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On defense, the 49ers are incredibly talented, particularly in their base defense. The right side of their 34 defense consists of DE Justin Smith (7.5 sacks) OLB Aldon Smith (14 sacks) ILB Patrick Willis (considered the best ILB in the game at the moment) FS Dashon Goldson (I don't know if anyone has watched him play, but he's a great safety) and CB Terrell Brown (6 year vet, coming off a 4 interception season with 15 pass breakups. It was a breakout season for him)
The rest of their base defense isn't quite as talented as that right side, but still very, very talented and in the primes of their careers.
If we line up and go toe to toe with their base defense, we are going to be in real trouble.
If they have a weakness, it's their nickle and dime back. I visited some 49ers forums and they're interested to see how their nickle and dime backs hold up. If nothing else, they're unproven.
Marshall Newhouse is going to be working on the side both SFs top pass rushers line up. If we spread it out, 4-wide and Benson or Green miss a pass protection assignment, Aaron Rodgers is going to be laying on his back, getting speared in the back, getting crushed into the ground, right shoulder first, or any number of sickening, bone crushing hits you can imagine. I think this is a game we should utilize Kuhn as the lone back and Rodgers personal protector while we attack what looks like the only weakness on that elite defense.
As for our defense, Gore, Vernon Davis and Crabtree are their top playmakers. They drafted WR AJ Jenkins in the first round and acquired Randy Moss/Mario Manningham. They are not short on talent, not in the least bit. They have one of the best OL's in football. Down the line
Probowl LT - Joe Staley
Beastly bruiser LG, 3rd year player - Mike Iupati
11 year vet, C - Jonathan Goodwin
7 year vet, RG - Adam Snyder
Highly talented 3rd year player at RT - Anthony Davis
If they have a weakness, it's at quarter back. We want Alex Smith to beat us, and here's how we do it.
1. We don't give up the big play. Quick points are exactly what we don't want.
2. Stop the run. Much of the 49ers offense is predicated on the run. To do this, our LBs are going to have to bite, and when they do, Smith is going to get some chances over the middle off play action. Woodson, Burnett and our nickle/dime players are going to have to play well.
3. Tackle. Since we're committing a lot of our focus on preventing the big play, and stopping the run, the 49ers WILL have several opportunities to complete passes. That's fine, but when they do we have to tackle. If we tackle, Smith will have to complete pass after pass after pass. If we do these three things, the offense will hinge on Alex Smith. He's not a bad player, but we're up against a talented team and it's our best shot at both turnovers and forcing punts.
And then there are the givens.
Win the turnover battle. Our defense is built to stop the pass. Matthews is a beast. Perry collapses the pocket. Worthy and Daniels were brought in for one reason, and Raji, if given a free rush, can break down a pocket with the best of them. We get turnovers, and this year I think we have a pass rush to make things more consistent. That's assuming we don't turn the ball over, get behind and have to play a more honest defense. We're built to win shootouts, at least until the young defense gets it's game legs.
Win the ST's field position battle. Obvious reasons. We're going up against a pretty equal opponent. The little things make a big difference.
Be smart with penalties. We can't give up first downs to their offense, and we can't force punts on ours. Again, just the little things.
This is a brutal first game. BRUTAL. I'd flip a coin on this one.
The rest of their base defense isn't quite as talented as that right side, but still very, very talented and in the primes of their careers.
If we line up and go toe to toe with their base defense, we are going to be in real trouble.
If they have a weakness, it's their nickle and dime back. I visited some 49ers forums and they're interested to see how their nickle and dime backs hold up. If nothing else, they're unproven.
Marshall Newhouse is going to be working on the side both SFs top pass rushers line up. If we spread it out, 4-wide and Benson or Green miss a pass protection assignment, Aaron Rodgers is going to be laying on his back, getting speared in the back, getting crushed into the ground, right shoulder first, or any number of sickening, bone crushing hits you can imagine. I think this is a game we should utilize Kuhn as the lone back and Rodgers personal protector while we attack what looks like the only weakness on that elite defense.
As for our defense, Gore, Vernon Davis and Crabtree are their top playmakers. They drafted WR AJ Jenkins in the first round and acquired Randy Moss/Mario Manningham. They are not short on talent, not in the least bit. They have one of the best OL's in football. Down the line
Probowl LT - Joe Staley
Beastly bruiser LG, 3rd year player - Mike Iupati
11 year vet, C - Jonathan Goodwin
7 year vet, RG - Adam Snyder
Highly talented 3rd year player at RT - Anthony Davis
If they have a weakness, it's at quarter back. We want Alex Smith to beat us, and here's how we do it.
1. We don't give up the big play. Quick points are exactly what we don't want.
2. Stop the run. Much of the 49ers offense is predicated on the run. To do this, our LBs are going to have to bite, and when they do, Smith is going to get some chances over the middle off play action. Woodson, Burnett and our nickle/dime players are going to have to play well.
3. Tackle. Since we're committing a lot of our focus on preventing the big play, and stopping the run, the 49ers WILL have several opportunities to complete passes. That's fine, but when they do we have to tackle. If we tackle, Smith will have to complete pass after pass after pass. If we do these three things, the offense will hinge on Alex Smith. He's not a bad player, but we're up against a talented team and it's our best shot at both turnovers and forcing punts.
And then there are the givens.
Win the turnover battle. Our defense is built to stop the pass. Matthews is a beast. Perry collapses the pocket. Worthy and Daniels were brought in for one reason, and Raji, if given a free rush, can break down a pocket with the best of them. We get turnovers, and this year I think we have a pass rush to make things more consistent. That's assuming we don't turn the ball over, get behind and have to play a more honest defense. We're built to win shootouts, at least until the young defense gets it's game legs.
Win the ST's field position battle. Obvious reasons. We're going up against a pretty equal opponent. The little things make a big difference.
Be smart with penalties. We can't give up first downs to their offense, and we can't force punts on ours. Again, just the little things.
This is a brutal first game. BRUTAL. I'd flip a coin on this one.
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