Eagles

Kyle Shanahan Explains Decision to “Block” Haason Reddick with Tight Ends

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jan 30th, 2023 · 9:29 AM EST

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The turning point in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game was when Haason Reddick knocked Brock Purdy out of the game with an edge rush that also resulted in a takeaway for the Eagles’ defense. Later in the half, he hammered Josh Johnson in similar fashion, and on both sequences the 49ers sent tight ends to block him in lieu of tackles.

Here’s what San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said about that after the game:

“It’s a tough block, but all play-actions are tight ends versus edge rushers. They had us on a number of those today, too. You hope you can step up on it, which you usually do in the pocket. (The Purdy fumble) was going to be a big play, but I didn’t see what else the pocket was like.”

So on the first play, it’s Tyler Kroft trying to hold off Reddick right here, and he loses the 1v1:

Haason Reddick had 17.5 sacks (reg + postseason) heading into this game.

Why is Tyler Kroft soloed up against one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league this year?

Result: Strip sack, Purdy’s elbow explodes.

pic.twitter.com/5pc5PxaM68

— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) January 30, 2023

And on the second play, they motion Jauan Jennings over there, block down going to the left, and attempt to have George Kittle come over and get Reddick on the wham block, but neither guy lays a hand on him as he blows up the play:

3. Reddick devours Johnson pic.twitter.com/tNHeVKf5h3

— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) January 30, 2023

On the surface, if would seem counterintuitive to have anyone other than a tackle block Reddick coming off the edge, but Reddick has been beating tackles all year long. He’s quick and flexible and simply bends around them en route to the quarterback. Maybe San Francisco had a thought here that using smaller guys and teaming up might allow them to keep up with Reddick, which obviously didn’t work, so you call into question the blocking schematics and wonder if they just had it all wrong to begin with.