How 49ers game plan Aaron Donald during their 6-0 win streak vs the Rams

 One of the best aspects of the Rams is the domination by the 49ers the past 2 seasons. More importantly, they've done it holding Aaron Donald, the best DT in the game to zero sacks. It doesn't happen by accident and has so much to do with great game planning and execution. This has led to great success on 3rd down which has kept drives alive and put them in great position to win games.

In 2021, Raheim Morris has taken over and their are some noticeable differences with how Staley ran things in 2020 and how he does things in 2021. That being said, both are excellent coordinators.

The one thing I did notice in the Rams vs 49ers games is that they aren't getting Donald into 1x1 situations and that is something the Rams must look to do to get the win this Sunday in the NFC Championship game 

But the bottom line is the 49ers are 6-0 vs the Rams and much has had to do with neutralizing Aaron Donald. 

Last 3 years Results

2021 Week 10.    49ers 31-10  2 tackles 0 sacks      3rd down efficiency 8/14   QB Garappolo

          Week 18   49ers 27-24    4tackles 0 sacks        3rd down efficiency 9/14    QB Garappolo

2020  Week 6   49ers 24-16     1 tackle  O sacks     3rd down efficiency 5/14   QB Garappolo

           Week 12  49ers  23-20    4 tackles 1 sack        3rd down efficiency 3/14  QB Mullens

2019    Week 6   49ers  20-7     2 sacks   4 tfl            3rd down efficiency 8/17   QB Garappalo

           Week 16 49ers 34-31     3 tackles, 1.5 sacks   3rd down efficiency  4/10 QB Garappalo

The most concerning statistic from the Rams point of view is they only sacked Garappolo 4 times this season in 2 games, with Donald getting none of them. The other stat is the 3rd down efficiency from the 49ers. They are 17/28 vs the Rams. That's 61% which isn't very good if you are the Rams defense.

One of the major problems is the Rams like to run a ton of load front or 4-2 fronts and don't blitz a lot.. That's great if you are running games and bringing 5 man pressures but it actually has been helpful to the 49ers. 

The reason is it allows the 49ers to double Darnold often when they slide protect. If you watch the games, when they get a load front, they always have a 4-3 situation, and the 49ers are always sliding to Darnold and often doubling him. They have all pro tackles in Trent Williams and Compton. If they have to help on Vonn Miller, they can keep a tight end in and help which they have done occasionally.

I understand why the Rams run the load front, but if teams are just going to slide and you don't get your safeties and LB's involved with pressure, it actually helps the offensive line with protection. You are inviting the double team and its hard to free Donald up without blitzing the LB or a DB.

The other thing that the 49ers do is take a shallow drop with Jimmy G. That really shortens the edge and takes away the Rams speed rush on the edge. If you watch Garappolo he takes short drops, and often gets a clean pocket because of the inside help on Donald. Very effective strategy. 

Here's some examples (MY Youtube video on the bottom has many clips)

Example #2 

load front-This time they keep Kittle in but that doesn't change anything inside. Notice the slide protection and again giving them a chance to double Donald. They come out in empty and double him again. The Rams are not getting him into those 1x1 situations.

Here's a traditional 4-1 front. Easy for the 49ers to see it and sort it out. They pick it up easy and send the center to Donald

Example #3 

Example #4 

Example #5

If it ain't broke why fix it!!!

One of the few times they don't slide and free release the RB, they almost get Garappalo knocked out by Aaron. They decide to change the protection and free release the back. Luckily ,Garrapolo gets it off!

Late in the game the Rams adjust and get smart. Well if you are going to slide to Donald lets, bring the LB opposite and drop Miller into coverage. The Rams get paid too. It is also a great call because the 49ers go empty so that's a problem and they basically ignore the LB until it's too late.

Center is fixated on Donald he forgets he has the mike in empty protection!!!

As you can see, the 49ers have a nice plan in place for Donald, The YouTube video gets into the run game as well. The Rams made a few nice adjustments so I m curious to see how the Rams defend it this game.

My Youtube video explains it all!

Here is the 1st game's meeting in which the 49ers won 31-10. You saw a similar game plan with their 4-2 front.  Always slide to Donald and block the other side tackle 1x1. 

Here they do it on 1st and goal on the 8. Easy pickup, give Jimmy G time and he executes again.They did a tremendous job in their scheme and it was easy yet effective.

The 1st game had the same tendencies as shown in the touchdown above. Clean pocket easy throw. Speed rush is neutralized with the shallow drop. 

Defending bunch, pressures & coverages: Steelers, Browns, Rams, Bills, giants, Bengals, Chargers, Chiefs

 Every week in the NFL you see more and more  bunch and condensed formations.

Teams love to run mesh concepts out of bunch formations and condensed 2x2 sets with the following in mind.

1. get the ball to the RB vs man

2. If man and the RB isn't open, try to get the shallow crosser/mesh concept. 

3. In zone they may hit the crosser in a window but will hit the sit down route of not there. 

The mesh is one concept, but teams will run various routes out of bunch and condensed formation. I will try to discuss some thoughts on both sides of the ball.

1st, the back is often the first option on many of the routes. If the coverage dictates it he is the first read. You see it so often with the Chiefs, who make a living throwing to the running back out of the backfield. 

The Rams are another team that run the majority of their offense out of condensed sets. 

In order  to defend it you need to understand at times what the offenses are trying to accomplish.

1st, the back is often the first option on many of the routes. If the coverage dictates it he is the first read. You see it so often with the Chiefs, who make a living throwing to the running back out of the backfield. 

What's the best way to defend them when they run condensed and bunch formations?

Pressure and coverage:

• Do you play man with underneath help? That's tough at times because you know with the mesh teams are going to sometimes set 3 picks for the crosser coming across.
• Do you play zone and open up windows underneath?
• Do you blitz it and run 5 man pressures?
• Do you play combo, zone to the bunch and man to the single side?

Defensive things to consider:

• who is lined up where in the formation. Is the best wr single side?  Where are their best options?
• What do they do with the back? Where do they align him, to the bunch or away from it? 
• Do they keep  the rb in protection, free release or check release him 
•  Is the rb dynamic. Not everyone has a back that's dynamic. Can you cover him with a linebacker or do you put a safety on him
• Can they handle edge pressure? If they are free releasing the back, that may open things up from a pressure standpoint.
• If man, how are you teaching your dbs to get thru the traffic.

This article  will focus on defending bunch and some of the  difficult  concepts being run from condensed sets. 

Man/man free defense:

The most common man to man variation is to play #2 head up on the slot and #1 and #3 covered by the cb and safety. Sometimes the dbs will play it straight and at other times you may switch and take 1st man inside and the cb will take 1st man that releases outside. People have 2 different variations.

You will also see many teams drop the safety down from either side in which I call a lurk/hole concept.

Also, you must teach your dbs if playing it straight how they are going to align and drive on routes to allow the other db to get thru the traffic. This is very important. Some coaches will teach if one goes inside, drive hard on the outside shoulder so that allows #3 to sort thru the traffic and get to the outbreaking routes. There are different techniques but keep that in mind. 

Broncos

The Broncs show a 2 high look but the coverage is man free with the Safety to the side of the bunch diving down to help on crossers. They used it a few times vs the Jets in week 3 as show below. 2 clips are attached

On 3rd and 6 the Jets run the concept again. The Broncos switch the coverage and how they sort the bunch route out.

Nice scheme on defending bunch!

Bucs

Here the Bucs play #2 head up rush 5 and bring the free safety down as a rat defender to jump the crossers. They disrupt the route and end up getting a pick and a sack on back to back plays.

Saints vs 49ers 

3rd and 4

The Saints show 2 high but play 2 man hole and the lb blitz engages the rb.

Texans vs Browns

Texans bring 1 off each edge go man free. Browns man beater , condensed split x on the 9 route

Cardinals vs Jets

Cardinals in dime 

Coverage will blitz man free (dime rat) dime back looks for crossers underneath

Jets shallow cross with #1 with a whip route by #3

Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt

3rd and goal on the 8

The Vandy's go man free and bring 5. They move to an odd front and the protection call is wrong and allows the olb to come clean. Nice design by Vanderbilt switching to an odd front and bringing the sam and the will lb.  They play #2 solid and play #1 and #3 with the cb and the safety(They combo it)

                                                                        

Weaknesses of man

It is difficult to play man when you are getting pick routes trying to free up a crosser. Sometimes in bunch teams will run 2-3 pick routes and that makes it unwinnable at times for the defensive back.

The NFL Teams are smart they will put the third guy out wide, the defense will walk their safety out on him and teams will know it's some version of man when they motion him back inside. 

Look at how deep Hargreaves has to go to clear the traffic.

The next time the Chiefs decide to run the sail route. The Texans bring 4 and go man free with the weak safety playing as a hole player.

Sail is another term for flood route. #2 runs the deep out for a 17 yard gain.

Lurk concept opposite the 3x1 bunch

Here  the Chargers go man and the free safety will jump any deep crosser with their lurk concept. The other safety is playing deep 1/2 

       

     

Buffalo Bills Man with match up principles

In the following diagram the Bills are sorting out the bunch routes but are still playing man. The cb takes first thing outside. the outside safety takes 1st vertical and the inside safety takes the first in breaking route.

                                                 Zone coverages 

The most common coverage is to roll to a cover 3 strong look with a flat defender.

The 1st clip is the Giants playing it vs the Rams. Giants show pressure but only bring 3 and roll to the strong side.

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The Rams run a similar look vs the Giants but use the safety as a hole player looking for a crosser from the bunch look

Titans man concept vs bunch

The point man takes #3 and the safety takes #2

The man on the #3 wr plays outside leverage and the safety plays inside leverage on #2 

                                                              Combo coverages

NEW: The Bengals play man to the single wr side and bring a 5 man pressure to that side.

They play 1/4, 1/4 half to the 3 wr side and man on #1 weak with safety help over the top.

At first I thought 1/2 to the single side but definitely man single side.

NEW: Here the Browns play combo coverage against the Steelers. They are playing 1/3 over the top of bunch and middle 1/3 with the other safety. Backside single cb on an island man for man with no help.

The Steelers have a man and zone beater built in. In the first clip they throw to the single side on the fade for 27 yards.

In the 2nd clip they throw the sit route vs the Browns. The Browns played the same coverage on both.

Combo coverages are when you play zone on one side and man to the other side. 

Here the Chargers play zone to the bottom and man to man up top vs the Chiefs

                          

The Saints vs 49ers
2nd and 10, down 27-13
The Saints play combo, man on #1 and zone to the bottom. They role that way and play 1/4,1/4, 1/2. They do an excellent job taking the underneath stuff and Mullens tries to hit the deep route. It is underthrown and intercepted.

The Bills play combo against the Jets

Down and Distance 3rd and 11
Bills play m/m on #1 at the bottom of the screen away from the 3x1 The Jets run 1 on the out 2 on the shallow and 3 on the post corner up top.

In the bottom picture the  Bengals are playing man to man coverage up top and zone to the side of the trips bunch. 

Pressures

Here the Bengals run a 5 man pressure with 1/4, 1/4 principle

Offense The Falcons run a shallow cross with a sit route over the middle. vs zone they are trying to stretch the curl flat defender or vs man get the ball out to #1. The back is the first read so they get him the ball.

Defense: Sam pressure combo man to the top zone to the passing strength.

Here the Falcons run a  5 man pressure. 

The Colts bring 5 and play 1/4, to the trips side and cover 2 to the single side with the 5 man pressure.

BUCS 5 man pressure vs Raiders with Cover 2

Down and Distance 

Defense: Bowles gives a single high man free look to try to confuse Carr.

2nd & 11

Formation Bunch

Route concepts

Man beater: Shallow to dig on the bottom.

Zone beater: double out cuts to the right . Good cover 2 concept.

Protection: 6 man full slide

Carr sees it and wants to work the zone side on the right but gets sacked before he can get the ball out.

Conclusion:

Here are some of the ways teams are using bunch and how defenses are trying to stop them.