From: GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (Sullivan)
Subject: Re: 49ers/Rams
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 22:31:21 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.213924.22631@netcom.com>,
mzimmers@netcom.com (Michael Zimmers) writes:
>
>Yes.  When your best pass rusher is not an every-down player, you
>set yourself up for all kinds of problems.  Part of the reason that
>the Bills gave the Niners fits this year was the limited ability
>of the Niners to get players like Harris onto the field at the
>right times.
>
>I realize I'm dreaming, but I'd really like to see the Niners move
>toward all-purpose DL personnel.

What you are dreaming of is having the absolute best player in the
league at every position.  Kind of tough to do, drafting at the end
of the pile year after year.

>
>>Patience.  The D line will be fine as long as they stay healthy.
>
>They aren't fine now, and they're mostly healthy.

I say they're fine for this time of year, if they play like this
in December, it doesn't matter if they make playoffs or not, no
Super Bowl.

I predict they'll be great in december when it counts and not as a
response to 'problems' now.  All part of the plan.

>
>>Every Niner fan recognizes that their team is better at the end of
>>the season and in the playoffs when it REALLY counts.  Why is that,
>>do you think it some sort of divine blessing.  No, a lot has to do
>>with their defensive scheme, platooning, keeping guys fresh in the
>>early season, especially the D line.  They play run first.  They
>>don't really T off on QB until they get a good lead.
>
>Actually, I think the real reason the Niners shine late in the year
>is that their offense is so complex that they don't get into sync

Their defense is just as complex and requires just as much
synchronization(sp).  This is why Hall has been having so much
trouble and why they brought back Jackson.

>for awhile.  If you look back on the Niners over the past decade,
>their defense has been more consistent, while the offense sputters
>early and turns into a December monster.  Last year was a great

Here we disagree, Even in their best defensive years, the D has
started slow, giving up lots more ground and points early in the
season.  Also, even in the best defensive years, the D doesn't
attempt huge gambling plays to get the ball back all game.  They
play lots of zone, make you work up the field, give up a long
FG attempt but no TDs.  Seifert's defensive philosophy has been very
different than say: Buddy Ryan who tries to dominate with the D.
The key to the Niners D is being able to stop the 3rd and long
in the 4th quarter - THIS is why they didn't make the playoffs last
year and why they'll go all the way this year.

>example.
>
>And it's hardly a compliment to point out that the DL doesn't get
>aggressive without a big lead.

I used 'aggressive' wrong.  As an interior lineman whose job it is
to stop the run, the first thing to do is hit, push, and hold
position in order to read the blocks and the back movement.  As a
pass rusher, you attack and try and get around your guy or run
stunts to get an open lane to the QB. this varies according to the
defensive call.  Some teams scheme has the 3 or 4 down lineman
ALWAYS pass rushing and make their LBs fill the gaps.  This was
the scheme at Minnesota a couple years ago.  This has never been the
case during Walsh/Seifert years.

When you have obvious passing down with 2nd and 3rd and long or a
big lead, this is when the linemen get to tee off on the pass rush.


>
>>Also, give credit to Rams.  Yes they have had a couple awful years,
>>Everett has had little confidence, but it was nearly this same line
>>that broke Everett in the first place.
>
>I don't know what you're referring to here, but I was told that the
>Rams OL was old, slow and untalented this year.  They sure didn't
>look it yesterday.

Our Niners have a knack for making some lousy teams look like
playoff contenders, this has always been the case early in the
season. Not to worry, as long as they win em.

Mike

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