Offseason All22 Film Study

The catch I think he gave up, indirectly.
Ward in the slot.
Fire zone blitz vs All Curls


The 49ers will usually play a pattern match with their two curl/flat defenders using the SCIF technique (seam/curl/flat) when calling a fire zone blitz. On this play, this is Bethea and Ward.
(I think) Ward is supposed to ride the #2 WR (slot WR) up the seam and pass off coverage to one of the deep zone defenders, then play the Curl zone while letting the QB take him to the Flat if there is a threat in the Flat. Here, Ward matches the #2, the first vertical he sees.
On the other side of the field, Bethea stays in the Curl. It's an easier read for Bethea because there is no slot WR on his side of the field.


With Bethea playing the Curl zone, the Curl on his side of the field is defeated - with Cox over the top, and Bethea underneath.
Ward has vacated his Curl zone, choosing to match the #2 in man coverage. This leaves Cully, playing over the top, at the mercy of any comeback type of route - in this case, a Curl. If Ward stayed in his Curl zone (blue cross), it would defeat the Curl.


Completed to the Curl for a 3rd down conversion.

Cover 2 Man vs ?
Ward in the slot vs Tavon Austin
Ward with inside shade in tight press alignment


With a cover 2 safety (MoFO) behind Ward, Ward will try to play with inside leverage and prevent Austin from attacking the middle of the field because of the large seam in the middle of the field. But Austin insists on trying to win an inside release as Ward will get the jam in.


Ward stays physical to make the inside release very difficult to earn for Austin. Ward already shading to the inside, rides Austin for the full 5 yards +1 or 2.


The QB has to move off of his read of TAustin.


Ward thoroughly defeats TAustin's seam route. Incomplete to the Drag route

Ward vs APettis
Cover 2 look (man), but Reid will be double teaming the WR (Quick) at the bottom of the screen (with Cully). This puts Ward 1v1 with no safety help.


At the snap, Ward will step to the inside to take inside leverage, to keep the WR away from the middle of the field (cover 2, MoFO).


Reid has moved over to the sideline to help double team the WR with Cully.
For some reason, Ward slows down a bit at this frame. It results in good separation for the WR. Fortunately, the QB never sees it.


It's hard to see the slow down by Ward because the GIF framerate is always worse than the video, but he does take a slight hesitation as if he thought the WR was going to break on his route. That's what caused the separation to occur.


Many times he was was not targeted in this game, he was playing sound assignment football. Funneling to safety help, being able to stay with the WR he was assigned to.

^^^ Thanks, thl. Looks like that Rams game was one of Ward's better performances. He seemed to grow into the role as the year went on. He has good instincts and understands his responsibilities. He's also a sound tackler. The slot is a tricky position to play since you don't have the sideline to work with, but he does well when he doesn't have to turn his back and run. He likes to see the action in front of him, making him a good fit for slot or safety. I like his skill set overall and think he should be solid for us next year.

Originally posted by thl408:

Many times he was was not targeted in this game, he was playing sound assignment football. Funneling to safety help, being able to stay with the WR he was assigned to.

This is very helpful thl. Thanks for this. You can really see his potential playing a very difficult position and in many case, adverse to the FS role he played all through college...you can see his instincts, speed, closing speed, form tackling, quickness, football IQ, etc. To me, he looked like a talented rookie player playing while he was thinking and in a new position.

Obviously, he's a mismatch on the bigger TE's and WR's from the slot but sometimes his initial coverage off the LOS is enough to force the QB to look elsewhere, making it a win.

Mangini seems more into the idea of personnel matchups and putting players in position to their strengths. If that is the case, we might see Johnson slide inside to the slot in various packages (esp. the RZ) to help create a better matchup against these bigger, more physical WR/TE's.

Also, IMHO, Ward is an everything-in-front-of-him playmaker. He's best served playing deeper and reading-reacting to what's in front of him which in many cases from the slot, adverse to that. I'm wondering if Mangini sees this as well and can devise more sets where he can be in position to be that playmaker. It's going to be very interesting to see how he uses Ward, Johnson and Tartt. Any ideas/guestimates?

I can't wait!

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by thl408:

Many times he was was not targeted in this game, he was playing sound assignment football. Funneling to safety help, being able to stay with the WR he was assigned to.

This is very helpful thl. Thanks for this. You can really see his potential playing a very difficult position and in many case, adverse to the FS role he played all through college...you can see his instincts, speed, closing speed, form tackling, quickness, football IQ, etc. To me, he looked like a talented rookie player playing while he was thinking and in a new position.

Obviously, he's a mismatch on the bigger TE's and WR's from the slot but sometimes his initial coverage off the LOS is enough to force the QB to look elsewhere, making it a win.

Mangini seems more into the idea of personnel matchups and putting players in position to their strengths. If that is the case, we might see Johnson slide inside to the slot in various packages (esp. the RZ) to help create a better matchup against these bigger, more physical WR/TE's.

Also, IMHO, Ward is an everything-in-front-of-him playmaker. He's best served playing deeper and reading-reacting to what's in front of him which in many cases from the slot, adverse to that. I'm wondering if Mangini sees this as well and can devise more sets where he can be in position to be that playmaker. It's going to be very interesting to see how he uses Ward, Johnson and Tartt. Any ideas/guestimates?

I can't wait!

Is that how he played in college? After all he was a safety, not a CB, so it makes sense that he struggles with backpeddling and flipping his hips to turn and run with WRs. I have no idea and would like to hear from someone that has watched his college footage.

I'll show the Brandin Cooks TD when I get to the @NO game where he was beat vertically 1v1. He also stumbled on the play in post#198. Then he got beat vertically in post#273. Most of the time, he has over the top help and uses it so it's not an issue. He gets crossed over more than he should when he has to turn and run. As a safety, flipping the hips does not occur as much as a CB. If there was a weakness to his coverage game, I'd say it's his ability to consistently transition from backpeddle (or slide stepping) to full sprint in the opposite direction. Not an easy thing to do for any CB, but it's something all good CBs can do well, and consistently.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by thl408:

Many times he was was not targeted in this game, he was playing sound assignment football. Funneling to safety help, being able to stay with the WR he was assigned to.

This is very helpful thl. Thanks for this. You can really see his potential playing a very difficult position and in many case, adverse to the FS role he played all through college...you can see his instincts, speed, closing speed, form tackling, quickness, football IQ, etc. To me, he looked like a talented rookie player playing while he was thinking and in a new position.

Obviously, he's a mismatch on the bigger TE's and WR's from the slot but sometimes his initial coverage off the LOS is enough to force the QB to look elsewhere, making it a win.

Mangini seems more into the idea of personnel matchups and putting players in position to their strengths. If that is the case, we might see Johnson slide inside to the slot in various packages (esp. the RZ) to help create a better matchup against these bigger, more physical WR/TE's.

Also, IMHO, Ward is an everything-in-front-of-him playmaker. He's best served playing deeper and reading-reacting to what's in front of him which in many cases from the slot, adverse to that. I'm wondering if Mangini sees this as well and can devise more sets where he can be in position to be that playmaker. It's going to be very interesting to see how he uses Ward, Johnson and Tartt. Any ideas/guestimates?

I can't wait!

Is that how he played in college? After all he was a safety, not a CB, so it makes sense that he struggles with backpeddling and flipping his hips to turn and run with WRs. I have no idea and would like to hear from someone that has watched his college footage.

I'll show the Brandin Cooks TD when I get to the @NO game where he was beat vertically 1v1. He also stumbled on the play in post#198. Then he got beat vertically in post#273. Most of the time, he has over the top help and uses it so it's not an issue. He gets crossed over more than he should when he has to turn and run. As a safety, flipping the hips does not occur as much as a CB. If there was a weakness to his coverage game, I'd say it's his ability to consistently transition from backpeddle (or slide stepping) to full sprint in the opposite direction. Not an easy thing to do for any CB, but it's something all good CBs can do well, and consistently.

Yeah, here is a short vid of his playmaking ability when he's allowed to be "free" and have everything in front of him...can break on balls, close quickly, react, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8toLecbxgs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UWCnNiM8wk (this one is better quality/longer)

You're absolutely correct in that in the slot role last year, he was in press a lot and would turn and run with the WR/TE right off the LOS and then passes that receiver off to over-the-top S. While this is a sound design, it often times forces him to turn and run with his back to the QB thereby, eliminating his play making abilities (instincts) IMHO.

He's more of a pure FS to me with quickness, range and speed and with great closing abilities and football IQ/instincts. All that being said, I wonder if Mangini will put him in more positions where he can still pattern match (but off the LOS) or be freed up in coverage some to allow him to keep the action in front of him vs. having his back to the QB/action.

I think he could be effective in both roles esp. once he's 100% healthy but I was just thinking outside the box a bit and to his strengths. In your assessment, I agree overall, that it is much more difficult to flip the hips and turn and run from a transitioning FS to slot CB. If Mangini wants him to play in an identical role, this is certainly an area he is going to have to work extra hard at. Otherwise, they may ask him to square up more and jam and contain the receiver before turning and running with him.

Originally posted by thl408:
The catch I think he gave up, indirectly.
Ward in the slot.
Fire zone blitz vs All Curls


The 49ers will usually play a pattern match with their two curl/flat defenders using the SCIF technique (seam/curl/flat) when calling a fire zone blitz. On this play, this is Bethea and Ward.
(I think) Ward is supposed to ride the #2 WR (slot WR) up the seam and pass off coverage to one of the deep zone defenders, then play the Curl zone while letting the QB take him to the Flat if there is a threat in the Flat. Here, Ward matches the #2, the first vertical he sees.
On the other side of the field, Bethea stays in the Curl. It's an easier read for Bethea because there is no slot WR on his side of the field.


With Bethea playing the Curl zone, the Curl on his side of the field is defeated - with Cox over the top, and Bethea underneath.
Ward has vacated his Curl zone, choosing to match the #2 in man coverage. This leaves Cully, playing over the top, at the mercy of any comeback type of route - in this case, a Curl. If Ward stayed in his Curl zone (blue cross), it would defeat the Curl.


Completed to the Curl for a 3rd down conversion.

So you end up having three defenders on one guy (with Reid being over the top also) and a one-on-one on the outside on a passing down? Correct?

Originally posted by Young2Rice:
So you end up having three defenders on one guy (with Reid being over the top also) and a one-on-one on the outside on a passing down? Correct?

Correct, for the way this play unfolded. As a SCIF (seam/curl/flat) defender, Ward needed to identify that there was no immediate threat to his area of the field once the #3 stayed in to block (there could still be a crossing route from the other side of the field), then as soon as the #2 crosses his face to the inside (towards the middle of the field where there are a bunch of other defenders), #2 is no longer Ward's responsibility. Cully is counting on Ward to help underneath, which allows Cully to play soft over the top to defeat any possible vertical routes by #1. #1 Curls and there's a nice passing lane available.

It's a lot to compute, but that's why the SCIF players have the hardest assignments in a fire zone blitz.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by Young2Rice:
So you end up having three defenders on one guy (with Reid being over the top also) and a one-on-one on the outside on a passing down? Correct?

Correct, for the way this play unfolded. As a SCIF (seam/curl/flat) defender, Ward needed to identify that there was no immediate threat to his area of the field once the #3 stayed in to block (there could still be a crossing route from the other side of the field), then as soon as the #2 crosses his face to the inside (towards the middle of the field where there are a bunch of other defenders), #2 is no longer Ward's responsibility. Cully is counting on Ward to help underneath, which allows Cully to play soft over the top to defeat any possible vertical routes by #1. #1 Curls and there's a nice passing lane available.

It's a lot to compute, but that's why the SCIF players have the hardest assignments in a fire zone blitz.

Yeah i was going to say that's a lot for a rookie. Lets see if he gained some experience and makes that mistake again and again.

Originally posted by Young2Rice:
Yeah i was going to say that's a lot for a rookie. Lets see if he gained some experience and makes that mistake again and again.

It is indeed a lot for a defender and that's what makes it a complex coverage call. Here is a nice diagram I found on what Ward should have done in this particular scenario.

Originally posted by NCommand:
thl, there seems to be a lot of confusion about the assignments of DE in the 3-4...if you ever get a chance, could you highlight J.Smith...plays where he clearly is assigned to fire up field to help collapse the pocket, others, where he's assigned to tie up two OL (i.e. he DOESN'T fire up field at the snap), 3-point stance, standing up at the snap, stunts, dropping back in coverage, lining up inside, etc.

This may help fans also understand why we drafted AA and why it may have taken so long for Carrdine to get down all these defensive calls/assignments as they work so interdependently with the rest of the front 7.

A general line of thought is that firing upfield is synonymous to one-gapping while tying up blockers is two-gapping. This is why one gap schemes are referred to as 'aggressive/penetrating' while two-gapping is 'read and react'. There are different fronts in a 3-4 that allow a DE to one gap or two gap. The 49ers generally 2 gap whereas Wade Philips' 3-4 (like his dad's) is a one gap attacking scheme, which is why JJ Watt is always in the backfield.

This is Justin 1 gapping as a 3 tech - lined up between the Guard and Tackle.
Notice where his two feet are presnap.


Notice how far upfield he has gotten. About a yard and a half as he attacks the B gap.


Beasting into the backfield.


Perhaps a better angle to see him fire upfield - one gapping.

Justin two-gapping as a 4tech, head up on the left tackle. It's not always the case, but if a DLman is head up on a OLman, he's two gapping.
Notice where Justin's feet are presnap.


Justin has not gotten upfield because he did not fire out. He sidestepped and wants to hold ground because he is responsible for two gaps - B and C (both sides of the left tackle).


Hold ground. Watch for the RB to come his way.


Notice how Justin does not fire upfield. Read and react. Shed the block and make the play.

Also, it Looks like Borland made the play by blowing up the left guard.

Thl408 REALLY knows his stuff. Thank you. One of the best ever to exploit those gaps by, literally, turning sideways and slashing through a gap, was our own Bryant Young. The feet-set is very telling and I'm so glad you highlighted that as well.

I hope this clears up a couple of the main responsibilities of a 3-4 DE...and help you understand AA's low college stats and overall game as well (and why we drafted him).