San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was masterful on Saturday.
All through the 49ers’ 41-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks, the coach discovered methods to emphasize the Seattle protection each on the bottom, and thru the air. Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, beginning his first playoff sport, posted strong numbers as he accomplished 18 of 30 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that topped the playoff debuts from a pair of San Francisco greats: Joe Montana and Steve Younger.
San Francisco gained 505 yards of whole offense within the victory, and averaged 7.9 yards per play.
Diving into the efficiency a little bit extra, take a look at how environment friendly Purdy was on Saturday afternoon:
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Purdy averaged 0.72 Anticipated Factors Added per Play on Saturday, with an Common Depth of Goal of practically 12 yards. The offense as an entire impressed, notably when throwing on early downs:
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Information supplied by RBSDM.com.
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Turning to how this regarded on the sector, Shanahan hit the Seahawks with an virtually dizzying array of presnap motion and movement, discovering alternative ways to place San Francisco’s spectacular offensive expertise in advantageous positions.
Take this play from early within the sport, the place Purdy connects with Brandon Aiyuk on a bottom dig route:
Take into consideration every part the Seahawks needed to decipher earlier than the snap. San Francisco breaks the huddle with “21 offensive personnel,” with two operating backs, two huge receivers, and a decent finish.
Nonetheless, the quotes round 21 offensive personnel are there as a result of listed here are the gamers in that group: Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk. You may simply as simply name that 31 offensive personnel, and designate Samuel as a operating again, or 12 offensive personnel, with Juszczyk as a decent finish.
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The personnel alone poses an issue.
They align initially with Purdy within the shotgun, each Samuel and Juszczyk on the precise, Kittle and Aiyuk on the left, and McCaffrey within the backfield. However then, they begin to transfer. Kittle shifts throughout the formation to the precise. Samuel then shifts into the backfield, flanking the QB together with McCaffrey. However then McCaffrey shifts again exterior to the precise, aligning in a bunch with Kittle and Juszczyk.
That is the formation when the ball is snapped, giving the 49ers 4 threats to 1 facet of the sector.
So in fact Purdy throws a bottom did to Aiyuk on the opposite facet of the formation.
Shanahan additionally discovered just a few alternative ways to emphasize Seattle’s single-high zone protection schemes, usually by way of dig routes. On this completion from Purdy to Aiyuk late within the second half, Shanahan dials up a variation of his Burner idea, which is a play-action design pairing a deep nook route with a dig route. Right here, the 49ers don’t use play-action, however the deep nook route from the speedy Danny Grey occupies the post-safety, together with the cornerback to his facet of the sector. Samuel, aligned in a wing on the left, chips on the sting defender earlier than operating a sit route over the soccer. Kittle and McCaffrey launch to the flats:
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The consequence? The routes create area for the dig route from Aiyuk, who’s huge open over the center:
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Shanahan additionally used vertical routes, and the specter of the downfield passing sport, to create area for receivers working beneath. On this play from early within the second quarter, the 49ers dial up 4 vertical routes, together with McCaffrey out of the backfield. Once more, the Seahawks are in single-high protection, and this vertical idea is an issue for these protection buildings.
So too is Kittle beneath on a shallow route:
Maybe one of many meanest designs that Shanahan dialed up got here initially of the fourth quarter. With the 49ers holding a 23-17 lead, and dealing with a 2nd and 11 in Seattle territory, Shanahan referred to as for a play-action design utilizing exterior zone because the bait. Purdy targets Jauan Jennings on a wheel route:
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Why is that this simply flat-out imply? A couple of causes. First, the scenario. With San Francisco dealing with a 2nd and 11, Seattle may count on run, with the 49ers aiming to get right into a manageable third-down scenario. You possibly can see that within the defensive alignment, because the Seahawks name man protection and have ten defenders inside 5 yards of the ball.
Second, they present exterior zone into the boundary, to the left facet of the formation. Throwing a wheel route out of an outdoor look is one thing the 49ers have finished earlier than, however normally to the precise facet of the formation, the place it’s a better throw for the quarterback. Right here, Purdy must execute the faux, rapidly flip his hips, and set the hallway for a throw downfield. It’s not what you’re anticipating from the offense.
That are all the explanation why it really works.
However maybe the perfect instance of how spectacular Shanahan was Saturday afternoon comes by way of two performs. First, this run from the primary quarter, a toss play to Samuel:
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Once more, you see a few of the presnap motion mentioned earlier. The 49ers break the huddle with 21 offensive personnel: Aiyuk, Kittle, McCaffrey, Juszczyk, and Samuel. McCaffrey, Juszczyk, and Aiyuk begin the play on the precise, with Kittle aligned on the left and Samuel within the backfield. However Juszczyk then shifts right into a fullback’s alignment, in entrance of Samuel within the backfield, whereas Aiyuk shifts throughout the formation, into a decent alignment on the left.
Samuel will get the pitch and goals for the left edge, with Juszczyk main him to the skin. It goes for a 22-yard acquire, with the important thing block maybe coming from Juszczyk, as he meets security Ryan Neal within the alley.
Early within the second quarter, the 49ers present the Seahawks the identical primary look — with the identical presnap motion — however promote the Seahawks on the pitch earlier than the snap, as Juszczyk slides in movement in the direction of the left facet of the offense. Solely, no pitch is coming. As an alternative, Purdy fakes the pitch, and throws a slant path to McCaffrey on the precise facet of the offense. As this play unfolds, watch how the Seattle protection reacts to the specter of the pitch, and the way that response creates area for the slant route:
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Masterful.
Purdy is actually grabbing the headlines, and with good motive. His rise from “Mr. Irrelevant” to playoff-winning quarterback is a incredible story, and the rookie QB is taking part in very properly.
However the job of a coach is to place his gamers in the perfect place to achieve success, and that’s precisely what Shanahan is doing with this offense. With the unbelievable expertise he has in place — together with just a few completely different gamers who can thrive in numerous roles on offense — Shanahan is stressing defenses, and creating alternatives for his rookie quarterback to succeed.
In order we reward Purdy for his meteoric rise this season, we must also take a while to reward Shanahan, who’s discovering alternative ways every sport, every quarter, and even every drive, to emphasize defenses.
Gus Williams, the beloved Seattle SuperSonics star who led the franchise to its only NBA championship in 1979, died Wednesday at age 71.
Williams earned the nickname “The Wizard” thanks to his speed and athleticism as a dynamic scoring guard. He played six of his 12 NBA seasons with the SuperSonics, guiding the team to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances. Both of his two All-Star selections came during his time in Seattle.
A second-round draft pick out of USC, Williams started his pro career with the Golden State Warriors and finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 1976 behind Phoenix’s Alvan Adams. After two seasons with Golden State, Williams joined the Sonics in free agency and quickly became a star once coach Lenny Wilkens made him a permanent starter in the backcourt alongside Dennis Johnson. Williams finished the 1977-78 season averaging 18.1 points in 79 games and helped Seattle reach the NBA Finals, only to fall to the Washington Bullets in seven games.
The Sonics faced off against Washington in the Finals again the following season, this time beating the Bullets in five games. It remains the only championship for the franchise, which moved to Oklahoma City ahead of the 2008-09 season.
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Williams finished the championship season as the SuperSonics’ leading scorer at 19.2 points per game. He saved his best for last, averaging 29.0 ppg against the Bullets in the NBA Finals. Despite his heroics, Williams was not named Finals MVP, with that honor instead going to his teammate Dennis Johnson. Four of the five starters on that championship squad and key reserve Paul Silas are now dead, with Jack Sikma, sixth man Fred Brown and Wilkens the only surviving pillars of the team.
James Donaldson, one of Williams’ SuperSonics teammates beginning in 1980, started a GoFundMe account on behalf of Williams’ family to raise funds for his burial.
Williams lived in a care facility in Maryland and died five years after suffering a stroke in 2020. Donaldson wrote on GoFundMe that he remained in contact with Williams “throughout most of this terrible journey” that included Williams battling pneumonia and meningitis after his stroke.
“He has spent the last 5 years, flat on his back and bravely battling this terrible misfortune,” Donaldson wrote of Williams’ health. “He fought a good fight, but alas, it just became too much to overcome.”
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Donaldson said Williams’ family asked him to set up the GoFundMe account to bring Williams’ body to his hometown of Mt. Vernon. N.Y., so he can be buried next to his brother Ray, also a former NBA player who died of prostate cancer in March 2013. Donaldson said the Williams brothers’ 100-year-old mother and other relatives would like to be able to visit their gravesites together.
“(Williams) was gregarious, funny, always upbeat and (very) charitable with his time and money. Plus, he was always friendly with the fans and they loved him in return,” Donaldson wrote of his former teammate. “Super fast and super quick on the court. Could stop on a dime and outrun everyone out there. With a deadly jump (shot) to boot. Gus was one of a kind!”
Williams’ one-of-a-kind style extended off the court, too. He refused to back down in a contract dispute with Sonics management ahead of the 1980-81 campaign, ultimately sitting out the entire season. He returned the following season and averaged a career-high 23.4 points in 80 games, earning his first All-Star selection, NBA Comeback Player of the Year and first-team All-NBA honors.
Williams’ time in Seattle ended in 1984 when the SuperSonics traded him to Washington. He spent two seasons with the Bullets, followed by one with the Atlanta Hawks before retiring in 1987.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Washington Bullets alumni, Gus Williams.
Williams finished his career with 14,093 points, 4,597 assists and 1,638 steals. He averaged 17.1 ppg in 825 regular-season contests and 19.5 ppg in 99 playoff appearances.
He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Seattle weather: Morning fog, sunshine in the forecast
FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Ilona McCauley has your latest western Washington weather forecast!
Western Washington is gearing up for some of the coolest air of the season heading into this weekend. A weak cold front will drop our overnight lows into the lower 30s beginning tonight. Chilly conditions will remain into much of next week. It’s time to remember to protect your pipes, plants, pets and people.
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A weak cold front moved through earlier Thursday, keeping cold air in place around Western Washington.
As the rain wraps up and the skies clear out, fog will develop overnight. With many spots dipping into near freezing, the possibility of freezing fog along with icy spots will be around for Friday morning’s commute.
Rain and clouds clearing out, leading to overnight fog.
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Skies clear out after Thursday stray showers wrap up. Fog will develop on Friday morning with some freezing fog possible. (FOX13 Seattle)
January has gotten off to a cool start already with more cold air on the way. A ridge of high pressure will keep much of our area in a cool, dry, northwesterly flow through at least the end of next week.
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Skies are drying out and some of the coolest air of the season is on the way this weekend. (FOX13 Seattle)
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NEW YORK (AP) — Dominican infielder Kendry Martinez was among 17 additional players agreeing to seven-figure bonuses, a $2.5 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.
Thirty-two players have agreed to bonuses of $1 million or more through two days of the international signing period, which opened Wednesday and runs until Dec. 15.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, hoping to sign Roki Sasaki, were among five teams that have not finalized any contracts and kept open their entire signing bonus pool allotment, joined by Kansas City, the New York Yankees and Colorado. The San Diego Padres, also wooing the Japanese pitcher, struck one deal for $10,000, the highest amount that does not count against a team’s bonus pool.
Sasaki is considered an international amateur by Major League Baseball because he is under 25 and has not played six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. Under the MLB-NPB posting agreement, he has until Jan. 23 to finalize an MLB deal.
Agreements included Dominican shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz and the Chicago Cubs ($2.3 million), Venezuelan outfielder Yorger Bautista and Seattle ($2.1 million), Dominican outfielder Kevin Alvarez and Houston ($2 million), Venezuelan shortstop Liberts Aponte and Cincinnati ($1.9 million), Dominican right-hander Raudy Reyes and Atlanta ($1,797,500), Venezuelan infielder Eliomar Garces and Tampa Bay ($1.6 million), Dominican infielder Juan Cabada and the Cubs ($1.5 million), Bahamian shortstop Ayden Johnson and the Athletics ($1.5 million), Dominican shortstop Dorian Soto and Boston ($1.4 million), Dominican outfielder Royelny Strop and St. Louis ($1.4 million), Dominican outfielder Kenny Fenelon and Milwaukee ($1.3 million), Venezuelan infielder Yulian Barreto and San Francisco ($1,118,700), Dominican shortstop Juan Tomas and the Cubs ($1.1 million) and Dominican outfielder Elorky Rodriguez and Texas (1,097,500
Players born from Sept. 1, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2008, are eligible to sign during this year’s period, which ends Dec. 15. Teams began the week with signing bonus pools ranging from about $5.1 million to $7.6 million.
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