Pats vs. Niners - Initial Thoughts

This is the game where they're going to miss Gronk's physicality and flexibility. I think the 49ers have the personnel to play tight physical coverage and get pressure only rushing four. They are going to clog the middle of the field. I hope Josh comes up with a game plan like Houston and uses mis-direction and play action to give Tom throwing lanes. We cannot have turnovers especially from tips over the middle.

Gore is averaging 4.9 per carry to Arien Foster's 3.9. The D-Line and linebackers need another big game and they have to contain CK from getting out of the pocket. I like where our defense is going and I can't see CK hurting them much in the passing game if we keep them in 3rd and long.

I also expect a low scoring game in the order of 20-24 Patriots and 10-17 49ers.

DaBronxPats14 said:

Love our chances against any/everyone. Running game will be there, MAN did you see JJ Watt lookin for nearest oxygen tank. Best Neutralizer to an agressive D is Brady and super hurry-up no huddle. Wouldn't be surprised Pats put up high 30's in this game prime time Sunday Nite.

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I think that's part of the key. The Pats change tempos so effective. They can ground and pound you, and hurry up the pace. Both are physically brutal. The 49ers defense may be very challenging, but it's like body punching a fighter - by the 10th round/4th quarter or so it's a different story.

I see this one being fairly tight until late in the third and then the Pats break it open. If they get up by 14+ points, it's going to be tough on the 49ers. That offense doesn't have the capability to make up any stagger on the Pats.

everlong said:

I also expect a low scoring game in the order of 20-24 Patriots and 10-17 49ers.

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I think it'll be like that for awhile, but if the Pats can land a shot or two they could break it open. Call it 20-17 going into the 4th and the Pats wear the 49ers defense down for a TD to make it 27-17. Then the 49ers press trying to come back and turn the ball over, and the Pats get a FG to ice the game. 30-17.

I live in San Jose so I have basically seen alot of 49er football...if the 49ers are going to win they're going to have to keep the Patriots under 20 points because Colin K and Alex S I doubt can put 20+ on this Patriots much improved defense. So it is going to tell us alot about our Pats offense because they(49ers) are without of doubt the best defense in the league hopefully the Pats get the W

ArchAngel007 said:

I live in San Jose so I have basically seen alot of 49er football...if the 49ers are going to win they're going to have to keep the Patriots under 20 points because Colin K and Alex S I doubt can put 20+ on this Patriots much improved defense. So it is going to tell us alot about our Pats offense because they(49ers) are without of doubt the best defense in the league hopefully the Pats get the W

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I can't wait to read Jay Shield's analysis based on the All-22 tape.

mayoclinic said:

I can't wait to read Jay Shield's analysis based on the All-22 tape.

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Has he been posting here ? I must have missed it, I like his posts a lot but haven't seen them nor the webcasts but maybe it's just me.

This match-up will produce the great game many thought we'd see last night.
The Niners have the best D in football. This game will be a great measuring stick for this Patriot offense.
Niners O is not as explosive was some the Patriots have faced but Colin Kaepernick gives them a dangerous dimension with his lanky size, great mobility and shotgun for an arm.
This is going to be a great game.

Wow, for once I go into an opposing teams forum and find myself agreeing to a lot of the posts.

I can tell you how the 49ers defense will attack your offense. They're going to run their bread and butter Nickel package to bring pressure on Brady with 4 down linemen and mixing the coverage with 7 defenders. No defense in the league has a better personnel to run the Nickel D like the 49ers, because we have elite defenders at every level and teams that cannot establish the run against this package lose almost every time. Because the QB is then forced to throw against it. Aaron Rodgers couldn't beat it, neither could Drew Brees.

You run game will be the key.

Noobody said:

Wow, for once I go into an opposing teams forum and find myself agreeing to a lot of the posts.

I can tell you how the 49ers defense will attack your offense. They're going to run their bread and butter Nickel package to bring pressure on Brady with 4 down linemen and mixing the coverage with 7 defenders. No defense in the league has a better personnel to run the Nickel D like the 49ers, because we have elite defenders at every level and teams that cannot establish the run against this package lose almost every time. Because the QB is then forced to throw against it. Aaron Rodgers couldn't beat it, neither could Drew Brees.

You run game will be the key.

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There's a slight difference between the Packers, Saints and Patriots when it comes to the running game. The 49ers can be run on this season and I expect the Patriots to do it.

If it gets into the 30's, the 49ers will find it difficult to match that scoring power. Hopefully the Patriots close off the edge to Kaepernick and his scrambling ability. Keep him in the pocket and funnel him toward Spikes or Mayo. That's a short trip to nowhere.

mayoclinic said:

Intriguing matchup of the best offense in the NFL (by far) with the best defense in the NFL (by far):



- Too bad Julian Edelman is on IR, otherwise I bet he would be used to play Colin Kaepernick during game preparations this week. The Pats need to prepare for the problems a mobile QB can cause.

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I bet that Shane Vereen sees some practice snaps as the scout team QB. He certainly doesn't have a similar build or the arm, but he has similar speed and ran some wild cat and read option at Cal.

Niners talking Pats, Brady.

49ers know they face daunting task defending Brady | Pro32: Head to Head

mayoclinic said:

I think that's part of the key. The Pats change tempos so effective. They can ground and pound you, and hurry up the pace. Both are physically brutal. The 49ers defense may be very challenging, but it's like body punching a fighter - by the 10th round/4th quarter or so it's a different story.

I see this one being fairly tight until late in the third and then the Pats break it open. If they get up by 14+ points, it's going to be tough on the 49ers. That offense doesn't have the capability to make up any stagger on the Pats.

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Mayo Excellent points.

I think pats will play Kaepernick same way as Rothlesburger and now Luck..Keep him in the pocket. Dont let him roll out..As a pocket passer he is just ok .He becomes a real danger when he is improvising on the run..

bogengames said:

I think pats will play Kaepernick same way as Rothlesburger and now Luck..Keep him in the pocket. Dont let him roll out..As a pocket passer he is just ok .He becomes a real danger when he is improvising on the run..

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I had been thinking about both those guys as well. Kaepernick certainly has more speed and downfield running ability than Rothlisberger, but it's the ability to extend plays that worries me even more.

ausbacker said:

Hopefully the Patriots close off the edge to Kaepernick and his scrambling ability.

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I don't sweat that; this is a disciplined defense. I sweat Gore though as he is going to get the touches and usually finds a way to make plays. I do like our run D but I don't think that they've faced anybody else (maybe Ray Rice) that can boogie like Gore.

This is a great matchup. Really this is the matchup we thought we had Monday Night.

mayoclinic said:

I had been thinking about both those guys as well. Kaepernick certainly has more speed and downfield running ability than Rothlisberger, but it's the ability to extend plays that worries me even more.

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Trying to recall a game where a running QB really gashed up the Pats.

All Access showed how much an emphasis BB put on keeping Luck in the pocket to his guys on the sideline during the Colts game.

Not surprisingly, BB lauds the SF defense:

“Yeah [they're], really impressive,” Belichick said of the San Francisco defense. “They have a lot of good players everywhere: up front, linebackers, corners, safeties, a lot of disruptive players. They’re a real physical defense. They’re hard to run against, they’re hard to block, period. They do a good job in man-to-man coverage. They do a good job in zone coverage.

“Obviously, long yardage is not where you want to be against this team with their pass rush and multiples of zone, man, blitz, zone pressure, man pressure. They give you a lot of different things to work on. They have a lot of good players. They’re a strong, physical, tough football team that does a good job of tackling. They make you earn all your yards. They’re really solid in everything.”

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It Is What It Is » Bill Belichick: Niners defense ‘really impressive’

BananaRepublican said:

I don't sweat that; this is a disciplined defense. I sweat Gore though as he is going to get the touches and usually finds a way to make plays. I do like our run D but I don't think that they've faced anybody else (maybe Ray Rice) that can boogie like Gore.

This is a great matchup. Really this is the matchup we thought we had Monday Night.

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Gore is a smash mouth runner. He's a super player. That said, I want everything collapsing around Kaepernick and Gore giving them no room to move. The D MUST force Kaepernick to win in the air. I am confident Mayo and Spikes can plug the holes and force Gore sideways.

Something worth mentioning. I was watching the 49ers OL closely against the Dolphins. Expect them to hold Wilfork and hold him a lot.

ausbacker said:

Something worth mentioning. I was watching the 49ers OL closely against the Dolphins. Expect them to hold Wilfork and hold him a lot.

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Easier said than done. Wilfork is do big and strong, it's not easy to hold him effectively without it being obvious.

mayoclinic said:

Easier said than done. Wilfork is do big and strong, it's not easy to hold him effectively without it being obvious.

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I sure hope it's obvious to the men in black and white come Sunday night mayo. Even better, another performance from Wilfork like last night and the 49ers will have their hands full (literally).