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DQ Report, Week 5 - The Shanahan Clinic
Cowboys run into a team that had a perfect plan for Quinn's Cover 3.
BOB STURM
OCT 11, 2023
There was nothing enjoyable about Sunday for Dan Quinn and his defense.
They were pretty certain that this could not happen to them. They were wrong. The opponent who they thought they were prepared to face showed them how far away they are from dealing with the best in the business and being able to do something about it.
And, yes, Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers were the best in the business on Sunday.
It is time to ignore his draft position, his boyish face, and slight build. It is time to simply put on the tape and give him the nod of approval. It is time to consider that the industrial draft complex may have missed big. Because 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant put on an aerial show against DQ and his men that looked like an unfair fight. Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, or Peyton Manning could not have spun it better than we saw on Sunday.
As someone who watched him at Iowa State, this feels as unlikely as picking the right lottery numbers. The Senior Bowl didn’t invite him and 32 teams universally agreed this QB-starved league didn’t need to waste a pick. Not until they were starting to take down the stage decorations. It’s hard to believe this would be where the 49ers would end up with Purdy.
But, if you didn’t walk away from that game on Sunday night completely convinced that he fits that offensive schemed, then you are even more stubborn than me. I give in. Purdy appears to be the best QB Kyle Shanahan has had to work with since Matt Ryan was league MVP in 2016.
Look at this destruction:
If you want to consider the biggest beatdowns that Dan Quinn’s defense has ever taken, this one is easy. Jacksonville was pretty bad last December, but it wasn’t like this. This was a 40/400 game — 40 points and 400 yards with yards everywhere and even a suggestion of give-up by the end.
I suppose we give them some points for trying to stay alive in the first half long enough for the offense to get going, but overall, with just one sack and just one takeaway, we cannot shield the defense from their share of the spanking.
The 49ers were running free downfield and every first down run felt like a quick +8.
The stretch from 13:26 in the second quarter when the 49ers started their fifth drive until the 13:59 mark of the fourth quarter when they finished their 10th drive, the Cowboys defense had suffered a stretch of five touchdowns against in six drives.
In less than two quarters of football, that stretch of defensive malfunction brought back memories of Monte Kiffin and Mike Nolan’s worst days: 33 plays for 284 yards, which is nearly 9 yards per play against. Fifteen first downs. Five touchdowns.
We cannot talk about comparing these guys to the best defenses in Cowboys history, let alone NFL history, when Brock Purdy and his friends set you on fire.
Here is what is so odd about it – the defense has not been that bad in any of these previous playoff meetings. Take a look: the 42 points allowed in this game is the total of the two playoff games combined.
The yardage is in the normal range and they had answers for most of the 49ers threats to a certain extent. We should point out though, that Shanahan’s design is seemingly mistake-proof against Dan Quinn.
Three games with Micah Parsons and friends and Dallas has three sacks and one interception. If the Cowboys defense is based on assaulting the QB and making big plays behind it, yet in these three critical matchups with the 49ers, they can’t do either at all? Very ominous sign about whether they are truly ready for prime time.
So what makes the 49ers this impossible test?
They have the design and they have the talent. When we look around the league, we know there are many iterations of how to play offense, but the one that you know I keep coming back to is what Shanahan has built in San Francisco as my favorite. Let’s go down some attributes quickly to make sure everyone understands the beauty:
Their build makes no sense and infinite sense all at the same time. They hired Kyle Shanahan and allowed him to hire his own GM, John Lynch, with a clear vision of what they wanted to create and what type of players it would take. Of course there were many mistakes and trial and error, but tell me it doesn’t look like they have finally found the perfect combination to wreck the league.
In other words, don’t you wish your team was on the cutting edge of football innovation at some point? It looks like a lot of fun.
NEXT GEN BROCK PURDY THROW CHART
What a laser show. I watched him in the playoff game with really only two or three moments where it looked like he was actually playing QB and not a careful bus driver.
Sunday wasn’t that. It was a QB throwing down the field and punishing the Cowboys coverage. You want to hear I was wrong on Brock Purdy?
I was wrong.
This was as impressive a QB performance I have seen against the Cowboys in a very long time.
SPLASH PLAYS - WEEK 5
Shout out to Jourdan Lewis for a ridiculous play that properly was a double-splash, but there wasn’t much good to behold.
—-
The 49ers personnel groupings show us an absurd performance level regardless of what they called. It literally didn’t matter. It all worked.
Next Gen has a way to look at success vs coverages, so I dug into those numbers to see where the most damage was done.
This is first down only and look at the 49ers passing game against the Cowboys Cover 3. I will remind you that 158.3 is a perfect QB rating in the NFL. 14.9 yards per attempt is hilariously good.
Here are the coverages on all downs, just so you can look it over.
Think this through. Cover 3 and middle-field closed coverages were all the rage the last decade, starting when Seattle was running the NFL. Dan Quinn, right? Then, you have Shanahan coming up against that defense designing as many Cover-3 beating concepts as he can come up with (with Mike McDaniel, Sean McVay, and Matt LaFleur all sitting together having beers somewhere).
It makes sense that tendencies would put Dallas in Cover 1/3 on 1st-and-10 and that the entire 49ers game plan was designed to wreck it.
The numbers verify it. Let’s check a little film to confirm it and this might be the most frustrating film study you will ever witness.
Every play below is a first down play against Cover 3. Seven plays and they are all the exact same circumstances. The 49ers know what Dallas does on first down against these personnel groupings and have specific plans to carve it to bits.
FILM STUDY
1Q - 13:15 - 1st and 10 - DAL 44 - B.Purdy pass short right to B.Aiyuk pushed ob at DAL 33 for 11 yards
First drive. 21 personnel, double-shift into a very threatening run look that gets everyone on the defense to respect it. That leaves the three DBs who are properly worried about Deebo and Aiyuk. Aiyuk is down here vs Gilmore and as you would expect on first down, Gilmore is giving a nice cushion. So, with no pressure on either QB or receiver, let’s play some pitch and catch for 11 free yards.
1Q - 11:16 - 1st and 10 - DAL 19 - B.Purdy pass deep right to G.Kittle for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Moments later, it is first down again. 11 personnel vs the same coverage and since Gilmore is occupied with Aiyuk again, Purdy knows that once Kittle (the No. 3 to the top) clears the middle field safety, he has nothing but space between the goal-post and the pylon in the near corner. It isn’t an easy throw, but it is a safe throw where either it is a touchdown or incomplete. Offense without danger, Purdy is confident and puts it right on his awesome tight end for the first of many touchdowns. Malik Hooker is expecting Markquese Bell to run with Kittle and Bell looks like he busted a bit.
1Q - 1:41 - 1st and 15 - DAL 36 - B.Purdy pass incomplete deep middle to B.Aiyuk (S.Gilmore).
Third drive, 49ers marching, again. First-and-15 this time, but everything else is the same. Double shifts again and it is all to get Aiyuk inside of Gilmore. The 49ers want the eyes of the defense to follow McCaffrey so that Gilmore has no help. The moment you get inside leverage, Purdy throws the dig. This time, the throw is not great and Gilmore breaks it up. But, you can definitely see the plan here.
2Q - 13:26 - 1st and 10 - DAL 38 - B.Purdy pass deep right to G.Kittle for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN
First play of the fifth drive and it will be a one-play drive.
This is just football poetry as the 49ers have you convinced this is a run. Then you see, no, its a reverse. Wait, no its a flea flicker and the lead blocker on the run is actually the primary receiver down the sideline.
Jourdan Lewis is to deal with Kittle, but Lewis is trying to keep track of all the different ideas this presents. He is lost. Purdy, however, makes a very nice and accurate throw into the space that Kittle needs and it is the prettiest touchdown play we have seen in a few hours. Oh yeah, the Cover 3? Watch Aiyuk clear Gilmore and Jayron Kearse right out of that side of the field. The designs are so great.
And yes, Detroit and Ben Johnson (remember the name) ran the exact same play a few hours before. And I mean exact same play.
Isn’t football awesome?
Ok, Three more. All first downs, all against Quinn’s Cover 3.
2Q - 7:45 - 1st and 10 - SF 25 - B.Purdy pass short left to B.Aiyuk to SF 40 for 15 yards (M.Hooker).
Watch Malik Hooker here. He is the middle field safety and he is about tired of this repeated thrashing. He knows what the 49ers are doing here and he wants to stop it. He knows the outside receiver will clear out the corner with a vertical and then the inside Aiyuk is going to run a variation of the exact same route and will have inside leverage on his guy (No. 1 Kearse) for an easy pitch and catch from Purdy. So, Hooker is going to dive bomb and get to it. Trouble is, Purdy throws with anticipation and it is there before Hooker can get down on it. He must be seeing red by this point.
2Q - 3:24 - 1st and Goal - DAL 10 - B.Purdy pass short right to D.Samuel to DAL 1 for 9 yards
Again, you stay in Cover 3 because the run game is killing you, too. But here the 49ers are just toying with you. They put Deebo in the backfield and McCaffrey at WR. Then motion Deebo out knowing it is him vs Vander Esch and he is just running the Texas Route for a red zone touchdown. Well, not quite, but Shanahan is not running out of ideas in this coaching clinic vs Quinn.
3Q - 11:53 - 1st and 15 - SF 20 - B.Purdy pass deep middle to B.Aiyuk to SF 43 for 23 yards
Finally, the first drive of the second half. I believe this is the last time the 49ers saw a Cover 3 on a first down, or at least the last time they threw a pass against it. Trips left, double motion right leaving Aiyuk and Gilmore. Same situation and same route. Hooker is telling Gilmore what is happening and Vander Esch is cheating back to cover the dig. Brock Purdy is so confident at this point that I am not even sure this is a good idea, but why not? He is on a heater and he knows that route cannot be covered well, so he is going to trust his offense and put the ball where it is supposed to go. Aiyuk gets inside Gilmore again (because Gilmore is by himself now) and the throw is superb.
Guys, I know this seldom happens, but I am speechless.
Kyle Shanahan is exactly who they said he was. Brock Purdy is so much better than they said he was.
And Dan Quinn better come up with a better idea. And before you tell me Trevon Diggs would have changed things, let’s remember, they barely even bothered attacking DaRon Bland’s side. Didn’t even have to get into that plan. They knew the coverages and they knew the coverage beaters.
Also, now the prospect of no Leighton Vander Esch is a killer. They have almost no linebackers on their roster, so I am curious if they are forced to be pragmatic and to push Micah back there. Not great roster management if you didn’t have injury cover for a player who is pretty injury prone, but LVE is a coach on the field and that can’t just be replaced with a man on the streets. Pretty dire.
Admittedly, this one was no fun to write or read. But, it was impressive to study and a demonstration of what this sport can be at its highest level of schematic design.
Cowboys run into a team that had a perfect plan for Quinn's Cover 3.
BOB STURM
OCT 11, 2023
There was nothing enjoyable about Sunday for Dan Quinn and his defense.
They were pretty certain that this could not happen to them. They were wrong. The opponent who they thought they were prepared to face showed them how far away they are from dealing with the best in the business and being able to do something about it.
And, yes, Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers were the best in the business on Sunday.
It is time to ignore his draft position, his boyish face, and slight build. It is time to simply put on the tape and give him the nod of approval. It is time to consider that the industrial draft complex may have missed big. Because 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant put on an aerial show against DQ and his men that looked like an unfair fight. Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, or Peyton Manning could not have spun it better than we saw on Sunday.
As someone who watched him at Iowa State, this feels as unlikely as picking the right lottery numbers. The Senior Bowl didn’t invite him and 32 teams universally agreed this QB-starved league didn’t need to waste a pick. Not until they were starting to take down the stage decorations. It’s hard to believe this would be where the 49ers would end up with Purdy.
But, if you didn’t walk away from that game on Sunday night completely convinced that he fits that offensive schemed, then you are even more stubborn than me. I give in. Purdy appears to be the best QB Kyle Shanahan has had to work with since Matt Ryan was league MVP in 2016.
Look at this destruction:
If you want to consider the biggest beatdowns that Dan Quinn’s defense has ever taken, this one is easy. Jacksonville was pretty bad last December, but it wasn’t like this. This was a 40/400 game — 40 points and 400 yards with yards everywhere and even a suggestion of give-up by the end.
I suppose we give them some points for trying to stay alive in the first half long enough for the offense to get going, but overall, with just one sack and just one takeaway, we cannot shield the defense from their share of the spanking.
The 49ers were running free downfield and every first down run felt like a quick +8.
The stretch from 13:26 in the second quarter when the 49ers started their fifth drive until the 13:59 mark of the fourth quarter when they finished their 10th drive, the Cowboys defense had suffered a stretch of five touchdowns against in six drives.
In less than two quarters of football, that stretch of defensive malfunction brought back memories of Monte Kiffin and Mike Nolan’s worst days: 33 plays for 284 yards, which is nearly 9 yards per play against. Fifteen first downs. Five touchdowns.
We cannot talk about comparing these guys to the best defenses in Cowboys history, let alone NFL history, when Brock Purdy and his friends set you on fire.
Here is what is so odd about it – the defense has not been that bad in any of these previous playoff meetings. Take a look: the 42 points allowed in this game is the total of the two playoff games combined.
The yardage is in the normal range and they had answers for most of the 49ers threats to a certain extent. We should point out though, that Shanahan’s design is seemingly mistake-proof against Dan Quinn.
Three games with Micah Parsons and friends and Dallas has three sacks and one interception. If the Cowboys defense is based on assaulting the QB and making big plays behind it, yet in these three critical matchups with the 49ers, they can’t do either at all? Very ominous sign about whether they are truly ready for prime time.
So what makes the 49ers this impossible test?
They have the design and they have the talent. When we look around the league, we know there are many iterations of how to play offense, but the one that you know I keep coming back to is what Shanahan has built in San Francisco as my favorite. Let’s go down some attributes quickly to make sure everyone understands the beauty:
- They marry the run game with the play-action pass game in such a way that it pushes the defense into choices where it cannot be right. In other words, so many of the plays are built on the defense choosing its punishment. Then offense the obliges.
- They use shifts and motion to force the defense to demonstrate that they understand their assignments in real-time and at real speed. They are constantly trying to confuse and confound and clearly are experts.
- They use horizontal as much as vertical to stretch a defense to its limits.
- They are designed to force you into zones with their personnel too good for man coverage and then have conceived multitudes of zone beaters in every game plan.
- They have built a roster than spends nothing on QB and then specifically target skill position players who are elite in their abilities, similar in ages, and interchangeable in positions. WRs who can play RB. RBs who can play WR. The TE’s and the FB’s are great blockers, but also fine receivers who can destroy matchups because they are always moving around.
- And finally, maybe the big one: The offense seldom beats itself. They seem to run all that they run without really risking the ball or asking their QB to take a beating. The ball is out fast and you can barely get to him.
Their build makes no sense and infinite sense all at the same time. They hired Kyle Shanahan and allowed him to hire his own GM, John Lynch, with a clear vision of what they wanted to create and what type of players it would take. Of course there were many mistakes and trial and error, but tell me it doesn’t look like they have finally found the perfect combination to wreck the league.
In other words, don’t you wish your team was on the cutting edge of football innovation at some point? It looks like a lot of fun.
NEXT GEN BROCK PURDY THROW CHART
What a laser show. I watched him in the playoff game with really only two or three moments where it looked like he was actually playing QB and not a careful bus driver.
Sunday wasn’t that. It was a QB throwing down the field and punishing the Cowboys coverage. You want to hear I was wrong on Brock Purdy?
I was wrong.
This was as impressive a QB performance I have seen against the Cowboys in a very long time.
SPLASH PLAYS - WEEK 5
Shout out to Jourdan Lewis for a ridiculous play that properly was a double-splash, but there wasn’t much good to behold.
—-
The 49ers personnel groupings show us an absurd performance level regardless of what they called. It literally didn’t matter. It all worked.
Next Gen has a way to look at success vs coverages, so I dug into those numbers to see where the most damage was done.
This is first down only and look at the 49ers passing game against the Cowboys Cover 3. I will remind you that 158.3 is a perfect QB rating in the NFL. 14.9 yards per attempt is hilariously good.
Here are the coverages on all downs, just so you can look it over.
Think this through. Cover 3 and middle-field closed coverages were all the rage the last decade, starting when Seattle was running the NFL. Dan Quinn, right? Then, you have Shanahan coming up against that defense designing as many Cover-3 beating concepts as he can come up with (with Mike McDaniel, Sean McVay, and Matt LaFleur all sitting together having beers somewhere).
It makes sense that tendencies would put Dallas in Cover 1/3 on 1st-and-10 and that the entire 49ers game plan was designed to wreck it.
The numbers verify it. Let’s check a little film to confirm it and this might be the most frustrating film study you will ever witness.
Every play below is a first down play against Cover 3. Seven plays and they are all the exact same circumstances. The 49ers know what Dallas does on first down against these personnel groupings and have specific plans to carve it to bits.
FILM STUDY
1Q - 13:15 - 1st and 10 - DAL 44 - B.Purdy pass short right to B.Aiyuk pushed ob at DAL 33 for 11 yards
First drive. 21 personnel, double-shift into a very threatening run look that gets everyone on the defense to respect it. That leaves the three DBs who are properly worried about Deebo and Aiyuk. Aiyuk is down here vs Gilmore and as you would expect on first down, Gilmore is giving a nice cushion. So, with no pressure on either QB or receiver, let’s play some pitch and catch for 11 free yards.
1Q - 11:16 - 1st and 10 - DAL 19 - B.Purdy pass deep right to G.Kittle for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Moments later, it is first down again. 11 personnel vs the same coverage and since Gilmore is occupied with Aiyuk again, Purdy knows that once Kittle (the No. 3 to the top) clears the middle field safety, he has nothing but space between the goal-post and the pylon in the near corner. It isn’t an easy throw, but it is a safe throw where either it is a touchdown or incomplete. Offense without danger, Purdy is confident and puts it right on his awesome tight end for the first of many touchdowns. Malik Hooker is expecting Markquese Bell to run with Kittle and Bell looks like he busted a bit.
1Q - 1:41 - 1st and 15 - DAL 36 - B.Purdy pass incomplete deep middle to B.Aiyuk (S.Gilmore).
Third drive, 49ers marching, again. First-and-15 this time, but everything else is the same. Double shifts again and it is all to get Aiyuk inside of Gilmore. The 49ers want the eyes of the defense to follow McCaffrey so that Gilmore has no help. The moment you get inside leverage, Purdy throws the dig. This time, the throw is not great and Gilmore breaks it up. But, you can definitely see the plan here.
2Q - 13:26 - 1st and 10 - DAL 38 - B.Purdy pass deep right to G.Kittle for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN
First play of the fifth drive and it will be a one-play drive.
This is just football poetry as the 49ers have you convinced this is a run. Then you see, no, its a reverse. Wait, no its a flea flicker and the lead blocker on the run is actually the primary receiver down the sideline.
Jourdan Lewis is to deal with Kittle, but Lewis is trying to keep track of all the different ideas this presents. He is lost. Purdy, however, makes a very nice and accurate throw into the space that Kittle needs and it is the prettiest touchdown play we have seen in a few hours. Oh yeah, the Cover 3? Watch Aiyuk clear Gilmore and Jayron Kearse right out of that side of the field. The designs are so great.
And yes, Detroit and Ben Johnson (remember the name) ran the exact same play a few hours before. And I mean exact same play.
Isn’t football awesome?
Ok, Three more. All first downs, all against Quinn’s Cover 3.
2Q - 7:45 - 1st and 10 - SF 25 - B.Purdy pass short left to B.Aiyuk to SF 40 for 15 yards (M.Hooker).
Watch Malik Hooker here. He is the middle field safety and he is about tired of this repeated thrashing. He knows what the 49ers are doing here and he wants to stop it. He knows the outside receiver will clear out the corner with a vertical and then the inside Aiyuk is going to run a variation of the exact same route and will have inside leverage on his guy (No. 1 Kearse) for an easy pitch and catch from Purdy. So, Hooker is going to dive bomb and get to it. Trouble is, Purdy throws with anticipation and it is there before Hooker can get down on it. He must be seeing red by this point.
2Q - 3:24 - 1st and Goal - DAL 10 - B.Purdy pass short right to D.Samuel to DAL 1 for 9 yards
Again, you stay in Cover 3 because the run game is killing you, too. But here the 49ers are just toying with you. They put Deebo in the backfield and McCaffrey at WR. Then motion Deebo out knowing it is him vs Vander Esch and he is just running the Texas Route for a red zone touchdown. Well, not quite, but Shanahan is not running out of ideas in this coaching clinic vs Quinn.
3Q - 11:53 - 1st and 15 - SF 20 - B.Purdy pass deep middle to B.Aiyuk to SF 43 for 23 yards
Finally, the first drive of the second half. I believe this is the last time the 49ers saw a Cover 3 on a first down, or at least the last time they threw a pass against it. Trips left, double motion right leaving Aiyuk and Gilmore. Same situation and same route. Hooker is telling Gilmore what is happening and Vander Esch is cheating back to cover the dig. Brock Purdy is so confident at this point that I am not even sure this is a good idea, but why not? He is on a heater and he knows that route cannot be covered well, so he is going to trust his offense and put the ball where it is supposed to go. Aiyuk gets inside Gilmore again (because Gilmore is by himself now) and the throw is superb.
Guys, I know this seldom happens, but I am speechless.
Kyle Shanahan is exactly who they said he was. Brock Purdy is so much better than they said he was.
And Dan Quinn better come up with a better idea. And before you tell me Trevon Diggs would have changed things, let’s remember, they barely even bothered attacking DaRon Bland’s side. Didn’t even have to get into that plan. They knew the coverages and they knew the coverage beaters.
Also, now the prospect of no Leighton Vander Esch is a killer. They have almost no linebackers on their roster, so I am curious if they are forced to be pragmatic and to push Micah back there. Not great roster management if you didn’t have injury cover for a player who is pretty injury prone, but LVE is a coach on the field and that can’t just be replaced with a man on the streets. Pretty dire.
Admittedly, this one was no fun to write or read. But, it was impressive to study and a demonstration of what this sport can be at its highest level of schematic design.
