Originally posted by scooterhd:
We saw the Lions and Packers have success trying to widen the 49er defense. Toss plays, reverse plays were effective in the run game. The Packers and Lions both had incredible success running bubble screens but under utilized them. Packers got two easy 12 yard plays running a WR screen to Watson and a disguised wide RB screen to Wilson. Lions converted an early 3rd and 9 with a slot screen to ASB. They threw one to Gibbs right before the end of first half that he would have scored on but he slipped and caught the ball with one knee on the ground and ended up getting tackled at the 2.
Andy Reid is going to feel pretty good about replicating his game plan for the Ravens against the 49ers. Ravens and 49ers are both near the tops of the league in percent playing zone. The schemes are different, but some of the key personnel are very similar. Reid wants you out of shell coverages with deep safeties. He wants to create room in the middle of the field, and to force safeties into man coverage or single high so he can take deep shots. He wants width between the linebackers. Andy Reid comes out with script plays and on the first possession against the Ravens he throws a WR screen to Rice. Linebackers are way inside, safety is way deep and its 10 yard gain before Rice is touched. I think he throws 3 TE screens to Kelce in the first half. Expect to see more of that. Reid wants Warner and Greenlaw getting pulled to the flats. He wants Brown and Gibson having to crash down on the run or wide to attack screens. And thats when Scantling goes deep against man or single high or Pacheco gets a big hole up the middle.
So what does Wilks do? Well, Mahomes is too good against the blitz. Rushing 5 is usually not the best idea. Mahomes is also notoriously difficult to sack. Chiefs are routinely top 3 in sacks against. We are going to see more nickel packages that are soft against the run. More 4 man lane, contain style pass rushes. And hope that their run game doesnt kill us and that their receivers dont make the big play. Sit back and absorb. Not a strategy that I am particularly excited about, but its one we are well rehearsed at and that's worked against everyone except Lamar and Burrow. I think we can disguise better. Move Bosa around the line more. And I'd love to see some coverage 8 played when Gregory is in. Let him drop back into a shallow zone on Kelces side and play spy from there. If you cant set the edge or get pressure on the QB, might as well drop back and clog the zones.
Good stuff. Remember the KC game last season and how they looked so good attacking the edges in the run game? I can see more of that happening because it doesn't seem like the 49ers can adjust to it. KC would let Bosa fly upfield at the snap and he took himself out of the play - they were using the 49ers aggressiveness against them. While KC's run game isn't as good as DET's, it's still a good running game with a tough runner in Pacheco, and they seem more committed to it this season.
Defending Mahomes in the passing game is going to be a huge challenge. Reid is just as good, if not better than Kyle at attacking coverages. The gameplan against Mahomes is the gameplan versus all elite QBs, mix it up to make them think a bit, and hope they don't consistently execute. Blitz, drop 8, zone, man, fake pressure, everything. On key downs, bracket Kelce and make the WRs win. If Valdes Scantling and Toney beat the 49ers then tip your cap.
