Seahawks vs 49ers Preview: How The Seahawks can upset the 49ers.

 The Seahawks open the playoffs against one of the best defenses in football. The 49ers can flat out play on the defensive side and have won 10 straight. It will be an intriguing matchup and here's what the Seahawks need to do in order to beat the 49ers. 

 They have a very good matchup but a game they can win. It will come down to several things on both sides of the ball.

Offensively
They have to get some run game going early. They 49ers are so aggressive, I think you have to run some trap schemes and influence schemes. They are so well coached so it won't be an easy task. In the last meeting they threw the ball 44 times and ran it 14 times. The only shot is to be more balanced offensively.

#1 trap them and influence them as much as possible to slow them down early

Raiders run counter scheme with the guard kicking out and the H leading up. Very effective in my opinion as it slows them down. Mix in some play action off the same scheme.

#2 Quick screens and maybe even some fake screens to slow them down early. 

Raiders had a few good ones which slowed the pass rush down.

#3 Heavy play action with one or 2 man routes. Here's one out of 13 personnel. Take some shots in the passing game. With 13 you are going to get probably cover 3 and some type of zone coverage which may allow you to hit some things in the passing game. Could even do it with a tackle at tight end which will dictate coverage even more.

 

#2 example of effective play action to slow them down. They go jet motion, fake the jet and hit Adams on a wide open crossing route vs cover 2. 

Look at the middle of the field and how wide open it is. If they try to take away Walker in the run game some of these concepts may be there. 

#4 Run right at them.

Defenses predicated on speed will at times overrun things. 

Heres 2 plays vs the Raiders week 17. Lead and toss. 

On Defense:

In the last meeting the defense played well with the exception a few plays. The offense didn't help things with some turnovers.

#1 They must limit the big plays. Again, no big plays due to Shanahan scheming up a screen, some fancy play action and every other gimmick he runs.  

#2 Keeping Christian McCaffrey in check. That is not an easy task as he was very effective last time they played rushing 26 times for 128 yards. The Seahawks have struggled against the run so they need to find a way.  The best way to do that is to load up the box and try to take away gaps and running lanes. Playing man coverage will help things as well as they can match up with the 49ers on the perimeter.  

Here's how he hurts you when you don't blitz engage him in man coverage. Tough with all they do in the run game. Cover 0 pressure below. 

 

#3 Play more man coverage:

    A. Fact-Brock struggles against man coverage. He isn't that efficient a passer. Shanahan does a gret job scheming things up for him. We know the Seahawks like their zone concepts but getting more aggressive and playing man could be utilized. 

    B. It helps in the screen game because it allows you to blitz engage and take away their effective screen game. Watch the 49ers in their screen game and it's effective use vs man coverage. Ever notice that every time they run a screen they run it with motion? If you watch the last game, the Seahawks were more efficient in man coverage but got hurt several times in zone. Will Pete Carroll be more aggressive against the rookie Brock Purdy?

 #3  Kittle needs to be accounted for. Both big plays last game came against man coverage were critical. The screen was against zone and the 60 yard td was just a blown coverage. Account for him, bracket him at times while still trying to get a rush on Brock and get him off his spot. That guy will not beat us in the  pass game.

#4 Bait Purdy into some bad throws. Cover 3 weak gave the young qb some issues. There was almost 1 pick and another play if the ball was late as the weak safety was lurking on several throws. They get 1 or 2 of those picks, they easily are in the game.

He often doesn't see the weakside safety in his progressions so a savvy safety may be able to pick him off. You can see he gets locked in on film and don't be surprised if the Seahawks get one this game. 

Overall, I hope you enjoyed this article and I look forward to a great game. It will be a closer game than people think.