The 49ers achillies heel

[threelittleturds]

As good as this defense is, it has one fatal flaw. They sell out to stop the run, and then get exploited on these swing passes to burners. Burners like Cobb and Harvin.

The Packers dialed into this with Cobb, and they finally got things moving on offense once they used him to pick up yards out of the backfield. Chipping away down the field without an answer by the 49ers, they eventually got a TD on that drive after the BS pass interference, not important though, those little dumps to Cobb out of the backfield were the backbone of the scoring drive.

The Lions tried to emulate a little, but lacked the personnel. So they just went back to Megatron, no problem for the 49ers defense because they were all about shutting down Megatron.

The Vikings used this weakness today. How many times did they hit Harvin on that swing pass, fake reverse? 2 or 3 times? Either way, it was a 100% success rate for them. When they lined Harvin up in the backfield, the little dumps to him always went for positive gains.

This is a big weakness

Reminds me of that Chiefs game in 2010. We were disgusted in the fact that the Chiefs defenders laughed about how they called offensive plays, adjusted to the offenses audibles... right? Yeah, Jimmy Raye sucks... but don't forget that Dexter McCluster had 3 catches for 69 yards and a TD, Jaamal Charles had 3 catches for 57 yards that game. This team sells out to stop the run, and it gets killed by those burners out of the backfield.

The 49ers defensive weakness was exposed in 2010 by the Chiefs, the Packers and Vikings have gone back to that and they've shown it is still there. The 49ers have to adjust, I think they can sell out to the run still.. just designate Willis or Bowman to spy those burners out of the backfield.

 

[MrChangoT97]

I think Willis is playing hurt, and he just can't provide that spark the D needs. I think the 49ers need to blitz more and get the pressure on the QB.

 

[clyde_carbon]

I think the defense will be fine. I'm not as high on Goldson as a lot of people on this board are, and I'd definitely look to replace him in this draft, but the defense (and the team) as a whole just didn't play with the intensity the played with the last two games. I don't think we'll see that again this this year.

 

[threelittleturds]

I think Willis is playing hurt, and he just can't provide that spark the D needs. I think the 49ers need to blitz more and get the pressure on the QB.

Willis was healthy for the Packer game, healthy for the Viking game up until the final few minutes. I'm pretty sure he was healthy for the Chiefs game I mentioned.

Injuries aren't the problem, its letting teams line up their speedy WRs in the backfield and then letting them kill the defense.

I only bring up the Chiefs game, because I feel as if what Charles and McCluster did out of the backfield in that game is what inspired this Cobb/Harvin attack.

 

[threelittleturds]

I think the defense will be fine. I'm not as high on Goldson as a lot of people on this board are, and I'd definitely look to replace him in this draft, but the defense (and the team) as a whole just didn't play with the intensity the played with the last two games. I don't think we'll see that again this this year.

They will be fine, only a few teams can line up guys with skillsets like Harvin and Cobb out of the backfield. I just hope the 49ers recognize their weakness, and adjust for it accordingly.

If a burner WR lines up in the backfield, willis or bowman need to automatically spy that guy.

 

[supreme_clientele81]

As good as this defense is, it has one fatal flaw. They sell out to stop the run, and then get exploited on these swing passes to burners. Burners like Cobb and Harvin.

I have noticed this as well. Not sure if its us "selling out" to stop the run or just plain wrong coverages. There have been a few times we have either not covered the back on the swing route or covered him with a deep safety.

Not sure what principals Fangio use on who ever is lined up in the backfield but we defiantly need to game plan that better

 

[threelittleturds]

I have noticed this as well. Not sure if its us "selling out" to stop the run or just plain wrong coverages. There have been a few times we have either not covered the back on the swing route or covered him with a deep safety.

Not sure what principals Fangio use on who ever is lined up in the backfield but we defiantly need to game plan that better

Yeah, the terminology doesn't really matter. Call it what you will, but Cobb and Harvin have killed the 49ers out of the backfield.

Its time to take notice, if a speedy WR lines up as a RB Willis or Bowman need to shadow that guy.

 

[oaknightshockey1]

i really don't care what it takes, but i took the 49ers D in my fantasy draft way earlier than anyone was thinking about taking a defense. they were good to me last year, and i wanted to keep that going. so whatever it takes, GET IT DONE haha.

 

[zman1527]

Agreed with the OP. We took care of business with AP, but other guys stepped up and made plays on us. Harvin was a killer.

This seems to be the weak link in the Harbaugh method. He is very old school, go big, go tough, dominate physically with muscle. Speed can counter-act that.

I am very disappointed that we have not changed our passing game. We added Moss, Mario, and Jenkins and it still looks like we have Ginn and Morgan out there. Nothing dynamic at all. Against the Saints, we showed that we can do it to some degree when forced to, but we seem content to throw the 3 to 11 yard pass and nothing more. But that requires error free ball and playing while ahead. Which we did not do yesterday. Seems to me that way more often than not, when forced to open up the passing game, we have looked pretty good.

 

[CalamityX11]

our defense is elite, we'll be fine.

Is anyone panicing in Baltimore or Houston since their defenses gave up a lot pts too? we're fine. It's a one time botch on the defense(whole team), that's all.

If we see this as a trend, then we'll gather together and form a mass riot but until then, we're good.

 

[Yoshi]

our defense is elite, we'll be fine.

Is anyone panicing in Baltimore or Houston since their defenses gave up a lot pts too? we're fine. It's a one time botch on the defense(whole team), that's all.

If we see this as a trend, then we'll gather together and form a mass riot but until then, we're good.

Agreed with the OP. We took care of business with AP, but other guys stepped up and made plays on us. Harvin was a killer.

This seems to be the weak link in the Harbaugh method. He is very old school, go big, go tough, dominate physically with muscle. Speed can counter-act that.

I am very disappointed that we have not changed our passing game. We added Moss, Mario, and Jenkins and it still looks like we have Ginn and Morgan out there. Nothing dynamic at all. Against the Saints, we showed that we can do it to some degree when forced to, but we seem content to throw the 3 to 11 yard pass and nothing more. But that requires error free ball and playing while ahead. Which we did not do yesterday. Seems to me that way more often than not, when forced to open up the passing game, we have looked pretty good.

I agree Cal, our defense will be fine. About zman's thoughts, I wonder about our passing game. We don't have a number 1 wideout, but with Crabs, Manningham, a serviceable Moss, and with VD, I'd like for us to give it our best shot throwing out deep more, even with Alex's inaccuracies going down field.

Also, 3 sacks yesterday? Isn't this a recurring theme with Alex getting sacked a bunch like he was last year? I know people were saying we had a top notch OL, but I don't agree considering against the pass since our O Line has given up 10 sacks this season, 5th most in the league.

 

[bvanthielriceyoung]

I think our lack of depth and a rotation hurts our D. Our guys seems to be flat out getting tired. We need more dline rotation and for our LBs. Aldon Smith for example just isnt getting the kind of pressure he was last year when he had more energy.

 

[Yoshi]

I think our lack of depth and a rotation hurts our D. Our guys seems to be flat out getting tired. We need more dline rotation and for our LBs. Aldon Smith for example just isnt getting the kind of pressure he was last year when he had more energy.

He also is playing more snaps this season and plus he's not sneaking up on anybody as teams are devising schemes to better defend against him. You shut him out of the backfield, you're essentially preventing us from getting sacks as evidenced thus far this season.

 

[zman1527]

Our longest play on O yesterday was 22 yards. We obviously got a long long way last year being super conservative. Not sure if that can hold up.

 

[iHATEdodgers]

He also is playing more snaps this season and plus he's not sneaking up on anybody as teams are devising schemes to better defend against him. You shut him out of the backfield, you're essentially preventing us from getting sacks as evidenced thus far this season.

He already has 2.5 sacks... He had some good pressure yesterday too, it's not all about sacks. Is everyone really expecting him to average 2 sacks a game?

 

[Yoshi]

He already has 2.5 sacks... He had some good pressure yesterday too, it's not all about sacks. Is everyone really expecting him to average 2 sacks a game?

My concerns aren't with AS - if you read my other posts it's the other guys I'm worried about.

Major disconnect going on here, WTF?

 

[Yoshi]

http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/san-francisco-49ers/80335-four-man-rush.html#post2379252

 

[iHATEdodgers]

I agree Cal, our defense will be fine. About zman's thoughts, I wonder about our passing game. We don't have a number 1 wideout, but with Crabs, Manningham, a serviceable Moss, and with VD, I'd like for us to give it our best shot throwing out deep more, even with Alex's inaccuracies going down field.

Also, 3 sacks yesterday? Isn't this a recurring theme with Alex getting sacked a bunch like he was last year? I know people were saying we had a top notch OL, but I don't agree considering against the pass since our O Line has given up 10 sacks this season, 5th most in the league.

At least one of those sacks was a choice Alex took he could have thrown it away easily. The last play of the game was pretty bad, but I mean sacks are going to happen, maybe what twice a game on average? Overall the OL is pretty good, and with our quick passing attack I would say they are adequate.

 

[iHATEdodgers]

My concerns aren't with AS - if you read my other posts it's the other guys I'm worried about.

Major disconnect going on here, WTF?

Sorry man i was really replying to bv...

 

[Yoshi]

At least one of those sacks was a choice Alex took he could have thrown it away easily. The last play of the game was pretty bad, but I mean sacks are going to happen, maybe what twice a game on average? Overall the OL is pretty good, and with our quick passing attack I would say they are adequate.

If you're referring to the running dept, then I'd agree. However, in regards to the passing dept, eh. Alex Smith is getting sacked quite a bit this season and he was sacked quite a bit last season. Granted, some of those sacks are self inflicted (holding onto the ball too long and freaking out since he doesn't check off his options very well), but still. It just seems that in crucial plays where the 49ers need to complete a pass, they just can't put it together with the game on the line. Last week, they pulled it off against Detroit but you're not going to face a team where 3/4 of its secondary will be out of the game week in, week out.