Just been watching the David Martin TD again (and again) and the more I watch it the more impressed I am about how this was genuinely an 11 man TD.
Link: NFL Video Galleries
First off the blocking.
The 49ers send a 7 man blitz against 7 Miami blockers and Chad Pennington had no pressure at all as he made the throw. The San Francisco MLB (Takeo Spikes?) is on a delayed blitz as he's spying on Ronnie Brown, but once Ronnie stays in to block he blitzes and the line slides over to pick him up cleanly as he comes in. For me the key block is Ronnie Brown one on one against #99 Manny Lawson. Don't get me wrong Manny is no Joey Porter but Ronnie just stoned him.
That leaves 3 receivers against 4 DBs in man to man coverage.
Davone Bess runs a short crossing route which takes the corner matched up on him out of position to assist deep.
Ted Ginn on the right side runs a deep route and sells it well enough for #32 Michael Lewis the SS to commit to the right hand side of the field, which is enough to keep him just far enough away from David Martin to stop him rolling over and helping on the play.
With 9 Miami players taking 10 SF defenders out of the play its then a relatively simple throw/catch scenario for Pennington and Martin, although Martin does end up benefitting from Chad slightly unerthrowing the ball which tangles up Mark Roman who falls over freeing up David Martin to run the ball in from the catch.
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yeah the one deep coverage was the key... Penny looked to Ginn's side first which brought the safety over, then threw the other way to Martin... great individual play by Martin also...
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Martin has been really good for us. That catch was amazing! When you see the highlights, you see how he went up and fought for it and snatched it out of the air and then had the presence to quickly regain his composure and run down field field for the TD. He has been one of the unsung heroes for us this year. You can see how having a competent QB can bring the best out of all the players. I'm real happy about how he's played this year.
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For me it was Ronnie Brown's block that was the key, one on one in the open field against a LB who has room to move and Ronnie just nailed him. Without that block the play doesn't have time to develop. Although the fake sell to Ted Ginn helped a lot too, and it doesn't hurt that Teddy is a genuine deep threat.
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I couldn't believe that it was Martin that caught that pass. When i saw him go up with the defender, i was confused. I was thinking, who is that?!?! Then when i realized it was Martin, and heard the commentators screaming it out... i went... NO WAY!! it was an outstanding grab, a great throw, and a stellar effort by David Martin. What a difference a year makes. Last year he couldnt catch a cold, at least it seemed that way. He's had a good year for us.
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My question is what the hell has gotten into David Martin this year? Much improved. I guess that's what great coaching can do.
With him and Fasano, we have ourselves a nice little TE combo. -
He's being used differently. He's been split out like a wide receiver probably about half of his receptions this year. He's also been allowed to run much deeper routes.
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Better Quarterback play, DMart hits the hashmark routes well, Pennington is accurate and can go deep in the middle of the field.
DMart has stepped up this year, but his blocking...bad...he was pushed around a bit yesterday, he couldn't sustain his block whatsoever...