brown... You see how Acker is giving respect to his receiver in his zone...


Brown has already gained 4 yards on Brock from the snap. Brock was lined up at the 28, Brown just ahead of the 25, by the 39 Brown is already behind Brock.


AAAnd he's pulled away.


Then, Brock has a hard time locating the ball...aaaand loses more ground.


son of a......

Look forward to this thread each week. Flat out impressed at the knowledge and film study. The game within the game can make a persons head spin.

Poor safety help