The San Francisco 49ers’ new look offense has received plenty of attention for its pistol and zone read wrinkles. Today, a breakdown of the 49ers’ offense.
We’ll start with the zone read concept. On paper? Read the end man on the line (EMOL) at the mesh point (where the RB meets QB). If he crashes, the quarterback keeps it. If he contains, give to the running back. Here’s the tape against Green Bay in the Divisional matchup.
San Francisco is in the Pistol (QB four yards behind center, RB three yards behind him) on 3rd and 2. Green bay walks down safety Morgan Burnett pre-snap.
On the snap, both the EMOL and Burnett crash inside (in red), expecting a give to Frank Gore. Kaepernick smartly keeps it and picks up 13 yards plus moves the sticks.
The other interesting aspect to point out is RT Anthony Davis (in the yellow circle). Not having to worry about the outside linebacker, Davis is free to move to the second level and work to the inside linebacker. Should Kaepernick give to Gore, Davis acts as a lead blocker and won’t let the ILB fill the lane. There’s a plan in place no matter how the defense reacts.
Another look at the zone read. In this instance, in the red zone against Atlanta in the Championship game.
San Fran is in 21 personnel (2 RBs, 1 TE). Pistol with FB Bruce Miller as the sidecar.
Again, read the EMOL. Vernon Davis chips John Abraham, not allowing him to crash down. Kaepernick gives to Gore.
Bruce Miller pulls to pick up one linebacker with RG Alex Boone working to the second level to pick up another. Frank Gore walks in for a touchdown and the lead.
Knowing how condensed the red zone can be, running lanes can be tough to create. And in general, the offense is at a disadvantage in the numbers game (7 blockers vs 8 Falcons defenders, counting SS Thomas DeCoud). By taking Abraham out of the equation, the 49ers have evened up the numbers. And that leads to production.
Don’t think that the entire running game is based around read option plays either. The team uses power schemes just as often. Another example from the Green Bay game. Diamond formation with Davis and Miller sidecar.
The handoff is a blind call (no read) to Gore. With two lead blockers in each “A” gap, Gore can pick either lane. Nothing fancy about this scheme. Base blocks by the interior lineman with lead blocks by Davis and Miller. Gore rumbles for a gain of six.
Finally, an example of how the 49ers radical change in formations can cause havoc on defenses. Against St. Louis, the 49ers start out in a power set with three running backs. The Rams are in their base 4-3.
Suddenly, the 49ers audible to an empty set.
The Rams’ don’t have the time to properly react. On the snap, both DTs drop back when it’s clear only one was supposed to. This leads to just a two man rush from St. Louis, giving Kaepernick all day to scan the field.
Rookie Michael Brockers realizes the mistake and tries to turn back but Kaepernick was free to run for six yards.
What Jim Harbaugh is doing is far beyond the basic zone read. The 49ers’ playbook is deep and the Baltimore Ravens’ defense better be prepared for it all.
