Niners film study

I will just concentrated on Crick (to add to the plays of Mercilus that I already mentioned in the other thread).

2nd quarter

4-1-HST 20 (10:52) A.Dixon right guard to HST 20 for no gain (G.Quin; T.Dobbins).

I believe Crick first entered the game on this 4th down conversion here with 10:52 left in the second quarter.

This is against the Niners first team O-line;
(So is the next series.)

The Texans played gap defense and everybody on the line won his battle, including both DE (Antonio and Crick).

Crick did his job against LG Iupati, a first round draft pick for the Niners a couple years ago (2010).

That’s a good sign.

Most importantly, on this play, Mitchell dove in between the double-team in the middle.

Dixon tried to bounce outside right tackle, but Dobbins was unblocked and came in to make the stop. Quin also won his battle on the edge to get in for the assist.

Crick did his job to help the D in foiling this fourth down conversion.

San Francisco 49ers at 9:12

1-10-SF 41 (9:12) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick pass short left to R.Moss pushed ob at SF 47 for 6 yards (K.Jackson).

Crick was at 34 SDE; the offense chipped him with a lineman to have the RB picking him up. He kinda slipped on his own.
Nothing he can do here, anyway.


2-4-SF 47 (8:47) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick left end pushed ob at HST 41 for 12 yards (G.Quin). R6
Run way from Crick.


1-10-HST 41 (8:36) (Shotgun) L.James up the middle to HST 33 for 8 yards (J.Crick).

Niners pulled the LT inside the Guard to take on Cushing.
Mitchell got penetration to shut down the running lane on the right.
Cushing over-pursued and was guided out of the play.
The LG Iupati won his battle over WDE Jamison temporarily.

WOLB Barwin was optioned but he was checking the QB first (due to the previous run by Kaepernick). He (Barwin) was a little late pursuing from the back side when the runner made his cut back.

SDE Crick disengaged from his man to make the tackle.
He did his part.

The "problem" here is a combination of Jamison, Cushing, and Barwin.


2-2-HST 33 (8:23) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick pass incomplete deep left to K.Williams.
PENALTY on HST-G.Quin, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at HST 33 - No Play. X7

Crick was neutralized by the G.
It looks like most of the Texans were expecting run on 2nd and short.
Ball out in just over 2 secs.

1-10-HST 28 (8:17) C.Kaepernick pass incomplete short right to T.Ginn (Q.Demps).

This was where Mercilus entered the game at WOLB
He Dropped into coverage as the right flat defender.
Quick pass to the other side.

Crick was double-teamed by the C and LG.
He was at WDE (same side with Mercilus – away from the play).


2-10-HST 28 (8:13) C.Kaepernick pass incomplete deep left to R.Moss (A.Ball).

Moss should have caught that back shoulder fade.
Ball out in slightly less than 2 secs.

Merci Worked the LT to the inside, gaining a bit of leverage.

Crick was at WDE (same side with Mercilus).
He got a little push when the LG stepped back away from it.
Crick lost some balance as the ball was gone quickly.
Needs to do a better job here.


3-10-HST 28 (8:06) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick pass short right to T.Ginn to HST 22 for 6 yards (S.McManis).
PENALTY on SF-A.Davis, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at HST 28 - No Play.

Merci was at 43 WDE -

Quick pass, ball out in just over one sec.

Crick was at WDT; he just got past his man when the pass was delivered.
A small win for Crick.


3-15-HST 33 (7:37) (Shotgun) K.Hunter up the middle to HST 19 for 14 yards (J.Crick).

Merci at SOLB - run away from Mercilus.

Harris was pushed back 6 yards and pancaked.

The Texans were expeting pass on this delayed draw.

James missed the tackle that would have stopped the runner cold.

Crick broke off from his man (away from the play) to come back for the tackle.

He stopped this conversion.

...

This series was against the Niners first team O-line.

Overall, Crick showed he can be a part of the rotation by going toe to toe with the Niners first-team players.


From here on out, it will be against their second team.

In this next series, the Texans just want to end the half in prevent defensive mode,.


San Francisco 49ers at 0:54, (1st play from scrimmage 0:48)

1-10-SF 21 (:48) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick pass short left to K.Williams to SF 27 for 6 yards (A.Ball).

Merci at 43 WDE
Quick pass.

Crick at SDT – worked on RG then held up the RB out of the backfield.
Basically, he occupied one blocker and negated an offensive threat on the play.
This gave the D 7 to defend the other 4 targets.


2-4-SF 27 (:27) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick pass short left to K.Reuland to SF 35 for 8 yards (T.Nolan).
PENALTY on SF-K.Reuland, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at SF 27 - No Play.

Merci at 43 SDE
TE ran accross his face trying to slow Mercilus down a tad.
Still, he took the LT close to the QB, disengaged and was ready to launch at around the 2 sec mark.
The LG came back to help just in time; otherwise, Mercilus would have been on top of the QB.

On this play, the O started out double-teaming Mitchell and he kinda slow down, getting ready to jump up to have a swipe at the ball.

This was what allowed the LG to come back to help on Mercilus.
It wasn’t a bad idea by Mitchell, but it worked to the Niners’ advantage.

Crick was at WDT
He had a standard 4 yd push, tried to extend an arm to swipe at the ball.
It was a decent effort by Crick.

TE was called for pushing off on the Dime (Keo) trying to get separation.


2-14-SF 17 (:19) (Shotgun) L.James right guard to SF 23 for 6 yards (T.Dobbins, T.Nolan).
PENALTY on HST-T.Dobbins, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced at SF 23.

Merci at 43 WDE
Run away from Mercilus

Crick at SDT.

On 2nd and 14, Texans played both run and pass.

Crick started his push a couple yards into the backfield, read run and worked to disengaged from his man.

His push disallowed a downhill path for the runner, giving the second level a little time to react back to the delayed hand off (draw).

Texans secondary played back to ensure no long pass.
We were willing to give them a short run with little left on the clock.

Crick got back quickly and was right there in case Dobbins miss the tackle.
He did his job.

Halftime.

3rd quarter

Against the Niners second team, the Texans were playing Harris, Mitch King, Crick, Mercilus and Braman up front.


San Francisco 49ers at 15:00, (1st play from scrimmage 14:53)

1-10-SF 25 (14:53) C.Kaepernick pass short right to K.Williams to SF 32 for 7 yards (B.McCain).

Merci at WOLB
Quick pass

Demps nearly jumped the route.

Crick took the LT more than 6 yards into the backfield but was picked-up by the LG.
A win for Crick here.


2-3-SF 32 (14:19) R.Cartwright up the middle to SF 33 for 1 yard (R.Harris, W.Mercilus).

Merci at WOLB

SOLB Brahman and SDE Crick (especially Crick) shut down play side.
Runner cut back.

Harris stood his ground and was the first man there (low)

Mercilus was attacking outside the RT, disengaged and came around back to join in just a hair afterward (high).

Not sure if Harris could have brought the runner down by himself.
At least, he would have gained some more yards without Mercilus

As Braman set the edge against the FB, Crick defeated the LG’s block to enter the backfield to force the runner to go east-west.
This play was made possible by his effort.


3-2-SF 33 (13:41) C.Kaepernick pass short right to A.Dixon pushed ob at SF 33 for no gain (T.Dobbins).

Niners in 221 personnel.

After motion, Mercilus became SOLB (2 TE set with lone receiver on his side).

Quick pass (less than 2 secs.)

With the TE crossing Mercilus's face to slow him down a tad, the LT was able to hold Mercilus off.
There was nothing he can really do here.

Crick was double-teamed by the C and LG.

Good read and quick reaction by Dobbins.

PUNT

San Francisco 49ers at 9:26

1-10-SF 28 (9:26) R.Cartwright right end to SF 31 for 3 yards (B.Braman).

Crick and Mercilus were on the weak side (right side of the D).
The run was away from them.

Dobbins did a good job blowing up the pulling LG.

SOLB Braman did a great job getting rid of the TE to make the tackle.

The RB did well stretching and falling forward for a hard-earned 3 yards.


2-7-SF 31 (9:07) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick pass incomplete short middle to R.Cartwright.

Mercilus was redirected by the LT out of the play as he tried to edge rush.

Crick was double-teamed by the C and LG but still showed great effort trying to jump up and swat at the ball.

He and Harris distracted the line of sight between the QB and RB (out of the backfield) enough for him (the RB) to drop the ball


3-7-SF 31 (9:02) (Shotgun) C.Kaepernick pass incomplete short left to B.Swain.

Mercilus beat the LT to the inside just as the QB released the ball.

Crick got the LG off balance and pushed him dangerously close to the QB (unfortunately it hindered Mercilus).

It's OK though.
The pressure was plenty enough to force the QB to hurry the throw for an incompletion.

Pass was off in less than 2 secs.

Braman, on the other side, displayed good quickness on the stunt to the middle

Another conversion foiled by Crick.

San Francisco 49ers at 5:24, (1st play from scrimmage 5:17)

I will just note the fifth play of this drive.

3-5-HST 36 (3:25) (Shotgun) R.Cartwright up the middle to HST 37 for -1 yards (S.Keo).

The Niners tried to option Mercilus, doubling Crick with the C and LT while pulling the LG.

This left Keo alone.

He made the quick read and filled the gap quickly for a loss of one yard.

Another third down conversion foiled.

Crick played 23 snaps.

This is probably more than he will get in the normal rotation.

Overall, he was quite decent against both the run and the pass.

He looks like a guy who can give Watt and Smith a breather here and there.

Thanks.

Great blow by blow. Makes things very understandable. Thanks for posting these recaps.

Great stuff, 76T. Repped.

Sounds like Crick may have "it" -- blowing up plays, occupying 2 players, making the play.

Playoffs said:

Great stuff, 76T. Repped.

Sounds like Crick may have "it" -- blowing up plays, occupying 2 players, making the play.

Click to expand...

I haven't rewatched the Saints game yet, but I think Crick had another decent game.

I noticed one bad play when he was redirected out of a play, but he looked pretty good on a few other plays.

I don't want to jump the gun (until I really looked at him more closely - even though I did pay a lot of attention to him during the game) but I think my opinion sitll holds.

I think he will be in the rotation along with Jamison.