Quote:Thing is, mostly everyone is blaming the scheme. Simple fact is...we don't run this scheme 100% the entire game. In general, this hybrid 4-3/3-4 scheme is supposed to make it difficult to beat downfield (two corners and one safety each getting a third of the field). That's 3 of 11 players.

 

Most of the time, we rush 4. This should, essentially give us four players to cover the underneath (3 LBs and the SS). Schematically, its fine. There's protection for deep throws and enough guys to cover underneath. The problem has been with execution. One is we don't get enough pass rush from the front four, so it gives the QB more time to find holes in the defense (and there will be holes, which is true for any defense). When we have to send a 5th person to blitz, we usually don't hit home. Which means there's less players to cover the underneath (this becomes a bigger problem then).

 

From the first two games, there's been a couple of problems IMO. 

 

There's miscommunication in coverage. I don't know if its Poz, Skuta, Cyp, or Gipson. But almost all of the big play/TD that was posted on the site so far, there's always that one player (sometimes two) where we look at it and ask "Well, what is he doing here?" Something just doesn't look right if you look at where everyone is lined up and what/who they are covering. Blown coverages.

 

There's also another problem which I think has been kind of quietly overlooked given the other issues: 

 

I don't think Senn is playing all that well. I think teams have been able to double Malik, and leave Senn (or whoever is lined up at DT) and the two young DEs one-on-one. I don't think we've been able to collapse the pocket from the inside much.

 

This is all coming from me watching the game and without the benefit of All-22. But from what I'm seeing, other than Roy on obvious run-downs inside, I think that spot has been a problem the past two games.

 

It's both.  It's player/their mistakes.  

 

And it's scheme.

 

Anytime a QB (I don't care if it's Rivers or not) is able do identify mismatches as easily as he did Sunday and exploit them you really HAVE to put some fault on the scheme.

 

I don't have any doubt this scheme can be run effectively, we've seen it done, but even Seattle gets picked apart by smart QBs and coordinators on the underneath routes. 

 

It's a weakness. 

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