9ers Week - Week 1 breakdown.

[London Loves Luke]

So had a chance to watch a replay of the most ludicrously timed game that I can remember in a while (I mean who is watching the Rams vs 9ers at 1 am on a Tuesday?) and I have to admit, at times the 9ers managed to look like Eagles-light from 2014.

Offense

Typical Chip Kelly style no-huddle up tempo, but this time with a legit mobile threat in Gabbert.

QB: We saw flashes of Gabbert's mobility last year; he's surpisingly quick in the 5-15 yard range and they used this mobility quite a lot in the first half by clearing the middle of the field with deep routes. They followed this up with some intermediate and deep routes to Curley and Smith that tested Gabbert's accuracy and led to a decent number of interceptable throws.

Tempo: They get to the line quickly and generally get the snap off with 15 seconds on the clock. In the first half their oline held up surprisingly well against the Rams D, not sure whether this was because of the pace or whether the young O line can hold up on developing plays. Difficult to get a look with Gabbert just working out of the shotgun. On the flip side, with Gabbert out of the shotgun, the Rams managed to deflect 3 or 4 of Gabbert's short passes by coming quickly off the edge and getting their hands up - could be turnovers here.

Hyde is a battering ram as advertised, and dangerous when he gets into open field. They used a couple of screens early on but he spent most of the game knocking on the middle and breaking through for 2-3 decent runs. The two first half TDs were scored on off-tackle runs.

TEs McDonald and Celek were quite efficient down the seams later in the game - could be something we see more this week.

Defence

Run D: Bowman, Armstead, Dial and Buckner, looked very decent. They dominated the interior of the line and completely shut down Todd Gurley all afternoon. Hard to say just how good the rush was with no hint of a passing game from Keenum all game, but when he did drop back there were a couple of safety blitzes and decent edge pressure from Brooks and Harold.

Pass D: Coverage looked good against the Rams non-existant Wide recievers, Reid threw down some big hits when he had the chance. Difficult to say if the defence got gassed as the game went on but pressure on Keenum seemed to reduce in the 4th quarter, he just couldn't do anything with it.

 

Keys

Be careful of runs to the edge and screen plays. Don't think the O line will have what it takes to run through Star, Short and Keuchly in the middle but they will try to target the edges and run read option out of the shotgun.

Interceptions. Might be difficult to get consistent pressure on Gabbert with the speed of the offence and play action. But you really dont need to with Gabbert. Let him throw into zone coverage and pick him off for days.

Test the corners. It may be difficult to get the run game going in the first half, Bowman looked like he was back to All-pro level last year and looked as good against the Rams. Reid in the middle of the field is a clever, hard hitting safety that will probably spend time covering Olsen. Ward and Brock are less physical, quicker corners so will be good matchups for Benjamin and Funch.

 

 

[Jeremy Igo]

Excellent post. Thanks

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[PntherPryd]

Just looking at their secondary and I like what I see.  Corners are 5'10" and 5'11".  Safeties are 6'1" and 5'11".

They run a 3-4 which we have had some problems with before, and Bowman/Hodges look good at ILB.  But I don't see any depth there at all (ILB).  They are going to be on the field a long time with a Chip Kelly boom/bust offense and our guys should wear them down.

Aim high Cam!

[d-dave]

Nice breakdown.  I think we're a much different animal the the Rams.  I also imagine our players will want to righten the ship.

I'm kind of worried about the midrange passing game and getting hammered by their running back.  Hopefully we can come out and score some points early and often to keep them from running the ball effectively.

[London Loves Luke]

5 minutes ago, d-dave said:

Nice breakdown.  I think we're a much different animal the the Rams.  I also imagine our players will want to righten the ship.

I'm kind of worried about the midrange passing game and getting hammered by their running back.  Hopefully we can come out and score some points early and often to keep them from running the ball effectively.

Our strength in the D line is similar to the Rams, but the 9ers opened up the mid-range pass game by running Gabbert early and slamming Hyde into the middle to keep Hayes and Donald honest.

The big difference is the back 7 - Ogletree is decent for the Rams but their corners and safeties couldn't close on a decent number of interceptable throws from Gabbert. Expect that to be different if he tries mid range throws in Coleman and Boston's range.

[d-dave]

Just now, London Loves Luke said:

Our strength in the D line is similar to the Rams, but the 9ers opened up the mid-range pass game by running Gabbert early and slamming Hyde into the middle to keep Hayes and Donald honest.

The big difference is the back 7 - Ogletree is decent for the Rams but their corners and safeties couldn't close on a decent number of interceptable throws from Gabbert. Expect that to be different if he tries mid range throws in Coleman and Boston's range.

I hope so.  They have a lot to make up for after last week!

[Harbingers]

45 minutes ago, London Loves Luke said:

Pass D: Coverage looked good against the Rams non-existant Wide recievers, Reid threw down some big hits when he had the chance. Difficult to say if the defence got gassed as the game went on but pressure on Keenum seemed to reduce in the 4th quarter, he just couldn't do anything with it.

 

Ya, Keenum was just horrid, every throw was errant, his reads were completely off, literally no offense. I have no idea why they are even trying with him. The Rams Wideouts might have not been so bad if there was a throw within' 5 yards of them. If I'm not mistaken the number one TE didn't have a single catch either.

I am chomping at the bit to see what Cam+KB+FunFun+Ginn+Philly+Olsen, can do to this defense. 

[imminent rogaine]

 

[London Loves Luke]

2 minutes ago, Harbingers said:

Ya, Keenum was just horrid, every throw was errant, his reads were completely off, literally no offense. I have no idea why they are even trying with him. The Rams Wideouts might have not been so bad if there was a throw within' 5 yards of them. If I'm not mistaken the number one TE didn't have a single catch either.

I am chomping at the bit to see what Cam+KB+FunFun+Ginn+Philly+Olsen, can do to this defense. 

Typically with the 9ers, the media is going to do its best to build them up to get views from fans desperate for the glory days. In this case you're right, Keenum was SO bad that I've tried to get some points on the 9ers D but its almost impossible to do a proper review facing that offence.

[jayflip]

I'm glad the 49ers aren't listless like I assumed they would be. 

Need to beat an actual team to get that opener's taste out of our mouths. 

Play sound D and no more strings of stalled drives in the second half on O. 

28 - 16, good guys win. 

[Squirrel]

But it's going to be raining Sunday. 

[Harbingers]

2 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

But it's going to be raining Sunday. 

Yes Please.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

I'm most concerned about the run D. Broncos gashed us too many times and I really don't want to see that continue.

[The Lobo]

3 minutes ago, ItsNotGonnaBeAlright said:

I'm most concerned about the run D. Broncos gashed us too many times and I really don't want to see that continue.

Same. Hopefully the d line can get in the backfield and disrupt them. I hope we also put Shaq in spy mode in Gabbert.