Analysis from the Green Bay Packers coaches film

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
Here it is, I just finished going through the GB game. That was one heck of a game between two very talented teams that know each other well.
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Go Niners!

P.S. as usual, breakdowns to follow:

Pretty much like a division game playing four times in 2 years. Good take on Brooks. I did not notice his subpar play at all. Interesting that the 49ers this year played SEA (x2), WAS, IND, HOU and GB (x2). All are predominantly zone blocking run teams. There are only a handful of teams in the league that use zone blocking and the 49ers played five of them. When I noticed that I looked up the YPC for those games and the 49ers were not faring well. Rushing totals were fine, but YPC was a bit high. I'm glad Lacy was kept in check for the most part.

Crazy stat is Rodgers did not complete one pass in the entire 1st quarter. On many of those plays I thought they were coverage sacks as he did not even pull the trigger. I haven't watched the entire game on All22 yet, only the 49er offensive plays.

I agree the Packers were set out on shutting down VD and were going to live with Crabs 1 on 1. We know the stat line for Crabs. Very encouraging that teams can focus on shutting one guy down, then another will shine. As Kap establishes his arm as a weapon, teams will have to pick and choose whether to sit in zone coverage to keep their eyes on Kap, or man up and risk getting gashed for 15-30 yard scrambles.

And THAT is what fans of other teams have been missing all year when we complain about not having Crab. I remember having those arguments and peeps would be like "oh yeah, one guy is going to fix your entire passing game LOL".

Well, as a matter of fact...

It's not just Crab catching the ball. Its the THREAT of Crab that forces you to play honest. With no Crab and Vernon hurt, teams could just sit on the already speed challenged Boldin and Niners were toast.

With Crab, they have to play more honest. More importantly, when plays break down Kap and Crab already have a chemistry to find an open spot and make a "sandlot" play. Kap doesn't have that same chemistry with any other player on the team. Not even Vernon or Boldin. Thats also why Crab needs to be resigned. Soon.

It also goes beyond that even from a schematic standpoint. Generally teams want big, physical guys playing the "X" receiver role. Cause their going to usually be away from the TE they have to be able to win 1-1 matchups more often. We had to play Boldin in that role a lot, because if we didn't, the other guys couldn't get open without VD and even sometimes with him. Now, we're able to play Boldin OR Crabtree in the "X" or "Z" interchangeably. This means, they can't just say double "boldin" because he may be lined up as the Z and you're not going to be able to give both safety help and backout/TE coverage on that side.

We ran the exact same passing play, threw it to the slot receiver both times, and one time it was Crabs, the other it was Boldin. Because they're interchangeable now it makes it vastly difficult for the defense to identify who they are really trying to double.

Originally posted by Marvin49:
And THAT is what fans of other teams have been missing all year when we complain about not having Crab. I remember having those arguments and peeps would be like "oh yeah, one guy is going to fix your entire passing game LOL".

Well, as a matter of fact...

It's not just Crab catching the ball. Its the THREAT of Crab that forces you to play honest. With no Crab and Vernon hurt, teams could just sit on the already speed challenged Boldin and Niners were toast.

With Crab, they have to play more honest. More importantly, when plays break down Kap and Crab already have a chemistry to find an open spot and make a "sandlot" play. Kap doesn't have that same chemistry with any other player on the team. Not even Vernon or Boldin. Thats also why Crab needs to be resigned. Soon.

Hah! Forget fans of other teams, I think there were some of us that said "A gimpy Crabs is not going to fix this offense". Crabs is the best route runner on the team. I know Boldin is 'always open' because he has the strength, body control, and hands to make tough catches, but Crabs is a clear level above at this point in their respective careers. Crabs was one on one the majority of the time on Sunday and he racked up the yards and some RAC. Rarely did just one CB bring him down. Crabs route running plus Kap's trust in him (anticipation throws) is unstoppable in a one on one scenario. Plus, we don't even know if Crabs is 100% yet. My guess is he is not. Agreed on the bolded.

Originally posted by Adusoron:
Jonnydel, what did you think of Colin's progress in the pocket progressing through his reads in this playoff game? I listed to Greg Cosell's analysis with Tom Tolbert (interview yesterday evening on KNBR).

Cosell admitted he's perplexed by QBs like Newton and CK7 and not sure how to judge them as quarterbacks because they are clearly gifted runners who are unfinished passers. He believes (and I agree) and there has to be a balance in when you have your QB abandoning the pocket on a scramble and when you have the QB hang in there, shift/reset his feet, and make additional reads. He wasn't saying Colin or JH are wrong in how they approached the Green Bay game, but he implied that CK7 is still jumping to running/leaving the pocket too soon and not developing his read progression skills a la Brady/Brees/Manning pocket QB style.

Cosell also theorized that at some point, you face a defense competent at taking away the scrambling and read option lanes. (Carolina and Seattle are clearly two of those types of defenses and are likely the next two teams we play, assuming a win in CAR). He said he is concerned that when those defenses set up against a Newton or CK7's scrambling/RO tendency, without having developed read progression skills, the passing offense is in trouble.

We all saw what happened @SEA, IND, CAR, and @NO. In those four games, Colin was criticized soundly for playing poorly in the pocket, missing reads, abandoning the pocket too early, etc. And in all those games, we lost. (I realize there are many mitigating factors like Crabtree and Davis being injured, and the rest of the receiving corps being subpar or Roman having occasional brainfarts in his playcall and play design but my focus is on Colin.)

Based on what you've seen in the GB tape, and judging Cosells' comments above, are you concerned about CAR or SEA forcing Colin into being a strict pocket passer and have you seen enough progression in Colin's game that he can avoid repeating the four losses?

I started watching film after the Seattle game; since then, I've gone back and watched just about every game this year and every game since and a couple games from last season in the playoffs. Here's what I can say to this regard:

Last year in the playoffs, Colin wanted to see his receiver open against zone coverage before he threw it. He was very successful against zone coverages because the underneath defenders were usually pulled up by his running ability and he has a strong arm to drive the ball down the field. Against man coverage he was able to take off and run. Where he struggled was against a rush that collapsed the pocket and against exotic coverages.

What I've seen this year is an increasing ability to anticipate when a receiver will be open against zone coverages. He's also done a much better job of recognizing pre-snap, when a defense is going to be in either man or zone coverage(a lot like what I showed earlier). There has been times when there has been a receiver open when he's run, but there's also an element of what it does to a defense when he starts to run(I'll show later). I've seen him have the ability to get to his 3rd, 4th and 5th reads. When he struggles to go through his progression isn't that much different than other Qb's, it's when he's under pressure from the DL. His biggest strength is also his weakness, not his ability to run, but his absolute trust in his receivers. This has given some big plays, but also kept him from moving on from some of his progressions.

I think he views his running not as much as a "bailout" but as a read in itself. When he's reading the coverage I think there are times when he see's his lane as a runner as a better option than the receiver who's open. Sometimes he's trying to avoid the rush, other times I think it's truly the better option.

I have seen a lot of growth from him in his ability to read the defense and he now has a couple guys who he can look to who really can beat a 1-1 coverage.

If you're trying to evaluate them the same as a guy like Drew Brees, he's not there. Brees using the run as a bailout and a way to make something out of nothing. I think Kaep uses his running as another read in the passing game sometimes. If you try and evaluate them the same, you'll be perplexed because it seems like he's bailing out too soon, you always want the QB to find the open receiver as the best option. If you evaluate it as taking the best option out of the read of the defense, I think he's doing a pretty good job.

Not sure how clear that is or how much that helps. But that's my two cents.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Wait, Brooks had 2 sacks, 5 QB hits, 3rd in tackles and a forced fumble and he had a bad game b/c of containment? LOL.

On a serious note, you are right, containment is usually his best asset and s/b an anomaly. Great breakdown though.

Looking forward to your "how to beat Carolina" break down!

He's missed some tackles over the past few games, or overrun the play completely. I saw the same thing against Arizona, don't think it's a huge deal but he'll need to be on point against Carolina with Williams, Stewart and Tolbert back there.

You are probably right on that one...I'll admit I haven't honed in on him the past couple game but that is primarly b/c we use him differently in different games depending on who we play and how we need him. Often times he's in underneath coverage, playing DT and stunting, dropping back from the DL, setting the edge wide on a guy like Wilson and filtering him inside, rushing up field disciplined and then shedding T's for TFL or funneling the RB inside to the LB's and now I'm wondering if the game plan the past two weeks was to smack Palmer/Rodgers and focus less on the run as we played two bigger backs and we're not as concerned about them breaking off tackle for huge runs...they are bigger backs. Depending on your perspective, it didn't work in AZ but it did on Rodgers. He was pretty beat up that game and if he hadn't of made some magician-like plays (and refs), could have had 8+ sacks that game and I'd take that approach over focusing more on Lacy. Usually, Brooks can do everything very well no matter what the game plan is for him but I also don't want to minimize some missed plays and lack of discipline either.

Here's some examples of what I was talking about Kaep moving through his progressions and using the run as an option in the passing game and how it affects the D:



This is a "pick a side" read, Kaep see's the single high safety. This means either cover 3 zone or man cover-1.


Kaep motions Boldin inside to give Boldin and Crabs a man coverage beating "bunch" formation. He's going to watch the LB at the snap to read whether it's zone or man and pick the side for which the play is designed to beat.



He see's the zone coverage and goes through his progression on that side. You see the double on VD and the LB jumping down on Dixon in the flat. This opens up Frank over the middle. He did have Boldin open on the other side only because the D blew it's coverage. According to the progression read, Kaep does make the proper read.



You see how Frank was the right read on that side(he's really the checkdown) and Frank gets 11 yards on the play for a first down. This was on the last dive of the game btw.

This next play shows how Kaep can use his running as a better read in the progression.



here we run a very deep "flood" concept to the bottom of the screen. It's a hi/lo read with Boldin and McD and VD is the 3rd option.



You can see how McDonald and VD end up breaking free and Kaep has room to step up into the pocket.



You see how Kaep is stepping up and the receivers are open, but, he's got Frank as a lead blocker and a wide open side of the field.



Frank gets the lead block and you see how much room Kaep has to run free. Clearly the better option than throwing the ball to either of the open receivers. He gets over 40 yards on the run.

This next one is how his running forces the D to do different things. This play is before the play above, but after Kaep had run a couple times for first downs.



See how the D crowds the LOS, they are only going to bring 1 extra man on the rush but put 2 men in a "spy"/RB situation to keep Kaep contained.



Look how the LB's are looking for Kaep on the run leaving VD, Boldin and Crabs all in 1-1 situations.



This leaves a lot of room for Crabs to operate and Kaep hits Crabs for a first down.

here's what I was talking about Brooks not collapsing the edge like Aldon:



Here GB does the same thing to Brooks that I had showed they did to Aldon earlier. This widens Brooks, leaving a large area for a running lane.



Brooks does keep contain, but he isn't able to collapse the lane(normally they call Brooks "the accordion" because he collapses the edge like an accordion, he doesn't this time).


You see how Willis comes in with perfect form for pluggin the hole but brooks hasn't moved his man 1 inch which leaves a sizeable lane for Lacey run into.



Thanks to a great play by Willis Lacey only gets 4 yards. However, 4 yards on 1st down makes getting the 1st down much easier.

Originally posted by Disp:
Aldon really has become a great run defender. Here are the grades PFF gave the players for the game

Could you explain the grading system I don't know what I am seeing?

49ers shut down the GB offense in the 1st quarter. Here are some of the highlight plays from the 1st quarter that had Rodgers pressured and gun shy. It was obvious GB tried to establish the running attack to open the game.

The 1st drive consisted of 2 Lacy runs (1, 7) and a Kuhn run (fumble) on 3rd and 2. Failed conversion. Punt.

The 2nd drive:
- Lacy 1 yard run.
- Sacked on 2nd down
- False start
- Failed on 3rd and 16

The 2nd down play: The 49ers will demonstrate 'pattern matching' to perfection. Playing man coverage in your zone can prevents things like pick plays and clear out routes. The player to watch is Cox #20 (lined up over JNelson in the slot) and Willis. Jordy Nelson will look for a pick from the fullback to create separation.


Below: Cox does not follow Nelson across the formation because he knows Willis is on the other side waiting for someone to come into his zone.The pick never occurs.


Endzone cam: Rodgers is first read is over the middle of the field.


Same play: Once Nelson enters Willis' zone, Willis will man up on him. No mesh to be had on this play, Packers. Try again. Rodgers can't pull the trigger and takes a sack.


The play on the live telecast. No where to throw, no where to run. Willis is seen running with Jordy, who started off on the other side of the formation.



3rd drive:
Starts off with a Rodgers sack and fumble: GB is predicting man coverage on this play and will utilize man busting concepts on both sides of the formation. To Rodgers' right is the mesh concept. To the left, there is a slant and a double move. It's a good playcall versus the 49ers' defense playcall.


Below: Rodgers' first read is to the mesh concept. Brock uses his hands to tie up the slant. Cox is too close to the WR for Rodgers' to make the pass to the quick out. Rodger's will not pull the trigger on his first read.


Below: Rodger's first read is to his right, the mesh. Thanks to Justin blowing up the middle, there is little time for a second read. Brooks/Aldon come in to clean up.


Same play:




So at this point, Rodgers has yet to complete a pass in the quarter. On the very next play, GB calls an easy pass for Rodgers', a screen pass.

Not much to show here. The play never materializes. Aldon with good play recognition holds up his rush as he sees a jailbreak up the middle with RayMac and Justin.


On 3rd and 15, GB runs a draw play to Lacy and a rain of boos come down from the home crowd.

First rate review.

I really look forward to your assessments.

It seemed Kaep did a better job of stepping up in the pocket instead of scrambling to the outside, is this true or am I imaginging things?

Originally posted by Ninefan56:

Originally posted by Disp:
Aldon really has become a great run defender. Here are the grades PFF gave the players for the game

Could you explain the grading system I don't know what I am seeing?

Here you go: https://www.profootballfocus.com/about/grading/

Also take it for what it's worth, but PFF says that in 2 of 3 of the games Tukuafu has played in would've been Bruce Millers 2'nd and 3'rd best run blocking graded games of the season.

Here's a description of pattern matching.

"You can play coverages in three ways. You can play zone, man, or pattern-match man. Pattern-match man is a coverage that plays the pattern after the pattern distribution. That means you pick up in man coverage after the receivers make their initial breaks and cuts. We number receivers from the outside going inside. If the number-one receiver crosses with the number-two receiver, we do not pick up the man coverage until they define where they are going.
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The upshot of pattern-match zone blitzes is that when executed correctly, they are the best of all possible worlds: They're attacking, multi-defender blitzes in which the defense plays zone coverage against pass patterns designed to beat man-to-man coverage against pass patterns — all verticals — designed to defeat zones."

The 49ers use this often and it is a reason they play with a cushion. Pattern matching helps when the DB can see the play develop in front of them. To see the play (routes) develop, they need to stand back and watch the field. Can't watch the field when using press coverage. This is what can cause a QB to hold on to the ball a bit longer than he wants to.

The football porn thread is back!

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by thl408:

Pretty much like a division game playing four times in 2 years. Good take on Brooks. I did not notice his subpar play at all. Interesting that the 49ers this year played SEA (x2), WAS, IND, HOU and GB (x2). All are predominantly zone blocking run teams. There are only a handful of teams in the league that use zone blocking and the 49ers played five of them. When I noticed that I looked up the YPC for those games and the 49ers were not faring well. Rushing totals were fine, but YPC was a bit high. I'm glad Lacy was kept in check for the most part.

Agreed, perhaps the game plan was to get to Rodgers as much as possible and crack that collar bone b/c both OLB's were rushing hard this game and not hesitating in their first step. I noted before the game that we tend to struggle with power backs (it seems this way anyhow) and predicted Lacy would be in the 4-5 yard YPC range but the overall average won't tell the whole story...these big backs can break us a bit on a few drives here and there and wear us down. Then they can also be stuffed a bit and stretched out for no gains/TFL. Lacy was a handful and they had a nice balance of run/pass. It seemed like Rodgers took advantage of the pass rush and off coverage and starting dinking and dunking us a couple times for scores.

actually, on the 14 play drive they had to really get back in the game we were playing press coverage most of that drive, but like I said in the OP, Rodgers was getting to his checkdown on a lot of plays. And yes, Nelson was his checkdown on a few plays.

Yeah, saw mostly off coverage (I'm including the FB's and TE's coming off the line clean as well here), some you could consider press but I don't consider a 3 yard cushion "press" coverage (did see more inside the 20 though)...also, Nelson got away with a little push-off on Brock to create just enough separation for the TD (no call).

BTW: That was a heck of a nice drive...nice mix of quick dink and dunk passes, all very short (under 7-8 yards - taking what the defense gave them), excellent mix of runs, passes to their FB, TE and they even had what looked like a triple slant (Rodgers hitting the 3rd), etc. You just gotta tip your hat off to them on that one...had us off balanced.

Originally posted by thl408:
49ers shut down the GB offense in the 1st quarter.

Understatement! I still can't believe Rodgers didn't have a single pass completion. Flawless first quarter, no doubt!

PS: After that, Rodgers decided to just take what the defense gave him (see 14 play TD).