Super Bowl Review: Some Good and Some Bad from the 49ers' Offense
Enough time has passed for the San Francisco 49ers' third consecutive Super Bowl loss to evolve from a near-fatal axe wound to a dull ache of decades-old scar tissue. Unfortunately, the overtime loss has driven many fans into madness, with some swimming in absurd conspiracy theories about who knew what about the overtime rules and diving into endless 'what if' scenarios.
The facts around the 49ers' loss are simple. The 49ers ran into many problems regarding individual execution and a Kansas City defense that was ready for nearly every play. The 49ers could not overcome these details.
Kansas City's defensive line deserved the MVP trophy. Indeed, quarterback Brock Purdy handled the rush well, and it would be difficult for any quarterback to find any rhythm with an inferior offensive line and Kansas City blitzing 51 percent of the time.
The engine seized up on the 49ers' offense in the third quarter. Nothing seemed to work, and a play or two turned into a jumbled, confused mess. It was not until the 1:43 mark in the quarter that the 49ers found themselves in a down and distances under 10 yards.
And since we're being honest, linebacker Dre Greenlaw's freak injury has driven me deeper into my denial of any higher, compassionate power directing the universe's energy.
Last week, I posted an extended breakdown of the 49ers' offense, but here is a deeper look at a handful of plays that worked and some that did not.
1st Quarter – 2nd & 4 at the SF 31 (14:24)
As my pre-Super Bowl commentary noted, some of Shanahan's best plays were in the movement series. I said that outside zone runs would not surprise me, but the "... first spear on the side of the Chiefs will be a movement play."
The prediction was partially accurate. Shanahan called in the play below – ‘Y Fly to North Left Clamp Fake 19 Keep Right’ – on the game's second play.
Fortunately, the play would gain 18 yards. Unfortunately, it was the only movement play with any real success.
The Chiefs' defense had the movement series and other play-action calls sniffed out and well-defended the entire game. In the third quarter, Shanahan called in 'Keep Right X Hiccup,' (posted below) which is usually a big-hitting play, but the Chiefs forced an eight-yard loss. According to Pro Football Focus, the 49ers' offense only gained 68 yards on play-action concepts.
1st Quarter - 1 & 10 at the SF 49 (13:41)
On the next play, Shanahan called an 'arches' concept, another foundational play in his scheme.
'Arches' can be an easy play to spot due to two key routes. First, an inside receiver will always run an 'eliminator' route. Behind him will be a receiver or a back running an 'arches' route – which looks a little like a Bill Walsh 'Texas' route.
The 'arches' route is typically the primary read, with the shallow 'eliminator' route as the second. Should a defender fall under the 'arches' route, a quarterback can go to the shallow route.
Shanahan found creative ways to get the ball in running back Christian McCaffrey's hands in four of the first five plays of the game. McCaffrey would gain 11 yards on the play and end the game with 160 yards of total offense and one receiving touchdown.
Shanahan would call 'arches' again during the overtime possession. Purdy found wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for an 11-yard gain, and I posted the play below.
1st Quarter - 1 & 10 at the SF 48 (1:14)
I understand the frustration surrounding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's statistics in the Super Bowl. He was targeted six times, resulting in three catches for 49 yards. He was open on big hitting plays, like the one below, but Purdy chose not to take the shot.
On the third series, Shanahan called in a dig-corner concept using what looked like 24-chip protection.
Here’s the dig-corner concept vs the Chiefs’ quarters coverage.
Once aligned, Purdy sent fullback Kyle Juszczyk left across the formation, which widened the cornerback. Juszczyk ran a 'rail' route up the sideline. On the inside, wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud ran an 18-yard dig route while Aiyuk ran a corner on the opposite side of the formation.
Kansas City sent middle linebacker Leo Chenal on a stunt, which center Jake Brendel easily blocked. Behind Chenal, Kansas City's secondary looked to be in a quarters coverage.
Purdy hit the top of his drop nearly in time with Aiyuk, and he had a completely clean pocket. He appeared to look at Aiyuk's route but then came back down to McCloud on the dig.
Don't get me wrong – a 19-yard gain is nothing to shake a stick at. But on this play, Purdy had time to step up and read the progressions and uncork a deep throw to Aiyuk, who broke open at the top of his route stem.
‘24/25 Chip’ protection is man protection, with the offensive line responsible for the four down defensive linemen and the Mike. In this instance, the strong back, or the tight end, picks up the outside linebacker, reading the Sam to the strong safety or cornerback.
McCaffrey was the weak back in the protection, and his responsibility was the Will to free safety or cornerback.
2nd Quarter – 2nd & 9 at the SF 33 (10:58)
Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones was an unsolved problem for the 49ers. Jones had four combined tackles and six quarterback pressures and made an unreal run stop on the play below.
On the 49ers' fourth possession, Shanahan called '15 Weak', which is an inside zone run that attacks the inside hip of the play side tackle on the weak side. The 15 designated the direction of the run – the left side.
So, if the run was going left, why did Chris Jones make a run stop from the opposite edge? Because 49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz whiffed on his assignment. McKivitz has a straightforward job on the play: wall off the defensive tackle. That's it.
But McKivitz just ran right by, casually sticking one arm out as if to shove Jones from the play. Jones didn't even have to put a move on McKivitiz and blew right behind him to make the stop.
Jones would have another critical play early in the 4th quarter when Shanahan called 'P18 Stretch' against a Cover 0 call from Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Everything was right about the play, except right guard Spencer Burford not sticking with his block against Jones. I posted the play below for your consideration and review.
Here is the point in the offseason where I again welcome many of you on the offensive line train with me. Unfortunately, most of you fall off the ride over time and want the team to draft or sign another edge defender.
The Super Bowl proved that Lynch and Shanahan cannot continue to put together a patchwork offensive line or throw in project players and hope for the best. The team needs to address right guard and right tackle this offseason, and I would not be upset if they also went after a talented center.
Success has many fathers, but failure is a 19th-century English orphanage full of bastard children. The finger pointing back at Shanahan is fine; the buck stops with him. Indeed, some of his play calling was strange, such as a shovel pass on the second play of overtime.
But former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks needed answers for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It was as if Wilks forgot about Mahomes threat to run. Further, a head coach should not have to take a time out in a championship football game to call another defense. Offensive linemen should have their assignments dialed in and understand their responsibility on every play.
Forty-Niners football will return, and when it does, the lingering pain of another Super Bowl loss should be long gone.
All images courtesy of NFL.com unless noted.
All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless noted.