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00:00As Greg Cosell joins us on the River Islands Guest Line, we've told him this, that we sort of like the conversation with him is how we
00:08Officially shake free of whatever happened last week. Yep, and then get ready for next week. Problem is is next week's 24 hours away
00:16Wow, really? Yeah
00:19Right football wise. Yeah, you're right a game and I shouldn't have said 24 26 hours got a football game
00:26I'm not ready. I still have questions about what happened last Sunday. Well, then let's do it with with our guy
00:33Senior executive producer NFL Films. He's the best. He's Greg Cosell. Hi Greg. How you doing guys? How are you?
00:39We are great except for the obviously the football team we cover is you know, not in the best spot right now after five weeks
00:47Wanted to start out by asking you about Brock Purdy big topic of discussion here. This week is how much he's scrambling and
00:55And clearly holding on to the ball longer than he has in the past when you look at the tape is there an
01:03obvious reason for that
01:06Well, it's funny you say that because that was my final note I take really detailed notes when I watch these games
01:13On tape so I made the point that the 49ers pass game overall did not have its normal rhythm and timing
01:19Too many plays in which Purdy left the pocket and made the play improvisational and random
01:23I can't tell you what's in his head. But even though he does move well, that's not really the 49ers offense
01:30It's not built
01:31Let's say like the Chiefs offense where you almost expect Mahomes to leave the pocket and make plays
01:37That's not the 49ers offense Purdy can do it. Obviously. He's done it, but that's not their game
01:43That's not what the way they in which they want to play. So yeah this game he moved too much
01:47I can't tell you why because I don't know what's in his head, but it that can't be the case
01:53By play design. Are you seeing more offensive passing plays that are slower developing deeper longer routes?
02:00Than what the 49ers would normally do with more quick screens and quick throws in the past
02:07Not necessarily
02:08I mean
02:08I thought they started the game at well because they went against tendency earlier in the game and they worked outside the numbers and
02:14Purdy made some big-time throws outside the numbers. I thought that was you know, really impressive
02:19Normally we think of them as throwing the ball inside
02:23That's really the foundation of what they do
02:25But I would say what stood out through the first couple of possessions was Purdy throwing outside the numbers from the far hash
02:31I mean Iukes 53 yarder to start the second possession came on a far hash deep sideline throw
02:38That was phenomenal by Purdy if you were sitting here watching the coaching tape with me and I froze it
02:43Just as Purdy started to separate his hands. You'd be amazed at where Iuke was
02:48He wasn't even close to coming out of his break
02:51He wasn't even close to getting into his break much less coming out of it
02:54So they did that a couple of times on the first couple of possessions. It worked really effectively
03:00But as the game progressed for whatever reason he did not feel like he had throws to make
03:07Sometimes quarterbacks have games. Don't forget. There's 17 of them. Nobody's great every week
03:12Like I said, I don't know what's in his head
03:14but sometimes quarterbacks have games where they just don't see it as clearly as
03:19They normally do and maybe that was the case this week Greg. Did I just hear you invite us over to watch film with you?
03:28I was using that as an example
03:39What about this Brian balding it was on our station yesterday
03:42And was asked what the identity of the team is based on what he sees on
03:45Film and he said what I thought was probably a cuss word to the Niners. He said slow
03:51They look slow. Does that jive with what you're seeing?
03:56It was he speaking about the team as a whole or one particular side of the ball pretty much the team as a whole
04:03I mean, I don't think well, let's put it this way
04:06I don't know if they were ever built on being fast because they've never you know
04:10Even last year when they got to the Super Bowl when you look at their receiving core
04:15They don't have the one guy who's a burner. Let's say
04:19You know, obviously McCaffrey brings a whole different element when he's healthy
04:22And I think that makes them look totally different and I think Mason's played extremely well
04:27And I think we all like the way in which he runs
04:30But McCaffrey just brings a different dimension and I think he makes their offense look different
04:35But I don't think their offense is built on speed now
04:39I can't speak for Baldy. I don't know what he meant by that
04:41I don't know if he thinks they're slow below the standard by which you can play effective offense
04:47But I don't think to me that's not necessarily true, but they're not one of the faster teams in the league
04:53There's no question when you look at the lack of McCaffrey and I'm thinking about the red zone one of six
04:59Yeah, that was a big that was an issue
05:01What are they doing differently without McCaffrey or what are you seeing on tape?
05:05That is the shortcoming of this offense once they get in the red area
05:09well in this game there were a number of things and this is where McCaffrey certainly is a factor because there's
05:14Normally when these things happen, there's not just one reason as you guys know
05:17I would say it resulted from an inability to run the ball in the low red zone meaning 10 yards and in
05:23There were snaps in which there was less than stout pass protection at times a purty at times
05:28I thought broke down in the pocket a little too soon
05:31Which as we already discussed he kind of did in this game and I thought there were examples where there was strong coverage by
05:37The cards and he didn't have the timing and rhythm throw that he anticipated having
05:43So there was one play in particular that came with 16 seconds remaining in the first half when Kittle broke wide open on a stick
05:50Nod, but Purdy felt inside pressure. We can debate whether there was truly pressure only he could tell you what he felt
05:57I
05:58Wasn't sure there was truly pressure and normally he stands there and delivers
06:02But that would have been an easy touchdown because Kittle broke wide open
06:05So there's multiple reasons, but this week was very problematic in the red zone
06:10And that was a big factor in why they lost executive producer all over the film NFL films Greg Cosell joining us here
06:17As he does every Wednesday on Willard and dibs Greg as I'm sure you're aware always a big topic of conversation
06:23Especially after Niner losses is Kyle Shanahan's
06:26Play calling and in this particular game and with the way Jordan Mason's throwing there have been a lot of questions about the run-pass
06:35Split especially with the way you start the game
06:37We look at the Cardinals not a great run defense
06:40Kyle comes out and throws the ball eight of his first nine times in your experience of watching games that he's called
06:47Do you see anything different this year?
06:50Does it look like he's being more aggressive in the past game than in the past?
06:55Well, I'm gonna be honest with you guys
06:56I don't do play calling because I know
06:59What I do and I know a ton of coaches and in order to have any meaningful discussion of play calling you'd have to be
07:06In the meeting rooms starting on Monday. It's easy to look at plays after the fact
07:11They also I could tell you this the Cardinals corners aren't very good either
07:14So how do you I don't know where you want to go with that conversation? They're not very good either
07:19so, you know, it's
07:22We can we can debate that forever
07:24Let me ask you this question. Okay, two points, you know that games often come down to
07:30Isolated individual plays, correct? Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Okay, obviously they didn't have a place kicker
07:35So they couldn't go up by a touchdown in the fourth quarter
07:38Secondly on third and five on the final drive the play before fourth and five where Murray hit
07:46Harrison for 14 yards on that play
07:49Play right before on third and five
07:52Campbell knocked down a Murray pass
07:53Okay
07:54It happened to hit his hand if that ball did not hit his hand if it went six inches one way or the other
08:00It Fred Warner was right there
08:02He would have intercepted that and scored a touchdown and we would be having a totally different conversation about the game
08:08No doubt and you know, it was a blitz on that play and Campbell they blitzed on third and fourth down both those plays
08:15Yeah, they they wonder they were aggressive with pressure and they didn't blitz a lot in the game
08:19But they were aggressive with pressure on that third down and that fourth down so, you know
08:26Obviously and again Mason fumbled as well in the red zone. So, you know, there's always factors
08:32I think you have to be realistic in evaluating. Look there's only 17 games and we know that you win or you lose we get that
08:39I'm a process guy
08:40So I don't look at it as because they lost that means they stink or they've got major problems, you know
08:46I don't I don't or when they win. Oh my god
08:48They're on their way to the Super Bowl and we don't need to have another discussion
08:51You know, yeah, I look at it as the process of how they play
08:55So when you say for instance, hey that Cardinals corners aren't very good either
09:00But maybe that leads to a fair question when you say oh they lose that doesn't mean that they they have big problems
09:07Look at the 49er personnel for us do the 49ers have big problems
09:14Well, let me ask you this do you think did you think they had big problems last year no
09:18But are they the same team this year?
09:20Well, they're missing the best back in the league and as much as we all like Mason and he's done a phenomenal job
09:26He doesn't give you the same thing that McCaffrey does and that kind of back just changes everything about a team
09:33So that's a big big loss, so yes, they're not the same there
09:39Essentially the offensive line is exactly the same with the exception of Poonie who won the job at right guard. So offensively
09:46It's the same people
09:48Defensively, they've had some changes because they lost some people but they've also replaced some people who fanga
09:54Who actually made a really poor play on the Murray 50-yard touchdown?
09:58he got hurt obviously and they're now playing the rookie and when you play a rookie whose
10:04Strength is probably playing downhill but played predominantly on the back end because Brown is is better when he plays
10:12Closer to the line of scrimmage now, that's something they have to work through
10:16So yeah, there are always some changes to be made in a given season
10:20Absolutely, but there they didn't go from being a really good team a year ago getting into the Super Bowl
10:26Almost winning to suddenly a team that's no good before we pivot to Seattle
10:30I want to ask you about that 50-yard touchdown run again because many fans are
10:34Pointing the finger at Nick Bosa and I have been trying to tell him that his responsibility on that play is
10:40To go for the running back. What did you see not only from who fanga?
10:45But also from Campbell and the lack of containment on that big 50-yard touchdown run. Well, you know what?
10:50I'm gonna pull that play up while we're talking. Yeah
10:57Myself a number of different times and it's zone read and you see Bosa crash immediately toward Connor and
11:04Murray pulls it and he's got you know after five yards. He's already pointing to the heavens because he's virtually untouched
11:10It's not zone read. It's it's not a zone read. It's a
11:14yeah, it's a quarterback sweep and
11:17The nature of the defensive front took both said Bosa was going to be out of the play based on where he's lined up
11:23Because he's lined up they've got two tight ends to that side and he's lined up basically inside the tight end
11:30That's closest to the formation. So Bosa is not really a relevant player on this play
11:35He's not going to make the play. So
11:38When you look at this place someone and it's not Bosa is responsible for the outside now because it's a closed
11:45formation to that side of the field you've got Ward out there and
11:49And
11:50Someone's got a you know play set the edge so to speak, but it's it's not Bosa
11:56So someone has got to play the outside. My guess is
12:00It it's probably Campbell, but I don't know that for a fact and there's no reason for who Fonga
12:07He's not responsible for the zone read
12:10I mean for the handoff inside if they hand it off inside and he's flying up inside there taking himself totally out of the play
12:17He's a post safety, you know, it's not his play
12:20So, you know, he's the one who made probably the major mistake on this play
12:24But it was actually the perfect play call against the defensive front. They lined up in good stuff Greg Cosell joining us here
12:32Hey, let's go over to Brandon Iuke because there's been so much talk about him
12:35He had obviously his best output of the year by far
12:39Did you see anything different with the way he was playing and getting open or or was it just kind of circumstantial?
12:47I think it's circumstantial. They threw him the ball, you know, yeah
12:51I I don't think he's any different than he's been or will be I mean we've spoken about him numerous times
12:57They threw him the ball. So he has big numbers. I'm sure they'll continue to throw him the ball and
13:03You know, like I said last week, it's I think I said this last week
13:06I can't remember um, but this offense isn't built on getting one guy the ball
13:10So their offense, you know some like Samuel had a big game a couple of weeks ago this week
13:15He didn't that you know, that doesn't mean that there's something wrong with Debo Samuel
13:19That's not the way their offense is built
13:22And this week as we start to think about a short week and tomorrow
13:26They're going to Seattle to take on a Mike McDonald team
13:29And he was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore last year who gave the Niners all kinds of fits
13:34Actually, he didn't actually he didn't that game they marched up and down the field in the first half
13:39They went through that defense without a problem at all
13:42Five pigs would tell me that they did something right at least to be able to get five picks from the 49ers
13:47I think it was three was a nice four off Brock and then Sammy D came in and throw
13:54Yeah
13:56Other other than the Kyle Hamilton pick which which was the one in the red zone
14:01Yeah, very poor read by Purdy, which I know he admitted
14:04But it was the tape told you that the others were fluky plays
14:07But in the first half they marched up and down the field both passing and running
14:12So McDonald's defense in the first half didn't give the 49ers any problem at all Greg
14:16Can I can we dive a little deeper into your comment that it's fluky plays because there's even been a discussion in Brock's
14:23tipped pass
14:24interception the first of the two interceptions against, Arizona in general a
14:30Tipped ball by the defensive line. Is that on the quarterback or is it well, right?
14:36Is it fluky? Let me ask you a question. How many tip balls you think birdies had this year?
14:41Not a lot. Not a lot. I'll take the under on six. He's had three. Yeah
14:47Yeah, by the way, Patrick Mahomes has had five should we be discussing whether he's a big problem?
14:53Will you call my dad because my dad my dad's texting me at the end of the game
14:58We need a quarterback who's taller and I'm like, come on like it
15:02I'm with like one ball. He had one ball tipped in this game
15:06Well, he had two but that's okay two this week and three for the whole season all season
15:11That's not a problem for Brock Purdy. Those those are odd plays. They're not no normal. I mean how many times?
15:19Let's see
15:19I can tell you how many times he's dropped back this year and then we can look at what that really means
15:24which to be honest with you is nothing but
15:27Let's see, so Brock Purdy this year has dropped back
15:31I'm gonna tell you in a sec and then you know
15:34Brock Purdy has dropped back a hundred and eighty-five times this year and has has had three three balls
15:40So it's not really a conversation. It's about 2% Craig based on my rudiment. I don't I don't really think that's a conversation
15:46Yeah, nor do I and I just was thinking about Baltimore last year and the fact that I think they had two tip ball
15:53Interceptions one of the line one which was further down the field and those are fluky plays
15:57I mean sometimes don't forget when you when you're a timing rhythm passing team
16:02Okay
16:02Keep this in mind
16:03you could almost argue that it's amazing that there aren't more tip balls and that Purdy's great at it because when you're a timing rhythm
16:09Passing team and the ball comes out quick and you're not taking deep drops
16:13You're closer to the line of scrimmage and a lot of defensive linemen know that they're not going to get to the quarterback
16:18So what they do is they try to tip the ball because they're not going to get to the quarterback
16:23So you could almost argue that it's phenomenal that he's only had three tip balls. That's true
16:28But I wonder about the Seattle personnel and whether or not they can replicate what Baltimore did which was you know?
16:35Bring the corners down and take away the middle of the field and make things tough on an offense that likes to go over the
16:40Middle of the field. Well, that's what every that's what every defense tries to do
16:44I mean, I remember last year against Cleveland Cleveland played a ton of what we call robber coverage to try to take away
16:51The in the interior, you know between the numbers every team knows what the 49ers offense is
16:56There's not mysteries in the NFL guys. Just so you understand teams don't win or lose because they trick the other team
17:02There's no mysteries coaches coach against coaches
17:05They know what they're going to do and the Seahawks this week wool and I think has already been declared out
17:11So they're gonna be short at at the corner position
17:15So, you know, they may feel they can attack the corner position
17:18Especially if they go three wide because Witherspoon nor, you know comes inside
17:22So now who's gonna play outside with Brown at the corner position if wool and can't go so they may feel hey
17:28We can we can attack them on the perimeter, you know, so we'll see how it goes
17:32What what do you think of the just the the abilities and performance so far of the Seahawks defense outside of the Lions offense?
17:40They've not really played a who's who of
17:44Opposing quarterback. So what do you think and they and they struggled last week against the Giants both in run defense and in pass defense
17:52Daniel Jones had a really really good game against them last week. The Giant pass game was efficient
17:57It was timing based the ball came out. They had trouble stopping it and and the run game was really good
18:03So, you know, I think look Mike McDonald is a great defensive coach
18:08But you also are limited to some degree with the personnel you put out there
18:13This is a team that plays a lot of nickel
18:16Last week against the Giants they played a ton of nickel even when the Giants were in base personnel
18:20So we'll see, you know what they do
18:23They play at times with three safeties big nickel as we call it
18:27But this is not a great defense in terms of personnel
18:30So if you're the Niners going up against that sort of a scheme
18:33I know that they run a 3-4 and they probably won't have in Wosu the outside
18:38Be out with the thigh
18:39and so if you're Kyle Shanahan and you're thinking about what plays work against that a
18:44Big nickel and a 3-4 front. Is that more of a run heavy scheme?
18:50You know look every game and and there's no way any of us can know this because we're not in the building right in the
18:56meetings, but the Niners are
18:59Relatively the same and and when I say that, you know, if Kyle Shanahan was listening, of course, he'd say well
19:04We do different things against different defenses
19:06Of course, they do everybody does to some extent but they don't step outside of who they are
19:11So it now it comes down to what is the balance between run pass?
19:16What what are the tweaks that they're going to have from their foundational stuff because of the team they're playing against
19:23But you're not gonna see a totally different offense. I mean, this is what they do
19:27they do kind of
19:29Relatively the same thing every week and they've been pretty good at it
19:32So, you know did they may feel like like they did this week that they could come out and attack the cards in the past
19:39Game because the cards corners are not very good and the cards can't rush the quarterback at all
19:43So, you know that probably factored in to coming out and throwing the football
19:47So we'll see what their plan is this week, but they'll probably feel that they can throw it as well
19:53Greg Cosell NFL films with us every single Wednesday here on
19:58Willard and dibs. Hey, we found it interesting yesterday Greg that Nick Sorensen was asked about all the missed tackles in the second half and
20:06Said he didn't see it as an issue. Sometimes these guys are a little overly aggressive, but they coached them that way
20:13Did you see it differently? Did you see the missed tackles as being a big issue in that game? I
20:19Gotta tell you I didn't really take note of it. So I probably didn't I think missed tackles are one of those categories that you know
20:27some
20:28Different people look at it differently, you know as a what a missed tackle is
20:32I mean I can is there any play in particulars that well James Connor James Connor in the second half kind of went from about
20:39You know one point eight a carry to up over six and it felt like there were a number of times
20:44Where someone had their hands on him in the backfield and then it turned into an eight-yard gain
20:49I get that he's a very good back
20:52Yeah, there were a couple of runs where it looked like he was stopped just because of the front wall
20:57But I and I know some of the plays you're talking about but I didn't view that as as missed tackles other than as opposed
21:03To him then finding some room
21:06Because he's obviously a physical runner, you know, he's not a guy that goes down with arm tackles
21:12So if you're referring to arms reaching for him when he's running inside
21:16I don't view those as missed tackles in a strict sense because he's you know
21:20He's running in confined space and when guys reach out arms, you know to me, that's not a missed tackle
21:27Yeah, especially when you're dealing with 230 pounds. Yeah
21:31Strong physical back. What are you seeing though in general from the Niners front seven against the run?
21:36Is it a personnel not getting it done? Is it a fit?
21:39What do you see when you see the Niners giving up big gains in the second half?
21:43Well, I thought they gave up sustaining gains not big gains and there's a difference. Yeah
21:48So, I mean obviously they'll view it as something that has to get better, but it's not like they're being gashed
21:54I mean obviously when they started that final drive and they ran Connor the first four plays and they got two first downs
22:00I think there was a six yard run a seven yard run an eight yard run though. That's too much
22:04I'm not saying that's okay, but they weren't being gashed
22:07It was a tough runner who was you know, grinding his way and getting tough yards hard-earned yards now
22:13As I said, you don't want to give that up, but it's not as if he was running through gaping holes
22:19I viewed those runs as more of Connor being who Connor is than the 49er defense being poor
22:25Already looking forward to next week Greg because we're gonna be looking back on Thursday night football
22:30Yeah, good game and then breaking down Patrick Mahomes is coming. I know we got the Chiefs next week
22:36Is that game in Santa Clara, yes, it is. Oh, well, that should be I just hope the weather is good
22:41I hate watching games in bad weather. Yeah, bring your sunscreen Greg weather will be fine
22:44And you know how good you know how the Niners own the Chiefs
22:48Well, that's that's gonna be a big game winner loser. I mean, obviously they need to win tomorrow night
22:53But that's that's a big game regardless. Yes, indeed Greg great stuff, man. Thank you so much
22:59Appreciate it guys love talking with you every week. Thanks Greg. There it is. That's Greg Cosell