San Francisco 49ers

49ers vs. Seahawks: What's the Game Plan for San Francisco

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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What will it take for the 49ers to beat the Seahawks on Sunday? Read on to find out!

This weekend the 49ers will face the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Seattle in what figures to be a classic rivalry match. The 49ers sit atop the NFC West at 1-1 and while every other team is 1-1, the 49ers hold the tiebreak with a division win over the Rams.

But it’s only week two. Are the 49ers really 40 points better than the Seahawks? While both defenses are currently top five in Football Outsiders DVOA with Seattle ranked #1 and San Francisco ranked #5, both offenses are currently bottom 10 in the league and suffering from their own woes this season. One concerning note, per Pro Football Focus, is that both offensive lines are bottom in the league in pass protection.

Lowest graded pass-blocking units so far
29. 49ers
30. Bears
31. Vikings
32. Seahawks pic.twitter.com/STfbGD8Y8v

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 21, 2016

Further, a breakdown shows the most favorable match-up for the 49ers appears to be in their defensive front versus an anemic Seattle offensive line.

There are several other keys to the 49ers success this weekend and they must take advantage of these specific areas if they are to have a shot a stealing a win on the road.

1. The Offense Must Continue to Evolve

Prior to the season, a concern of a few analysts was that Chip Kelly offense failed to evolve through his first 3 years. While he enjoyed tremendous success in 2013 that somewhat carried over into 2014, the offense was a former shell of itself in 2015, mainly due to the lack of interior offensive line talent. Chris Brown noted prior to the week one game that Chip’s offense became predictable due to certain plays being recognized out of certain formations and that if he were to have success, he would have to evolve his thinking.

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He did just that against the Rams by incorporating new running schemes that propelled the 49ers to a 28-0 win.

The first obvious scheme difference was the incorporation of the gap scheme run “counter trey” where the backside tight end and backside guard pull to the playside and kick out the defensive end and lead through the hole. The rest of the offensive line blocks down and seals off the backside defense.

Also against the Rams, the Kelly implemented a run-pass option off of his power blocking scheme.

Against the Panthers, the offensive evolution continued with the use of formations to run different pass plays. Typically, a staple of the Kelly offense is the “mesh concept” that combines a deep route and shallow crossing routes out of a two-by-two formation with two receivers to one side and two tight ends in tight to the line on the opposite side.

Out this two-by-two set against the Panthers, the 49ers ran “four verticals” that seeks take advantage of the deep safety. Whichever way the safety bails, the quarterback will look to throw the opposite vertical route.

2. Attack the Weakness in the Seattle Secondary: DeShawn Shead

Seattle’s defense played a very tough game defensively against the Rams. However, the Rams were able to take advantage of the key weakness in the Seahawks’ secondary: corner back DeShawn Shead.

Early in the first quarter, quarterback Case Keenum hits Tavon Austin with Shead trailing behind after a seven-step drop and double hitch-step. The lack of a pass rush enables the Rams to hit what’s traditionally the hardest quarterback drop back to block.

Later in the game, Keenum hits Kenny Britt for a 35 yard gain by dropping a perfect pass over Shead into the hands of Britt. Safety Earl Thomas was the deep safety in cover one (deep safety, man coverage underneath) which means no help on the outside for the corner backs. Keenum has a clean pocket after the play action fake and puts it on the money for Britt.

It’s likely that Seahawks corner Richard Sherman will match-up with Torrey Smith all game and that will mean wide receiver Quinton Patton will match-up on Shead on the opposite side.

3. Quarterback Must be Accurate and Receivers Cannot Drop Passes

If the 49ers are to take advantage of those passing match-ups, quarterback Blaine Gabbert needs to improve his accuracy and the wide receivers cannot drop passes in key situations.

Gabbert threw two horrible interceptions late in the Panthers game on Sunday and was wildly inaccurate with a number of other throws, something he has routinely struggled with since becoming the starter.

But this all cannot be blamed on Gabbert as receivers dropped a number of crucial passes at key points in the game.

Patton drops this pass on a drive the 49ers ended up capping with a Phil Dawson field goal.

With the 49ers trailing 34-27 after a 75-yard Vance McDonald catch and run for a touchdown, the 49ers next offensive series begins with McDonald dropping the rare absolute dime throw from Gabbert (incidentally, he dropped the same pass in 2013 against the Panthers on a key drive).

4. On Defense, Attack all Facets of the Seattle Offensive Line

Seattle’s offensive line may be the worst I have seen since quarterback Russell Wilson was a rookie. Every year, they are ranked near the bottom of the league in pass protection but this year the deficiencies are highlighted by a quarterback suffering from an ankle injury and is not as mobile as a result.

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A confluence of factors are working against them, which is a combination of some talent, and no Marshawn Lynch. As a result, one area to attack on the pass rush is the left side of the Seattle offensive line. Defensive end Robert Quinn makes it look easy against Seahawks left tackle Bradley Sowell.

The Seahawks offensive line also suffers from simple miscommunication. The Seahawks have flexed so many players into spots in their offensive line that basic communication seems to be such a problem that they are allowing entirely free defenders through virtually untouched. The next several plays illustrate the miscommunication between the center and guards and guards and tackles. They struggle from failure to work as a cohesive unit.

This is a game the 49ers can win, but this perhaps more of a test of character than anything as they’ve seemed to be intimidated by the atmosphere in Seattle since the beating they received in 2012 on Sunday Night Football.

In summation, look for the 49ers to evolve the offense and open the passing game against what little weaknesses Seattle displays in their secondary. Also, the 49ers are going to have to tighten up their own issues such as accuracy and dropped passes if they are going to have success. The defense must also look to contain Wilson in the pocket and look to take advantage of a relatively weak Seattle offensive line.

All images courtesy of NFL.com.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless otherwise indicated.