Demeco Ryans defense- fronts, run fits base coverages and 3rd down package.

 

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This section looks at their 4-2, 4-3 and bear package. It also takes a look at some 3rd down concepts which includes their load front and mug pressure package.

Fronts 

In addition to their  nickel 4-2 they have certain packages vs 12 personnel and heavy packages.

vs 12 you will see them play some traditional 4-3 with either cover 3 or 2 with 3 lb's in the game. Below, the DE is the d gap players, sam has c, mike has A gap and the will B gap.

Example #1

Nice job of everyone doing  their jobs in the base front vs 12 balanced.

Example #2 vs Seattle. 

Movements

One of my favorite run stunts is when they move the DT from a 2i across the centers face and fill the offside LB to the A Gap. Good against all defenses 

                                                

Bear Package

In addition to their traditional 4-2 and 4-3 fronts vs 12 you will see them be in bear at times and they used  it vs the Seahawks in the playoffs.

mike 54 plays front side A and 57 the will plays the c gap on the backside. CB plays the edge if it spills  and Bosa 97 is the d gap player.

Another 12 formation, this time 3x1 and they stay in their 4-3 base package. They slide the LB's over because it's 3x1 and they bring the Safety Hufanga 29 down around the ball weak and play 3 weak.

 vs 13 personnel

In both clips below you will notice they play it the same way to the 3 te side.

1. DE plays crease technique on the TE and h back

2. SS comes inside the 3rd tight end because he knows the cb is outside playing it tough.

Technique stays the same with both fronts.

4-3

do a nice job on the front side and the lb with the nice run thru

Bear Front vs 13

You can see all heads in a gap. Great across the board. 

Ball gets bounced to the cb who is there to make the tackle. 

Kicks out to. the cb and he makes the tackle forcing 4th down.

Film shows both schemes below.

Coverages

They will play a handful of 3 weak, 3 strong, cover 2 and man free on early downs. I will post some clips shortly.

cover 3 strong  is one of their base coverages. (film below)

cover 3 weak is another.

They play it 3x1 with the safety Hufanga rolling down weak. (film below)

2 clips 

Another example is when the Hawks come out in 21 and run boot. The 49ers go 3 weak and get underneath the deeper route and force the check down on the boot.

3 weak vs Chargers

similar concept as shown earlier.

3rd down

You will see some 3rd down coverages. One is they play 2 hole with some of the condensed formations. They take away the windows in the middle of the field. Heres an example of the defense below. 

They go double mug which forces the Seahawks to keep their rb in. They then play cover 2. Seahawks run a nice route combo and get the first down.

Load Front

Here's another 3rd down and they run the load front. They run a game with the defensive end and the nose guard. They play 3 weak and get the sack with the excellent coverage down field.

Empty formation. Presnap 2 shell.

post snap, start moving to 3 weak with safety to top of the screen strarting to come down.

THE LDE and LDT running the game from the load front. (3 d lineman on the same side)

As the pocket collapses you can see there is no place to go with the ball. Excellent spacing defensively getting underneath routes and the safety playing great divider technique between #2 and 3. 

Another Load Front

Mike goes on the pressure.

They play man free with the LB responsible for the running back playing underneath once the running back blocks.

Here it is, load to the left. with the mike and will mug look. Interesting here because Fred Warner is the 4th de as it's really a 3-3 formation grouping

You can see here #54 Fred Warner is a de on the right. It's 3-3 personnel.

The mike will go 56 to the left a gap with the nose going to the right A gap.

57 drops and has the rb but he stays in and blocks so 57 drops and acts as a rat defender.

57 linebacker helps on the in route where the qb wants to go with the ball so it works out well and they get the coverage sack.

film below.

Demeco Ryans- Coaching Football Defense 49ers Early Down Safety Blitzes

The 49ers are primarily a 4-3 defense but will be in a 4-2 nickel at times awe ll. they have an excellent defensive package, playing cover 3, cover 2 and man free concepts.

Let's look at their pressure package in which they will often play cover 3. They ran these packages on early downs often with their safety Hufanga who is an excellent blitzer. They had great success with the package and were a top 5 defense again in 2022. As a result, Demeco Ryans got a head job in Houston.

Pressure Package

 On first down you will often see the 49ers bring their safety blitz or pressure in general. It is effective vs teams that like to go play action and throw the ball on 1st down.  They did it several times during the season and in the playoffs vs the Cowboys. It is a staple that they like, especially on early downs. I often see them Bring Hufanga who likes to prowl on the line of scrimmage. 

They play press bail (man turn which I find interesting, but play curl, hook, curl underneath. Basic cover 3 underneath.

In the picture below, Broncos throw the fade although they had the stick route to the bottom of the screen. The good coverage forced the incomplete pass as Wilson tried to throw into pressure

Nice pressure with 3 under 3 deep coverages.

Nice design pressure forces quick throw to the 1 wr side.

13 personnel

In example #2, the Broncos go 13 personnel. The 49ers bring the safety to the weak side and keep the cb over the top in cover 3. Nicely designed pressure as the Broncos are trying to run tight zone out of 13 with 4 double teams. 

De slices and between the 2 te and no one takes the safety off the edge.

Heres how they aingn the 13 personnel. with the wing the DE aligns in the gap between both TE.

Denver tries to get 4 double teams but noon blocks the safety.

Safety squeezes and gets home untouched and makes the tackle.

12 personnel

vs the Broncos

Again they bring the safety to the TE wing side.

In the next picture they get 12 personnel and bring the safety again.

They do a great job of cover 3 and always do a nice job with the mike carrying #2 or 3 vertically. 

THE RCB is waiting for the crossing route as #1 his side blocks.

Heres one more clip of Hufanga coming off the edge vs the Broncos. Great timing and just an excellent blitzer.

They also ran a few of the similar pressures on 1st down vs  the Seahawks when the Seahawks were driving. The Seahawks run right into it and they defense shuts it down. 

Nice job with the pressure.

Good coverage downfield

Every gp is filled front side.

No place to run as the DT do the job and 57 is unblocked should it get to him.

So they ran the same stunt a few times vs the Cowboys in the playoffs. Surprised how easily they ran it because it was such a staple in their defense this year.

THey caught them early and late when the Cowboys went to their jumbo package.

Both  times he came clean on the play

Example #1  

29 times it up great and gets great pressure .

Example #2 

Cowboys go 13 heavy and have Gallup on the outside 1x1. The 49ers sell out on the run and you kind of get the feeling Hufanga is coming. I think Dak has to check out here as this is a pivotal play late in the game with the score 16-12. The 1st and 10 set them back 6 yards.

Vs the Saints week 10

22 personnel 

Hufanga comes off the edge. The blitz side DE and DT go inside, DE b gap, DT offside A gap

Hufanga comes clean.

Nice scheme Hufanga disrupts everything.

vs the Panthers 11 personnel

1st and 10 

These are just some of the pressures you will see from Coach Ryans and company. More analysis of the 49ers defense to follow.