PA Season Ticket Holder
06-08-2003, 08:47 PM
There’s a seemingly big difference from last place in the standings to first. Sometimes it can feel like a world apart, but in the case of the 49ers NFL Worst third down defense the distance wasn’t really that far at all.
In fact, in most cases it’s a yard or less.
“We started to critically look at why we were last in third down conversions. Why were so good on first and second down and why did we struggle on third down?” said new defensive assistant Dick Tomey. “Was it personnel, play calling, scheme? Just what was it?”
And what did he find?
“We found over 40 plays where the offense made the first down by a yard or less,” said Tomey. “We broke the film down and showed it to the team and when you think about footwork, alignment, reaction, explosion and recognition, all of the things that go into a play, you can always find a foot or a yard. The thing is we’re just trying to find a little bit.”
Taking away just one-half of those conversions last year would have vaulted the 49ers into the top ten in the league standings. But that was last year and this year’s task is to work on a way to get that yard back.
“Man it was frustrating. Every single time they need nine yards they got 10, or they needed 15 yards they got 16,” said linebacker Jeff Ulbrich. “The good news is that all the stuff that went wrong is correctable.”
So the team has responded by focusing on down and distance and the fundamentals of playing great defense.
“I’ve never been around so much attention being given to third down,” added Ulbrich. “It used to be we would have a day where we focused on it and now it’s every single practice.”
http://www.sf49ers.com/newsroom/DisplayNews.asp?newsid=1226
In fact, in most cases it’s a yard or less.
“We started to critically look at why we were last in third down conversions. Why were so good on first and second down and why did we struggle on third down?” said new defensive assistant Dick Tomey. “Was it personnel, play calling, scheme? Just what was it?”
And what did he find?
“We found over 40 plays where the offense made the first down by a yard or less,” said Tomey. “We broke the film down and showed it to the team and when you think about footwork, alignment, reaction, explosion and recognition, all of the things that go into a play, you can always find a foot or a yard. The thing is we’re just trying to find a little bit.”
Taking away just one-half of those conversions last year would have vaulted the 49ers into the top ten in the league standings. But that was last year and this year’s task is to work on a way to get that yard back.
“Man it was frustrating. Every single time they need nine yards they got 10, or they needed 15 yards they got 16,” said linebacker Jeff Ulbrich. “The good news is that all the stuff that went wrong is correctable.”
So the team has responded by focusing on down and distance and the fundamentals of playing great defense.
“I’ve never been around so much attention being given to third down,” added Ulbrich. “It used to be we would have a day where we focused on it and now it’s every single practice.”
http://www.sf49ers.com/newsroom/DisplayNews.asp?newsid=1226