[h=1]Game plans for 49ers, Ravens[/h][h=3]Breaking down the big goals for San Francisco, Baltimore in Super Bowl XLVII[/h]
By Herm Edwards | ESPN Insider
When you make it to a Super Bowl as a player or a coach, it's easy to get overwhelmed. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to play in Super Bowl XV as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and it's very true that the Super Bowl is an event more than a game. During the week, we practiced too hard, strained ourselves mentally in meetings and ended up thinking too much on the field. We were a little fatigued when the game kicked off, fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and the rest is history.
As a coach, the Super Bowl offers numerous challenges, as well, perhaps the biggest one being how to game plan. I've been asked the question many times, but people always want to know how much a game plan changes for a Super Bowl. The key is to not over-prepare. Don't change or question what has been successful for your team all season. The most important thing is to know your personnel and get the ball in the hands of your playmakers. This is their time to shine. And for the most part your team's strengths early in the season are the same strengths it has right now. Sure, you have two weeks to prepare and there will be some wrinkles added, but both teams know what they do well and the areas that can be exposed.
Let's take a look at the game plan that the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens should utilize in Super Bowl XLVII:
San Francisco 49ers
Coach Jim Harbaugh knows that the strength of his team lies in its ability to run the ball. The 49ers do a great job of creating different formations with personnel groupings, including adding another offensive lineman (or two in the jumbo package) to run the ball effectively. They should ideally run the combination of Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore and LaMichael James about 30 to 35 times in this game.
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In its standard pistol formation, usually with three wide receivers and a tight end, San Francisco has been very effective in the playoffs. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the 49ers have used the formation on 49 percent of their offensive snaps this postseason, after using it on only 10 percent of offensive snaps in Kaepernick's final seven regular-season starts. San Francisco has averaged an astonishing 236 yards rushing a game in the postseason on 6.5 yards a carry.
The 49ers also should create specific formations to isolate tight end Vernon Davis in matchups against Baltimore's linebackers. He is San Francisco's big vertical threat. Davis had 106 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, and they really struggled to cover him with a linebacker (if the Ravens use a corner on him, San Francisco will be able to pound the ball even more effectively).
San Francisco's offense also must do a better job of protecting its defense, which was on the field a lot (especially in the first half) against Atlanta. The 49ers use a Cover 2 shell and will mix man and zone, but the bottom line is that the front four needs to get more pressure on the quarterback than it has in the past two games. Aldon Smith and Justin Smith need to win one-on-one battles, because the 49ers can't afford to blitz often. In the postseason, the 49ers have only 2.0 sacks and have given up 17.6 yards per attempt on deep passes (compared with 10.5 YPA in the regular season).
Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco has been terrific this postseason and it's obvious that he must play well for this team to win. But Baltimore is a balanced team offensively. Much like the 49ers, John Harbaugh will want his team to establish the run early with Ray Rice and get the ball in his playmakers' hands on the outside (Dennis Pitta, Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin), often using play-action.
This was the game plan against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, as 46 of Baltimore's 71 plays (65 percent) were targeted at one of those four players. The Ravens focused on passing more in the second half once CB Aqib Talib went down with an injury, and against the 49ers they may be forced to do the same, because it's difficult to run the ball on San Francisco. Baltimore must continue to use a mix of run and pass on first down, something it did very effectively in the second half against the Patriots. Finally, Baltimore must be efficient converting third downs to give a defense that has played a ton of snaps this postseason some extra rest.
On defense, Baltimore must do what it always does: disguise coverages, blitz the quarterback and tackle well. The Ravens have struggled against the run this season and must be extremely disciplined in gap control. Both Terrell Suggs and Paul Kruger must not outrun Kaepernick's depth in the pocket and open up running lanes for him. Ed Reed probably will shadow Davis somewhat, but the Ravens should reroute Davis at the line of scrimmage as often as possible to throw off the timing of his routes.
The Super Bowl isn't a place of destiny; it's a place of opportunity. And you can't take getting there for granted. These are two well-coached teams that both want to run the football and control time of possession. They both have hard-hitting, veteran defenses. The Harbaugh brother who keeps the game plan the simplest, keeps his team focused during the week and executes on Sunday will likely be the coach of the team that comes out on top.
By Herm Edwards | ESPN Insider
When you make it to a Super Bowl as a player or a coach, it's easy to get overwhelmed. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to play in Super Bowl XV as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and it's very true that the Super Bowl is an event more than a game. During the week, we practiced too hard, strained ourselves mentally in meetings and ended up thinking too much on the field. We were a little fatigued when the game kicked off, fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and the rest is history.
As a coach, the Super Bowl offers numerous challenges, as well, perhaps the biggest one being how to game plan. I've been asked the question many times, but people always want to know how much a game plan changes for a Super Bowl. The key is to not over-prepare. Don't change or question what has been successful for your team all season. The most important thing is to know your personnel and get the ball in the hands of your playmakers. This is their time to shine. And for the most part your team's strengths early in the season are the same strengths it has right now. Sure, you have two weeks to prepare and there will be some wrinkles added, but both teams know what they do well and the areas that can be exposed.
Let's take a look at the game plan that the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens should utilize in Super Bowl XLVII:
San Francisco 49ers
Coach Jim Harbaugh knows that the strength of his team lies in its ability to run the ball. The 49ers do a great job of creating different formations with personnel groupings, including adding another offensive lineman (or two in the jumbo package) to run the ball effectively. They should ideally run the combination of Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore and LaMichael James about 30 to 35 times in this game.
<offer></offer>
In its standard pistol formation, usually with three wide receivers and a tight end, San Francisco has been very effective in the playoffs. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the 49ers have used the formation on 49 percent of their offensive snaps this postseason, after using it on only 10 percent of offensive snaps in Kaepernick's final seven regular-season starts. San Francisco has averaged an astonishing 236 yards rushing a game in the postseason on 6.5 yards a carry.
The 49ers also should create specific formations to isolate tight end Vernon Davis in matchups against Baltimore's linebackers. He is San Francisco's big vertical threat. Davis had 106 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, and they really struggled to cover him with a linebacker (if the Ravens use a corner on him, San Francisco will be able to pound the ball even more effectively).
San Francisco's offense also must do a better job of protecting its defense, which was on the field a lot (especially in the first half) against Atlanta. The 49ers use a Cover 2 shell and will mix man and zone, but the bottom line is that the front four needs to get more pressure on the quarterback than it has in the past two games. Aldon Smith and Justin Smith need to win one-on-one battles, because the 49ers can't afford to blitz often. In the postseason, the 49ers have only 2.0 sacks and have given up 17.6 yards per attempt on deep passes (compared with 10.5 YPA in the regular season).
Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco has been terrific this postseason and it's obvious that he must play well for this team to win. But Baltimore is a balanced team offensively. Much like the 49ers, John Harbaugh will want his team to establish the run early with Ray Rice and get the ball in his playmakers' hands on the outside (Dennis Pitta, Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin), often using play-action.
This was the game plan against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, as 46 of Baltimore's 71 plays (65 percent) were targeted at one of those four players. The Ravens focused on passing more in the second half once CB Aqib Talib went down with an injury, and against the 49ers they may be forced to do the same, because it's difficult to run the ball on San Francisco. Baltimore must continue to use a mix of run and pass on first down, something it did very effectively in the second half against the Patriots. Finally, Baltimore must be efficient converting third downs to give a defense that has played a ton of snaps this postseason some extra rest.
On defense, Baltimore must do what it always does: disguise coverages, blitz the quarterback and tackle well. The Ravens have struggled against the run this season and must be extremely disciplined in gap control. Both Terrell Suggs and Paul Kruger must not outrun Kaepernick's depth in the pocket and open up running lanes for him. Ed Reed probably will shadow Davis somewhat, but the Ravens should reroute Davis at the line of scrimmage as often as possible to throw off the timing of his routes.
The Super Bowl isn't a place of destiny; it's a place of opportunity. And you can't take getting there for granted. These are two well-coached teams that both want to run the football and control time of possession. They both have hard-hitting, veteran defenses. The Harbaugh brother who keeps the game plan the simplest, keeps his team focused during the week and executes on Sunday will likely be the coach of the team that comes out on top.
