Playbook - Mayo's Gap Audibles
Last week leading up to the game we heard a lot of chatter about Jerod Mayo, and his status as the "QB of the defense." He can often be seen switching up gaps and pressure schemes pre-snap with hand signals. Also, Mayo is the guy who gets everyone re-set after an offensive shift. San Francisco comes out with Kaepernick under center and both TEs in the backfield, but then Kaepernick moves into the shotgun and moves the TEs into the slot.
Mayo responds to the shift with a clap of his hands, which lets Chandler Jones know that he needs to slide inside. Wilfork taps Deaderick on the elbow to slide him over as well. Mayo chooses to slide the line so that Hightower can rush off the edge in hopes to get some QB pressure.
There was quite a bit of talk about how The San Francisco offense was predicated on running and short passing. In the game however, we saw San Fran go deep a lot. The 49ers put us in a bind by attacking the seams with their TEs Walker and Davis. Apparently, The Patriots did not expect that type of game plan. Jerod Mayo changes the pressure package at the cost of giving the deceptively speedy Vernon Davis a free release.
The pass actually flies a few feet too far, but Davis absolutely torches Steve Gregory. I am willing to bet that Mayo executed the correct audible according to Belichick's game plan, but it bears a second guess in retrospect. Gregory seems to be expecting an intermediate route, and bites on a jab step. This coverage is similar to the other play I examined (except with Chung). As bad as his coverage was, I think this assignment is too much to ask of Gregory.
It's weird that The Patriots elect to play press-under coverage with Spikes and deep-over with McCourty on Delanie Walker, while allowing Davis a free release. Davis is more of a deep threat, and this coverage just makes it too easy on him. Still, the pass rush doesn't do much to help ease the trouble on the back end. Luckily, Kaepernick just misses on the throw.
Overall, I've got to second guess the defensive call by Mayo and Patricia. Still, the concept they are running here relies on QB pressure, and the players need to make the plays. Nevertheless, I don't like to see Gregory in space trying to match-up against such a fast TE. Hightower needs to jam him, or Gregory needs to play deeper. I honestly think Belichick and Patricia underestimated the deep passing threat of the TEs, and here in the first quarter they clearly didn't expect or respect the deep route.
There was quite a bit of talk about how The San Francisco offense was predicated on running and short passing. In the game however, we saw San Fran go deep a lot. The 49ers put us in a bind by attacking the seams with their TEs Walker and Davis. Apparently, The Patriots did not expect that type of game plan. Jerod Mayo changes the pressure package at the cost of giving the deceptively speedy Vernon Davis a free release.
It's weird that The Patriots elect to play press-under coverage with Spikes and deep-over with McCourty on Delanie Walker, while allowing Davis a free release. Davis is more of a deep threat, and this coverage just makes it too easy on him. Still, the pass rush doesn't do much to help ease the trouble on the back end. Luckily, Kaepernick just misses on the throw.
Overall, I've got to second guess the defensive call by Mayo and Patricia. Still, the concept they are running here relies on QB pressure, and the players need to make the plays. Nevertheless, I don't like to see Gregory in space trying to match-up against such a fast TE. Hightower needs to jam him, or Gregory needs to play deeper. I honestly think Belichick and Patricia underestimated the deep passing threat of the TEs, and here in the first quarter they clearly didn't expect or respect the deep route.
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