Week 14 - 2014: Thoughts after rewatching the game... | Page 13

Marvin49 · 2014-12-08T11:05:22-08:00

Well, that's that. 1) Kap: That was tough to watch. It almost felt to me that his spirit was broken in the loss to Seattle. I think the weight of the season, the off-field issues, and the media scrutiny are finally really getting to him. He's in his own head too much. He's also not helping himself in his interviews. They simply INCREASE the scrutiny. When he started in 2012, he was an amazingly accurate downfield passer. Just off the top of my head I can remember throws to Kyle WIllimas vs the Bears, Vernon Davis vs the Packers, and Delanie Walker vs the Saints. In that season he was statistically the best passer in the NFL on passes over 20 yards. That's all gone now. He's overthrowing passes he used to deliver perfectly. Is it teams figuring him out? Is it the lack of deep threats? Is it scheme. More on that later, but he obviously has a huge hand to play in this. In short...NOW I think he's regressing. I didn't believe it until yesterday, but I think the Seattle loss and scrutiny afterward has broken him. Am I giving up on him? Not by a long shot. I heard on the radio last night peeps saying we've seen Kap maxed out. He can't go any further than this. I think that's HALF true. I think we've seen the best Kap can be IN THIS OFFENSE. 2) Scheme: So that last line about Kap takes me into what I think a big part of the problem is, and why there needs to be a change. Harbaugh had a reputation coming in that he could mold QBs. He's done it with Josh Johnson and Andrew Luck. While here he did the same with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. It all started tho with a BYU transfer to USD named Todd Mortensen. Why do I bring this up? Something I read WAY back when Harbaugh was hired has stuck with me these last 4 years and it was just screaming loudly in my skull yesterday. Here is one of the articles written back then. http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/harbaughs-first-quarterback-says-the-offense-is-the-key/ Harbaughs offense is QB friendly (as in, makes playing QB easier). That's one of the big reasons every QB who has run it has had success. It is based on the idea that you can make playing QB easier by making the decisions more clear cut. More defined throws. How do you do that? Through numerous personal packages, lots of motion, and waiting until the last second to snap the ball to force defenses to declare. This allows the QB to know where he's going to go with the ball BEFORE THE SNAP. To further clarify the read and open space, play action off a strong, inventive run game that keep people guessing forces defenses to keep extra men in the box and play on their heels One of the criticisms of Kap is that he sticks to his presnap read. Well, there is a reason. That's what he's been trained to do. The throw to Crab on 3rd and long that got converted yesterday was a good example. Crab was the only target in the pattern and everyone else was just there to block. The problem here though is multiple. First, defenses now know all this. They know that they can't declare their intentions until AFTER the snap or JUST before. You will at times see safeties bail out LATE on the play clock. This is why. This is also why you see Kap married to his presnap read and nearly fall into a trap when the coverage changes POST snap. Second, since there are no hot routes and little post snap decision making, the routes themselves while SOMETIMES creative, are usually really basic. Third, when the run game struggles and you use less play action (ALOT less this year) it means there is less space because they don't respect the run as much as they did. Those teams have seen all the runs now and are no longer playing on their heels. They are playing downhill. Bruce Miller alluded to this last week when he said that defenses aren't responding to plays the way they expect them to...the run AND pass schemes have been figured out and Harbaugh/Roman aren't able to counter. I want to be very clear...I'm not trying to scapegoat Kap here. He's played HORRIBLY over the last 2 weeks. What I'm saying though is that the problem goes FAR deeper than Kap and IMO won't get better unless a change is made in the offensive system. Does this mean if you run a more conventional offense that Kap will immediately start playing like an all-pro? Not by a longshot. What it does mean though is that we don't know what he can do till he is asked to play more conventionally. 3) Vernon: I think he may very well get his new contract next season...for about 1/3rd as much as he's currently scheduled for and for another team. Kap overthrew him, but he is making almost no effort for the ball. The best TEs in the game have a large catching radius. Vernon has almost none. If its not right on him, it will be incomplete. 4) ILBs: Exposed all day in coverage. Ouch. Need the big boys back next year. 5) Pass rush: Non-existent. Penn was glued to Aldon all day. Never thought I'd see that. Carr sitting back there all day + coverage lacking from LBs = bad mojo. 6) Youth: I really want to start seeing the youth play moving forward. This team is about to have a sizable overhaul. Play Tank. Play Patton. Play Ellington. Play Hyde. Its time to see what we have. 7) O-Line: Yet another injury at Center. Davis still not playing. Iupati and Boone underperforming. Jeez. I'm just hoping at this point that Kap is still alive at the end of the year. 8) Bruce Miller: Just keep the guy on the field people. Good things happen. 9) Playoffs: The playoffs are a fantasy. Its not gonna happen. There is a part of me though that is actually OK with it. I'm sure the team will give a full effort to see if they can somehow, someway salvage the season, but I actually wasn't too upset yesterday. Not nearly as upset as I thought I'd be. Why? It was almost like a calming effect. It's done. It's over. No more will they or won't they. No more watching the records of the Seahawks, Cards, Cowboys, Eagles, and Lions. Now I can focus on the future. 10) The future: Ya know what the best thing is about sports? There is always another game. There is always another season. There is always something to look forward to. In some ways, the release of this season is bliss. No more "will they get it together and make a run"? No, they won't. Now its about looking forward. Now its wondering what they might get for Harbaugh. Now its wondering who the next coach might be. Now its wondering how this team adjusts minus Gore, Crab, Iupati and probably a few others. I know this is a rough time and we had a decade of down times before Harbaugh. I for one though will be happy that I won't have the daily stress of "will he stay or will he go". I found myself looking at draft sites this morning....something I used to do around this time pre-Harbaugh. Here's the thing tho...as depressing as this year has been, there is and still will be ALOT of talent on this team moving forward. This won't be a ground up rebuild. This will be about finding a coach who can maximize the talent. This will be a team with talent, money, a great facility, and a warm climate...all things that are very attractive to coaches and players. While it was tough to see the Niners tank like that to the freakin' Raiders...something about the loss has really made it easier at this point to deal with the rest of the season. I have no expectations. There is no stress.

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:01 PM

#181

facestabber
Veteran
Posts: 1,673

Originally posted by TheRatMan13:
I find it completely embarrassing that Niner fans are calling for Kap's head. He has proven that he can be successful in this league. I would normally say the same thing about the coach, but you can also see that defenses have figured out this offense, and the staff has had no answer. There is no identity. There is no rhythm. It is a joke watching this offense, and I have talked to multiple fans of other teams who question what we are trying to do. Redskins, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Seahawks fans have all said the same thing.

And those fans also think Kap has more than peaked and is a gimmick guy. Other teams fans have no respect for Kap and his game. I wouldn't call their opinion jealousy anymore because Kap isn't playing good at all.

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Dec 9, 2014 at 2:04 PM

#182

NCommand
Hall of Fame
Posts: 123,365

Originally posted by thl408:
Here's a similar play with the same route combination. Gore with the same blocking assignment on a DE. Gore does what's needed to give Kap time and a throwing lane. The DE does block the throwing lane to the Curl, but the Flat is there. (from the pinned Film Analysis thread)

Someone obviously modified this video...this is a short touch pass by CK on the run for optimal YAC.

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:10 PM

#183

Kronos2560
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Posts: 1,243

Shannahan? Shaw?

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:10 PM

#184

ricmsr
Member
Posts: 6,503

Originally posted by sc49erob:
I like this play, its a rollout and Miller is clearly the 1st option.

Kap not throwing an interception. He should do this more often. Common sense makes common sense.

[ Edited by ricmsr on Dec 9, 2014 at 2:14 PM ]

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:15 PM

#185

Jd925
Veteran
Posts: 1,286

Originally posted by thl408:
Here's a similar play with the same route combination. Gore with the same blocking assignment on a DE. Gore does what's needed to give Kap time and a throwing lane. The DE does block the throwing lane to the Curl, but the Flat is there. (from the pinned Film Analysis thread)

It's an automatic pre-snap read... Miller is his main option right there.. Kap rarely ever goes to his 'secondary' read by design...he's looking at Miller all the time in this one... Kap looks at his primary read with the same route design in another. That's probably the way they practice day in...day out. ....90%+ of Kaps passes are primary reads... by design...

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:29 PM

#186

socal1632
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Posts: 4,730

The offense/schemes continuing to be run don't make any sense for continuing success.Something was crazy off in pre season as if the team wasn't being coached.No intensity whatsoever even though it was essential especially on offense to get a 25 point per game or better rhythm going. Now during the season pretty obvious that something is a miss from the coaching staff (Harbaugh,Roman) Major rift between coach and front office at some point has ripped this team apart. Injuries and mental/physical exhaustion playing a part but D is one of top in league this year just the same. Impossible to want to believe for me, a life long diehard 49ers fan since 1982 but football evidence on the field is pretty glaring at this point. This character filled team would not have quit against the Raiders unless they new what was going on.Staley tipped the players hat a little with those scheme comments earlier in the year. Just can't believe we are spiraling back down into the forest of dispair from the Princess Bride again.Godd----it

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:29 PM

#187

PERUVIAN49ERS
Veteran
Posts: 228

Originally posted by sc49erob:
I see Woodson covering Miller on this play. Woodson bails after Kap scrambles. Even if Kap had hit Miller quickly, Woodson would of been right there for no gain. Kap just make a bad throw and didnt see the safety. It happens!

Then throw the ball out of bounds an 2nd and 10 ... not interception duhhhhh

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:32 PM

#188

socal1632
Veteran
Posts: 4,730

He quick pumps to miller and in the same rythm throws a nice soft pass over the top to I believe VD at the 40yd line it's a bigger gain. He one reads maybe by design like most freaking qb's in college do. If it's Harbaugh, way to go bro. Sensless and useless for any productivity sgsinst NFL defenses.Crazy

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:36 PM

#189

socal1632
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Posts: 4,730

VD scores on that play if Kap were to look off miller and hit Davis.I was wrong

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:39 PM

#190

Geeked
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Posts: 10,057

Originally posted by socal1632:
VD scores on that play if Kap were to look off miller and hit Davis.I was wrong

Seriously?????? Really????? Are you blind???? Glasses???? Chemically Impaired???

This is why the Keap detractors look like lunarticks. They make comments like this.

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:50 PM

#191

socal1632
Veteran
Posts: 4,730

Geeked your an idiot.Both corners automatically are reacting to Miller. Safety no where near VD at the 40. How can you not see that.Is this Harbaugh?

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:53 PM

#192

Marvin49
Hall of Fame
Posts: 16,505

Originally posted by Kronos2560:
Shannahan? Shaw?

I've had a feeling if I even brought it up I'd get lit up for it....

...but Shanahan had occurred to me.

WCO roots, can facilitate a resurgence in run game (Hunter and Hyde might fit that zone blocking scheme pretty well), and already knows how utilize a running QB...assuming he doesn't get him killed (and I think that's more on RGIII).

Probably wouldn't be popular considering how that all ended in Washington, but it does pique my curiosity.

Dec 9, 2014 at 2:54 PM

#193

thl408
Moderator
Posts: 33,298

Originally posted by Jd925:

Originally posted by thl408:
Here's a similar play with the same route combination. Gore with the same blocking assignment on a DE. Gore does what's needed to give Kap time and a throwing lane. The DE does block the throwing lane to the Curl, but the Flat is there. (from the pinned Film Analysis thread)

It's an automatic pre-snap read... Miller is his main option right there.. Kap rarely ever goes to his 'secondary' read by design...he's looking at Miller all the time in this one... Kap looks at his primary read with the same route design in another. That's probably the way they practice day in...day out. ....90%+ of Kaps passes are primary reads... by design...

Can you define what you mean by "primary reads... by design..." If you think that 90% of his passes are designed throws then I strongly disagree.

Just watch the all22 and you'll see reads that Kap is supposed to make in order to target the correct route. If all he was doing was throwing to where he's supposed to (designed throws), he wouldn't look so lost on the plays where he couldn't quickly process what he was reading. In this play, it is a well known route combination and the progressions are there. Just do a google search on "spot concept football" and you'll see what the QB is supposed to be doing. I've seen Kap hit the Corner, Curl, and Flat on this route combo.

There are indeed plays that are designed throws and I can tell when it's done. Check out the SEA film thread from last week and they are pointed out.

Dec 9, 2014 at 3:02 PM

#194

socal1632
Veteran
Posts: 4,730

It is really hard to tell like on this play especially by watching Kap,His quick roll out and head seeming to be locked in Miller's direction is probably by design. It did work.Decent YAC. We need to call more very fast quick plays if the overall scheme isn't going to change. At least on these, the D can be exploited by speed. Just wish he would start gaining both patience and field awarness a little quicker. You are right.He is very capable of hitting all those routes.

Dec 9, 2014 at 3:05 PM

#195

NCommand
Hall of Fame
Posts: 123,365

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by Kronos2560:
Shannahan? Shaw?

I've had a feeling if I even brought it up I'd get lit up for it....

...but Shanahan had occurred to me.

WCO roots, can facilitate a resurgence in run game (Hunter and Hyde might fit that zone blocking scheme pretty well), and already knows how utilize a running QB...assuming he doesn't get him killed (and I think that's more on RGIII).

Probably wouldn't be popular considering how that all ended in Washington, but it does pique my curiosity.

I think someone started the thread already but I would love someone to play the Jed/Baalke role right now and not only produce a list of their candidates but also, their system and how they project their system working here with much of our personnel...and other pieces needed to make it run most efficient!