Seattle Seahawks coaches Film analysis (week 15)

The 49ers came with a much better offensive gameplan in this game compared to what we saw in week 13 vsSEA. Although that's not saying much, at least it showed they made some sort of adjustment. For this coaching staff though, it is too little too late. There was an effort to work the short to intermediate areas of the field that was lacking in the Thanksgiving game. The throws were mainly within the numbers (not near the sidelines) and it resulted in more comfortable looking throws from Kap. Kap's number was also called for at least 3 designed QB runs. The running game was up and down despite suspect blocking from Looney. SEA came with their standard cover1/cover3 calls with some nice blitzes mixed in. I agree Kap looked more comfortable than he has in previous games in SEA. Perhaps the novelty of the loud environment is wearing off. The 49ers took a lead into halftime, but two key drives in the 2nd half doomed the offense.

Defensively, the 49ers did well in coverage and did not have any blown coverages. There were two big chunk plays by SEA's passing game. One was a result of RWilson having over 6 seconds in the pocket and the other was on a very nice pass versus Cox 1v1. Other than that, the 49ers did their job containing SEA's offense...until Borland went down and the SEA running game got going in the second half. Hard to imagine that having Borland go down left such a huge hole in the 49er run defense, but Moody was playing timid and Wilhoite is always timid in the run game. Having two ILBs that are not decisive with attacking gaps causes tackles to be made 5+ yards downfield when facing a good zone blocking run attack.. Once SEA's run game started to chug along, things fell into place for their offense and it showed on a read-option play that went for a RW +19 yard gain.

After SEA scored their first TD of the game using a 10 play drive in the 3rd quarter (7 runs, 3 passes), 49ers went 3' & out'. A tired 49er defense took the field and gave up another TD drive with the help of a bogus roughing the QB call. And that's gg.

Play cut ups to follow.

Originally posted by thl408:
The 49ers came with a much better offensive gameplan in this game compared to what we saw in week 13 vsSEA. Although that's not saying much, at least it showed they made some sort of adjustment. For this coaching staff though, it is too little too late. There was an effort to work the short to intermediate areas of the field that was lacking in the Thanksgiving game. The throws were mainly within the numbers (not near the sidelines) and it resulted in more comfortable looking throws from Kap. Kap's number was also called for at least 3 designed QB runs. The running game was up and down despite suspect blocking from Looney. SEA came with their standard cover1/cover3 calls with some nice blitzes mixed in. I agree Kap looked more comfortable than he has in previous games in SEA. Perhaps the novelty of the loud environment is wearing off. The 49ers took a lead into halftime, but two key drives in the 2nd half doomed the offense.

Defensively, the 49ers did well in coverage and did not have any blown coverages. There were two big chunk plays by SEA's passing game. One was a result of RWilson having over 6 seconds in the pocket and the other was on a very nice pass versus Cox 1v1. Other than that, the 49ers did their job containing SEA's offense...until Borland went down and the SEA running game got going in the second half. Hard to imagine that having Borland go down left such a huge hole in the 49er run defense, but Moody was playing timid and Wilhoite is always timid in the run game. Having two ILBs that are not decisive with attacking gaps causes tackles to be made 5+ yards downfield when facing a good zone blocking run attack.. Once SEA's run game started to chug along, things fell into place for their offense and it showed on a read-option play that went for a RW +19 yard gain.

After SEA scored their first TD of the game using a 10 play drive in the 3rd quarter (7 runs, 3 passes), 49ers went 3' & out'. A tired 49er defense took the field and gave up another TD drive with the help of a bogus roughing the QB call. And that's gg.

Play cut ups to follow.

Don't forget the one drive the refs carried SEA to 7 points. We had only scored 3 points but had sooooo much momentum at that time. Tough to win when the refs give the opponent TD's.

I just finished watching the game as well, saw the same things. I thought kaps accuracy was suspect at times - there were a number of plays where he had open receivers and just missed the throws. To his credit though, Seattle's D-line absolutely manhandled our O-line in pass blocking. They were able to do whatever they wanted up front.

I felt the two biggest turning points were when Borland went down and Hyde went down. After Hyde went down - we lost the ability to run the ball effectively. When Borland went down, our defense couldn't hold Seattle's running game at bay anymore and it forced the offense to become 1 dimensional and win the game. Something we've struggled with all year, especially against that front in that stadium. In the first half, it felt like we were able to attack their defense and their offense was scratching to get things done and was pressing. In the 2nd half - the script was flipped.

I won't be able to get to some cutups for a little bit as I am once again experiencing an area internet outage and am posting using my mobile hotspot.

Here's the first play from scrimmage and shows some purpose in getting the short passing game going early.

1Q 1st & 10
Boldin's designed to back up the strongside hook/curl defender (strongside middle zone defender). VD's route will widen the strongside curl/flat defender towards the sideline. Miller will come across the formation to give Kap a quick target after executing playaction left.
SEA: cover3


Boldin's Go route pushes the defender near him back and gets the defender to back peddle. VD running to the flat takes the curl/flat defender with him as Miller sneaks behind the LoS to mirror Kap.


Boldin and VD earn Miller some space. Kap is mid windup targeting Miller.


+9 yards

8 Yds of RAC!

Originally posted by Joecool:
Don't forget the one drive the refs carried SEA to 7 points. We had only scored 3 points but had sooooo much momentum at that time. Tough to win when the refs give the opponent TD's.

Yeah two personal foul calls on Reid to get the SEA their FG in the 1st Q. I thought the penalty for the hit along the sideline was warranted. Reid could have held up and it's his responsibility to. The hit on the WR that was 'high' was a little bogus. It was a bang bang play and that was a tough call to take. It was not helmet to helmet. It was not a hit "against a defenseless WR" which was the reason for the call. The WR made the catch, made a football move to duck his head.

Originally posted by thl408:

Here's the first play from scrimmage and shows some purpose in getting the short passing game going early.

1Q 1st & 10
Boldin's designed to back up the strongside hook/curl defender (strongside middle zone defender). VD's route will widen the strongside curl/flat defender towards the sideline. Miller will come across the formation to give Kap a quick target after executing playaction left.
SEA: cover3


Boldin's Go route pushes the defender near him back and gets the defender to back peddle. VD running to the flat takes the curl/flat defender with him as Miller sneaks behind the LoS to mirror Kap.


Boldin and VD earn Miller some space. Kap is mid windup targeting Miller.


+9 yards

This first play is more of PA slide, but instead of the TE running a corner, they got him running a wheel route. Overall I llike the design and its this types of plays I really want kap running.

This is the 49ers biggest run of the game.

49ers: Inside zone.
1Q 3rd & 5
Notice the large gap between Looney and Staley as SEA lines up two pass rushes very wide to the outside of Staley. Orange LB (#50) will be unblocked.


Hyde puts on some very nice moves to make the unblocked orange defenders miss.


Block in the back by Lloyd.


+38 yard run. -10 due to the penalty downfield. (+28)

Originally posted by thl408:

+38 yard run. -10 due to the penalty downfield. (+28)

That cut was sick. I honestly didn't know Carlos has that in him. He's always running downhill so hard we haven't seen too much of that from him.

On the next play, Gore gets his longest run of the game.
Inside zone


Gore gets the handoff and there is very little daylight.


Gore is hidden from view of the ILBs.


Gore pops out when the ILBs are frozen in the middle when they aren't able to locate Gore.


+15 yards

Agree on all accounts. Fangio dialed up the blitz esp. the CB blitz with McFadden and didn't let up. The one time he did (or so it seemed) that's when Willow had 6 seconds to hit Baldwin on the chunk play thl408 mentioned. HaRoman found success running inside/outside off the RO and kept the defense honest on a few designed runs. And they stayed with it! Loved it. Loved that we only took one lower % shot along the sidelines to VD and it wasn't a go-rout! CK was off on that throw. The quality of the penalties killed us. Got ourselves going backwards a few times as usual. Made some big - boy 3rd down plays too. Overall a very good first half.

Then...the second half came and we were par for the course but it was more understandable given the injuries and critical P.I.

Extra props to Brooks, Dial, McDonald, Borland, Johnson and McFadden, Staley and Miller. Am I missing anyone?

Originally posted by Niners816:
This first play is more of PA slide, but instead of the TE running a corner, they got him running a wheel route. Overall I llike the design and its this types of plays I really want kap running.

I love it b/c you get the defense going one way and but the other. Just like the roll right, toss back left to VD last game. This is how you use Seattle's strength and turn it into a weakness.

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
That cut was sick. I honestly didn't know Carlos has that in him. He's always running downhill so hard we haven't seen too much of that from him.

Yup. That's an explosive element we've been missing in the run game. I love Gore, and he still makes up for diminishing skills with his vision and footwork, but there have been moments this year where we've missed out on bigger gains because he doesn't accelerate through the hole the way he used to.

Hyde has the ability to hit the hole and make a hard cut without slowing down much. Plus he's tough to tackle and can drag defenders for a few extra yards.

Hunter coming back should be big as well. We really need an influx of explosive players at WR and RB.

I have posted here before that we should go on a Shanahan Denver like Stretch and Pick your holes running plays.. Tho Gore may have a hard time doing it now, this line blocking scheme will fit Hyde perfectly.. he's big, good speed, and will be physical enough to run over defender when he has to cut back..

This is how he ran under Urban Meyer, and the 49ers old's quick traps and pulling guards are now done... everyone is reading it and all the DL needs to do is just stay in their space for a few second and allow the 49er RB to come to them..

So the 49er just ripped off two chunk running plays (+28, +15). The next playcall should probably be another run play to try and continue to establish the run game, or playaction to take advantage of a SEA defense that is starting to creep forward to stop the run game. This is the first of three consecutive pass plays that had many of us scratching our heads (or facepalming).

49ers: I think VD and Miller and trying to give the look of a Smash concept with VD running a double move. Miller and Gore are trying to pull the LB's forward with their Curls. Boldin's route looks to get behind the LBs.
SEA: cover3


Pass pro is solid. Kap completes his 5 step dropback and sees this. Boldin is now behind the LBs and will look for a quiet area to settle down and provide Kap with a passing lane.


Kap is mid windup targeting Boldin - the correct read and throw.


Pass is batted down by a Dlineman. Notice Boldin finding the soft spot in the cover3 zone - middle of the field behind LBs, in front of deep zones.


Incomplete.