San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen got creative in the first possession against the New England Patriots.
He blitzed, which has been a rarity. Sorensen used an extra defensive end, Yetur Gross-Matos, and lined him up as a defensive tackle on the initial third down of the game. Sorensen continues to mix it up, which is what you want to see. New England converted their first two third downs. Malik Mustapha was in a position to make a tackle on the first third down, but he could not corral the ball carrier.
Isaac Yiadom had great coverage on the final third down of the drive to force an incompletion and a 49ers punt.