Originally posted by jonnydel:
Originally posted by Joecool:
Just noticed that SEA drops down the safety to the multiple receiver side on the Cover 4 and any back side flat route is wide open.
I don't think we are going to see any cover 4. Think that was mainly a respect to how ARI is always aggressive with the deep ball.
It's only open because there's no receiving threat in the flat. With no receiving threat to that side, the hook/curl defender is dropping to help against any comeback routes on that side. a flood on side with a curl/flat or comeback/flat concept to the opposite side would be a good option. However, it does mean your line has to hold up well against the Seattle pass rush for a 5 step with a hitch drop.
On those plays where SEA shows a 2 deep safety look, then rotates a safety down, I think that's a disguised cover3. The safety rotating down is playing as a hook defender that will match any route coming through his zone. This is a way for them to combat three level floods.
The deep 1/3 sideline defender gets run off downfield, the flat defender takes the low read. The safety (hook defender) takes the intermediate route. The play you cut up is a good example, but Palmer uses great ball location to steer Fitz to open space, which you pointed out.
http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/177595-blaine-real-american-gabbert/page261/#post3908
Instead of playing the hook zone with a LB and asking that LB to turn and run with the intermediate route, SEA assigns a safety as the hook defender which is a better matchup (safety vs WR). The LB takes the flat vs RB (better matchup). Looking at the other safety (Kam), Kam is head up on the Center. So he's in the middle of the formation, playing what I think is deep middle 1/3.
