KC Chiefs coaches film analysis

After seeing more of these break downs, Brooks had a better game than I thought he did.

Originally posted by thl408:

Agreed. I think rolling out in the red zone is a good idea because it puts Kap's legs into play, it gives him easier reads (half field), and if the thought of turning the ball over is swirling around in Jim's head, then rolling out gives Kap an easy way to throw the ball away of nothing is available since he can just chuck it out of bounds. Can't call it too much since defenses can defend this if they look for it, but calling for more rollouts seems like it would put Kap in his comfort zone since he's on the run and is pretty darn accurate when throwing while running.

This play has worked in pro football since Paul brown in the 50s. Kap also seems to have an ability to make awkward platform throws and the arm strength to flick wherever it is needed. You add this play in the arsenal with our dynamic run plays and the Playaction off of those runs and all of a sudden you start to have a scary redzone attack.

Originally posted by theninermaniac:

Originally posted by thl408:
So let's try a swing screen to the RB.

Cue the music:

3Q: 1st & 10
This play incorporates bad design with bad blocking. Miller and JMart will lead the convoy for Gore to receive a quick swing pass to the right edge of the formation. Blue is assigned to Boldin. Orange (backside LB) is the other defender to keep an eye on on this play.


Back to jonnydel's point of Kap not looking away before eventually throwing to where he knows he will be throwing. Vance gets into his crossing to draw defenders away from where the play is going. Kap does the same thing here and doesn't allow a look off to help earn some space. He takes the snap and looks to where he will be throwing. He could have used Vance as the target to look off with.


Vance's crossing route does very little to influence defenders away from the play. Boldin's Go route does very little to influence defenders away from the direction of the play. The pass is thrown and blue sees it. He's not fooled by Boldin's vertical route as an attempt to draw the defender. Orange isn't fooled by Vance's crosser.


JMart allows his block to slide off of him. Two unblocked defenders. Gore has no chance. 1 yard gain.




LOL screen pass...
Not digging the formation which this play is ran from. Too many players on the playside. Boldin and Vance can't block because they'll risk offensive PI, so they try to run off (clear out) their defenders. Why use JMart to throw the block? Why not Staley, your best OT? Just not feeling this play design one bit.

Im no expert, but if Staley doesn't get beat on a speed rush to the outside and Boone actually gets a piece of the man he is trying to chop, then maybe Kaep can stand firm in the pocket instead of falling backwards and maybe get off his first read on the screen and could find Vance Mac on the crossing route. I mean is this just a one read play for Kaep? He has single coverage up top and if Kaep would keep his eyes downfield for a second longer he would recognize the crossing route being open. To me it seems he looks at the rush and then looks at Gore splitting out for the screen. I guess its hard to use your peripherals when Boone lets a defender run right past him without even slowing him down.

Yeah Boone's lame cut block is why Kap's drop back was so deep, which allowed the speed rush by Staley's man to succeed since Kap was trying to avoid Boone's man. Vance was definitely open as the entire KC defense flowed towards that one side of the field. Not sure if this was an "all or nothing" screen pass (one read play).

Originally posted by thl408:

Yeah Boone's lame cut block is why Kap's drop back was so deep, which allowed the speed rush by Staley's man to succeed since Kap was trying to avoid Boone's man. Vance was definitely open as the entire KC defense flowed towards that one side of the field. Not sure if this was an "all or nothing" screen pass (one read play).

Looking at the gif again, do you think if blocking was a little better would we have had enough time to fake the swing and take that crosser? You gotta figure the coaches see this play and besides the disgust in blocking, they notice how that crosser opens ups. I think a little pump to the swing could influence defensive flow and the cross is a huge play.

Originally posted by Niners816:

Originally posted by thl408:
Yeah Boone's lame cut block is why Kap's drop back was so deep, which allowed the speed rush by Staley's man to succeed since Kap was trying to avoid Boone's man. Vance was definitely open as the entire KC defense flowed towards that one side of the field. Not sure if this was an "all or nothing" screen pass (one read play).

Looking at the gif again, do you think if blocking was a little better would we have had enough time to fake the swing and take that crosser? You gotta figure the coaches see this play and besides the disgust in blocking, they notice how that crosser opens ups. I think a little pump to the swing could influence defensive flow and the cross is a huge play.

Yeah I think there would be time to go to Vance, but I'm not sure if this was a screen pass all the way and Vance is purely trying to run a defender away from the playside. As in, is Kap instructed to look to Vance as an option? Can't tell. Kap's pump fakes influence defenders a lot and I'm not sure why the coaches don't teach him to use it more often. Zone defenders know they have to get a good jump on the throw just to have a chance at making a play on the ball since Kap's arm is so strong.

Originally posted by Niners816:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by DeUh:
jonnydel and thl408

What is your take on our Red Zone offense ?

Is it bad execution (players), bad play calling (Roman / Harbaugh), bad play design (Roman / Morton / Chryst) or most definitely a combination of things ?

I just can�t wrap my head around our Red Zone failures. Despite changes at key positions over the last few years we are still average at best when it comes to red zone scoring percentage.


Red Zone Scoring Percentage

2014
44.44 percent ( 25th in the NFL )

2013
53.03 percent ( 15th in the NFL )

2012
54.69 percent ( 15th in th NFL )

2011
40.68 percent ( 30th in the NFL )



Thanks in advance and excellent work so far !

There is a study on the red zone issues of the 13-14 team in this thread, in case it was missed: http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/178822-all22-analysis-red-zone-issues. Anyone can formulate their own take from that.

To me, it is indeed a combination of things and to single any one point of failure out would not be seeing the entire picture. If I had a gun to my head and had to assign "blame" based on percentage, my personal observation would be this, in regards to scoring FGs instead of TDs in the red zone (20 yard line and in):

Kap: 50%
playcalling/design: 30%
Other player's execution/penalties: 20%

There is a reason I put Kap at 50%. I don't think he has the anticipation to throw into tight windows just yet. 'Tight windows' might be the wrong term. It's more like closed windows that are about to become open. This is a must, imo, to have an offense that consistently scores TDs in the red zone passing the ball. Taking a look at the touchdown thread (http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/178322-all22-look-all-touchdowns) you'll see that there was a grand total of 2 TD throws that came from Kap reading the concept side and making a throw on rhythm. It was touchdown #6 and touchdown #8 (even #6 is a maybe). Every other red zone TD throw came in the following forms:

1. backside WR isolation (pre-snap read is 1v1 with no safety help, give the WR a chance with a back shoulder throw)
2. Scramble drill (play did not succeed the way it was drawn up)
3. Playaction with one route being ran (VD in back of end zone is the main example)

None of these type of throws require much post-snap read and react where Kap needs to read how the defense is reacting to a certain route combination, then make the correct throw. Compare these throws with touchdown #6 and #8 where Kap reads the defense/leverage of defenders and makes a nice throw. Most times we see Kap dropback, not pull the trigger, then it's scramble drill time. Sometimes no one is open, sometimes Kap is slow to see the window open. Just talking about red zone TD throws as Kap threw a number of TDs from outside the 20 yard line.

I agree with WRATH that the coaches do seem to shrink the playbook when inside the red zone. Is it because they go potato or is it because they see Kap's limitations at this stage in his development? My take above answers that question.

As far as the running game in the red zone, it's known that running is harder because the safeties can run support so much easier when they don't have to worry about getting beat deep. The 49ers are good inside the 5 running the ball because of how their Oline is built - advantage of power run scheme.

And another reason the 49er's may be ranked low is because they play good defenses in their division. That doesn't explain this year's woes, more last year. DeUh, please feel free to take a look at the "red zone issues" thread and reply with your conclusion. I'd like to hear what you think, as well as others. Sure, last year is last year, but it might give us a clue as to anything that has carried over into this year.

I think something from our glory days that could really help in the goal to go situation would be wrapping up "sprint right option" as many ways as possible. That plays simplicity is it's brilliance. I say this not only for nostalgia sake but also because of kaps legs and the skill of our WRs should make this a highly productive play.

I remember running it a couple times with Alex and I believe the third down in the Super Bowl where crabs got nailed in the head was sprint option, but I would like to see it more.

If I get a chance today I'll show it, but we ran a version of it last game and the game before. I remember watching it live and saying, "sprint right option".

Originally posted by jonnydel:

If I get a chance today I'll show it, but we ran a version of it last game and the game before. I remember watching it live and saying, "sprint right option".

If my recollection is correct, we seem to like running it out of shotgun and boldin seems to be a big part of this package.

It's funny you said that because I remember in the first NYG game in 2011 we ran it for a two conversion and right down to the formation It could have been ran in 1985. I was almost giddy seeing it again.

This is a nice catch and run by Boldin.

1Q 3rd & 5.
KC: cover 1 man

This play illustrates how teams are very cautious of Kap's scrambling when they play man coverage. ARI and KC played a lot of man coverage with the outside CBs while playing zone in the middle of the field. This is so the zone defenders can keep an eye on Kap and limit his ability to scramble. Here, KC comes with a 5 man rush and will play straight up man coverage - no zone in the middle. KC crowds the LoS to act as if a heavy blitz is coming. This is to force the 49ers to keep in extra pass blockers.


KC rushes 5. The two orange defenders are not blitzing and are actually assigned to man coverage on Vance and Hyde. Usually, a defender that is assigned to a WR that doesn't go out on a route will play zone in the middle of the field. Here, Vance and Hyde stay in to block, which frees up the two orange defenders. Instead of zoning up in the middle of the field, they crowd the LoS. This is to clog scrambling lanes and completely discourage Kap from scrambling. Boldin is seen head faking to the outside to get his defender leaning.


The drawback to clogging the scrambling lanes is that the orange defenders cannot play the passing lanes, while leaving the middle of the field wide open. Boldin wins an inside release. Kap is mid windup. If Kap hits Boldin in stride, there's a lot of RAC to be had.


Perfectly in stride.


17 yards of RAC for a +27 gain.

By 'Red Zone Scoring Percentage', do you mean 6pts or any points?

Because we scored a TD on only 1 of 5 of our RZ opportunities.

See 'Missed Red Zone Opportunities'
http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/179873-shootin-ourselves-foot-week/

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

By 'Red Zone Scoring Percentage', do you mean 6pts or any points?

Because we scored a TD on only 1 of 5 of our RZ opportunities.

See 'Missed Red Zone Opportunities'
http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/179873-shootin-ourselves-foot-week/

It's td percentage. I remember in our dynasty days you would see that number at or around 70%.

Every time I see these breakdowns, it makes me sad about our passing game. As seen in the play above, if Boldin doesn't get a step on his guy, that play is dead.

Lloyd's first deep catch, the 38 yarder should have been a TD. Don't know why Lloyd felt like he had to go to the ground for or after the catch. If he kept his feet, he could have ran under it and taken it for a TD.

Originally posted by Joecool:
Lloyd's first deep catch, the 38 yarder should have been a TD. Don't know why Lloyd felt like he had to go to the ground for or after the catch. If he kept his feet, he could have ran under it and taken it for a TD.

You're assuming that he could have outrun that corner to the end zone. I don't think so.

Originally posted by SJniner7:
Every time I see these breakdowns, it makes me sad about our passing game. As seen in the play above, if Boldin doesn't get a step on his guy, that play is dead.

They have no elite speed in the wide receiver corps; basically all good possession receivers.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
By 'Red Zone Scoring Percentage', do you mean 6pts or any points?

Because we scored a TD on only 1 of 5 of our RZ opportunities.

See 'Missed Red Zone Opportunities'
http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/179873-shootin-ourselves-foot-week/

Are you defining "red zone" as FG range? I use the traditional meaning of Red Zone as in "at or inside the 20 yard line". Some of those FGs were 50+ yarders from outside the 20 yard line.

Are there plays in the arsenal to get Crab in space for YAC opportunities? I for one think Crab's YAC ability is special - just different from any other player. Even that one catch he had against KC displayed some of it. It pains me to not see at least some of this every single game.