The time everyone has been waiting for since the beginning of the season has arrived. The NFC seed took a turn that wasn’t as likely with the Cowboys ranking as # 3. In theory it should be good news because you will be facing an inferior opponent as well as dodging to a potential final. However, when it comes to the duel of styles, San Francisco is perhaps the most difficult he could play.
Quarterback y línea ofensiva vs. Pass rushers
What does benefit Dallas is that he will face the type of quarterback that suits him. Kyler Murray proved to be very difficult to stop due to his great mobility. Logically that is not the case with Jimmy Garoppolo. When the QB is on pace he can move the offense efficiently, but his limitations are obvious.
There is no doubt that it is the weakest link in the unit. The smoking gun is that the 49ers gave up two first-round picks in the last draft to go up from 12th to 3rd with the intention of taking Trey Lance. The rookie is still developing on the bench, although that big bet speaks clearly of a certain distrust.
Garoppolo is a pocket passer like the ones before. While he moves well in the backing bag, his shortcomings are pretty well covered by head coach Kyle Shanahan. What he really can’t do often is stretch plays, so he should take advantage of defense there.
BAH GAWD! Is that @JjenkzLockdown music?!
????: Watch #SFvsTEN on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/gbtRX0RkqB
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 24, 2021
A favorable development of the season was the pressure on the quarterback. That item so essential for the operation of any team on that side of the ball had a notable improvement. The biggest contributor was undoubtedly Micah Parsons, but his arrival had a knock-on effect. Both DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory had great returns.
Dan Quinn’s hope will have to be based on that sector. If the Cowboys can rush Garoppolo’s decisions, good things will happen. A vital absence in his last game was that of excellent left tackle Trent Williams with an elbow injury. It is still too early to know their availability, but it would be too sensitive a drop.
Runners vs. Ground defense
The great key to success will remain in this area. In case Dallas cannot contain this facet of the attack, it will be an uphill afternoon. Running with the ball is the identity of San Francisco. Maybe if I had a better passer Shanahan would choose to go on the air more often, but the current reality shows that they are a running team.
The statistics demonstrate that trend perfectly. In the distribution of the type of plays they use, the intention of the HC is seen. The numbers indicate that they occupy the fourth place with 47.7% of the time going by land. The good side is that if they manage to stop the opponent’s strength, the chances will increase.
Although it will not be easy. The 49ers can get yards with any running back because they have a very oiled system. Yet they have one of the lesser-recognized surprises on their roster. Their leading running back made a big impact on the NFL even though he was nothing more than a sixth-round pick.
Yessssirr @ EliMitch15 for the score ????#HOUvsSF on CBS/49ers App pic.twitter.com/mlurEvgaXL
– San Francisco 49ers (@ 49ers) January 2, 2022
Elijah Mitchell is the one to pay close attention to on defense. His 963 rushing yards is a fantastic figure considering he was present in just eleven games. That total earned him finishing eighth in the league. SF went for the 4.35 ”in the 40 yards obtained on his Pro Day and that speed was seen on the field as a rookie.
One issue that should be considered a priority is a widely used variable. In the next segment I will talk more about Deebo Samuel because she is a wide receiver. However, it is a reliable tool here too. Wide receiver jet sweeps are a very appealing weapon. At the same time he achieved eight annotations carrying the ball.
Open vs. Defensive backs
A pairing that Shanahan will want to exploit will be seen between these protagonists. Not so much at the individual level, but in relation to a specific situation. The keywords this time around are yards after receipt. This clash of realities has very favorable conditions for visitors.
The 49ers passing game basically depends on it. Garoppolo’s rosters rely heavily on what his receivers do after catching the ball. There are a lot of passes to the center, slants and screen passes in which the skill of their play-makers is vital. There are three prominent players in that department.
Samuel is today the main play-maker to be reckoned with. According to The Football Database site, the WR was second only to Cooper Kupp in that YAC or yards after catch category by scoring 780 that way. That represents 55% of your cumulative 1,405, so it’s a very likely downside every time you get involved.
DEEBO SAMUEL! ✖️2️⃣
TOUCHDOWN‼️????
???? @ESPNmx/ @StarPlusLA #NFLMX #FTTB pic.twitter.com/KA0LIcLjGv
— NFL México (@nflmx) November 16, 2021
The other star is George Kittle. The tight end has a great understanding with Garoppolo, but it is his power that separates TE from the rest. Kittle is a terrific blocker who has the skills of any outstanding wide receiver when he’s out in the open field. A third piece is a pretty bang WR like Brandon Aiyuk.
That ability to go a long way after a complete pass is a strength that grows compared to defense. There you see a clear weakness. Dallas ranks fourth worst with 2,172 yards allowed after the reception. For that reason this duel will very possibly cause problems for the backs.
Going for the ball when it’s in the air characterized cornerbacks this season. Trevon Diggs is the greatest exponent of that style. It was not satisfied with diverting shipments, but sought interceptions. That earned him big plays, but he also had eleven picks. Garoppolo passes are often a temptation for cornerbacks. Although perhaps a little less aggressive would help here to avoid escapes that generate confidence in the offense.
