NFL Films analyst and X’s and O’s guru Greg Cosell popped on the Tolbert and Lund show Tuesday and was as insightful as ever.
The 49ers won 28-0 against the Rams and a bunch of things on defense jumped out at Cosell.
“I thought Jimmy O’Neil did a great, great job,” Cosell said. “What really stood out was all the different personnel packages, all of the versatility of the defensive linemen. I thought Quinton Dial had a tremendous game. He played nose tackle in the 3-4, defensive end in the 3-4, snaps at defensive tackle in the sub packages. (O’Neil) moved Armstead all around.
“That tells me not only is he teaching it well, but the players are responding very well. Because that stuff takes time. And there were no major busts.”
Cosell said he’s raised his expectations for 32-year-old outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who has never been used like O’Neil will use him in this scheme.
“He was utilized as a matchup pass rusher in the sub packages,” Cosell said. “People have always talked about his talent. And he’s never truly been a pass rusher, where you said, wow that guys a great edge rusher. Now he’s being used as what we call a joker, where they moved him all-around, he stands up. I think he has a chance to be a really good player.”
Cosell praised Chip Kelly too, noting that in the second snap of the game, the Rams were already having communication problems with the hurry-up tempo.
“It clearly had the Rams off balance at times,” Cosell said. “There were many snaps the Rams were just getting set as the ball was snapped. To me, this game was a textbook example of when (Kelly’s system) works properly.”
But it was Blaine Gabbert where Cosell’s good grades stopped.
“He missed a lot of throws and he still plays fast. And what happens when you play fast… I mean I forget when it happened in the game, it was the first quarter when he missed (Jeremy) Kerley on an over route and he did not have any pressure,” Cosell said. “It was a well-designed play call, Kerley was wide open, and he rushes himself. He plays fast and therefore his feet are not set. And he misses a lot of throws because of that. Even on some of the completions, the ball placement is not what it should be. He’s going to have to play better, I think, for this team to be better offensively. He was very, very erratic in this game.
“It will be an issue going forward, depending on the opponent and the flow of games.”
Listen to the full interview here, because there’s nobody better in the business of breaking down tape than Greg Cosell.