San Diego Chargers coaches film analysis

Offensively, it was a tale of two halves, which is status quo for this season's 49ers. ADavis was a huge boost to the run game as the 49ers went back to what they like to do - pull Iupati to run to the right side of the formation. Gore was amazing and if that was his last big performance as a 49er, it was a good way to go out. Kap was also a lot more decisive with his scrambles and that's how the 90 yard TD run was possible. Kap was simply faster than the SD LBs and even though they were in zone to keep their eyes on Kap. He still eluded them for some nice chunk scrambles. Once SD made an effort to gang up on the run, there were some playaction pass opportunities that the 49ers were not able to take advantage of in the 2nd half. SD's strip sack for a fumble recovery TD was an example of why the 49ers will often wuss out and run the ball when faced with 3rd and long (and the 'Zone becomes furious). It was 3rd & 20 and the 49ers tried to convert. The result was no one was open deep downfield, Kap held the ball too long - defensive TD. SD came with mostly zone coverage, but mixed in man coverage as well - mostly in the 2nd half.

Defensively the 49ers just couldn't get much pressure on Rivers. He made some poor throws in the 1st half that killed their own drives. In the 2nd half the 49ers dialed up some blitzes, but they did a very poor job of disguising their blitzes. Often times, Rivers gave a hard count and the 49er blitzers revealed their hand. Rivers makes a protection adjustment and the blitz is picked up. Rivers did a good job getting rid of the ball to prevent the 49ers from having enough time to apply pressure with a 4 man rush. Antonio Gates is slick at pushing off to create separation downfield. On the game tying TD drive, there were three key plays that would have won the game for the 49ers, but it went SD's way. One was the Skuta strip sack where SD recovered the fumble. The two others were 4th down and long conversions where Rivers made some excellent throws.

All in all another creative way to lose a game. Every 49er turnover was a game changer. The Miller fumble inside the 10 yard line as they were smoothly moving down the field getting ready to score, the Kap fumble for a SD defensive TD, and the Patton fumble in OT. Even though they raced up 300+ yards rushing, those turnovers were the downfall.

Only two more film analysis sessions of this HaRo offense. Sad that the next game will probably be Harbaugh's last, but I'm eager to see what the next HC has in store for this offense. Since the games mean nothing and the offensive coaching staff is lame duck status, it's tough to get up to provide content, but there are a handful of plays worth mentioning. Cut ups to follow.

First offensive play of the game.
1Q 1st & 10
49ers try to get a horizontal stretch at the LB level by flooding the strongside Flat and Hook zones.
SD: cover3


Miller's route takes the curl/flat defender (blue) to the flats. Boldin and VD will horizontally stretch orange. Kap is mid windup targeting Boldin.


+11 yards

ADavis' run blocking is in another world compared to JMart's run blocking. The 49ers ripped off several nice runs to the right side of the formation and ADavis played a role in that all night.

1Q 1st & 10
49ers: Power right


Key blocks by VD, ADavis, Miller, Boldin, and Iupati.


+52 yards

This must be in the first half, because the Charges defense seemed to bit much more into our run game leaving about 3 guys open on that play -- Miller, Boldin, and VD in the middle

2Q 1st & Goal
49ers try to outflank the edge by putting Ellington into jet sweep motion. Ellington starts off wide right.
SD: looks like cover3


Ball is snapped just as Eillington is about to pass by Kap.


Playaction to suck in the zone defenders on the left side of the field. Blue is the curl/flat defender, it's okay if he bites on the playfake. Orange is the deep zone (relatively speaking) and cannot bite on the play fake.


Orange bites on the play fake. Blue passes off coverage over to orange in order to keep tabs on Kap in case Kap scrambles.


Eillington outflanks orange and it's pitch and catch.

Ellington did his best impression of Moran Norris on that play... backpedalling trying to catch the ball

While I love yours (and jonnydels) threads, I am so done with any type of analysis or breakdowns about this offense.

Can't wait for next season's breakdowns though!

Can someone post the 3rd down play before San Diego's final drive??

Kaep vows to be better next year, so please, somehow send him the play and let him start with learning NOT to run out of bounce when we are trying to run out the clock..

This is one of the reason why I stated that Harbaugh had babied this Miami Dolphin Fan QB of ours... Instead of chewing Kaep's air minded mis-managing time, he continues to just looked passed him..

Please also tweet Kaep the fact that if he can not run for a first down, that he should STAY IN BOUND!!! damnnnn...

This is the Bethea pick 6.
2Q 3rd & 4
49ers: cover1 robber
SD: Follow concept. The red route is a clearing route that tries to remove Bethea from the area. The orange route (AGates) will work the vacated area.


As red starts his drag route, Bethea will give the 'Under' call and pass coverage off to Wilhoite.


Wilhoite is alert and properly walls off (get in the way of) red. Rivers, with no pressure in his face, throws to orange as Bethea steps in front for the INT.


Poor read by Rivers. 49 yard return.

This is on the final drive of the 1st half that resulted in the Ellington 1 yard TD run.

2Q 3rd & 2
49es: Spot concept
SD: cover3


After playaction to try to suck in the strongside curl/flat defender (defender near Miller), Kap rolls right. Kap looks up and sees blue in position to defeat VD's corner route. The strongside curl/flat defender latches on and holds Miller, preventing the release into his route. Boldin has curled his route.


As Kap rolls right, the strongside hook/curl defender starts to mirror Kap, which opens up Boldin. Kap is mid windup targeting Boldin.


+11 yards


Just wanted to show that Kap usually makes the correct decision on this concept and that is why the first play versus OAK was so stupid.

thl408 great work!

Could you focus in on the 4th Quarter? This is where games are won and lost. Teams make 2nd Half/4th Quarter adjustments.

The Ellington TD run.

2Q 3rd & Goal
Ellington on a jet sweep right. Blue is unblocked and will miss the tackle on Ellington.


Orange comes in and gets dinged in the head. He will remain down after the play.

Originally posted by 5thdown:
thl408 great work!

Could you focus in on the 4th Quarter? This is where games are won and lost. Teams make 2nd Half/4th Quarter adjustments.

Sure thing. Notice I just flew by the 1st half and skipped over a lot of nice runs from Gore that I would usually point out. I'll continue tonight.

Just one play from the 2nd half before I stop for a bit.

After a 3 and out by the SD offense. The 49ers get the ball.

1st & 10 - Gore run for +1.


3Q 2nd & 9
With the 49ers running game humming along from 1st half success, the 49ers look to get a chunk play by using playaction. Two man route.
SD: cover 1 man with 5 man pressure (I think)


After playaction and completing his dropback, Kap looks up to see this. Miller whiffs on blitz pickup and there is a free rusher on Kap up the middle.


Once the CB on Patton is seen playing over the top and bailing, that should immediately tell Kap to red light Patton. Had Kap quickly red lighted Patton, he could have seen Boldin running open. The free rusher forces Kap to roll out and throw the ball away. The pressure was probably too quick and I'm too harsh. Or perhaps Kap could have taken a hit to make a play. Either way, wasted chance at a chunk play because Miller can't pick up the blitz.


The drive would result in a failed 4th & 2 attempt.

Originally posted by 9moon:

Can someone post the 3rd down play before San Diego's final drive??

Kaep vows to be better next year, so please, somehow send him the play and let him start with learning NOT to run out of bounce when we are trying to run out the clock..

This is one of the reason why I stated that Harbaugh had babied this Miami Dolphin Fan QB of ours... Instead of chewing Kaep's air minded mis-managing time, he continues to just looked passed him..

Please also tweet Kaep the fact that if he can not run for a first down, that he should STAY IN BOUND!!! damnnnn...

Seriously, that's all you want to point out? A play that should have never even been called.