Seattle Seahawks coaches game analysis (week 13)

Originally posted by thl408:
Dropback #15

2Q 3rd & 10
49ers: Looks like they are trying to horizontally stretch the LB level with all 4 routes stopping near the depth of first down marker.
SEA: cover3

Kap hits the top of his dropback and immediately pulls the trigger to Lloyd on the Out route.

Pass is off target and falls incomplete. JMart gets bulls rushed right into Kap, preventing a follow through on the throw. Punt.

Yeah this play was fine. If JMart held up the block, Lloyd actually executed a good out route and made Sherman stumble... It's not easy executing on Seattle's Cover 3. Seattle just plays Cover 3 on pass situations and mostly Cover 1 the rest of the time.... what are creative things you can do on a cover 3?

Originally posted by Niners816:

Originally posted by thl408:
Since we are talking about that play...

This s**t pisses me off. Seattle continuously takes cheap shot and runs their mouths about everything 49ers. IMO, the only way through this is to punch those motherf**kers right in the mouth. Enough is enough, those guys continue to straddle the line and that's being rather kind as I think most of its very dirty. These f**kers aren't nearly as tough as they act.

I feel like i would enjoy watching these 2 teams get into a brawl when we go to Seattle. Everytime we play in Seattle we seem to get hurt anyway. I would much rather punch them in the mouth and let them know this is how it's going to be from now on.

And rough them up right away. Not wait until we start to lose and then unravel as a team.

Also the replay looks so so but the way thomas walked away real fast is what made me think it was intentional. Gore got a good gain so thomas has nothing to brag about. thomas looks like he's getting out quick. I used to think Sherman was the only bad seed but i've seen thomas do other things this year that have me convinced otherwise.

The league changed the rules on defenses so Seattle has to find other ways to get the job done.

Originally posted by thl408:
7th drive of game (first of 2nd half)

Drop back #19
3Q 1st & 10
49ers: Playaction on the stretch run left as Kap rolls to his right.
SEA: cover3

The blue LB does a good job identifying VD's crosser. Kap can still target VD since blue isn't watching Kap. The defender near Boldin will leave Boldin to rush Kap.

Kap might have been able to target VD early during his rollout. He easily could have gone to Boldin late, once the defender let Boldin go to rush Kap. Incomplete to Crabs along the sideline. Defensive holding (Boldin was held).

Isn't this a Cover 1 man? It was a good play action, but the roll out was designed to go outside on the 1v1, but Sherman blanketed Crabtree. Yeah Kap could have gotten Boldin on the drag as a 2nd read (Kap has to look at check downs and 2nd reads a lot more), but don't really like Crabtree as a primary. The play action worked to get the linebackers biting in and if it were not a designed roll out. Vernon was open. It's like the primary design makes no use of the play action. Sherman doesn't care about the play action because he's on an island so what's the use of the roll out? If it wasn't a designed roll out Kap could attack where the linebackers bite in the middle of the field.

Originally posted by thl408:
Dropback #1

1Q 2nd & 3

49ers: mirroring Curl-Flat concepts with Crabs' curl over the middle to give three curls across the field. The Curl-Flat concepts target the curl-flat zone defenders (orange). VD(curl) + Gore (flat) in addition to Lloyd (curl) + Boldin (flat). The blue lines show which defenders are the deep 1/3 defenders.
SEA: cover3

Kap mid windup targeting Crabs over the middle. Crabs is the higher percentage throw and the 49ers only need 3. With Sherman giving a 5 yard cushion to VD, VD's curl is also available.

+5

This is a decent play against a Cover 3 on short yardage. It's one of the rare plays short and in the middle. It's all about finding figuring how to find pockets in the zone and they stretched the field out well enough. I don't like the formation because it's an obvious pass formation and on a 2nd and short, I'd at least give a neutral look.

Thank you for this thread thl. I'm glad you are still taking the time for this. The deep throws throught the contest were plain flabbergasting. No one can explain it. Was it kap? Was that were the plays were drawn up to go? I wouldn't hesitate to dump it all on staff, except that there were several instances of backs and underneath route runners being stunningly open....and Kap just wasn't interest to go there. Utterly baffled me. Can he really not see them, and read getting the ball to the screamingly open player? These weren't 3rd/long situations.


Doesn't seem a relevant discussion at this point. It's pretty much what we've been doing for the last month. Except, last Thursday we played a good defense.

How can this possibly change without a realignment of responsibilities and possibly some new thinking on staff.

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:
Thank you for this thread thl. I'm glad you are still taking the time for this. The deep throws throught the contest were plain flabbergasting. No one can explain it. Was it kap? Was that were the plays were drawn up to go? I wouldn't hesitate to dump it all on staff, except that there were several instances of backs and underneath route runners being stunningly open....and Kap just wasn't interest to go there. Utterly baffled me. Can he really not see them, and read getting the ball to the screamingly open player? These weren't 3rd/long situations.


Doesn't seem a relevant discussion at this point. It's pretty much what we've been doing for the last month. Except, last Thursday we played a good defense.

How can this possibly change without a realignment of responsibilities and possibly some new thinking on staff.

He has got to be panicking and reacting way too quickly thinking he can force throws that aren't there. He has to be called out on this and his OL WR and RB has to get in his ear and bear down on him telling him not to F this up. Kap played like ish

Originally posted by thl408:
Drive #6 2Q
1st & 10
Inside Zone
Gore run for -2 yards


Dropback #14
2nd & 12
SEA: Fire zone blitz (5 man pressure, 3 underneath, 3 deep) with pattern matching


Kap takes the snap and first looks to the middle of the field, I think at VD. He red lights VD (or/and Boldin) then looks shallow to Crabs. As soon as Crabs starts his drag route, Sherman passes off coverage over to the LB (!!!), who will match Crabs. I've seen SEA pattern match before, this is nothing new to them.


Sherman leaves his zone to go look for work. He never sees Gore threaten his side of the field. Who cares, the 49ers dont' throw to their RBs anyway. Kap is mid windup targeting Crabs.


The pass is thrown a bit behind and Crabs has to slow down to secure the catch. This kills any potential for RAC yards.


+2 yard gain.

I can't handle seeing stuff like this!! I feel like his windup gives plays away because he takes so long to throw the ball...maybe throw some pump fakes in there to keep the defense honest?

Originally posted by Jd925:

Originally posted by thl408:
7th drive of game (first of 2nd half)

Drop back #19
3Q 1st & 10
49ers: Playaction on the stretch run left as Kap rolls to his right.
SEA: cover3

The blue LB does a good job identifying VD's crosser. Kap can still target VD since blue isn't watching Kap. The defender near Boldin will leave Boldin to rush Kap.

Kap might have been able to target VD early during his rollout. He easily could have gone to Boldin late, once the defender let Boldin go to rush Kap. Incomplete to Crabs along the sideline. Defensive holding (Boldin was held).

Isn't this a Cover 1 man? It was a good play action, but the roll out was designed to go outside on the 1v1, but Sherman blanketed Crabtree. Yeah Kap could have gotten Boldin on the drag as a 2nd read (Kap has to look at check downs and 2nd reads a lot more), but don't really like Crabtree as a primary. The play action worked to get the linebackers biting in and if it were not a designed roll out. Vernon was open. It's like the primary design makes no use of the play action. Sherman doesn't care about the play action because he's on an island so what's the use of the roll out? If it wasn't a designed roll out Kap could attack where the linebackers bite in the middle of the field.

SEA will normally play man coverage on the backside WR (Crabs) so that's why we see Sherman run with Crabs with his back to Kap. The reason I think it's cover3 is because the CB (Maxwell) lined up over Boldin doesn't follow Boldin across the formation. No one really mans up on Boldin. Maxwell just matches the first vertical threat coming his way.

You are right that Sherman doesn't care about the playaction, but I don't think Crabs is the primary read - VD is. VD's route becomes available earlier than when Crabs breaks in his route. As soon as the window to VD closed, the better throw is to Boldin, as soon as the DL tangled with Boldin decided to come after Kap. It's probably a 5-6 yard gain, but that's the high percentage play on 1st down.

Since the 2nd half drive was the only scoring drive of the game for the 49ers, might as well cut up some positive plays from that drive. Here's the very next play after Dropback #19

3Q 1st &10
49ers: power right (12 personnel)


Gore sees daylight elsewhere and takes it up the middle instead of following Iupati.


+5 yards (so sad that a 5 yard run is even worth showing)

Dropback #20

3Q 2nd & 5
49ers use playaction and misdirection to get VD open.
SEA: Fire zone blitz (rush 5, 3 deep, 3 under)


49ers use playaction to get the defense flowing to the right as VD comes across the formation.


Kap targets VD across the field.


+10 yards

Originally posted by thl408:

+5 yards (so sad that a 5 yard run is even worth showing)

hey 5 yards is damn good, we're not even getting 4 ypc this year

new set of downs

1st & 10
Inside Zone
Hyde runs for +3

2nd & 7
Dropback #21
49ers use playaction then flood the left side of the field.
SEA: cover3


Kap completed his playaction and hits the top of his dropback. Lloyd is about to curl his route as Boldin and Miller occupy the underneath zone defenders. I think Kap is looking to Boldin, because if he's looking at Lloyd, he should start pulling the trigger. There's no way Boldin is open with the defender over the top like that (and watching Kap) on Boldin's wheel route.


A nice throwing lane to Lloyd is available. Instead, Kap will roll left.


The window to Lloyd is now closed with the CB recovering and closing in on Lloyd.


Scramble for +3

Dropback #22

3Q 3rd & 4
This play resulted in a defensive holding call on Sherman (vs Crabs). Automatic first down.


It's apparent that the halftime adjustment is to move Kap around, give him half field reads, and use more flood concepts. There are two general ways to attack zones. One is by distributing routes (evenly) around the field so that there is one route everywhere around the field. This causes each zone to enlarge and forces a defender to broaden the area that he is responsible for. Holes in coverage can be found when defenders think they have too large an area to cover.

The other is to flood zones with more routes than a particular zone defender(s) can cover. In dropbacks #19, 21, and 22, all on the first drive of the 2nd half, the 49ers do this. The field is more condensed and windows to throw can close quickly if the defense properly rolls its coverage to the flooded area, but the QB sees all his routes in a straight line of sight.

new set of downs after defensive holding

1st & 10
Split zone (VD goes against the flow of the Oline blockers to kickout the cutback defender - the red block)


Kap reads the unblocked defender to freeze him and buy time for VD to come across.


VD applies the block and Hyde hits the hole.


+12 yards

Dropback #23

3Q 1st & 10
49ers try to get a High-Lo read to Kap's right.
SEA: cover3


Kap completes his playfake and is about to hit the top of his dropback. Miller and Gore look to block the DE.


Both Miller and Gore whiff on the block. The play is designed to attack the area underneath Sherman's deep zone (Lloyd is the clear out) and behind the playside curl/flat defender (Boldin is the bait to pull him forward). The hook/curl defenders (two middle zone defenders) do a nice job of play recognition and match VD on the crosser. No one is open.


Kap has to evade due to Miller and Gore giving up pressure.


Kap gives a pump fake to nobody.


If Kap has time in the pocket, perhaps he targets Boldin for a minimal gain (nothing wrong with a minimal gain on first down). After extending the play to the side of the field where there are no routes, Kap should have just thrown it away. Sack for -6.