49ers Vs. Saints: The Unstoppable Force Meets The Immovable Object

You should be good to go at NN. And added a link.

You guys definitely have the best offense we’ve faced this season, in fact the best offense in the NFL, but I feel confident that we’re the best defense you guys have faced. If we were playing in the Superdome, I’d give us very little chance, but at home I think we’ll be able to slow you guys down somewhat.

I’d probably be more nervous if I didn’t think that the Niners sucked going into this season. I had low expectations, so anything we get is just great. Beware, though – we’re a completely different team from the one you guys abused 24-8 in the preseason.

Was hoping it would rain, but it looks like it’ll be a clear 60.

The extra week to prepare scheme wise should be helpful.

Hard to really say too far one way or the other. 49ers have a very legitimate chance to win this game, but obviously the Saints are a very solid team. Kinda plain but trying not to get too high or too low heading into this game.

It could honestly go either way. We have some huge variables in this game – huge defense, on the road, outdoors, bluegrass surface, wind. Thankfully it’s supposed to be around 60 degrees and sunny Sat but not sure about the wind.

4

From Onion Network NFL Playoff Forecast. I don’t mean to be rude but that’s just too darned funny…

San Francisco: With a lot of reliable, workmanlike players on offense, the Niners will go far into the first round before losing by 40 or 50 points

Willis is the best coverage linebacker in the league, but Graham is fantastic so that’s a matchup to watch. Our other cornerbacks are Tarrell Brown and Chris Culliver, who aren’t great but not terrible either. That’s probably the best way to attack our defense – go after those two.

Carlos doesn’t usually follow the best guy around. In fact, he usually plays the nickel role when we go to that D alignment, which I’d expect we use a lot on Sunday.

I suspect they will use both Willis and Bowman who both can run quick… and then Goldson most of the time…

I think they will double him, and then spy the other all-pro LB (whoever out of Bowman and Willis) on Sproles. Then man up on all the other WR’s.

We will most likely be forced in to our nickel package for most of the game. But I think we will double Graham and spy Sproles when he is in the game.

To illustrate, take a play from last year and one from this year. Last year, we were winning against the Falcons with little time left and them driving. Nate Clements, who luckily for us is no longer on the team, picked off a pass. If he goes down to the ground, we win the game. Instead, he starts returning it, and gets stripped, and we end up losing. That game ended up costing us a spot in the playoffs, which I think you guys would have liked us to have given which team went instead.

This year, we were facing the Seahawks in a game critical to seeding, again leading late with them driving. Larry Grant, our 3rd ILB (playing for the at-the-time injured Patrick Willis) overpursued Tarvaris Jackson, but got back up and chased him down and made the game ending strip sack. We capitalize on opportunities this year – we don’t drop picks like the Lions did.

As for other changes, it’s just been a combination of attitude and better performance. We upgraded our defense in the offseason by getting Carlos Rogers, as well as our special teams by getting David Akers. Aldon Smith, our draft pick, has been phenomenal. We’re enjoying a breakout season by NaVorro Bowman. Alex Smith is playing better than ever. Michael Crabtree is playing great. So on and so forth.

The field is soft always and the winds swirl often those will be the main concerns for both teams.

It’s like trying to argue SF > Rams > NO…it doesn’t hold water. I think you need to keep in mind that the team and coaches have been figuring out how to make things work all year. It’s not your situation, where you’ve had success recently and there’s a heck of a lot more constants than change.

There’s a place on I think Clay between Grant and Kearny, or might be Jackson betwen Grant and Kearny, that has great Chinese food. It’s relatively inexpensive. No real signature dish, but all around tasty.

we’re the only AWAY team that’s favored.

that’s gotta tick 9ers fans off a little. No respect (for them)! Uh oh!

Congrats, sorta, is a good way of saying it. They had a bad stretch of red zone conversions that has gotten better recently. Honestly, barring a turnover meltdown, RZ conversions are the biggest thing that could stop us from winning. Settling for too many FGs could kill us.

but recently we’ve been better. I think that Harbaugh knows that he needs TDs to beat you guys.

You’ll probably see a good dose of Hunter. I think between the 2 of them, we’ll see some big plays and solid running. If Gore can punch 1-2 in the end zone, that will be key.

I’m beginning to think that Smith was never a bad QB and he just had a terrible offense and staff around him. I trust him, and I think that he might really break out (to the tune of 4000 yards plus, which isn’t a huge accomplishment anyway in today’s NFL) next year.

about shutting down good running backs.

I haven’t watched many Saints games this year so the stats could be lying but this is what I see.

The Saints are #1 at fewest rushing attempts against per game.

They are #9 in fewest rushing yards against per game.

They are 29th in yards per attempt against.

My assumption is that most teams have to abandon the run in order to keep up with the Saints scoring.

The saints have one of the highest pass attempts per game against #30, passing yards against #30, but middle of the pack when it comes to passing yards per attempt against #18. So your passing D isn’t so bad that teams just stop running because it is easy to pass. And your running D isn’t so good that teams stop running because they can’t.

Does my assumption about teams abandoning the run to try to keep up sound right to you based on what you have seen?

why wasn’t I invited…

Are you talking about the Saints-Lions game thread?