The Final Drive 12/4: How The Details Matter in Play-Calling
The 49ers put on a clinic in the small details of successful NFL offense Sunday.
As we embark on thoughts surrounding turning the Cleveland Browns into a contender in the next 365 days, I want to remind what they’re up against. How the best thinkers in the sport are constructing their offense and the attention to detail that comes with the best doing this in the NFL. Listen quickly to this bit from Kyle Shanahan talking about how his team gets into the right play calls with “can” checks and more. The detail little things matter so much.
As I watched the 49ers offense operate against the Browns, I just loved the little details of how they use the elements at their disposal, both in the pre-snap and post-snap. That attention to detail and show you how the best in the NFL are getting their guys open is where I grow concerned about the Browns ability to someday match that. The 49ers play immense tempo, purpose, and belief. Things the Browns offense lacks. Let me show you three examples of the minor details.
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Most of us in here are familiar with a concept called flood. This is a term used to describe a three-man route meant to overload a portion of the field with high, medium, and low routes. Stress the defense where they don’t have enough bodies to cover it in zone. This is one of the many traditional uses of the concept.
Now watch how the 49ers use formation manipulation, eye candy, and strange release points to get into open space against the Browns second level. The details here are so good.
That backside running back and inside release from the tight end really send the Browns second level into a whirlwind.
The other two I want to show you are using receiver alignment to manipulate space.
It’s not foreign to commonplace to run tight alignments to create two-way options for wide receivers at the break point. As you know, when you align wide it limits the directions routes can break. So, if your widest receiver is closer to the tackle box, you create a bit more mystery on the break point. The 49ers used this to their advantage.
Watch Ricky Pearsall (1) go in motion to the top of the screen. He will expand his route outside against off-man as to make the corner think he is breaking inside, which he does. But then at ten yards Pearsall breaks off the route right back to the sideline. The 49ers wanted to catch the Browns in space like this and it worked perfectly. Campbell thinks he is closing the door on the post and then the route snaps off quickly.
Then later in the same possession, watch Jauan Jennings (15) attack from a similar spot. This is all about selling one route to get to another. Instead of widening on release Jennings attacks straight vertical with a stutter release to win outside but instead of running the vertical route Tyson Campbell is expecting, he snaps it off after five steps and wins back inside.
These are the perfect routes to capitalize on how they know the Browns play man coverage technique based on alignment. These are again the little details that create space, yardage, and key first downs. These are examples of what the best offenses in the NFL are doing on a weekly basis.
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