The San Francisco 49er Defense lost the game vs the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
Many came after Jimmy G again but mistakes aside, he marched his offense down the field and made plays when they counted. He came back and orchestrated the game-winning drive. Leaving 37 seconds left.
Aaron Rodgers is a magician. Davante Adams is the magic potion. As good as Rodgers is, without his magic potion he must resort to other lesser remedies, and let’s face it outside of Adams the Packers receivers are below average.
You stop Mike Evans. Brady’s still got Gronk, AB, Godwin.
You stop George Kittle. Jimmy G’s still got Aiyuk and Deebo.
You stop Davante Adams Rodgers has a whole lotta nada.
It’s very simple.
Here are the night’s stats and it is quite typical. Predictable even.
Adam’s Target Share: 58%
And we see this type of mindblowing target share and dominance more than often. Sure it was more this game but Adams has a 38.7% target share after three games. Find me another player close to that. In fact, Adams has 25 receptions on 34 targets and 309 yards. The rest of the Packers have totaled 40 receptions on 57 targets for 408 yards.
Now tell me San Francisco had no idea who Rodgers was looking to with 37 seconds left in the game.
Here is the first play from Rodgers to Adams.
Spectator view:
QB view:
Breaking it down… Zone coverage.
#4 on right side is Emmanuel Moseley and the LB in the middle is Fred Ward. Safety on the left side is Jacquiski Tart #3. CB right center is Jimmie Ward #1. Davante Adams is circled in red.
Here are the options for Rodgers:
Left side: Allen Lazard & Robert Tonyan
Right side: Aaron Jones, Randall Cobb & Davante Adams
As you can see, it’s already stacked on the right side but the 49ers are still in zone.
LBs hang back.
There are three defenders on the left side for Tonyan & Lazard (who had a combined 2 receptions all night). There are four defenders on the right side for Cobb, Adams, and Aaron Jones.
Adams goes past the linebacker on right side and cuts to his left. What is Moseley thinking here? Maybe Moseley is staying in zone in case Jones is targeted and gets away from the linebacker. Adams is also behind the middle linebacker Ward.
The result is a 25-yard reception for a wide open Adams.Easy peasy.
Then the incompletion to who? No other than Davante Adams who is lined up on left this time. Zone implemented again despite one man who has been wrecking them all night.
Incompletion. It was a bad pass by Rodgers but Adams was very comfortably open again. Then the third pass attempt to no other than Davante Adams to set up the game-winning FG.
Lined up top (left side). Watch Rodgers who had no intentions of throwing it to anyone else.
Zone again. Wide open again.
Zone each time. Each time the defensive call failed.
SF needed to contain one man. Let the rest of the team beat you. Cobb? Tonyan? MSV wasn’t even out there.
I think the defensive scheme failed. I’m no expert but zone against Davante Adams three times in a row isn’t the right call when the game is on the line.
Did the defense adjust? No.
Is it a lack of seeing what is being presented and how and where DA is lined up? Maybe. It is just baffling to me that Rodgers needs 2 plays for 45 yards to the same player that always dominates left open. Take Adams out and what then? A much greater chance for SF to win. People blame the offensive play calling by Shanny. Some blame Jimmy G’s inconsistencies.
Jimmy G legitimately won the game for them leaving 37 seconds and a big field. Whether you conclude it was the SF secondary or the conservative zone play-calling on defense, Rodgers to Adams shouldn’t have happened that easy that often in 37 seconds. It was too easy. Take Adams out and then “good luck Mr. Rodgers”. SF lost this game by not covering the most dangerous receiver in the game. Period. I am no expert. But it seemed pretty clear to me. 49ers fans should be outraged by that 37 seconds. It was sad to watch.
