Gap Discipline
Heading into Week 13, the Bills shift focus towards the San Fransisco 49ers and their top-notch running game. Even with top quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers were primarily a ball-control offense with an extremely efficient rushing game. With Garoppolo injured, the 49ers have had to lean on their defense and running game even more than what was expected at the start of the season.
During his time calling plays in the NFL, Kyle Shanahan has always been know for his prestigious and proficient offenses, but most significantly his running game. The staple to Shanahan’s running game is the outside zone, and the 49ers have been successful with this play regardless of which back gets the carry. Throughout this season, the 49ers have used five different running backs and at one point or another, all have found success within this scheme. In Week 13, the Bills will be tasked with slowing down primary ball carrier Raheem Mostert.
The best way to slow down an outside-zone running scheme is to keep gap discipline within the front seven of the defense. Getting penetration into the backfield certainly helps on defending any run play, but with the outside zone, it presents a higher risk of opening up a cut back lane for the opposing running back. If the Buffalo defense wants to find success in Week 13, they must slow down the 49ers running game and force them to move the ball through the air as opposed to on the ground.