49ers - Buccaneers: Looking forward

by David Fucillo on Dec 18, 2007 11:10 PM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

As we look forward to this coming weekend's matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, most everyone is at least a whole lot of curious about Shaun Hill. As some of you'll recall, SB Nation has been working with Samsung on a defining moment campaign. Recently the campaign changed from defining moments of the previous weekend to defining moment predictions for the upcoming weekend. Accordingly, my prediction is up and is about Shaun Hill's matchup with the Bucs (it was just posted and is likely close to the bottom). Feel free to vote for the moment if you get a chance. No prizes, but simple site pride.

Anyways, I predicted another solid performance by Shaun Hill leading to an upset over the Bucs, more just because I'd rather go out on a limb and hope for the best rather than be negative. I predicted 19-28, 187 yards and 2 TDs in a win. My prediction raised a question for which I don't quite know the answer:

Do the Buccaneers still play a version of the Cover-2 defense Tony Dungy brought to town?

I've tried to figure it out for sure but there is no definite answer that I can find. If the play the cover-2, it's possible the underneath passing game could be left open and Shaun Hill has shown an ability to take what the defense will give him. Of course, it's possible the Bucs will mix in plenty of different defenses to keep the inexperienced Hill off balance.

The other question to consider is how much rest, if any, will the Buccaneers' starters get? The Bucs clinched the NFC South last week and have no chance of getting a first round bye. They're tied with Seattle for the 3rd and 4th seeds and the only difference between the two seeds will be who hosts the Giants (more than likely) and who hosts New Orleans/Minnesota/Washington. While often I like to face the lesser players, this is one time that would not be the best result. I want to see what Shaun Hill can do against the #3 defense in the NFL (6th against the pass, 7th against the run). If the Bucs rest their starters, another excuse will rear its head. Let's see what Shaun Hill can do when challenged by a real NFL defense (because as Deion noted, the Bengals aren't a real NFL defense).

EDITOR'S NOTE 12:10AM - If you do go vote for my predicted moment, it's listed as "Week 2 of the Shaun Hill era."

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Cover 3

If I remember correctly, I heard that they were really playing more of a Cover 3 this year. I'll see if I can find the link.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 19, 2007 8:41 AM PST reply actions

Sorry, Cover 4

Apparently they've been playing Cover 4 mostly:

It must be said, the use of the phrase "Tampa-2″ defense to describe this year's Buccaneers is somewhere between misleading and just plain wrong. Kiffin has actually said that this season he calls more Cover-4 than Cover-2 schemes.

Seventh paragraph here:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2007/12/05/ramblings/every-play-counts/5844/

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 19, 2007 8:46 AM PST up reply actions

Cover 2

I know the Cover-2 has weak spots, and I know the seams are generally wide open, but I always thought a typical cover-2 is designed to take away the short game while keeping an eye out for the deep routes. Maybe I'm wrong, and I probably am, considering I know very little about the Tampa-2/Cover-2.

by sfgfan on Dec 19, 2007 8:45 AM PST reply actions

nod

No, that's pretty accurate.

base cover 2 is:
4 down lineman
2 deep Safeties
2 corners bumping and eyeing the flats
3 linebackers in zone over the middle and on the hashes

The weakpoints being the deep sidelines and 10 yard ups to outside receivers.

The old Tampa2 did so well because it had the players to perfect the scheme. Ronde Barber is amongst the best in the game at jamming receivers and jumping the quick/short routes. Derrick Brooks, being excellent in pursuit and about as good a tackler as there was a few years back, was able to pretty much roam the center of the field as he saw fit. And of course the strong line that Tampa always had ensured that a 4 man rush would get pressure on the QB without having to blitz too often.

by shleckothegecko on Dec 19, 2007 10:07 AM PST up reply actions

also

the cover 4, if I understand it correctly, involves both corners and both safeties keeping everything in front of them, safeties in zone over the deep middle. MLB(s) in the same zone middle, and OLBs watching the short outside.

Though generally the cover 4 is run out of the 3-4. Is that the case with Tampa this year?

by shleckothegecko on Dec 19, 2007 10:11 AM PST up reply actions

The Disease

Here is my defining moment prediction: The Disease will catch a pass over the middle, turn up field, and completely blow up Rhonde Barber, knocking him out of his helmet and the game--I hope it is nothing too serious, though.

I'm goin' down with the ship...

by jfainsf49 on Dec 19, 2007 2:46 PM PST reply actions

The Disease

I have heard you all calling someone the disease. Who is it and why do you call him that. My guess is its Vernon Davis, just a guess

by montasmob69 on Dec 19, 2007 10:37 PM PST reply actions

VD

Vernon Davis---Venereal Disease. Not to sure, but I think Fooch may have started calling him that. But don't qoute me.

I'm goin' down with the ship...

by jfainsf49 on Dec 20, 2007 6:11 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah.

I think Fooch was the first to point out that VD was synonymous with the other VD (Venereal Disease). I think at the same time, we opened the floor for suggestions for other nicknames for Davis, but never came up with anything. I still just call him Davis or VD, as the actual phrase "The Disease" makes it sound like he's a lockeroom/team cancer.

by sfgfan on Dec 20, 2007 8:42 AM PST up reply actions

well

I don't know, I always kinda liked it.

To me, "The Disease" makes him come off as more of biological freak. Which, you know...he is.

by shleckothegecko on Dec 20, 2007 7:33 PM PST up reply actions

nickname

People seemed to like "The Disease" as it could be considered a creative alternative to "The Freak." Of course, people could disagree with that. I'm always open to alternatives that can stick.

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by David Fucillo on Dec 20, 2007 11:19 PM PST up reply actions

Nicknames

At first I wasn't to sure about "The Disease" as a nickname but it has grown on me.

And while we are on the subject of nicknames I have to comment about Rich Eisen's nickname for Frank Gore. Eisen is the only person I have heard call Gore "The Inconvenient Truth." This is the worst nickname of all time. Al Gore is a complete joke and a robot-alien(but that's as far as I will go about Al Gore here). I don't have a better nickname for Gore but not having one is better than what Eisen calls him.

I'm goin' down with the ship...

by jfainsf49 on Dec 21, 2007 6:22 AM PST up reply actions