(Videos below via NFL Game Pass)
We’d pay a large amount of money to be a fly on the wall during the 49ers’ film session Monday morning.
Is Chip Kelly chewing out his team? Or is the coach being sympathetic because he knows his players simply aren’t good enough?
A day after a 45-16 drubbing, things aren’t getting any rosier in Santa Clara. GM Trent Baalke’s seat is scorching hot and will remain that way up until doomsday in January.
Here are three plays that hopefully made Kelly and the 49ers shake their heads.
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Situation: 1st and 10, very first play after Arik Armstead forced the fumble deep in Buffalo’s territory.
What happened: Colin Kaepernick’s throw is a touch out of reach to running back Shaun Draughn. He was replaced in the lineup by Mike Davis for much of the game afterwards, perhaps a sign that Kelly thought he should’ve made the grab.
How it changed the game: Had Kaepernick hit Draughn for a touchdown early on, the entire game could’ve played out differently. The 49ers would’ve capitalized on a turnover. Kap needs to make this throw. If he did, his entire day would’ve been viewed differently.
Situation: 3rd and 20, late in the second quarter
What happened: LeSean McCoy gashes a 49ers defense who was lined up in a sub-package to prevent big plays. The tackling, the pursuit technique and the alignment of the defenders by coordinator Jim O’Neil are all sloppy on this play.
How it changed the game: The Bills settled for a field goal, but whatever confidence the 49ers defense had in themselves was completely shattered after this play.
Situation: 4th and 1, late third quarter, Bills leading 17-13.
What happened: Here’s Chip Kelly’s explanation of the play on Monday, where he pinned some blame on right guard Joshua Garnett.
“The numbers were favorable in the run game. They had a four-two box. They had six guys. We had six guys to block six guys. They did a good job in their twist pattern. They ran an inside twist with their two inside linebackers. One of them crossed the center’s face. The center went back. Our right guard didn’t come as far as he should have on that play. They did a good job, but when you look at number-wise it was a six-man box versus six blockers. We should do a better job in that situation.”
How it changed the game: This was the exact turning point. If Kelly would’ve left the ball in Kaepernick’s hands, the game might’ve remained close in the fourth quarter. Kelly should learn to give Kaepernick a chance to make a play in this situation.