Week 3 Seattle Seahawks coaches film analysis

Here's the Baldwin one handed catch on a critical 3rd down. Play didn't really matter since there was a defensive holding call on Ward that would have given SEA a first down anyway. But the play itself indicates just how much confusion and how incohesive the defense is.

The ball was just snapped in this pic and everything looks fine in this still shot. 49ers will send 5 rushers. When blitzing, and there are 5 routes going out, it is a common rule to have each route accounted for if playing man, or if playing zone to have sufficient coverage across the field.


Hodges is playing zone in the middle of the field. Bethea moves over to cover the #3 WR. The #1 is all by himself! Luckily, Brooks came off the edge unblocked and forces RW to evade pressure.


But Bethea doesn't really move to the #3 and stays to double cover the #2, leaving the #3 uncovered! If this is Cover1, then Ward needs to have outside positioning. He doesn't and allows Baldwin to break outside (yellow).


Brooks whiffing on the sack. We've seen this before.


Look at all the confusion presnap on Bethea's side. By all means call a damn timeout. The offense doesn't use them so the defense should.

Originally posted by awp8912:

Originally posted by Afrikan:

I don't think Gabbert did anything in that game to lose the game for us but he didn't do anything to win it.. The INT he had wasn't his fault, the ball was right where the receiver would want it, Patton simply blew it. I really hated a number of the play calls. I think Modkins hit it right on the head in his presser when he said they have to give their guys a better plan and a better situation. There were a number of designed play calls that were just bad ideas. I don't care who would've been our QB in this game, I don't think we win. We could've had Steve Young under center and I don't think we win this game.




didn't do anything to lose the game? How about converting 1st downs? Helping our defense to rest, TO FEEL MOTIVATED TO STAY IN THE GAME. How about waiting for something else to be open than hitting the first short pass he feels comfortable with


of course you don't care who could've been the QB this game. The point is, we don't know what could've happened. BUT what we do know, is Gabbert continues to play as the worse Starting QB in the League.

I got to get back to work.. I'll edit it this later....

I called it last week. Again taking it easy on the current QB, who has a better Oline and Chip Kelly running the offense but struggling worse than Kap last season with Tomsula and Pears blocking for him and while injured.

Kap at home vs Seattle had only 8 1st downs and the team was 1 for 11 on 3rd down. And that 1 conversion was in the 3rd quarter.

O'Neil might be the worst DC we've had going back to the 70's.

I really don't understand why when rushing Wilson defenders don't cut off the outside escape. I'd rather force him to step up into a sea of bodies than have him break outside toward the sideline where he has time and space to wait for a breakdown in coverage.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

I really don't understand why when rushing Wilson defenders don't cut off the outside escape. I'd rather force him to step up into a sea of bodies than have him break outside toward the sideline where he has time and space to wait for a breakdown in coverage.

Been wondering this for 3 years. Just pass rush 2-3 yards behind him, and make him step up. How many times did Wilson just clown Aldon Smith with his reverse roll-out.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

I really don't understand why when rushing Wilson defenders don't cut off the outside escape. I'd rather force him to step up into a sea of bodies than have him break outside toward the sideline where he has time and space to wait for a breakdown in coverage.

Exactly what I just thought of. Effing DE contain,force him to step up and perhaps someone else comes off his man and gets him.

Here's the play right after the 59 yard pass to Baldwin - JoN is going to try and create pressure after giving up the bomb.


Here, we're going to try and bring some pressure while defending the short pass. The thing is, you have to get home or you expose yourself to bigger plays downfield with this strategy. We get out-called and out-played. We bring a slot blitz while dropping into a cover 2 zone blitz. 2 deep with 4 underneath zones. We're expecting a shorter play. Seattle runs a "divide" concept against us that breaks down.


At the snap we have good coverage and our guys are looking for shorter routes.


Brock and Reaser are dropping into "soft" flat zones. You see this as brock is passing off the vertical route to Bethea. Harold gets around the LT on a speed rush but there's zero push from the 3 inside guys...I mean none. That's the worst O-line and we have zero push from 3 guys....


Reid see's Graham crossing the field but expects Hodges to drop back in coverage. WIth Bethea pulled wide by the vertical outside route it's going to open up an area.


Once Wilson breaks contain both Hodges and Brock drive on him - this vacates those zones and leaves Graham wide open.


Reid was held over by the middle vertical route - why the divide concept works against a 2 deep zone. Hodges vacating his zone leaves Graham wide open. Bow see's it but there's no way he's gonna get there in time.


TD seahawks.

Y'all can try and lay these things at the feet of our offense, but there's no way our offense is at fault for giving up a 59 yard pass on 3rd and 14 and then this right afterwards..... This put Seattle up 21-3.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

I really don't understand why when rushing Wilson defenders don't cut off the outside escape. I'd rather force him to step up into a sea of bodies than have him break outside toward the sideline where he has time and space to wait for a breakdown in coverage.

Let that midget step up and try seeing over dlinemen

On SEA's second drive of the game, they overcame 2 offensive holding calls and a false start to score a TD. This is the 3rd & 14 conversion.

I think the 49ers are in Cover6. Reid is the Cover2 safety. The player to watch is Bow.


Bow gives a shove to re-route Graham.


Then Bow takes a zone drop as he allows Graham to go by without carrying him up the seam.


Huge hole in the middle of the field with Reid taking his Cover2 depth. Ward has turned to run with his WR in man coverage.


Graham cannot be allowed to run free like that. Bow has to either carry him up the seam or Reid can't be in Cover2 so that he can provide over the top help once Bow re-routes Graham. jonnydel cut up a play in the CAR game that showed how much depth Reid was playing with. I have a feeling he is being coached to do this. When it's a hole this huge, it's hard to tell what is supposed to happen.

Originally posted by thl408:
On SEA's second drive of the game, they overcame 2 offensive holding calls and a false start to score a TD. This is the 3rd & 14 conversion.

I think the 49ers are in Cover6. Reid is the Cover2 safety. The player to watch is Bow.


Bow gives a shove to re-route Graham.


Then Bow takes a zone drop as he allows Graham to go by without carrying him up the seam.


Huge hole in the middle of the field with Reid taking his Cover2 depth. Ward has turned to run with his WR in man coverage.


Graham cannot be allowed to run free like that. Bow has to either carry him up the seam or Reid can't be in Cover2 so that he can provide over the top help once Bow re-routes Graham. jonnydel cut up a play in the CAR game that showed how much depth Reid was playing with. I have a feeling he is being coached to do this. When it's a hole this huge, it's hard to tell what is supposed to happen.

I saw super deep safeties a number of times - I really don't like it. I know they're trying to protect the deep ball sometimes, but Reid's way too deep to make a play on the ball.

Originally posted by Niners816:

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Good stuff JD...that was my exact feelings during the game and good to see my eyes didn't fail me on my concerns of design. I watched a lot of football this week and I have real concerns about the scheme and game plans and even, personnel choices (at times). It's no secret we don't have all-world talent but there is a lot a HC/OC/DC can do to put his players in positions to succeed via scheme. The bottom line is I felt we were massively outschemed and outcoached and I was happy to here Modkins at least recognize it. That said, both Kelly and Gabbert talked about having better first down production coming into the Seattle game and I didn't seen any changes there so...until I see it...I'll remain skeptical.

John Lynch talked about it during the broadcast and I've seen it in all the film, Kelly doesn't have a ton of volume to what he does so there's not a ton of complexity to his passing game. It's not that the plays themselves aren't complex, it's that his lower volume makes it easier to sniff out if you have enough diagnose time pre-snap. I think Kelly is trying to help his defense out with tempo, but it's coming at the expense of his offense. His offense only works if you have a high enough tempo to keep the defense from recognizing things pre-snap. So, right now we're in an unhappy medium. IMO. Either you'd have to have more levels to what you do(impossible at this point in the season) or increase the tempo. To me, why not?? You're already giving up tons of points already, ramp it up and maybe you'll be able to keep the game closer....

His lack of formation usage and the slowing down of his tempo seem to be a mismatch. You can go fast with lack of forms and succeed, but if you are slowing it down you need more variety in formation usage to disguise concepts.

Good discussion.
IMO the quicker pace can take a bit of the edge off the opposing defense.
If Chip wants to protect the defense, then they need to get the run going and the tempo might aid in that effort.

Originally posted by jonnydel:
I saw super deep safeties a number of times - I really don't like it. I know they're trying to protect the deep ball sometimes, but Reid's way too deep to make a play on the ball.

That's just inexcusable. I don't know if it's Reid lining up improperly, or he's being coached to play that deep, but you have to know your opponent and situation. Graham makes a living attacking the seams, and with a 3rd and long situation, you know Seattle will look for a big target like him to convert. So frustrating.

Originally posted by jonnydel:
I saw super deep safeties a number of times - I really don't like it. I know they're trying to protect the deep ball sometimes, but Reid's way too deep to make a play on the ball.

I know you touched on this in the CAR game and I looked for it afterwards (CAR game). I saw on occasion the CBs get aggressive at the LoS, knowing they had deep safety help. I can understand this. But on this play Bow just gives him a shove and lets Graham go. Ward on the other hand is definitely aggressive at the LoS. Ward is properly using his safety help by trying his hardest to jam the WR,and if he gets beat, at least there's a safety back there. This has got to be some kind of mix up. Can't have a hole in coverage that large in the middle of the field.

Well, we need something positive. Here was a play that we were able to take advantage of Seattle's freaking same defense over and over....What's awesome is Thl said this play was coming in last week's thread.


This is just a vertical form of a trail concept. We're going to run a streak with a wheel route behind it. Flood concept out of a trail action.


You see the outside corner bailing on the streak. His hips open up inside, indicating zone coverage.


The strea takes the corner out and the wheel route is coming behind. You see the underneath defender sitting on the flat route. This shows good anticipation by Gabbert, he's throwing the ball before the route is open. He's anticipating, based off the coverage and read that it will be open.


When the pass is thrown both defenders start to collapse on Kerley. Gabbert has to put this pass over the underneath defender but get it there before the corner drives on it and not lead his receiver into the defender.


You can see the pass leads him more toward the sideline. I think kerley wasn't expecting the big hit as he was headed out of bounds. Just think of how much bigger the hit would've been had Gabbert led him downfield.....

Good play design and execution all around. Too bad we couldn't capitalize.

After this we have a run for 1 yard. Staley false start, 3 yard loss on another run and then we're facing 3rd and 17 against Seattle.... We run a designed crosser to Smith to try and gain yards and then miss a 54 yard FG....

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
I saw super deep safeties a number of times - I really don't like it. I know they're trying to protect the deep ball sometimes, but Reid's way too deep to make a play on the ball.

I know you touched on this in the CAR game and I looked for it afterwards (CAR game). I saw on occasion the CBs get aggressive at the LoS, knowing they had deep safety help. I can understand this. But on this play Bow just gives him a shove and lets Graham go. Ward on the other hand is definitely aggressive at the LoS. Ward is properly using his safety help by trying his hardest to jam the WR,and if he gets beat, at least there's a safety back there. This has got to be some kind of mix up. Can't have a hole in coverage that large in the middle of the field.

I know Bow was probably trying not to get an illegal contact penalty. But, to me, it seemed like we weren't prepared for Graham to run that route. We have that call, knowing full well Bow won't be able to jam him because of the rules and his zone assignment, yet we put the safety that far back and allow for such a large hole near one of Seattle's biggest playmakers??? I don't get it..... It was one of the play-calls I really didn't like in how we played it.