<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Chiefs have been pressed by outside rushing attacks already in the playoffs.<br><br>They&#39;ve done a good job boxing the run fits &amp; likely a major coaching point again vs SF. 49ers like to catch defenses overlapping on the second level and hit cutbacks for big gains <a href="https://t.co/YxHim3wM3j">pic.twitter.com/YxHim3wM3j</a></p>&mdash; Matt Lane (@Matty_KCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matty_KCSN/status/1754317169096008090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I remember back in the day the people from the Walsh tree all thought that John Walsh was going to be this superstar...then he went undrafted and bounced around never playing.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 49ers have been very blitzable in their two playoff wins. Even simple 5 man pressures have had a big impact.<br><br>- Forces an early pocket exit as the rush comes right at the QB&#39;s eyes<br>- Never sees the backside pressure forces errant throw<br>- Sets up a series of 1on1s for a QB hit <a href="https://t.co/hSQFgb94dq">pic.twitter.com/hSQFgb94dq</a></p>&mdash; Matt Lane (@Matty_KCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matty_KCSN/status/1754257582288490794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is a slow Detroit defense and Purdy looks like he has no idea how to sense pressure.

And really, his system didn't take off or look bulletproof until he had both Kittle and Deebo. Guys like that make it go. When Deebo is out, it falters. Kittle too somewhat. They've had some lean times sprinkled into his tenure so far - not all sunshine and rainbows on offense.

And Tranquill being smart should help. I can't swear by this, but I think when all three guys are out there it seems like they've been putting Tranquill at the Sam and Gay at the Will. I hope they don't do that this time because Kittle can just carry Tranquill wherever he wants.

So if you can put Tranquill at the Will and Gay at the Sam, Kittle isn't going to just erase Gay. Dude's just too big, too fast, too strong. At most, that's probably a push. So CMC pushes Kittle's hip and if that's a draw, CMC continues to bounce.

And there's Justin Reid.

So that Gay/Reid combo (presuming Gay is at the Sam) will really put a hamper on the zone read. Now maybe they decide to run it weak side at Danna/Tranquill (and maybe that's why they could keep Gay at Will) off Trent Williams. But you have to figure that Spags will have Bolton in something of a shade to deal with that as well. And as noted, McDuffie in the slot is going to be a problem in run defense in his own right.

I dunno - I just feel fairly comfortable against a zone running game. Power runs worry me a bit. But this defense is fast, man. And it's LBs and CBs will absolutely drill you. It's just perfectly designed for outside zone.

If any of them miss time the whole thing falls apart, it's bizarre they basically need 4 star players or they can't move the ball.

Isn't it more likely that they play Gay at Will and Chenal at Sam? Feels like that's been the common group - not saying Tranquill shouldn't be out there.

It's no different than people being worked up about Purdy running and not accounting for the difference in speed between us and Detroit.

That's a strong point - backside discipline will be a big deal. The cutbacks will be the biggest problem.

Haaaaaaave you met my friend, Nick Bolton?

But yeah, that's what I'd focus on as well. Looking for cut-back lanes and big gainers through the middle where our DTs aren't as great against the run and you can find a little more space to work and maybe isolate Conner instead of Reid.

Chenal's eye discipline isn't great. It's not the route I'd go.

He's more likely to take himself out of a play and let CMC get into the 2nd level fairly clean. That's what I'd focus on taking away - how do we make CMC work for every yard. How do we ensure a possible 25 yard run only goes for 8? To me, Tranquill helps more than Chenal in that regard because I don't see him getting sucked up/away from the correct gap.

Here's the other problem - a big one - with running behind Trent Williams.

Those cut-backs will be really difficult because their RT kinda sucks and George has a MOTOR. When you're looking for that cutback lane and Karlaftis has just exhausted that poor bastard on the right side, he's gonna come screaming down the line into your hip before you get moving upfield.

I really think they'll need to focus on running strong-side. Williams can erase the backside pursuit and those cut-backs will be far more likely to hit.

Looking at snap counts alignments, and I see that Samuel lines up outside just about 17 percent of the time this year.

If the 49ers stick to that tendency, they're playing right into the strengths of KC's defense, with physical and sticky CBs in Sneed and McDuffie lined up against Aiyuk and Samuel.

That ... uh... is probably not the way to go about it. But Shanahan is a guy who trusts his system and approach implicitly, so I don't expect to see him do things differently.

They're pretty static on both sides, they aren't just gonna magically change their spots.

They also peaked 2 months ago and honestly haven't played their best football, that seems to be what is going unnoticed. They are very lucky they won either playoff game.

Reading DJLN, duncan, pugs, et al football takes instead of everyone teaching other fans the insignificance of their cherished regular season stats....


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ROFL