Burnett the clean up tackler

[rbaloha1]

Greene went well beyond defending Walden in his interview, and his explanation was formed after reviewing the film. His instantaneous reaction during the game from his field level view may not have been as correct as his opinion formed after reviewing the film.

Sounds reasonable.

Watching the clip again, it appears EW was where he was supposed to be on the outside shoulder of the d-linemen but was blocked very well by the rb.

IMO it was just good 49er execution.

Do not get me wrong -- I am thrilled EW is gone. Maybe Perry fights off the block and makes the play.

[rbaloha1]

You sure that's not backwards? From my non-whitt eyes I'd say Tramon has been better in press over the years although hasn't played nearly as much of it in 2011 and 2012. I assumed that was shoulder related. While SS is willing to throw his body around he's not really the big strong body to be a real monster in press. Nor would I think he'd be as reliant on it since he he's got elite recovery speed and ability to play the ball.

Agree -- prior to the injury TW was better in press coverage. Capers is a big cover 2 guy.

Disagree -- SS has bulked up with good weight allowing him to tackle like a safety. It is nice that SS has the confidence to knife thru a gap to tackle.

Expect SS to have a "Show me the Money" year.

[Upnorth]

Regardless of his fearlessness SS should not be kept as a starter if they have to dumb down the plays for him. I am very sceptical about the statement that he is a hinderance, however is there any evidence besides what JH put forward to support such a statement.

[rbaloha1]

Regardless of his fearlessness SS should not be kept as a starter if they have to dumb down the plays for him. I am very sceptical about the statement that he is a hinderance, however is there any evidence besides what JH put forward to support such a statement.

SS is not Bush -- coverage is his number one strength.

[Upnorth]

SS is not Bush -- coverage is his number one strength.

While I am no cb expert I see coverage as his best asset as well. Has his lack of play knowledge Ben addressed before?

[Guiness]

It was TWill who was the press corner - he started with the Pack when Al Harris was around, and learned from him SS's speed made him more of a cover corner - when he messed up coverage, he could still catch up.

Last year though, the roles seemed to change. TWill lost some physicality with the shoulder injury, played more off, and SS seemed more willing to tackle and play physical with receivers!

[Guiness]

While I am no cb expert I see coverage as his best asset as well. Has his lack of play knowledge Ben addressed before?

roethlisberger's been in the league long enough, he should know the playbook by now!

[Upnorth]

So furthering the SS discussion he was tied for 7th worst YAC given up by CB's last year,

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2013/worst-cornerback-charting-stats-2012

so while he may or may not have been more willing to tackle, he was not quick to get it done on WR apparently.

I would like to furhter point out lets target the crap out of Jefferson when we play min.

Conversley way to go Hayward

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2013/best-cornerback-charting-stats-2012

Looking good so far at this point in his career

[rbaloha1]

So furthering the SS discussion he was tied for 7th worst YAC given up by CB's last year,

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2013/worst-cornerback-charting-stats-2012

so while he may or may not have been more willing to tackle, he was not quick to get it done on WR apparently.

I would like to furhter point out lets target the crap out of Jefferson when we play min.

Conversley way to go Hayward

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2013/best-cornerback-charting-stats-2012

Looking good so far at this point in his career

What was SS's stats after returning from injury? How many td receptions did SS surrender?

[pbmax]

More and more, I'm with Wist on the players not fitting a scheme. Joe Whitt said they played press defense last year, and that's why Tramon had a lesser year. He said Tramon can play press, but he's best in off coverage. Shields, on the other hand, plays best in press coverage. They took Tramon out of his playmaking role because Shields is better at press.

Wasn't Shields forced into off coverage in 2011, the injury year (his own and Collins), and terrible at it? Can he have been terrible at off coverage because of a shoulder injury if its his specialty (I am actually asking, not a rhetorical)?

I do remember someone saying Al was not comfortable in zone or off, Woodson was OK with it (preferred press) and Williams was more versatile. I guess that leaves room for him to be better at off coverage theoretically.

However, be careful when worrying about players not fitting a scheme. Every D has that and its unusual to have a great paired fit (like Smith and Smith in San Fran) that go together like a jigsaw puzzle with interlocking skills.

Usually, as many players are subsuming their individual play for the betterment of the team as others are only playing to their strengths. The less you have of this, obviously the better. But no team is without mismatches. The problem is attitude and whether you can do what is asked. See Raji, BJ.

[pbmax]

If Walden did what he was supposed to do in that defensive formation, they have to throw that formation out. There is no way the CB (Tramon) was going to be able to stop that play. Maybe Woodson wasn't where he was supposed to be?

Something was wrong with that play because San Fran had everyone covered on an option play when one guy is supposed to go uncovered.

Woodson is in coverage in the slot and cannot fill the LOS. He shouldn't however, have drifted into the middle. He has contain as well and he gave it up.

[pbmax]

You know what? I think it could be Jones. From the angle in Joe's video, it looks like Jones was scraping to the outside then diverted back inside. Does anyone else see it that way?

That would explain why Walden was so keen to take on that block and push inside. His job was to squeeze the hole. Can't be Woodson at fault initially he is in coverage. Its either Jones or Walden on the LOS.

Raji also got destroyed on this play by a double team and the collateral damage collected Hawk. If Jones had scraped outside as perhaps intended, that hole would have been abandoned since Raji got knocked out and Hawk got caught up in trash. If Gore had gotten the ball, he might have scored as well.

Its about as bad as possible because Burnett was late to come up as well.

Assignment football. Raji doesn't hold ground, Hawk gets caught in traffic, Walden doesn't do a great job squeezing the hole and Jones does not run to his assigned lane.

[rbaloha1]

According to recent article the TAMU coaches stated if you are going to play the outside shoulder which EW did, others must play the other gaps which other Packers failed to do.

Problem is the Packers took away nothing.

Again Aranda always stressed stopping the dive first which imo from defending the option is numero uno. It starts with the ng beating the center then whoever assigned to the qb taking away the run and forcing the pitch. After the pitch everyone chases the pitchman.

Easier said than done since everyone must keep their assignment and not deviate. This is not basketball that allows for switching on defense.

Adjusting on the fly is the biggest advantage of the read option imo.

[pbmax]

According to recent article the TAMU coaches stated if you are going to play the outside shoulder which EW did, others must play the other gaps which other Packers failed to do.

Problem is the Packers took away nothing.

Again Aranda always stressed stopping the dive first which imo from defending the option is numero uno. It starts with the ng beating the center then whoever assigned to the qb taking away the run and forcing the pitch. After the pitch everyone chases the pitchman.

Easier said than done since everyone must keep their assignment and not deviate. This is not basketball that allows for switching on defense.

Adjusting on the fly is the biggest advantage of the read option imo.

There is no pitch on the Read Options the 49ers ran. Do we have any idea how many times Gore got the ball out of the read option?

If Jones/ILB is scraping outside then Walden's job is to crash inside, not just hold a shoulder. Walden is assigned to Gore in that scenario.

Also, there is a blocking back headed to the play side (and sometimes the RB's hole) so its not a dive.

Also, a lot of teams scrape the exchange with the ILB and DE/OLB. So switching is possible, but as I said earlier, everyone has to deliver on their assignment.

[rbaloha1]

There is no pitch on the Read Options the 49ers ran. Do we have any idea how many times Gore got the ball out of the read option?

If Jones/ILB is scraping outside then Walden's job is to crash inside, not just hold a shoulder. Walden is assigned to Gore in that scenario.

Also, there is a blocking back headed to the play side (and sometimes the RB's hole) so its not a dive.

Also, a lot of teams scrape the exchange with the ILB and DE/OLB. So switching is possible, but as I said earlier, everyone has to deliver on their assignment.

Scraping is risky especially with stupid football players. IMO assignment football is the way to go.