It's been a busy few days, so I decided to use a quiet Thanksgiving morning to take a closer look at the 49ers' offensive line play from the game against the Cowboys.
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Here's some Thanksgiving reading for you: Clements has already forgotten Dallas and Equipment staff preparing for everything in Buffalo.
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My focus in looking at the blocking was on the first-half running plays. Frank Gore carried 12 times for 17 yards in the first half. It seemed to me in looking at it that there were at least three reasons for the 49ers' lack of success:
1) The Cowboys out-schemed the 49ers. On a number of those plays, they simply had more defenders to the ball than the 49ers could block.
2) The Cowboys front was just better than the 49ers assigned to block them.
3) The running back missed some cutback lanes that were obvious when re-watching the plays on video.
Without knowing everyone's assignments, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly where the problems occurred. But that won't stop me from trying.
Run 1: first quarter, second and 12 from SF 47: Gore tries to run off right tackle. Snyder can't block Bradie James on the outside, and Rachal gets pushed back. Baas and Heitmann do their jobs, but Gore has nowhere to go and the play loses 2 yards.
Run 2: first quarter, first and 10 from
Run 3: first quarter, second and 6 from
Run 4: first quarter, first and 10 from SF 20: Gore gets the carry off left guard. Bajama makes a nice block on the outside. Rachal pulls and cuts off two Cowboys defenders. Baas and Heitmann work a nice double-team block.
Run 5: first quarter, second and 3 from SF 27: The Cowboys have eight in the box, not including two CBs in press coverage. Snyder does his job. Heitmann takes care of Greg Ellis, and Rachal does a good enough job of Jay Ratliff. The play gains 3 yards off right tackle for the 49ers' ONLY first down rushing of the game.
Run 6: first quarter, second and goal from
Run 7: first quarter, second and goal from
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Run 8: second quarter, first and 10 from SF 16: Niners have three wides. The line does a really nice job on the left side, getting good push. And Rachal does a decent enough job on Spears to create a significant alley for Gore. But Gore misses the hole and runs into traffic. The play still gains 2 yards, but could've easily gone for much more.
Run 9: second quarter, first and 10 from SF 1: Niners have two TEs and a FB. Cowboys have nine in the box. Heitmann gets a block on Spears, then leaves him for Rachal, who continues to do a good job. But Ratliff pushes Synder back, and Tank Johnson beats Baas. Johnson make the stop for no gain.
Run 10: second quarter, second and 10 from SF 1: Cowboys have eight in the box. Gore tries to run off right tackle. The guys upfront do a decent job, but are unable to get any significant push up the field. Linebacker Bradie James and Zach Thomas are unblocked and make the tackle after a 2-yard gain. If Gore were able to bounce to the outside, around Sean Ryan's block on Anthony Spencer, it could've gone for good yards - possibly a first down.
Run 11: second quarter, third ad 8 from SF 3: Niners have three wides and a tight end. Chris Canty pushes back Heitmann. Rachal brushes past Ratliff as he get out to the second level to block James. Baas, pulling, doesn't get to Ratliff quickly enough. Gore is stopped for no gain up the middle.
Run 12: second quarter, first and 10 from SF 40: From the "wildcat" formation, Robinson takes the direct snap and hands off to Gore up the middle for 3 yards.
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The 49ers also surrendered four sacks:
Sack 1: Spencer beats Bajema with an inside rush off the right side for a 9-yard loss.
Sack 2: Hill has a nice, clean pocket for his seven-step drop. He loads, then pulls it down and starts to move to his right. Ware was working up the field vs.
Sack 3:
Sack 4: Ellis beats Snyder cleanly for 5-yard loss.
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None of the 49ers' linemen played a perfect game. However, they certainly did not play anywhere near an "F" level, either. If I had to rank their performances based on this game, from best to worst, I'd go: Heitmann, Staley, Baas, Rachal and Snyder.
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Love that analysis. Really helps to understand what's going on. I'm not sure why Heitmann gets blasted in so many posts. It will be interesting to see if Snyder improves over the next few games. He keeps getting moved.
Matt- how do you feel about sndyer. i just feel like he struggles everywhere he goes on the line... is that a product of being moved so much or his he just a backup?
Matt, thanks for the breakdown, very interesting. Your analysis plus the developments since Singletary took over seem to suggest that the 49ers have 4/5 of a pretty good young offensive line developing - Staley, Baas, Heitman, Rachal - and two capable back-ups in Wragge and Snyder. Finding a stud right tackle is a priority. Matt, it seems to me while there will be quite a few head coaching openings next year, Martz is not a real candidate for them. If Singletary returns, do you think he will want to continue with Martz as OC or will he want someone else. I recall reading earlier this year a quote attributed to Singletary that people would be shocked by the offensive staff he had on his list should he become a head coach. Do you have any idea who some of the names on Singletary's list might be?
Thanks Matt, nice work as usual. What stands out to me is the many eight & NINE in the box defenders there are. I know Singletary wants to play smashmouth ball & establish Gore but IMO Hill should call an audible to a pass play here. He should be able to see the 2 safeties cheating up. Heitman, Snyder, & Staley are not great maulers on the run. Until we get another stud OT who excels in that it's not until THEN that we'll be able to push open some holes on that side (since our guards Baas/Rachal can move the DLine) when the D's stacking the box. Right now we don't have the talent to blow people up against a stacked box & in obvious short yardage situations. Once Martz makes this adjustment & has some success getting yards in the air & the Defense backs off then we can go back to pounding it with Gore.
I am watching the Lions. They remind me of the 49ers in 2007.
I totally agree with you Mike in MD, it seems so obvious that the Niners need to give Hill some freedom to audible when the opposing defense has 8 or 9 in the box. Matt do you know if Martz allows Hill to audible and if so do you see them practicing that during the week. It seems like a smart adjustment or do most offensive coordinators hate to give up that final control of the play calling?
I might be wrong but in regards to audibles I was in the impression that martz's offense is built on all sorts of options so no matter what defense is out there each player will adjust accordingly. I'm not sure if its the same with run plays but I agree with you guys. Martz is pretty stubborn with his play calls and I hate seeing them run right into the defenses' play call, frustrating. Anyway I'd like to know what Matt thinks on the subject too.
Matt, thank you for being the last unbiased reporter still writting about this team, you excellent work is greatly appreciated. I want to know 2 things: first, do you believe our line is set? I come from the thinking that the best lines aren't about how many superstars are on them, but rather about how well they play together. I think that at least withstaley, baas, and heitman we have three guys capable of playing at a very high level and playing their natural positions. I have a lot of high hopes for rachal and have liked him since his USC days. At the position that he plays I think with time he could be the best lineman on this team. Snyder is a ? In my book, but I still think he could be a pretty decent player. But more importantly, I think he could be the final element of a very good line. Let's not reshuffle these guys again. It had to be done before, but now we can finally start to let them mesh into a single unit. Do you agree, or do younsee crucial pieces missing? Secondly, Shaun Hill. I love the guy. Call me crazy but he embodies what I think a qb should be...a true leader. Does the team agree with me, or are they going to bench him again in place of another guy who the team simply doesn't rally around?
SAM... I agree on the Shaun Hill comment. Honestly, it the first time since Garcia, that I saw a QB show he's desire to win, like Hill did on that running play against the Cards on MNF. It took me back to a Montana play where he ran with the ball from inside the 5 yard line towards the left and jumped to squeeze the ball in over the pilon for a TD. Yes QBs are field general, but they have to take a bullet for time to time, Smith and JTO have never showed that kind of desire. Regarding staff (GM, HC, OC and DC), I'd give them one more season, if that doesn`t work hand over the slate to fresh and rested Holmgren.
I'd also be interested in Matt's take.
Personally I think Snyder is a flexible excellent sub who will never be more than mediocre as a starter. We would be better served to get a young OT in the first round this year and plug him in at LT, moving Staley back to the right side (he'll compare favorably to Fahnhorst before its over) and using Snyder as needed to plug holes.
Heitman is a serviceable center if you run the right kind of offense. Probably would do very well in a system that emphasizes agility and technique, or maybe a Broncos-style zone blocking scheme. Ask him to do a pure power-blocking style like Nolan and Sing seem to prefer, and he may be somewhat lacking physically. IF you choose a smashmouth power game, you probably need a stronger pivot guy, like we had in Newberry before he got hurt.
In any event, time does matter. The sooner we get the line set and let them start playing together the better. Thats why I agree with plugging Chilo in there now; even though Wragge is better today and for the next year, ultimately Rachal will be far better. Another reason to finish drafting the line this coming year before patching other holes.
Matt, Do you think the Niners will have an interest in signing Matt Cassell as a free agent this off season?
Matt, I'm very suprised you show Heitmann so high. I'm not disputing your analysis but he looks like he gets beat all the time when your watching the game live.
If Snyder is playing so poorly is there any consideration being given to playing Rachal at RT and moving Wragge back into the lineup?
I've only looked at a couple of plays, but I think you are too kind to the line. On sack #1 Bajema is stuck with Spencer because Snyder double teams an inside rusher, leaving Spenser a straight line to the QB. On sack #2, Dallas only rushed 3 guys and still got pressure, because 3 OLs were standing around 7 yards in front of the play. Someone isn't doing his job. I don't know if it's the OL, or Heitman calling out the wrong assignments, or the coach not getting them ready. It looked like a high school team taking on USC.
Clements really needs to look at moving to Safety where I think he could be an All-Pro, at corner he is just an average player at best.