Week 1 2016 Rams Game coaches film analysis

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by theninermaniac:
Would love to get a breakdown on Kerley's game Monday night. He seems to be a great fit for Kelly's spread attack, and he made a bunch of great plays throughout the game. He also seemed to have a couple of communication breakdowns with Gabbert that could have resulted in INTs. I guess it is to be expected with the limited amount of reps he's had with Gabbert. How in the world does he end up with 11 targets? Were we drawing up plays for him specifically, or was he the only one getting open? And where in the world did the $10M man Torrey Smith disappear to? All I remember from him is the two dirt ball screen passes going his way.

Is Kerley the best receiving threat on the Niners moving forward? It seems after game 1 that he will be the most potent WR threat on the team.

There were definitely plays designed to go to Kerley. The 4th down catch he made, he was the primary option on that side of the field. They ran 2 middle screens for Kerley that were not well blocked. Gabbert seems to look to him. I think this could be a testament to the role that Ellington was supposed to have in this offense. Imagine practicing in OTAs/TC with Ellington being featured, then he gets IR'ed right before the season starts and Kerley steps in. All throughout summer Gabbert was throwing to Ellington on these plays. So now the plays didn't change, but the player did. Hard to say who was at fault for the communication breakdowns.

No idea what's up with Torrey. He had what, two downfield targets (caught one, no chance on the other) and two WR screens behind the LoS? The staff needs to find a way for Gabbert to find Torrey. He needs to be a threat or else defenses will start to creep forward.

Torrey did also have the drop on a crossing pattern in the red zone too, so 5 total targets. To me, in 35 passes he should have at least 8-9. But, coverage also dictates where the ball goes, like TO catching 20 balls on Jerry Rice day...

If there is one thing Gabbert doesn't do, is force feed the ball. I definitely noticed that Gabbert uses his eyes well to look off defenders and go through his progression. I think his misfires are because he lacks confidence in his arm (or sometimes receivers). I also think that will change as he gets to work in a clean pocket for the first time in his career. His confidence will build behind a good Oline, and his trust in his receivers will grow. I see a lot of similarities between Gabbert and our old pal Alex Smith. The both are intelligent and mobile QBs with decent enough arm talent. And they both got the crap kicked out of them early in their career with horrible supporting casts. And just like Alex, if we can give Gabbert good protection with a sound game plan, he can execute and win some games for us.

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
It's a situation where he has to trust what his eyes have done, move the safety. With the safety moved, he doesn't have to laser it in. He overthrows because he's trying to get it over the lb and rushed everything.

This is a big boy throw, one where if you put some touch on it, you'll look next level good.

The pass almost looks like it's behind the WR - as if the timing was off? Thoughts.

It's possible that Gabbert expected Kerley's route to be slightly more vertical, which would have made it a lot closer to a completion (it being over and behind Kerley)

Rams just seem like they do a spot zone where each players is simply responsible for a designated area, sort of similar to what Mangini started out with us last season.

What does CAR like to do?

Originally posted by D0PEMAN:
Damn that should've been 6

that was a good everything play

he did everything well except the throw

Watching that game we had a LOT of time to throw and still were the 2nd worst in ypa in the entire NFL. Think about that for a minute.

Originally posted by Joecool:
Rams just seem like they do a spot zone where each players is simply responsible for a designated area, sort of similar to what Mangini started out with us last season.

What does CAR like to do?

they play zone most of the time

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by SmokeCrabtrees:

Originally posted by thl408:

I think that does it. Let me know if there's a certain play you'd like to see cut up. Fun looking at a 49ers win. Let's hope there's more of it. Defense was awesome this game regardless of the lowly Rams offense is. So many Ram '3 and outs'. That was a dominating defensive performance.

Thx for your service kind sir. Btw did we count how many bad throws Gabbert had and at what time it was his last.

Also, do you think he's at his peak in this system and himself?

To me, there's no way a QB that is 26 years old is peaking at anything except maybe his 40 time and benchpress. I still view him as a young QB and this will be his first time starting since 2013. We should look for improvement as the season goes along. See if he can get rid of bad habits and if the game seems to slow down for him. He has a good OL. Good enough for us to realistically demand functional, consistent QB play. His WR weapons aren't good, but still, the OL seems to be there and he has a good RB so he should be able to make it work.

I pointed it out in another thread in it kind of got lost in the shuffle but it is really worth noting this is a guy who the Jags let get murdered on the regular. Defenses pinned their ears back and attacked like rabid dogs on every drop back and we didn't do any favors for him last year either. If his accuracy problem indeed comes from rushing his process and we continue to protect well this year, he might just get a little more faith in his protection and that alone could take a few of those gutterballs and flyaways out of the equation.

I agree with y'all. But I asked my two questions as far as the last throw that was bad and at what point in the game. I think how he finished in the 4th was huge for his confidence. He let it all hang out type of deal, started trusting himself that he can do it.

Originally posted by harryj:

Originally posted by Joecool:
Rams just seem like they do a spot zone where each players is simply responsible for a designated area, sort of similar to what Mangini started out with us last season.

What does CAR like to do?

they play zone most of the time

Oh man, if our OL can hold strong, Gabbert will pick them apart.

Originally posted by SoCold:
Why are you making excuses for him dirt balling it?

He shouldn't have even thrown to that side. He's on the left hash and has a quicker shorter throw to the left to the wife open WR. Plus the defender on that side bites on the RB.

Play Call might have dictated where he was going with the ball.

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by Luckycharms:

Thank you JD and THL for all your time making this thread. I can't say enough about how much I enjoy it. THL can you post a GIf of the supposed missed TD pass to Kerley early in the game, I think he was running a deep cross or post and Gabbert just put too much on it. I know Steve young mentioned it should of been a TD but I was curious what the coverage was and if it was just a terrible throw or maybe Kerley ran his route to shallow, just curious as to how 'open' Kerley actually was. Thank you guys again!

To Gabbert's left is Patton and Kerley running a Double Post concept. When the boundary safety (safety on short side) sees Torrey down the sideline, he moves over to cover Torrey. That exposes the seam down the middle of the field.
vs Cover2 Zone




Good job by Gabbert to move that safety by looking at Torrey first. But no need to rush this throw. Clean pocket. Large window to complete the pass.

It's a situation where he has to trust what his eyes have done, move the safety. With the safety moved, he doesn't have to laser it in. He overthrows because he's trying to get it over the lb and rushed everything.

This is a big boy throw, one where if you put some touch on it, you'll look next level good.

I know this video has made the rounds....but at the 9:40 mark or so, Chip describes this exact play.

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by SoCold:

Why are you making excuses for him dirt balling it?

He shouldn't have even thrown to that side. He's on the left hash and has a quicker shorter throw to the left to the wife open WR. Plus the defender on that side bites on the RB.

Play Call might have dictated where he was going with the ball.

Please see post #220

Originally posted by thl408:
The ensuing drive after Bow's INT. The 49ers are driving and face a 4th & 6. Chip said it was an easy decision to go for it in the postgame chat.

49ers stack their WRs and see that the Rams also stack/bunch their CBs. This shows man coverage.
vs Cover 1


It's important that Kerley stems his route outside to get the CB turned towards/facing the sidelines.


Kerley cuts back to the inside shoulder of the CB and wins inside positioning. Gabbert is mid windup.


Pass is well placed to the inside of Kerley. +18

Kerley have to slow down or is it just me?

Originally posted by defenderDX:
Kerley have to slow down or is it just me?

It looked like Kerley rounded his cut. Would have been a huge gain if he got a sharper cut to the inside which was where Gabbert threw it. Look at all that space.

Originally posted by Joecool:

Originally posted by defenderDX:
Kerley have to slow down or is it just me?

It looked like Kerley rounded his cut. Would have been a huge gain if he got a sharper cut to the inside which was where Gabbert threw it. Look at all that space.

He rounds it, but still looks to me like he slows down to adjust to Gabbert's pass. and we all know how awful Gabbert's ball-location is.

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by Joecool:

Originally posted by defenderDX:
Kerley have to slow down or is it just me?

It looked like Kerley rounded his cut. Would have been a huge gain if he got a sharper cut to the inside which was where Gabbert threw it. Look at all that space.

He rounds it, but still looks to me like he slows down to adjust to Gabbert's pass. and we all know how awful Gabbert's ball-location is.

Yeah Kerley was like, ok so where are you going to throw it ?