Super Bowl preview: stats, matchups, and breakdowns

Originally posted by All22:

Originally posted by Kyzen:

Originally posted by thl408:

ah s**t

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes vs. Zone Coverage (regular season/playoffs) —

• QBR = 91.3
• Completion % = 74.4%
• Yards per attempt = 9.4
• TD/INT = 14/2#49ers played zone coverage on 64.2% of opponent dropbacks (2nd most in the NFL).

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) January 23, 2020

I wonder if Salah is going to mix in blitz packages since we haven't all season?

We blitzed the hell out of Wilson in the 4th. We blitzed Rodgers a fair amount from the slot

Yes, there were times we blitzed, so i didn't mean not at all, i just meant not very often. We can blitz all game long, but it wont matter if we can't keep Mahomes contained.
Keeping him contained is going to be paramount.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-excited-install-super-bowl-54-game-plan-practice-field

Fullback Kyle Juszczyk could barely wait to see what coach Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff had in mind, as the 49ers continue preparations to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami on Feb. 2.

"Man, I got so antsy," Juszczyk said on Thursday. "We had yesterday off, and I expected to come in here and hear all the good stuff they game-planned for us.

"It really was like Christmas coming in today -- fresh packet, all sorts of new, fun stuff that Kyle has for us. Excited to go out there and start working on it."

Running back Raheem Mostert, coming off a 220-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship, was also eager to see the plays translate from the iPad to the practice field.

"It's going to be really exciting to go out there today and run these plays," Mostert said. "It is mostly about what we do. We're not necessarily focused on how the Chiefs run their defense. It's more so about us. It's going to be real fun.

"We got some stuff I know that's going to be really fun. And I can't wait to go out there and run those plays. The anticipation and to see Kyle, I don't know if he's going to open up the playbook or not, but he's a genius at what he does. I know we're going to have plays that complement other plays."

The 49ers turned to their running game to seize control over the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay in the NFC playoffs. In those two games, the 49ers ran the ball on 89 of their 119 offensive plays.

But the 49ers' run game is unique. They don't just run the ball to run the ball. They have a wide array of running plays and blocking schemes that keep everything fresh and unpredictable.

"Certain defensive schemes are designed to take away a gap run," Juszczyk said. "Another one is designed to take away wide zone. But when you run the gap scheme, the wide zone, the misdirection, the inside zones, there aren't too many defensive schemes that are built to take away every single one of those.

Originally posted by SkyZer0:
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-excited-install-super-bowl-54-game-plan-practice-field

Fullback Kyle Juszczyk could barely wait to see what coach Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff had in mind, as the 49ers continue preparations to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami on Feb. 2.

"Man, I got so antsy," Juszczyk said on Thursday. "We had yesterday off, and I expected to come in here and hear all the good stuff they game-planned for us.

"It really was like Christmas coming in today -- fresh packet, all sorts of new, fun stuff that Kyle has for us. Excited to go out there and start working on it."

Running back Raheem Mostert, coming off a 220-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship, was also eager to see the plays translate from the iPad to the practice field.

"It's going to be really exciting to go out there today and run these plays," Mostert said. "It is mostly about what we do. We're not necessarily focused on how the Chiefs run their defense. It's more so about us. It's going to be real fun.

"We got some stuff I know that's going to be really fun. And I can't wait to go out there and run those plays. The anticipation and to see Kyle, I don't know if he's going to open up the playbook or not, but he's a genius at what he does. I know we're going to have plays that complement other plays."

The 49ers turned to their running game to seize control over the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay in the NFC playoffs. In those two games, the 49ers ran the ball on 89 of their 119 offensive plays.

But the 49ers' run game is unique. They don't just run the ball to run the ball. They have a wide array of running plays and blocking schemes that keep everything fresh and unpredictable.

"Certain defensive schemes are designed to take away a gap run," Juszczyk said. "Another one is designed to take away wide zone. But when you run the gap scheme, the wide zone, the misdirection, the inside zones, there aren't too many defensive schemes that are built to take away every single one of those.

Originally posted by Luckycharms:
Have you looked at this yet THL or JD? It seems chargers did well when playing zone

https://mobile.twitter.com/Scott_Geelan/status/1220466933889490944

Thanks got linking that. I just glanced through those two KCvLAC games myself and it was heavy Cover3 from LAC. They did mix in other coverages as well but I'd say 75% Cover3. I've been going on and on about Saleh having to mix it up, but if that's what works to take away the deep middle of the field, then do that.

It's funny because when Saleh took over and it was confirmed the SEA Cover3 scheme was going to be used, we discussed about how it was a simplistic scheme at its root, but it worked because of the personnel SEA had. If a defense has excellent talent that doesn't need to be schemed up, then using a thin playbook is fine. That's an execution defense - "This is what we do, try to beat us".

For 2017/18 the 49ers were heavy Cover3 but they didn't have the talent (pass rush) to use a thin playbook. This season, they bolstered their pass rush, tightened up the secondary, and added pages to their playbook. Cover 3 is a well balanced coverage, that's why defenses have based their entire philosophy around it. The 2019 49ers do have the talent to use a "simplistic" gameplan so that's now a viable option. I still think it's better to mix things up and give KC different looks to keep them off balanced, but if the film shows that a heavy dose of Cover3 can limit KC's explosives, and test their patience to dink and dunk down the field, then it's a gameplan Saleh could consider for the SB.

Originally posted by cortana49:

Originally posted by SkyZer0:
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-excited-install-super-bowl-54-game-plan-practice-field

Fullback Kyle Juszczyk could barely wait to see what coach Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff had in mind, as the 49ers continue preparations to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami on Feb. 2.

"Man, I got so antsy," Juszczyk said on Thursday. "We had yesterday off, and I expected to come in here and hear all the good stuff they game-planned for us.

"It really was like Christmas coming in today -- fresh packet, all sorts of new, fun stuff that Kyle has for us. Excited to go out there and start working on it."

Running back Raheem Mostert, coming off a 220-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship, was also eager to see the plays translate from the iPad to the practice field.

"It's going to be really exciting to go out there today and run these plays," Mostert said. "It is mostly about what we do. We're not necessarily focused on how the Chiefs run their defense. It's more so about us. It's going to be real fun.

"We got some stuff I know that's going to be really fun. And I can't wait to go out there and run those plays. The anticipation and to see Kyle, I don't know if he's going to open up the playbook or not, but he's a genius at what he does. I know we're going to have plays that complement other plays."

The 49ers turned to their running game to seize control over the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay in the NFC playoffs. In those two games, the 49ers ran the ball on 89 of their 119 offensive plays.

But the 49ers' run game is unique. They don't just run the ball to run the ball. They have a wide array of running plays and blocking schemes that keep everything fresh and unpredictable.

"Certain defensive schemes are designed to take away a gap run," Juszczyk said. "Another one is designed to take away wide zone. But when you run the gap scheme, the wide zone, the misdirection, the inside zones, there aren't too many defensive schemes that are built to take away every single one of those.

Originally posted by SkyZer0:
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-excited-install-super-bowl-54-game-plan-practice-field

I'm not sure which is the third base LB for the Chiefs - it's either Ragland or Neimann - but he's about to play the most snaps he's ever played in a game. I think 49ers keep them in base personnel and exploit the Chief LBs, in both run and pass. In 2019, KC only played 18% of their defensive snaps in base personnel (3 LBs on the field). That number will probably skyrocket in this SB.

KC didn't necessarily stop TEN run game. Gregg Cossell said TEN was still running well as most of Henry's yards were in the first half. It's just that they had to sort of ditch the run.

Originally posted by ExtraBroccoli:

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

The public is betting heavy KC

Instead of Vegas increasing the spread (to even out the beta) they lowered it . Making more people bet KC.

Vegas pretty much picked us to win .

This.

Vegas knows exactly what they're doing.

Vegas lost a good amount of dough on the NFC game, "we got decapitated ",maybe they are lookin to get that money back and then some. It's all strategery lol

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I am wondering how we stack up in terms of special teams. There are 3 phases to a football game. Just in case our offense wins their battle but the KC offense wins theirs, I would feel better if our special teams play could give us an edge.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by SkyZer0:
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-excited-install-super-bowl-54-game-plan-practice-field

I'm not sure which is the third base LB for the Chiefs - it's either Ragland or Neimann - but he's about to play the most snaps he's ever played in a game. I think 49ers keep them in base personnel and exploit the Chief LBs, in both run and pass. In 2019, KC only played 18% of their defensive snaps in base personnel (3 LBs on the field). That number will probably skyrocket in this SB.

Good point, make the KC defense play left handed. I like it!

Originally posted by 49erswin:

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I am wondering how we stack up in terms of special teams. There are 3 phases to a football game. Just in case our offense wins their battle but the KC offense wins theirs, I would feel better if our special teams play could give us an edge.

Maybe it was the wind at Levi's but it did seem especially the last two games that the opposing teams punt returners really struggled to catch Wishnowsky's punts. Could hopefully lead to a big turnover in our favor

Originally posted by thl408:

Greg Cossell was on local radio and mentioned TEN's gameplan vs KC. He thought TEN did a good job of limiting KC's explosives but that TEN's pass rush failed them. I'm watching the TEN/KC game and I see TEN doing what has been suggested in the SB preview thread, rush 3 and bring the 4th rusher late once the three force Mahomes from the pocket. That seemed to be TEN's plan on some plays. The problem for TEN was that the first three rushers were mostly ineffective, making the 4th guy not effective in pressuring Mahomes.

Here are two plays where it kinda worked even though the first three rushers weren't very good at getting pressure. The coverage was good and once Mahomes escaped the pocket, the 4th guy activated.

TEN in soft man coverage here. The cushion gives off a zone look, but they match up once the cushion is eaten up. imo this is the type of muddy presnap look that SF needs to use to cause Mahomes to hold on to the ball. Incomplete.


Cover 3 in the backend. Same thing here. Rush 3. Once Mahomes escapes, the 4th rusher activates. If SF uses this tactic on some downs, the key is having the three rushers be disruptive enough that the 4th rusher is able to activate sooner and the coverage won't have to hold up as long.

Do you think it would be a wise move to go away from what has worked so well for us and attack their offense rushing 3 and delaying the 4th rusher?

Originally posted by Kalen49ers:
Do you think it would be a wise move to go away from what has worked so well for us and attack their offense rushing 3 and delaying the 4th rusher?

Just speculation on my part, but I would think any defensive coordinator would want to mix it up and throw everything at the quarterback in the biggest and final game of the season. Mahomes does well against blitzing, but it would not surprise me to see any combination of 3, 4, or occasionally 5 or 6 rushers. Even if the wrinkles do not work any better, it forces them to think a little more and maybe force them out of their comfort zone.

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