49ers' success defending motion is proof iron sharpens iron
The old axiom 'iron sharpens iron' is a cliche, but the 49ers are living proof that it is true. Last season, 49ers players were continually asked if they were surprised by Brock Purdy's stunning emergence. The answer consistently came back that they were not, pointing out that the final pick of last year's draft had […]
The old axiom 'iron sharpens iron' is a cliche, but the 49ers are living proof that it is true.
Last season, 49ers players were continually asked if they were surprised by Brock Purdy's stunning emergence. The answer consistently came back that they were not, pointing out that the final pick of last year's draft had benefited from practicing against the NFL's best defense.
Scarcely mentioned by comparison, is the impact going against the Kyle Shanahan offense in practice has had on the 49er defense.
But a dive into last season's numbers offers an enlightening glimpse into just how beneficial that has been for the group Steve Wilks is inheriting from DeMeco Ryans.
Because of the influence Shanahan and his acolytes have had on modern-day offense, in this era of football defenses must contend with a cornucopia of pre-snap motion and play-action fakes.
However, the 49ers, at least by one measure, are a top-half team at defending both.
There are improvements San Francisco can make against play-action. Last season, the 49ers ranked 13th in EPA per play when defending play-action passes, per Sports Info Solutions.
When it comes to contending with motion, however, there is no defense better.
San Francisco had the best EPA per play in the NFL defending pass plays where there was motion of any kind. On top of that, the 49ers' defense was the third-best in the league by EPA per rush attempt at stopping run plays on which there was motion involved.
Familiarity plays a significant role in the 49ers' success in that regard. Only the Dolphins and Chiefs used motion on their pass plays more often than the Niners last year. San Francisco utilized it on 376 of their 556 dropbacks (67.6%). On running plays, only the Commanders relied on motion more often than the Niners, who deployed it on 324 of their carries.
As those numbers illustrate, motion is a critical part of the Shanahan attack, used to manipulate coverages and change the number count in the run game. Given how often their head coach uses it, 49ers defenders get a detailed education in how to defend it, and the results speak for themselves.
Of course, those impressive numbers are not just a product of practicing against motion consistently. Tape study of how other teams use it is key, and the 49ers defense also boasts the substantial asset of having the game's best linebacker, Fred Warner, wearing a green dot.
No player at his position boasts a better mix of athleticism and eye discipline. Warner does an excellent job of ensuring he and his teammates are consistently in the correct position to make plays regardless of the backfield action by the offense.
His proficiency in that area and the 49ers' experience preparing for motion has helped turn them into the best team in the NFL guarding against an aspect of offensive football that is now an NFL staple.
Their success versus motion is a large factor in the 49ers finishing 2022 as the elite defense in the NFL by DVOA. The fact the Niners still have room to get even better on that side of the ball by improving against play-action should greatly concern the rest of the league.
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