Super Bowl: The Chiefs 3rd Down Defense vs the 49ers

In the Super Bowl the 49ers were 3 of 12 vs the Chiefs and had little success on 3rd down They were sacked 2 times and the man coverage concepts on 11/12 plays gave them great difficulty.

Down and Distance     Front      Pressure                    Coverage                           Result             
3rd and   9                      Even        Mac                          Cover 1                                 14               
3rd and   14                    Even       Cowboy/Mac            Cover 1                              INC             
3rd and    9                     Even                                           2 man hole                       INC      
3rd and   15                    Odd             Spy                         Combo                              Sack
3rd and  11                     Odd              Spy                        2 man hole                       INC
3rd and  10                     Odd              Spy                        2 man                                INC
3rd and 5                        Even                                            Cover 1 Rat                        17     
3rd and 2                        PRO                                            Cover 1 (ran)                       -1        
3rd and 5                        Odd         Smack                        Cover  1                            INC          
3rd and 13                      Odd              Spy                          2 man                               Sack
3nd and 2                       Even          Stab(Both B)             Cover 0                               14
3rd and 4                         Even        show axe                    Cover 0                            INC 

Overall:
Cover 1 5/12 snaps Cover 2 man 4/12 snaps Cover 0 2/12 snaps Combo 1/12 snaps

Let[s look at some of the concepts and examples below:

Cover 1

The Chiefs run a cover 1 pressure that turns into an overload when the mike LB adds in. The Chiefs were quick to add in when Mc Caffrey blocked. This play is no different. Nice scheme and design by Spags.

The TE stays in so the LB helps underneath. The CB comes off the edge into the b gap with the Mike adding in the A gap. The 49ers do a great job picking it up and the CB makes a great play knocking it down.

Film clip with the great pass break up.

Cover 2 man hole

They play 2 man hole both from their odd and even look. When they run it with their odd look they spied the QB with a LB. They also played it with their 4 hands look and just played with the traditional safety coming down and playing the hole.

Film Review

Both clips of 2 man hole are below. They start as as a 2 man look but one safety drops into the middle of the field hole area.