OC 1,136 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 http://www.nationalf...r-Gonzalez.html49ers' Safety Donte Whitner is physical and has the lateral ability to play man-coverage vs. the tight end position. A good football player that will also put a helmet on you in the open field. But Whitner has a tough matchup this Sunday vs. Falcons' TE Tony Gonzalez in the NFC Championship game. To give you an example of what Whitner is looking at on the tape, let’s break down Gonzalez’s TD vs. Seahawks’ safety Kam Chancellor last weekend on the goal line.Seahawks vs. FalconsPersonnel: Jumbo (3TE-2RB)Route: 7 (corner)Defensive scheme: GL Man (match)With Gonzalez aligned to the open side of the formation, the Falcons run play pass out of Power I look. Sell the run fake and boot QB Matt Ryan out of the pocket with Gonzalez on the short 7 cut (corner route). For the Seahawks, a base goal line man (or match) scheme. Chancellor is the primary edge support player vs. the run and will take the first vertical (Gonzalez) on action/flow away.Great use of the hands by Chancellor. The Seahawks’ safety extends his arms to keep Gonzalez off his body and maintains the outside leverage position. Chancellor can now play an inside breaking cut or roll with the 7.In this situation, the safety in coverage has to play with a “basketball technique” (think of defending the low post on the court with your back to the ball). Use the end line as your help and stay on the hip of the TE. If you can, slide the elbow low on the waist of the TE and push him out of bounds (can't be the first player to touch the ball). And you can get away with that if you don’t extend the arms up high on the chest/shoulder.What beats Chancellor? The ball placement from Matt Ryan. This is no different than throwing the back-shoulder fade on the 9 route in the red zone. The safety has coverage and is in the proper position to play Gonzalez on the end line. However, Ryan puts this ball on the back shoulder and the veteran TE does an excellent job of finishing the play. Is Whitner ready to check Gonzalez on Sunday? Let's see how it plays out... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Donte Whitner will rarely, if ever, match up against Tony 1 on 1. Expect Willis, by far the best middle linebacker in the game. That will be a muh closer match up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OC 1,136 Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 Donte Whitner will rarely, if ever, match up against Tony 1 on 1. Expect Willis, by far the best middle linebacker in the game. That will be a muh closer match up.So does that mean the safeties bracket on the outside? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
youngbloodz 16,617 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 No LB can check Gonzo one on one. Not one Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 No LB can check Gonzo one on one. Not oneYears ago when Tony was on the chiefs and played the niners Julian Peterson shut him down. Held tony to zero catches. Patrick Willis is not an ordinary linebacker. He can guard Tony. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 So does that mean the safeties bracket on the outside?A lot of the times we have our safeties jump slants routes or be on the lookout for picking up an open rceiver coming off a "pick". We mix it up a lot though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tandy 18,382 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Sound Effects - caught the Seahawks sideline after this TD. They said - He needs to go ahead and retire - I'm tired of him making plays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JermareATL 572 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Years ago when Tony was on the chiefs and played the niners Julian Peterson shut him down. Held tony to zero catches. Patrick Willis is not an ordinary linebacker. He can guard Tony.He didn't have Matt Ryan back then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
youngbloodz 16,617 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Years ago when Tony was on the chiefs and played the niners Julian Peterson shut him down. Held tony to zero catches. Patrick Willis is not an ordinary linebacker. He can guard Tony.one game. Deion was roasted in a couple games. Jimmy Graham ate Willis lunch last year in the divisional round. Willis is a great LB. But he isn't Ray Lewis in his prime Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tandy 18,382 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Years ago when Tony was on the chiefs and played the niners Julian Peterson shut him down. Held tony to zero catches.Patrick Willis is not an ordinary linebacker. He can guard Tony.Yeah, Tony only had 7 catches for 41 yards against him in 2010 and 6 catches for 55 yards against him in 2009.Roddy had 8 catches for 210 yards and 2 TD and 7 catches for 104 yards in those games - Tony really underachieved.Of course, we didn't have Julio then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DiZzY_DeCuir33 103 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Years ago when Tony was on the chiefs and played the niners Julian Peterson shut him down. Held tony to zero catches.Patrick Willis is not an ordinary linebacker. He can guard Tony.Sorry dude, but back then Gonzo didn't have a Julio Jones and Roddy White on the outside to draw coverage away from him. I'm sure back then teams gameplanned to take Gonzo away by doubling him. You can't do that now, like the poster said earlier there is no linebacker who can cover Gonzo 1 on 1. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OC 1,136 Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 A lot of the times we have our safeties jump slants routes or be on the lookout for picking up an open rceiver coming off a "pick". We mix it up a lot though.having them close enough to defend slants sounds risky if we get good protection Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kaptain Krazy 4,083 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Best TE to ever play the game, and better hands than any receiver (including WRs) i've ever witnessed.we've been lucky to enjoy him up close, for our team.i'm not worried about Gonzo. There hasn't been a game yet where he wasn't better than the D when it mattered. zero reason to think this Sunday will be different. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Yeah, Tony only had 7 catches for 41 yards against him in 2010 and 6 catches for 55 yards against him in 2009.Ya and those were weaker teams. I'm guessing Tony will have a lot of single coverage. He lost a step but he has an uncanny ability to catch the ball in traffic. I'm worried about him in the red zone and on third and short/medium. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Sorry dude, but back then Gonzo didn't have a Julio Jones and Roddy White on the outside to draw coverage away from him. I'm sure back then teams gameplanned to take Gonzo away by doubling him. You can't do that now, like the poster said earlier there is no linebacker who can cover Gonzo 1 on 1.Yes, Tony is good. But do you know who Patrick Willis is? He isn't just some linebacker. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) Yeah, Tony only had 7 catches for 41 yards against him in 2010 and 6 catches for 55 yards against him in 2009.Roddy had 8 catches for 210 yards and 2 TD and 7 catches for 104 yards in those games - Tony really underachieved.Of course, we didn't have Julio then.Yes, when the great Mike Singleterry coached our team. When we never had winning records. Completely different team now.Nate Clements and Dre Bly were our corners. So bad. Edited January 20, 2013 by SF-Wald Quote Link to post Share on other sites
youngbloodz 16,617 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Yes, Tony is good. But do you know who Patrick Willis is? He isn't just some linebacker.Patrick Willis is the LB that got roasted by Jimmy Graham last year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kayoh 5,063 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 one game. Deion was roasted in a couple games. Jimmy Graham ate Willis lunch last year in the divisional round. Willis is a great LB. But he isn't Ray Lewis in his primeRay Lewis in his prime couldn't shut down TG. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Patrick Willis is the LB that got roasted by Jimmy Graham last year.I don't remember him beating Patrick a lot, but you seem to have really high standards. You can never give up plays in order to be good?Tony is a solid player, but he isn't in his prime and isn't unstoppable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryan 3 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I hope they put Willis in coverage on TG. He can't blitz or play run defense in coverage. Pick your poison. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Patrick Willis: 6 years in the league.6 pro bowls, 5 first team all Pros, 1 second team all pro. It is pretty ridiculous that you cannot accept the fact that he is a great player. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
youngbloodz 16,617 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Ray Lewis in his prime couldn't shut down TG.true. And Ray Lewis in his prime was a way better cover LB than Willis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Midnight toker 0 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Ray Lewis in his prime couldn't shut down TG.Willis is much faster than Lewis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SF-Wald 15 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 true. And Ray Lewis in his prime was a way better cover LB than WillisYou guys are so blinded by your biased views. A 36 year old TG is so beyond amazing that Patrick Willis has no chance of guarding him? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
youngbloodz 16,617 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Patrick Willis: 6 years in the league.6 pro bowls, 5 first team all Pros, 1 second team all pro. It is pretty ridiculous that you cannot accept the fact that he is a great player.he is a great player. That got roasted by Jimmy Graham. Everything in this post are facts. You act like Willis is LT and Ray Lewis combine. Like he shut down every TE the Niners face. Well he didn't shut down Jimmy Graham last year. Facts Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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