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X's & O's Super Bowl Analysis - X's and O's

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1) No attacking or criticizing fellow posters, the players, or the coaching.
2) Stick to breaking down plays, not criticizing performance, execution, or messing up.
3) It's ok to identify who blew a play or assignment, but stop right there.
4) It's ok to disagree with analysis from beat writers, but not to criticize them.
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SlowGettingUp

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I thought it would be nice to have a place to post and discuss X and O analyses that folks are producing.

Let's start here with what might be one of the keys to the game - the Patriots outstanding interior D-line vs the Seahawks average to mediocre interior O-line




The other obvious keys will be Gonzalez vs JSN, and whether Maye can regain some of his earlier form.
 
Opposing offenses will see a particular coverage on tape/huddle. But the Patriots show something completely different at the last minute. No reason to go away from this method.

Offensively, I think they should go more no huddle. Not every snap. But throw the defense off and don't let them catch their breath. The last two drives to win the Baltimore game were as good as it gets. Use the RB's more in the passing game.

Seattle has rarely played from behind in the postseason. Make them feel the pressure. How would Darnold react in a ten point deficit?
 
Honestly the plan really couldn't be much easier compared to previous games.

1) Find Nick Emmanwori. Run all your decoy **** at him, and don't throw at him.

2) Find Leonard Williams. He has a tell where he's shaded as to whether he's going to run a stunt or not. Campbell and Wilson HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO figure out how to jam those stunts. They do that, Maye will have a big day.

3) Contain Smith-Njigba as best you can, probably by using match zones instead of pure man or pure zone. Keep those windows tight, make Darnold have to fit into really small spaces.

Do this, the pass rush will get home, that o-line is pretty damned mid, keep your lane integrity on the rush, because Seattle barely tries to run inside, all their success goes to the outside.

Stick with the run, even if the usual GDT suspects are crying that McDaniels is trying to run, you have a big size advantage on the right side of the line. Run gap stuff, limit the zone runs. Diggs needs to have a big slot day, there will be plenty of space, because Seattle runs like 70% split safety zone. Maye has to stay patient and take the easy money, let those corners creep up and then take your shots. Also take advantage when you do catch them in man, those corners both sorta suck in man coverage.

Seattle is a talented football team, very good, and pretty well-coached, but honestly I think we've played tougher teams in the playoffs. Seattle has not.
 
2) Find Leonard Williams. He has a tell where he's shaded as to whether he's going to run a stunt or not. Campbell and Wilson HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO figure out how to jam those stunts. They do that, Maye will have a big day.
 
I'm not sure on the X's and O's overall but on offense I would expect to see Hollins and Stevenson continue to be called upon for their blocking skills, supplementing the OL at times

Henderson is explosive but Stevenson has been a MUCH better blocker just due to his size alone.

Hollins, in addition to being like a tall TE, really makes a big difference in his blocking both for the run and pass.

We know if that Maye has enough time to throw, he'll find the open reciever

This well balanced O where anyone can make the huge play will be a challenge for the Seahawks

As they look at film they'll know that Maye's "go to guys" are basically every potential receiver on the field and they can't double team them all - and when they try to lock down in a zone, Maye will send the field deep and then run it himself with the help of the aforementioned blockers too!
 
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Stick with the run, even if the usual GDT suspects are crying that McDaniels is trying to run, you have a big size advantage on the right side of the line. Run gap stuff, limit the zone runs.
Key is to get them out of nickel. They are in base only 10% of the time, relying on their talented DBs to contain the run. Go heavy and run over them.

Both of our RBs can catch the ball - I expect a lot of pony formations (both RBs on the field).
 
Honestly the plan really couldn't be much easier compared to previous games.

1) Find Nick Emmanwori. Run all your decoy **** at him, and don't throw at him.

2) Find Leonard Williams. He has a tell where he's shaded as to whether he's going to run a stunt or not. Campbell and Wilson HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO figure out how to jam those stunts. They do that, Maye will have a big day.

3) Contain Smith-Njigba as best you can, probably by using match zones instead of pure man or pure zone. Keep those windows tight, make Darnold have to fit into really small spaces.

Do this, the pass rush will get home, that o-line is pretty damned mid, keep your lane integrity on the rush, because Seattle barely tries to run inside, all their success goes to the outside.

Stick with the run, even if the usual GDT suspects are crying that McDaniels is trying to run, you have a big size advantage on the right side of the line. Run gap stuff, limit the zone runs. Diggs needs to have a big slot day, there will be plenty of space, because Seattle runs like 70% split safety zone. Maye has to stay patient and take the easy money, let those corners creep up and then take your shots. Also take advantage when you do catch them in man, those corners both sorta suck in man coverage.

Seattle is a talented football team, very good, and pretty well-coached, but honestly I think we've played tougher teams in the playoffs. Seattle has not.
Sounds good but Denver nearly got an int doubling Diggs. Seattle may likely repeat that. How would you respond to that? Maye has to be alert for that early.
 
Sounds good but Denver nearly got an int doubling Diggs. Seattle may likely repeat that. How would you respond to that? Maye has to be alert for that early.
Seattle doubling anyone would be wildly out of character.
 
From what I'm hearing Seattle is scary in that they can stop the run with 4 down lineman. When they do blitz its very well scripted.

I can see this being a slobber knocker multiple 3 and out series back and forth game.
 
Good point. Milt and Barmore are going to **** **** up as far a Seattle's offensive game plan is concerned.
As i mentioned in the other thread, the outside runs worry me. kubiak is from the shanahan tree which historically has caused us problems. We havent been tested with the outside zone runs these playoffs but this will something we need to stop in this game for barmore and co to be effective.
Regardless, if the game is within reach, both D's are going to be gassed by the 4th Q
 
#1) Run the ball
#2) Stop the run

Do that successfully and you win the game
 
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