How can we more effectively cover TEs?

[Smelly McUgly]

By my count, Seattle's secondary limited the Carolina WR corps to seven receptions, 61 yards, and a TD. This was on the road, at 10 AM, and without Brandon Browner.

Unfortunately, Greg Olsen got totally free 12-20 yards downfield at least three times by my count, and it was only a drop and a GREAT recovery and punch of the ball by Byron Maxwell (if I recall correctly) that stopped two of those from being big gains.

Are our LBs just really bad in coverage? I know that a TE matched up on most LBs will make plays, but if we can't cover these guys, what can we do to limit the damage considering our 4-3-with-3-4-tendencies defense? Obviously, more pass rush always helps the defense in general, but how can we use our personnel to help us out against the Davises, Gonzaleses, and even the Rudolphs and Cooks that we're going up against this year?

 

[FlyingGreg]

Too often, people forget that there are TWO teams playing each week. Gotta give some credit to the opponent once in awhile.

They can't really throw to the WRs effectively, so they take what is there.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

Certainly, I'm not taking anything away from Newton or Olsen. I'm merely saying that TE play has sort of killed us over the years. I know that TEs today tend to be really athletic pass-catchers and are a bad matchup in general, but with a number of playoff teams that have athletic, play-making TEs on our potential playoff slate, I think that it is worth talking about rather than dismissing it.

 

[Sports Hernia]

I thought Wagner looked real bad in coverage at times.

 

[FlyingGreg]

I don't think anyone is dismissing it...I think people just realize that's how you need to try and attack this defense.

It's damn near impossible to defend EVERYTHING.

 

[Veilside]

I don't think you have to worry too much about Rudolph. He doesn't seem to get enough separation for Ponders comfort unless it's in the red zone. Cook on the other hand is performing as I had feared for the Rams. A monster. Hopefully Luke Willson ends up looking like that for us in the future.

 

[Hawks46]

You're right, it was Maxwell knocking that ball out. Anyone notice that he's above Lane on the depth chart, and he's making more plays ? Maybe he really was a bit snake bit early in his career.

I saw 2 plays (both receptions) where Wagner was in coverage, and in the right place, but didn't quite have enough depth to his drop...he missed the ball by about a foot on one play.

I'm not an insider..but in certain zones, LBers are only supposed to get a certain depth. If Wags gets too deep, a QB like Newton is almost guaranteed 20 yards on a run. I'm guessing Wagner either didn't get deep enough and didn't sense where Olson was, or he was only supposed to go so far, Olson read that zone, and went in right behind Wagner, but in front of Earl.

Like FlyingGreg said, It's damn near impossible to defend EVERYTHING. If we don't want TE's slicing us down the middle, and WRs getting deep ins on us, then we need to get more pressure on the QB. We can complain about guys getting completions, but it's a testament to our secondary that we held them to this few of yards when Newton had all day to throw, was totally clean in the pocket, and had all the time and throwing lanes to make all his reads. When we did get pressure, he was either off or threw it away.

Conversely, look at Wilson: he looked a bit rough around the edges today, and he was pressured from the get go. He actually looked gun shy in the 2nd half.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

Well, of course there will always be a best plan of attack. And of course teams will complete plays and score against this defense. But just because something is a point of attack doesn't mean that it can't be better defended.

 

[Hawks46]

edit: site's being weird. deleted double post

 

[Smelly McUgly]

Hawks46, I noticed Olsen slipping behind B-Wags, too. On a personal note, I am really not a fan of zone coverage with a simple four man rush, and off the top of my head, we seem to run zone and just rush four quite a bit. I prefer to see my team use the zone as a way to compensate for sending extra guys.

It also doesn't help that Newton is a runner, like you said, and Wagner had to keep contain, which I think we did pretty well on actually. I can only remember once or twice that Newton broke free and got a chance to get into his long stride.

 

[hawksman53]

The TE is Kam Chancellor's job to. It wasn't just Wagner that looked bad in coverage today

 

[Hawks46]

Hawks46, I noticed Olsen slipping behind B-Wags, too. On a personal note, I am really not a fan of zone coverage with a simple four man rush, and off the top of my head, we seem to run zone and just rush four quite a bit. I prefer to see my team use the zone as a way to compensate for sending extra guys.

It also doesn't help that Newton is a runner, like you said, and Wagner had to keep contain, which I think we did pretty well on actually. I can only remember once or twice that Newton broke free and got a chance to get into his long stride.

Actually, zone coverage with a LB is the most effective way to cover that part of the field. It would be way to easy to clear the middle if your MLB picked up a guy coming through that area. You could send a RB or TE and clear that guy right out if he was in man. That being said:

yes, you have Chancellor covering him too (unless he was spying Newton...I'm not privy to the calls, and without coach's tape, I don't know what the coverage was...so I can't say if Kam blew a coverage)...you can also go a 2 under zone and take the SAM and play him man up on the TE. I'd say that would be a good option against SF and Davis where you're really only worried about two options.

I get what you're saying, and I don't like getting torn up by TE's, but usually the WR's are into their routes faster than a TE (especially if he has to block or you hit him at the line) so pressure on the QB would alleviate more of this.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

I feel like playing Cover-2 and just telling the LB "Go get the TE" would be the best option if we're going to play some zone. Let Kam freelance over the top and decide if he needs to give help to the LB/support the run/etc. But you definitely raise some great points about making it easier to cover that 10-20 yard area past the LOS.

I also bet that you are right, even though I tried to get it out of the way early as too simple to be an answer - pass rush alleviates a lot of these issues. Hopefully next week, we can get better pressure.

 

[VancitySeahawk]

It is impossible to cover every single position effectively.

The NFL is an offensive league now thanks to all the rule changes. QBs are better than they ever were before and athletes are doing things faster and stronger than ever before.

Not to mention, football and defense is a chess game. In order to shut down one threat, you leave yourself vulnerable to another threat.

 

[kearly]

I thought our coverage looked pretty good honestly. When Newton did complete a pass downfield (or at least "should have"), it was always on a perfect throw right in-between outstretched hands.

 

[NorthVanHawker]

Wan't Wagner's zone coverage against Tony G (the play before the FG to win it) the reason we weren't in the NFC Championship game?

I saw a nice 20 yd gain to Greg Olsen today that was extremely similar where Wagner's read in the zone wasn't good enough....He didn't drop back far enough to stop the pass.

I guess we need to remember these guys are still very young!

 

[vin.couve12]

The announcer calling the game was actually right about the fact that we run a lot of zone in the middle. Give a QB some time and they eat zones up. I'm not exactly sure what the hell everyone is complaining about coverage though when we held them to 125 yards or whatever. That's insanely good. It was the run D that looked really sluggish. The whole front seven made bad plays there. DL looking tired and LBs slow to react.

That has to be better next week and I know it will and we DID get a W, but yeah...I expected more. Maybe the Hawks did too.

 

[kigenzun]

Keep Maxwell on the edge and when he gets back on the field assign Browner to the TE man to man. His height, aggressiveness/attitude, and ball skills abilities could all pay big dividends lined up against primarily pass catching TE's i.e. Vernon Davis, Olsen, Gonzalez, Jared Cook etc

IMO we are best served leaving both Smith and/or Morgan on the bench and always playing 5 (or more) dbs.

 

[rigelian]

I thought our coverage looked pretty good honestly. When Newton did complete a pass downfield (or at least "should have"), it was always on a perfect throw right in-between outstretched hands.

Newton's completions were almost picture perfect passes thrown with velocity into very small windows. Almost impossible to stop.

 

[penihawk]

Before you all panic,maybe go check the league wide stats of the TE's and readjust your expectations. Wags didn't quite get deep enough on a couple Olsen catches but opposing offenses are going to win some of the time fellas. One game down and 15+ to go. Relax and enjoy!