week 13 Chicago Bears coaches film analysis

Here's the sack to end the second drive for the 49ers - also a 3 & out.

3rd & 7
Shallow Cross over the middle with a Post-Corner double move from Torrey.
versus Cover6. (I miss watching these split coverages)


Gabbert takes the snap and looks to Torrey on the double move. In this picrure, Torrey is breaking towards the Post. The CB is playing soft over the top and also has a cover2 safety to help. Can't see it, but Staley is getting beat and pressure is coming on Gabbert.




Not a very good playcall against this coverage. No way Torrey is open with the CB playing soft and having safety help. The Dig from Patton might have a chance, but it's a very tough throw with the LBs underneath. Also, because Vance stays in to block, that frees up the Quarters safety to help on Patton and attack downhill if Patton was targeted. Punt.

After a third consecutive drive that went 3 & out, with help from a Pears holding call, CHI gets the ball back.

Bow makes the defense aware that a possible screen is coming.


Ward keys Jeffrey and starts breaking on the throw before he even looks at Cutler.


Because Ward got such a good jump on the play, he beats the block of number 11, the WR that is supposed to block Ward.


Good good good, very good very good very good. (reference to Kuechly pick6 call)
Notice Bow making the 'screen' gesture to each side of the formation. Listen to Bow's mic'ed video up to hear it.

CHI's next possession after Ward's pick6.

Inside zone. Hodges with an A gap blitz.


The center snaps the ball and sees Hodges coming right at him.


Hodges plants, cuts, and shoots the gap. The Center isn't agile enough to react to the Hodges' cut.


-2 yards

With help from a 31 yard catch by AJeffrey, CHI is in the red zone.
2Q 1st & 10
49ers are in nickel. AA and Dial are the two DTs.
Read Option (inside zone)


At the snap, both DT's step to their right. AA takes on two blockers. Lemon is unblocked, but should crash down because Cutler shouldn't be a threat to keep.


Hodges does attack downfield and will wait for the LG to move to the second level. Bow has moved to his left and a lane has opened up to the strongside A gap.


For some reason AA dips down (hold?) and that allows Fotre to run through. Hodges still has a chance to attack the LG and compress the lane.


Hodges sidesteps to the outside, making things worse.


+14 yards. Can't tell what the run fits are here. Just know that AA, Bow, Dial, and Hodges didn't get it done. Forte would score on a 5 yard run on the next play.

Thanks for the time spent on this, guys.

thanks jd and thl.

Originally posted by thl408:
Opening drive, 2nd down play.

red + yellow = Curl-flat concept
orange + green = Shallow Cross
This is a 5 step rhythm throw and it's up to Gabbert to make the proper pre-snap read.
I've seen this coverage call many times when Fangio was with the 49ers. It's some sort of Cover1 pattern match. The backside CB is locked in man to man (vs Torrey, purple). The rest of the field pattern matches.
Gabbert completes his drop and looks to the Shallow Cross. Looks like a soft zone. So the Curl over the middle (orange) should find a soft spot somewhere, but notice how condensed the middle is with three defenders in the center, defending the shallow cross concept.


Gabbert hitches twice and targets the Curl of the curl-flat concept. This is the wrong read and the window has closed already.

Looked like he was looking in the middle a bit longer to see if the underneath would get open. Went to Boldin too late and he could have still had him if he throw it to Boldin's knees. Would have made for a 3rd and 5 or 4.

Originally posted by thl408:
With help from a 31 yard catch by AJeffrey, CHI is in the red zone.
2Q 1st & 10
49ers are in nickel. AA and Dial are the two DTs.
Read Option (inside zone)


At the snap, both DT's step to their right. AA takes on two blockers. Lemon is unblocked, but should crash down because Cutler shouldn't be a threat to keep.


Hodges does attack downfield and will wait for the LG to move to the second level. Bow has moved to his left and a lane has opened up to the strongside A gap.


For some reason AA dips down (hold?) and that allows Fotre to run through. Hodges still has a chance to attack the LG and compress the lane.


Hodges sidesteps to the outside, making things worse.


+14 yards. Can't tell what the run fits are here. Just know that AA, Bow, Dial, and Hodges didn't get it done. Forte would score on a 5 yard run on the next play.

Its frustrating to see how easily plays like that could have been shutdown if only one guy takes a step to the inside, if Armstead keeps moving inwards rather than dipping his body, if Bowman doesn't get caught up in the trash, if Hodges moves inwards a second or two sooner before the OL blocks him off.

Always good.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by thl408:
With help from a 31 yard catch by AJeffrey, CHI is in the red zone.
2Q 1st & 10
49ers are in nickel. AA and Dial are the two DTs.
Read Option (inside zone)


+14 yards. Can't tell what the run fits are here. Just know that AA, Bow, Dial, and Hodges didn't get it done. Forte would score on a 5 yard run on the next play.

Its frustrating to see how easily plays like that could have been shutdown if only one guy takes a step to the inside, if Armstead keeps moving inwards rather than dipping his body, if Bowman doesn't get caught up in the trash, if Hodges moves inwards a second or two sooner before the OL blocks him off.

Looking at #92, him and Armstead shuffled two steps to the write in sync. Bowman correctly filled to the left. It was #51 who was shy filling his hole between 91 and 92. Not sure why he paused for the read option as Lemonior already froze for the QB. 92 also allowed his double-teamer to slip upfield. 91 was the only one who held his double block.

After CHI scores, the 49ers get the ball back for their 4th drive of the game. After three consecutive '3 & outs', what would be the logical thing to expect on this 4th offensive drive. How about a 16 play TD drive. Some plays from that drive.

2nd & 9
Spot concept (red + yellow + orange) vs Cover1 blitz


Gabbert completes the dropback and looks to the Spot concept. The progression on Spot will vary depending on the playbook. Most have the Corner route being first. Vance has outside positioning on the LB and is about to break to the sideline. From this angle it looks like Vance is possibly open.


But the blue CB is gaining depth and is taking away the Corner route.


So if that blue CB is taking away the Corner, then he isn't defending the Curl (vertical stretch).


+8 yard to Boldin on the Curl.

3rd & 1
49ers face a dreaded 3rd down. They have failed on 17 consecutive 3rd down tries.

FB Dive. Double team block the 1tech and the 3tech. Ram it into the bubble A gap (uncovered gap).


Double team blocks by Staley/Boone and Martin/Tiller.


The blue LB is very hesitant in filling.


+4 yards.


Pop the champagne.

Its been awhile since we've seen a fullback dive, wonder why?

3rd & 9
Texas concept vs Cover1 Robber
The right side is actually a blend of two concepts:
Fade-out = red + orange
Texas = orange + yellow
The boundary side safety should drop down to rob the middle, which should defeat the yellow route (Vance).


Gabbert completes his drop. By flaring out, Draughn removes a LB from the middle of the field. This is the importance of sending out 5 routes at the snap of the ball - no check release. Vance plants his foot in the dirt to angle back towards the inside. The robber (blue safety) should be coming downhill to protect the 1st down marker. Instead, he gains depth.


By gaining depth, the robber gives Vance room to work.


+12 yards. Maybe the robber was just playing his assignment, but he should be aware that it's 3rd & 9 and protect the first down marker.

Next play. With a fresh set of downs, the 49ers try to work off their tendency to run on 1st downs and try to go for a shot downfield on an Out-Up double move from Torrey.

49ers will pull Boone to help sell the playaction.


Torrey head fakes to the Out.


Torrey heads up field on the double move. With the CB playing soft over the top, Torrey's route is defeated. The underneath LBs gain enough depth to take away Boldin's intermediate crossing route. The more depth the LB gains, the more space Cadet has. Gabbert looks to rollout.


Very appropriate use of the check down.


A 'failed' play results in a good +6 yard gain to set up 2nd & 4.