Bengals should change the strategy covering tight ends going forward..

[BFritz21]

(12-24-2021, 10:41 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: This wasn't by intentional design, obviously. They were likely just playing zone coverage and you were seeing Kittle pass through zones. These DCs really, really know their stuff and they aren't going to forget about someone like Kittle. For instance, here are a couple of screenshots from Kittle's touchdown, which was a crossing route. 

Here is Bachie grabbing Kittle as he crosses the middle of the field...


However, Bachie has to drop off because of a delayed angle/crosser out of the backfield....



Now, Jimmy can't quite throw this ball yet because he is reading Chido. He can either throw it low to Kittle or throw it high to Deebo? Not sure who the top receiver is, but you get the point. Chido steps towards Deebo, leaving Kittle open and Jimmy hits him for the touchdown. Now, there was a play where Kittle got open on a post for 16 yard gain, and he was wide open, but that was because they ran cover 0 and rushed six. Just being aggressive and it bit them in the ass. 

Another play in OT had Kittle open over the middle for an eight yard gain but it was a block and release. 

via GIPHY

I don't think any of these are "horrible" coaching - you can argue that the blitz was a dubious call but that ends up being an argument about the result itself, not necessarily the call. If Jimmy was sacked, it'd be a great call, it's just a risk/reward thing. DC's know what they are doing, but so do OC's and the 49ers had counters. 

Fair enough......  VERY NICE RESEARCH!

Even if you're right about them not being bad play calls (I think you're right), I still think the coaching needed to make sure the defense had at least one player spying Kittle and shadowing him. The players should have known that Kittle wasn't going to be blocking on that pass play, especially since it's not like he set up in a blocking stance because he was just kind of wondering out in front of the line.

Like I said, though, VERY NICE POST!