Interesting plays

[Merlin]

While reviewing the game this one sort of stood out in that it looks like a designed "eye control" play. I believe the idea is to get the LB to disregard the flat for Hendy to get a sideline seam. And probably thanks to the Dolphins beating that 9er ass the week before these guys were not fucking around, they (SF) played with some serious discipline...

Situation

Pre-snap the Rams are in 12. That's Kupp in motion, Woody at the top.

At the snap 81 is moving to kick out the opposing end. Hendy is going to take the fake before bouncing outside but I don't like his angle here and it's going to get worse, with his shoulders telegraphing what direction he's going to go i.e. outside. General rule is that on a fake the RB should keep his shoulders square long as possible to avoid being read.

Woody is running a deep out here. The corner is basically sitting on it too with outside leverage and a safety inside. Goff knows it's not there with Woody but he stays on him, having not read left really to include a potential play at his back with Kupp (likely a 5 yarder maybe more). 51, who either has Hendy as assignment or reads his route, basically disregards Goff's eyes right here. This is why I suspect it's a designed play to get one over on the young backer.

Couple beats later Goff still locked on Woody. And might I observe another of many fine pockets right here.

Goff finally moves his eyes to Hendy who also looks back at this moment but Goff doesn't like it (probably a good call).

Thrown away near Woody. Gotta tip your cap to the D here, playing a perfect coverage call (which also seemed to happen a lot) and the OLB preventing Hendy running loose down the sideline.

 

[Dz1]

While reviewing the game this one sort of stood out in that it looks like a designed "eye control" play. I believe the idea is to get the LB to disregard the flat for Hendy to get a sideline seam. And probably thanks to the Dolphins beating that 9er ass the week before these guys were not fucking around, they (SF) played with some serious discipline...

Situation
View attachment 40179

Pre-snap the Rams are in 12. That's Kupp in motion, Woody at the top.
View attachment 40180

At the snap 81 is moving to kick out the opposing end. Hendy is going to take the fake before bouncing outside but I don't like his angle here and it's going to get worse, with his shoulders telegraphing what direction he's going to go i.e. outside. General rule is that on a fake the RB should keep his shoulders square long as possible to avoid being read.
View attachment 40184

Woody is running a deep out here. The corner is basically sitting on it too with outside leverage and a safety inside. Goff knows it's not there with Woody but he stays on him, having not read left really to include a potential play at his back with Kupp (likely a 5 yarder maybe more). 51, who either has Hendy as assignment or reads his route, basically disregards Goff's eyes right here. This is why I suspect it's a designed play to get one over on the young backer.
View attachment 40186

Couple beats later Goff still locked on Woody. And might I observe another of many fine pockets right here.
View attachment 40187

Goff finally moves his eyes to Hendy who also looks back at this moment but Goff doesn't like it (probably a good call).
View attachment 40188

Thrown away near Woody. Gotta tip your cap to the D here, playing a perfect coverage call (which also seemed to happen a lot) and the OLB preventing Hendy running loose down the sideline.
View attachment 40189

You do excellent breakdowns. I use to do them, but No Mas.lol

 

[Merlin]

Remember that play where Collinsworth sucked off 54 for making what was a great play on Hendy there on the sideline? Well yeah it was a good play, you know, running completely uncontested to the sideline to jump on the ball carrier... Uncontested you say? Hmm let's see...

Situation

Pre-snap the NT is a reach block assignment for Edwards on a zone right. Blythe's role in this run is to get a hand in the armpit in order to assist Edwards getting on him, and then to at least get in 54's way. But the NT is lined up 0T so Blythe has to help stand him up and edge him as he tries to get to his assignment (54).

At the snap Blythe is all off balance, in trying to get second level. I presume the NT yanks him here but hard to see.

Now imagine if Blythe were to get second level here just enough to take two steps off 54's path, and hold that thought as this play unfolds.

At the handoff the line is holding well and things look good.

Hendy takes this thing wide and I presume he doesn't know 54 has him angled. Right now he probably thinks he's gonna have a real nice sideline.

One guy not doing his assignment. That's all it takes. Ultimate team game eh?

 

[CGI_Ram]

Yeah, is that #92 for 49’ers that disrupts Blythe? Kerry Hyder Jr.?

 

[Merlin]

Believe it was 93. Probably should have been a penalty too tbh. Linemen been doing that and refs have been calling it when it's obvious. You can't hold an offensive lineman from pulling as a DT basically, if I recall the rule correctly.

 

[fearsomefour]

Remember that play where Collinsworth sucked off 54 for making what was a great play on Hendy there on the sideline? Well yeah it was a good play, you know, running completely uncontested to the sideline to jump on the ball carrier... Uncontested you say? Hmm let's see...

Situation
View attachment 40190

Pre-snap the NT is a reach block assignment for Edwards on a zone right. Blythe's role in this run is to get a hand in the armpit in order to assist Edwards getting on him, and then to at least get in 54's way. But the NT is lined up 0T so Blythe has to help stand him up and edge him as he tries to get to his assignment (54).
View attachment 40192
View attachment 40193

At the snap Blythe is all off balance, in trying to get second level. I presume the NT yanks him here but hard to see.
View attachment 40194

Now imagine if Blythe were to get second level here just enough to take two steps off 54's path, and hold that thought as this play unfolds.
View attachment 40195

At the handoff the line is holding well and things look good.
View attachment 40196

Hendy takes this thing wide and I presume he doesn't know 54 has him angled. Right now he probably thinks he's gonna have a real nice sideline.
View attachment 40197

One guy not doing his assignment. That's all it takes. Ultimate team game eh?
View attachment 40198

Warner defeats these kinds of plays over and over week after week.
A true sideline to sideline LB.
One of the best in the league.

 

[Merlin]

Another example of a reach block gone wrong. Both OGs go second level on this play to kick out ILBs. Havenstein's reach block on 90 gets beat and that's all she wrote. Both OGs, btw, seem more focused on getting on the ILBs than helping out their linemates. IMO this is another example of zone basics not being followed (namely the simple assist with an outstretched arm to help the guy next to you get position on his assignment). When you do this you will have run plays get blown up in this scheme, but it is easily correctable. Putting this up because it's not our OL getting pushed around, which is what it looks like on a quick/live take.

Situation

Pre-snap and some assignments in the key part of the play. Blythe will do a nice job on his assignment btw, the assignment that beats this play is Hav not being able to get the 3T (#90) stood up (90 makes a hard inside move immediately as well which confounds the assignment).

Switching view pre-snap

At the snap 99 shoots his A gap and Blythe is about to lock him out which is fine because the run will be through the A gap behind Blythe. Corbett is making his move but with the design of this play he should put an arm on 90 or help Hav stand him up as he moves past him. As an interior OL you do have a second to do this before moving second level and this is where guys playing next to each other sharpening their technique start to get really nasty. Rams just not there yet.

A beat later it looks pretty good for the Rams, but 90 is lower than Hav and Hav didn't quite get his feet set with position on 90 so he won't be able to execute his block.

Another second later things still look good but 90 is about to ruin things. It's funny too, with Hav in a situation like this he will often end up falling on the guy but even for a guy as big as Hav that position is important.

That's a 10 yard + run IMO if Corbett/Hav handle that blocking assignment better. And the fix, again, is technique. Nobody was blown off the ball here. Our OGs need to do a better job of at least rubbing on the DL when it's a reach for the guy next to them.

 

[Merlin]

Same basic structure here for the OL but with reach blocks correctly executed...

Situation

Pre-snap same assignments. And note that for Hav and Blythe they don't need to get position as I have drawn arrows to win, they just gotta stand their guys up and stay on blocks.

At the snap look at Corbett's arms. That's how you help your linemate get on a tough assignment. Same with Edwards on his side, he starts moving here to his second level block even as he helps Blythe get good position on his assignment.

Hat on a hat. Goddamn that looks better doesn't it?

18 yard gain.

 

[Merlin]

And btw Whit and Edwards make a hell of a team. These stills are later in same drive, the handoff to Woody which comes from the side and is IMO a beautifully designed play...

Pre-snap

At the snap Big Rob is getting ready to pull and kick out the end (92). Edwards has the assignment to seal 95 inside which is another reach, and we're about to see it done at a high level by him and Whit. It's the key block of the play IMO, well that and the kick out by Hav.

Instead of the hand in the armpit Whit gives 95 (who is already stood up but needs to be sealed inside) a good shove.

Edwards has the seal here. Whit is about to move on to his assignment (57) and Big Rob is about to take out the end.

Handoff made and 92 wants nothing to do with 79, in fact he is running himself out of the play around him at this moment. Things lookin good.

Woody sees daylight

7 yard gainer

 

[Merlin]

Warner defeats these kinds of plays over and over week after week.
A true sideline to sideline LB.
One of the best in the league.

Very true. But even the best can be blocked. Just take a look at AD in this one. Get an OL in his face and it's a different storyline.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Same basic structure here for the OL but with reach blocks correctly executed...

Situation
View attachment 40215

Pre-snap same assignments. And note that for Hav and Blythe they don't need to get position as I have drawn arrows to win, they just gotta stand their guys up and stay on blocks.
View attachment 40216

At the snap look at Corbett's arms. That's how you help your linemate get on a tough assignment. Same with Edwards on his side, he starts moving here to his second level block even as he helps Blythe get good position on his assignment.
View attachment 40217

Hat l on a hat. Goddamn that looks better doesn't it?
View attachment 40218

18 yard gain.
View attachment 40219

Good stuff! Hell of a block there by Corbett.

 

[RamDino]

Great stuff, Merlin. And excellent analysis, as usual.

 

[Merlin]

First play after the half.

Pre-snap the 9ers are mixing it up. 20 is showing deep middle but he's got Woody (who is the motion). It doesn't accomplish much though, since Goff knows they're manned up and he will know immediately post-snap that 57 has Higs which is a mismatch.

At the snap SF safeties start their move.

At the fake Higs is crossing to the outside underneath Everett, rub doesn't happen but Higs has 57 beat already.

At the drop look at the protection. Goff is missile locked on Higs and rightly so. Everett has his man beat too but that safety inside is no bueno.

Goff starts his throw right before the break

Higs turns and sees the ball inc

Big completion here. Only gripe I have is it was a bit too far to the sideline. Better placement would mean more yards and maybe a TD, Higs can't reverse that momentum. But still a clutch throw by the QB.

 

[Merlin]

Situation:

Pre-snap

At the snap the 9ers run a stunt off the edge, bringing 90 in hard to draw Edwards so 92 can get through and ravage goldilocks. Edwards and Whit handle it pretty well too here, Edwards shoving 90 over to Whit so he'll be able to take the inside.

Beat later Whit takes 90 and 92 starts his run across Edwards' face

Goff knows where the ball's going here IMO, the safety is reading flat footed with Kupp almost up on him.

Edwards gets beat by the movement here, but not so badly that it's a free rush to Goff. He is about to ride 92 into the ground but unfortunately right in front of the QB.

Goff makes a nice "Manning shuffle" with his feet here and keeps his eyes downfield. But Whit is being driven hard by 90 toward him too.

Throw is up, note Kupp's feet near the hash as he looks back for the ball

I'm sure Kupp blames himself but this one's mostly on Jared IMO.

 

[Ramlock]

First play after the half.

Pre-snap the 9ers are mixing it up. 20 is showing deep middle but he's got Woody (who is the motion). It doesn't accomplish much though, since Goff knows they're manned up and he will know immediately post-snap that 57 has Higs which is a mismatch.
View attachment 40244

At the snap SF safeties start their move.
View attachment 40245

At the fake Higs is crossing to the outside underneath Everett, rub doesn't happen but Higs has 57 beat already.
View attachment 40246

At the drop look at the protection. Goff is missile locked on Higs and rightly so. Everett has his man beat too but that safety inside is no bueno.
View attachment 40247

Goff starts his throw right before the break
View attachment 40248

Higs turns and sees the ball inc
View attachment 40249

Big completion here. Only gripe I have is it was a bit too far to the sideline. Better placement would mean more yards and maybe a TD, Higs can't reverse that momentum. But still a clutch throw by the QB.
View attachment 40250
View attachment 40251

I think he makes THIS throw better than any body

 

[CGI_Ram]

Situation:
View attachment 40255

Pre-snap
View attachment 40256

At the snap the 9ers run a stunt off the edge, bringing 90 in hard to draw Edwards so 92 can get through and ravage goldilocks. Edwards and Whit handle it pretty well too here, Edwards shoving 90 over to Whit so he'll be able to take the inside.
View attachment 40257

Beat later Whit takes 90 and 92 starts his run across Edwards' face
View attachment 40258

Goff knows where the ball's going here IMO, the safety is reading flat footed with Kupp almost up on him.
View attachment 40259

Edwards gets beat by the movement here, but not so badly that it's a free rush to Goff. He is about to ride 92 into the ground but unfortunately right in front of the QB.
View attachment 40260

Goff makes a nice "Manning shuffle" with his feet here and keeps his eyes downfield. But Whit is being driven hard by 90 toward him too.
View attachment 40261

Throw is up, note Kupp's feet near the hash as he looks back for the ball
View attachment 40262

I'm sure Kupp blames himself but this one's mostly on Jared IMO.
View attachment 40263

During the game, my memory of this play was Goff had pressure and threw early....

The stills don’t seem to show that.

 

[Merlin]

During the game, my memory of this play was Goff had pressure and threw early....

The stills don’t seem to show that.

I think you may be right about him throwing it early. I don't really have a good grasp of when a throw should ideally be up for a given route though so sort of avoided that (I make enough assumptions watching film lol). But I thought the same thing.

Nice thing here is that the line pass protected so well throughout this game which is a massive improvement on last season. Game 2 vs SF last season McVay had to run a thousand boots it seemed to keep his QB safe. Not in this game though. Lost in what was a terrible result were more indicators our line has made enormous progress.