Niners hire Jim O'Neil as DC

Chip has probably seen film on this play and is probably still laughing at it's flaws

Originally posted by reasonable1:

Originally posted by thl408:
I think CLE is in Quarters here.
2nd & 9
vs Z Cross: three level High-Low
As with all pattern match coverages, WRs are numbered 1,2,3 from the outside in.
I think the safeties are reading #2.


The #2 that's an inline TE blocks so the safety on that side of the field comes up for run support. Very characteristic of a safety playing Quarters. The other safety sees the FB cross over the centerline so he is free to double team the #1.


#1 goes "vertical", behind the LBs, so the CB matches #1.


Sacked for -10. When the FB crosses over the centerline, watch the reaction of the OLB on that side of the field. He reacts as if to get ready to man cover the FB.

If Gabbert leads Boldin on that play it's a huge gain...

Hindsight...

That could've been a big play on 2nd down, if the FB didn't whiff on the block. That throw has to have full motion. If not, it's under thrown and most likely picked off. At least he saw it, was about to throw it, but didn't sack fumbled.

Originally posted by reasonable1:
If Gabbert leads Boldin on that play it's a huge gain...

Hindsight...

If Boldin was faster that would have been a safe throw. I can't wait to see what Smelter can do.

Originally posted by thl408:

I think CLE is in Quarters here.

Originally posted by thl408:

Here a play where the ILBs do pattern match.

Originally posted by thl408:

CLE does play split coverages where each side of the field is doing something different. This is the oddest coverage I saw from this game.

thl...PLEASE keep posting these. This will go a long way in helping us in understanding O'Neil's philosophy and perhaps, how he's going to install the defense here (and who will play key roles). Thanks man!

Since he is a Pettine disciple can you post some cut ups of a Jets Pettine defense at it's best s9 we can see how it looks with better talent?

Originally posted by pd24:
Since he is a Pettine disciple can you post some cut ups of a Jets Pettine defense at it's best s9 we can see how it looks with better talent?

Although that would be interesting, I know that because they had Revis, they did some weird stuff regarding coverage. So it might not be indicative of what we would see with the 49ers.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by pd24:
Since he is a Pettine disciple can you post some cut ups of a Jets Pettine defense at it's best s9 we can see how it looks with better talent?

Although that would be interesting, I know that because they had Revis, they did some weird stuff regarding coverage. So it might not be indicative of what we would see with the 49ers.

did you read that SI article on how the players thought his entire scheme was too complicated and stopped the players from just reacting on run plays?

not looking forward to this at all.

cossell did say he's a big pressure based guy and will blitz very often

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by pd24:
Since he is a Pettine disciple can you post some cut ups of a Jets Pettine defense at it's best s9 we can see how it looks with better talent?

Although that would be interesting, I know that because they had Revis, they did some weird stuff regarding coverage. So it might not be indicative of what we would see with the 49ers.

Was that more of a Rex thing? Also did the Browns coverage stuff change from year 1 when Pettine had more control to year 2 when Oneil was running the show?

I get it. It was a Revis thing. lol. He shuts down one player so they could get more creative. I wish we had one of those.

Originally posted by thl408:

Although that would be interesting, I know that because they had Revis, they did some weird stuff regarding coverage. So it might not be indicative of what we would see with the 49ers.

Buffalo would probably be a better example as far as Pettine's scheme goes

Originally posted by iLL49er:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by pd24:
Since he is a Pettine disciple can you post some cut ups of a Jets Pettine defense at it's best s9 we can see how it looks with better talent?

Although that would be interesting, I know that because they had Revis, they did some weird stuff regarding coverage. So it might not be indicative of what we would see with the 49ers.

did you read that SI article on how the players thought his entire scheme was too complicated and stopped the players from just reacting on run plays?

not looking forward to this at all.

cossell did say he's a big pressure based guy and will blitz very often

I haven't looked at run plays and I'm not sure I'd be able to tell what they are supposed to do if I were to watch, but I did read those comments (complex run defense) as it was posted in this thread. I guess if we see hesitant LBs that would be the symptom of players thinking too much?
If there's two things I can say with certainty, it's that JoN tries to do a lot in terms of presnap looks, and postsnap action (rolling coverages). In that sense, he is like Mangini. He'll line up LBs all over the place - in between the DTs, on the LoS. I saw 3-4 and 4-3 looks. His CBs will play press or play off coverage (Mangini was almost all press alignment). He rotates safeties post snap, play split coverages. Many various blitz packages. From all this and reading that player testimony, I'd say if there was a fault to his scheme it's that it's too complicated in terms of volume. Either he's asking too much of the players or he can't effectively teach what he wants them to do. Maybe a combination of both. But it's a very deep playbook. The other thing I can say with certainty is that he plays much more man coverage than zone coverage. That's different than Mangini.

It's a long offseason so I'll eventually put some cut ups to these observations. I've only watched about 5 games, all from 2015.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by iLL49er:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by pd24:
Since he is a Pettine disciple can you post some cut ups of a Jets Pettine defense at it's best s9 we can see how it looks with better talent?

Although that would be interesting, I know that because they had Revis, they did some weird stuff regarding coverage. So it might not be indicative of what we would see with the 49ers.

did you read that SI article on how the players thought his entire scheme was too complicated and stopped the players from just reacting on run plays?

not looking forward to this at all.

cossell did say he's a big pressure based guy and will blitz very often

I haven't looked at run plays and I'm not sure I'd be able to tell what they are supposed to do if I were to watch, but I did read those comments (complex run defense) as it was posted in this thread. I guess if we see hesitant LBs that would be the symptom of players thinking too much?
If there's two things I can say with certainty, it's that JoN tries to do a lot in terms of presnap looks, and postsnap action (rolling coverages). In that sense, he is like Mangini. He'll line up LBs all over the place - in between the DTs, on the LoS. I saw 3-4 and 4-3 looks. His CBs will play press or play off coverage (Mangini was almost all press alignment). He rotates safeties post snap, play split coverages. Many various blitz packages. From all this and reading that player testimony, I'd say if there was a fault to his scheme it's that it's too complicated in terms of volume. Either he's asking too much of the players or he can't effectively teach what he wants them to do. Maybe a combination of both. But it's a very deep playbook. The other thing I can say with certainty is that he plays much more man coverage than zone coverage. That's different than Mangini.

It's a long offseason so I'll eventually put some cut ups to these observations. I've only watched about 5 games, all from 2015.

QFG..quoted for gold.

Here's a look at the various fronts CLE came at the 49ers with when in base personnel. This is all in the 1st quarter. These are all downs where the 49ers did not have 3WRs in the game. (CLE was not in nickel)

1 tech shifted to the weak side


This isn't uncommon when trying to beef up against inside runs. Both the DEs are inside of the tackles.


Can't tell if this is an over or under shift, but there's definitely a shift. Over/Under depends on which side of the formation CLE has designated as the offensive strongside since the 49ers came with a balanced formation.


4 down linemen. 1 tech shifted to the strongside.

Never forget the 2014 game against the Giants......Aldon & Lynch playing together for the first time, Tank, Justin Smith....the pass rush was VIOLENT that game.

Originally posted by thl408:

If there's two things I can say with certainty, it's that JoN tries to do a lot in terms of presnap looks, and postsnap action (rolling coverages). In that sense, he is like Mangini. He'll line up LBs all over the place - in between the DTs, on the LoS. I saw 3-4 and 4-3 looks. His CBs will play press or play off coverage (Mangini was almost all press alignment). He rotates safeties post snap, play split coverages. Many various blitz packages. From all this and reading that player testimony, I'd say if there was a fault to his scheme it's that it's too complicated in terms of volume. Either he's asking too much of the players or he can't effectively teach what he wants them to do. Maybe a combination of both. But it's a very deep playbook. The other thing I can say with certainty is that he plays much more man coverage than zone coverage. That's different than Mangini.

I rewatched the Browns game myself and saw a lot of what you noted here as well.

It does seem to be a combination of both Fangio and Mangini.

As far as a key weakness, you seem right on with that and it shows on the field when the QB scrambles and ad libs; guys wide open and lost.

PS: I feel a bit better with this hire now.