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Film Room: Anquan Boldin slots into 49ers' offense perfectly

Cary Edmondson / USA TODAY Sports

Back in 2013, Anquan Boldin threatened to retire if the Baltimore Ravens released him, so they traded him. They exchanged him for a 2013 sixth-round pick from the San Francisco 49ers. They couldn’t afford to keep him around at his $7.5 million cap figure despite all that he had done to help them win the Super Bowl that year.

The 49ers had cap room and needed weapons for young Colin Kaepernick to throw to. Boldin, although aging, still had use.

Boldin was a smart receiver who knew the ins-and-outs of route running, coverages and offensive concepts. He knew how to pick apart a defender or defense all on his own. All he needed from the 49ers was a spot in their offense.

They found that spot for Boldin in the slot.

As a slot receiver, Boldin’s strengths were accentuated. He would not have to worry about beating press-man outside like he did in Baltimore. He would often be off the line of scrimmage, a yard or so behind it, and focus on fooling nickel cornerbacks or linebackers with disciplined routes. The routes would look the same to start. This tested the defenders’ patience. Then Boldin cut one way or another and the defender would be lost in space. It showed every game, including this season in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

On third-and-5, two-thirds through the second quarter, Boldin reduced his wide split and stacked behind the slot receiver. He essentially became the second receiver because the slot was on the line. This forced the nickel cornerback to slide outside, over Boldin, on the line of scrimmage, but still unable to reach Boldin.

Boldin released forward five yards nonchalantly. The cornerback had his feet wide and flat and his hands back. He was in no position to defend Boldin, who quickly dabbed his left foot and leaned his left shoulder outside to freeze the cornerback, and then dashed inside to run a square-in. The cornerback tried to jam him but was too late.

Boldin caught Kaepernick’s pass uncovered in the middle of the field and turned downfield, open for a 27-yard pickup before the free safety tackled him.

What makes it tough to defend Boldin is that he’s a savvy route runner. After a dozen years in the NFL, he’s seen how cornerbacks routinely struggle when they are isolated in coverage. They don’t have enough confidence to stand on their own in man coverage nor do they have proper technique.

What’s worse for defenses is that Boldin has seen all of the mixed coverages they deploy, too. He recognizes the complex combination coverages downfield and understands the soft spots in the simple zone coverages underneath. The New York Giants found this out in Week 11.

On second-and-7, late in the first quarter, Boldin was in the slot when the Giants rotated their two safeties deep. They went from a two-deep shell to a one-deep shell, from Cover 2 to Cover 3. Cover 3 is a pure zone coverage that features four defenders underneath and three defenders deep. It’s an old-school concept that many rail on but still use because, deep down, they know it’s effective.

Boldin released inside and ran a shallow cross. The route accounted for both man and zone coverage.

If it was man coverage, Boldin would have kept running across the field.

But against zone, which he recognized this was, he had to find a hole to stop in.

He looked for a hole as he ran in front of the weak-side linebacker, then slowed and stepped hard near the middle linebacker. He found a hole in between the middle linebacker, who was now occupied by another shallow crosser, and the strong-side linebacker on the far side.

As soon as he stepped past the middle linebacker, Boldin turned to Kaepernick, snatched the ball and broke the middle linebacker’s arm tackle for a gain of 11.

Nowadays quick-hitting routes are what Boldin mostly runs. He has never been a great deep threat that stretches the field because he doesn’t have long speed to frighten cornerbacks onto their heels. When he has beaten them deep, it’s been through exquisite route-running and offensive design, similar to how he caught a second-quarter pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.

On third-and-5, Boldin was in the slot when he hopped once, then twice, testing the nickel cornerback’s patience. It was man coverage and the cornerback, rolled up to the line, had his hands down. He had no chance.

Boldin kept his shoulders square the entire time, refusing to give away his route like young receivers do, and abruptly cut outside. He ran straight toward the sideline and then weaved around the outside receiver who ran a hook route and turned downfield. As he ran he faded off to his right, again toward the sideline. That prevented the single-high free safety from rolling over top of the route.

A couple of yards from the sideline, Boldin extended his left arm to push the cornerback away and leaped with both arms extended. The ball landed perfectly onto his hands, and he tapped both feet in for the 23-yard catch.

Since being traded to the 49ers in 2013, Boldin has gained the trust of Kaepernick. He’s been a reliable receiver that has stepped up on crucial third downs. This season, according to the Washington Post, Boldin leads the NFL in first-down catches on third down with 19.

Boldin’s 19 receptions are nearly half of the receptions he has caught this season from the slot. He has 41 of his 65 catches from there, according to Pro Football Focus, third-most among wide receivers.

Bodin’s success is a credit to the 49ers, who saw what he was still capable of even when the receiver himself considered retirement.

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