Russell to struggle against SF

[QuahHawk]

After one of his best games of the year do you think Russell can keep the pace and have a stellar night vs SF? Considering SF is the #1 Defense in YPG and #1 in Passing Yard against I have to think Russell is up against a team that allows 138 passing yards a game could struggle. Want to know if he is a true MVP. Then MNF has to be a spotlight to launch his true campaign as the MVP. I want my team to win the SB and I think we will be in the thick of things but I also know that the odds are not in our favor and that I want to celebrate with a big victory either way. Russ being the MVP is something that will last and will be a special moment.

 

[WestcoastSteve]

Russ has had good games against great defenses before. My main fear is his OL keeping him upright against a ferocious pass rush.

He has obviously torched teams that have blitzed him. What makes me a little nervous about SF is that they don't blitz much and get a lot of pressure with 4. Tampa pretty much sent the house every play

 

[Sports Hernia]

Quick passes, and screen passes (not of the bubble variety) will slow down SC’s pass rush.
Gotta also roll Russ out of the pocket often to buy time. Cannot “try to establish the run” for 3 quarters if it’s not working either.

Seattle needs this to be a high scoring game if they want to win it. I don’t trust the Hawks defense one iota. Defensively they need to hit JimmyGQ early and often and he’ll revert to the human turnover machine he is. How they do that with this D-line, I don’t know.

 

[Sports Hernia]

Quick passes, and screen passes (not of the bubble variety) will slow down SC’s pass rush.
Gotta also roll Russ out of the pocket often to buy time. Cannot “try to establish the run” for 3 quarters if it’s not working either.

Seattle needs this to be a high scoring game if they want to win it. I don’t trust the Hawks defense one iota. Defensively they need to hit JimmyGQ early and often and he’ll revert to the human turnover machine he is. How they do that with this D-line, I don’t know.

 

[ludakrishna]

There are no chances of rain Next Monday in Santa Clara. He should be fine as there’s no inclement weather.

 

[jmahon316]

Looking at the 49er's schedule this year, they haven't played a QB like Wilson yet. They also haven't played a WR Tandem like Lockett and Metcalf either. Throw Flash in the mix, and we have a DEADLY passing game. I just hope Carroll uses that to its full potential, and if Carson running up the middle doesn't work, let Penny have sweeps and outside runs. Please please PLEASE use the weapons that destroy their weaknesses, we can NOT afford to lose this game because of stubbornness.

 

[sutz]

Wilson already had his bad game for the season. He'll be fine. 8)

 

[SantaClaraHawk]

Looking at the 49er's schedule this year, they haven't played a QB like Wilson yet. They also haven't played a WR Tandem like Lockett and Metcalf either. Throw Flash in the mix, and we have a DEADLY passing game. I just hope Carroll uses that to its full potential, and if Carson running up the middle doesn't work, let Penny have sweeps and outside runs. Please please PLEASE use the weapons that destroy their weaknesses, we can NOT afford to lose this game because of stubbornness.

Exactly! We need to exploit our strengths even when seen as more "risky." It's not more risky than counting on underperforming players/units to perform when they've underperformed to far lesser teams. We do that, we lose the game. We really have less to lose by being daring here.

 

[Ruminator]

Seahawks' O had better be ready for 49ers' speed and assertiveness on D and have precise strategies to counter.

 

[Bobblehead]

Yeah, I think so.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

More of a challenge no doubt. But this is also a team that BARELY beat the Cards. Not that anyone would acknowledge that.

 

[Mad Dog]

I think this is the game where we find out a few things:
1) Is that SF defense an elite unit like the Bears were last year
2) Is our offense an elite unit?
3) Are we a sham 7-2 team?

If we keep it tight and win/lose a close one then I think we are a legit contender. If we get blown out then we are a pretender. If we blow out the Niners then they were the pretender feasting on weak offences.

Until then I have no idea how this is going to turn out as so many scenarios are possible.

 

[chris98251]

Cards showed how to break down their defense, one problem is that we rarely run a hurry up, TE and swing passes to our RB's and quick slants until they cheat up, counters and traps to Carson or maybe get creative and use our FB to stop their run blitz.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Hopefully as creative as they were on Sunday. Shotty called a hell of a game imo.

 

[bestfightstory]

Seattle has a great chance to win this. San Fran has been impressive and their record is unblemished.

All the same, since week 4 they have allowed something like 5.5 yards per carry....

And the last 7 QBs they have faced include Case Keenum, Baker, Mason Rudolph, Kyler Murray, etc.

Russ and this passing offense is on another level.

We will have opportunities to score.

We just need our defense to show up and, ideally, stop the run enough to make Garrropolo manufacture touchdowns through the air.

I expect a very close game with Seattle having every chance to win.

I know this: San Fran has not had to play from behind. I would like to see them try.

 

[TwistedHusky]

Wide-9 defenses are often super vulnerable to play-action passes.

They are built to destroy the bubble screens and the rest. Those cheap yards that most offenses get from the short stuff won't fly against that D. But play-action eats them up, especially with a productive run game. (And you can run on them, even with all those 1st round picks on the DL.)

We live on that offense. If there was an offense tailor-made to beat the SF defense, it would be us.

Russ should actually thrive vs SF, because his brand of offense is the Achilles heel of the SF defense.

Now, they are materially better as a team at almost every position vs us save QB and WR, but the one hope we have is that we are very very good at the stuff they are weak at.

 

[bestfightstory]

Forgot to mention. Their best sideline to sideline run defender was lost for the season last Thursday night and will be replaced by a rookie who is reportedly not an ideal pass coverage guy...

 

[jlwaters1]

I think it's laughable that people say we are a "sham" 7-2. I think I think the difference between the "Elite" and the very good is smaller than most people realize. The Cardinals almost beat the 49ers. The 49ers are some unstoppable force. Similarly we saw with the Patriots there defense was exposed by Baltimore. I think Seattle will be in the game through the 4th Quarter. It should be interesting to see how it plays out. I think Seattle can win this game. They'll have to avoid the turnovers if they want to win.

 

[knownone]

The Niners have a small front 7 that is giving up 4.7 YPC. We have a big offensive line and one of the most physically dominant running backs in the league. Let's not kid ourselves, Pete is going to run the ball.

If we can run the ball, then Russell won't struggle. If we cant? then we'll see what Russ can do.

The good news is Russell has never been shut down by a team running the 49ers scheme. They'll definitely get to him and disrupt him, but as long he doesn't turn the ball over, he'll be able to move the ball against their defense. The closest defensive comparison would be the 2017 Jags game. Russ had 320 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, and he was sacked twice. We lost 24-30.

 

[SeaWolv]

I get that people are worried about the Hawks going down to the Bay Area but if you look a little closer at the Niners schedule you'll see they really haven't played anyone. Their SOS in one of the lowest in the league, they've fed off mostly weak teams so far. Their signature wins are over the Rams and the Panthers, both of those teams are sitting at 5-3 and aren't leading their divisions.

The Hawks have a pretty low SOS overall too and their signature wins are over the same Rams team and a .500 Steelers team. The Hawks have had games where they didn't look as strong as I had hoped but then again the Niners didn't look nearly as strong as I would expect in AZ Sunday night. All this makes me think these teams are evenly matched and the Hawks have a decent chance on MNF to get the W. I don't think this will be a beat down as some seem to think it might, based purely on the strength of the Niners undefeated record.