What's Changed With The Run Game

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Great points. Here's my take on an improved run game, it could be a mere coincidence though, it seems it improved once Kennedy Polamalu, rb coach, left the team.

This is a great point. Genuinely curious if there is something to that.

 

[hawkfan68]

This is a great point. Genuinely curious if there is something to that.

My intent is not to blame Polamalu in any way. Polamalu has coached some very good running backs - Dalvin Cook in Minny, Josh Jacobs with Raiders, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew with the Jags, etc - https://www.seahawks.com/team/coaches-roster/kennedy-polamalu.

It's strange how the run game suddenly improved.

 

[bileever]

Before we unknowingly besmirch a man for no reason, it should be noted that Kennedy Polamalu is a coach with a very good reputation, having coached some great RBs in their best seasons, including Josh Jacobs and Dalvin Cook.

He's also been an offensive coordinator at USC and UCLA, so he is a very knowledgeable and experienced football guy.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Don't think anyone is throwing shade but I am curious if something was tweaked or if its just due to opposition

 

[MontanaHawk05]

2. Teams playing 2 high safety looks. This is primarily due to the deep threat of Shaheed. I had mentioned in an earlier thread that I would’ve liked at least one deep shot attempt to Shaheed to keep the 49ers safeties on their toes, but it proved not necessary. Perhaps we’ll see it in the playoffs. Could you imagine if he had a healthy Horton too? Man, this offense would be very potent.

Having two high safety looks, as most of you probably know, means one less defender in the box. Therefore, this should, in theory, create more running lanes as there’s less traffic, allowing our backs to get into the second and third levels of the defense.

I dunno, I was actually seeing a LOT of stacked boxes during the 49ers game. It simply didn't make a difference. I'd attribute it to just our linemen playing together for a while, getting used to each other, improving under good coaching, etc. We've also got great perimeter blocking from Ouzts and our tight ends.

 

[samwize77]

From where I sit, looking at it from 30,000 feet, I'd say its effort and desire. One can also say, belief and cohesion. It appears to me that, as a team, these guys are playing with/for each other. Everybody wants to make a statement, as a team, and nobody wants to be the guy that lets the others down. I say that "as a whole", meaning the team. The running game? Did you notice in the SC game how the WR's were blocking?...How the Oline was getting to the next level consistently? The effort and desire to get the job done was "gut check" stuff. Coaching might have helped tweak the running game, but from my chair, this has been our guys simply "wanting it". Every phase, every player.

 

[SeahawkSteve80]

I dunno, I was actually seeing a LOT of stacked boxes during the 49ers game. It simply didn't make a difference. I'd attribute it to just our linemen playing together for a while, getting used to each other, improving under good coaching, etc. We've also got great perimeter blocking from Ouzts and our tight ends.

A few of the film breakdowns I watched showed the 49ers defense sitting in 2 shell looks and refusing to get out of it

 

[Atradees]

I expect 200 rushing yards per game from here on out, with Sam throwing about 25 times for 250 Yards and 4 TDs 0 INTs.

Thats the goal. Not near the reality yet.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

181 vs. Santa Clara
168 vs. Carolina
171 vs. the Clams

Not farfetched to think they can get 200. I'm good with 150-180 a game. This team is dangerous with those totals.

 

[projectorfreak]

Quite a few videos covering this and we got away from outside zone primarily and are mixing it up with inside zone , power and just about every other type of running scheme and lo n behold it's working , pretty darn well to so hopefully KK keeps it up

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

Didnt read thread so dont know if im just repeating but i feel like its a combination of fresher legs splitting carries all season vs end of season defenses that are more tired and fatigued.

Also feel like they kind of been sitting on some of their best designs until recently to help fuel the post-season run. But cant really say otherwise.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

All this being said: If you get 1st and goal on the 1.......RUN....THE......EFFIN.......BALL

 

[Grahamhawker]

I dunno, I was actually seeing a LOT of stacked boxes during the 49ers game. It simply didn't make a difference. I'd attribute it to just our linemen playing together for a while, getting used to each other, improving under good coaching, etc. We've also got great perimeter blocking from Ouzts and our tight ends.

I concur. Saw 8+ in the box on a lot of plays vs the 9ers. And 'gelling' of the Ol and running scheme overall likely is a big factor.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

A few of the film breakdowns I watched showed the 49ers defense sitting in 2 shell looks and refusing to get out of it

And I'm sure that's true if the cutups you're watching are focused on the passing game. But there's a cutup linked on our Students of the Game forum right now showing a lot of stacked boxes on obvious run plays and the runs still succeeded. Saleh was definitely deploying 2-man in the passing philosophy in general, but the fact that we still saw 8 in the box much of the time and still made progress is hugely encouraging.

 

[SeahawkSteve80]

And I'm sure that's true if the cutups you're watching are focused on the passing game. But there's a cutup linked on our Students of the Game forum right now showing a lot of stacked boxes on obvious run plays and the runs still succeeded. Saleh was definitely deploying 2-man in the passing philosophy in general, but the fact that we still saw 8 in the box much of the time and still made progress is hugely encouraging.

I need to watch different film breakdowns. I stand corrected. My apologies.

 

[IndyHawk]

Remember the last few years with Pete and MMs first season?
We simply could not seem to run the ball well except for an
occasion here and there.
It was a mess; Fingers were pointing everywhere and answers
weren't there.
I believe it was a total team effort to fix it, players committed to
blocking, coaches using the right players, plays to achieve the best
results.
This did not happen suddenly; It took many games to find the right
formula.
All I can say is that it looks and feels good to watch!

 

[MontanaHawk05]

I need to watch different film breakdowns. I stand corrected. My apologies.

It's fine, man, you don't need to apologize. There's so much data to take in.

 

[Seattle Person]

A few of the film breakdowns I watched showed the 49ers defense sitting in 2 shell looks and refusing to get out of it

The 49ers started to crash the box as the run game started to hum along.

The biggest difference in the 49ers' game was a wrinkle that Kubiak and his staff threw in. I don't know if it started in the later in the 2nd half of the Panthers' game but it was all over the 49ers game.

Kubiak used Ouzts a little bit more creatively and he ran a lot of weak-side concepts. Both gap and zone. He would overload the strong-side (TE side) and run to the opposite side with Ouzts often leading the RB. He also would stack the TEs on the same side and run towards them at times.

But overall, the 49ers' game was the best blocking game of the season. Guys held their double teams really well and when asked to reach their landmarks, they flew down the field to do so. A lot of times Zach and Ken were not touched until 4-5 yards in.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

It'll be interesting to see how well these things hold up against defenses that are less injury-depleted than the 49ers, but Kubiak definitely called a great run game against that team.

 

[Seattle Person]

For people interested from the other perspective.

It's a combination of Seattle taking advantage and how poor the 49ers' run defense is.