Sep

10

49ers-Cardinals Preview

Posted by sf49ers

September 10, 2007 |

The San Francisco 49ers open their season at home in Monster Park and it will sure be an interesting game. It is interesting because both of these teams are in a rebuilding process and have carefully elevated themselves out of the gutter. Not only that but they are both led by young quarterbacks and both have rejuvenated young coaches. But who will step up to prove themselves this year, the Niners or the Cardinals? Here is a video preview:

Cards vs. 49ers

Here is an analysis on both teams courtesy of ESPN:

When the Cardinals have the ball
Rushing: Under Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm the Cardinals are desperately trying to become a power running team. They want to attack between the tackles to set up the play-action passing game. Running back. Edgerrin James is still adjusting to following a fullback Terelle Smith into the hole, but the good news for Arizona is that the 49ers are a little vulnerable and thin on the interior defensive line, they will likely start rookie Patrick Willis at ILB and they really don’t have a true nose tackle that fits their 3-4 scheme. The challenge will be to block the edges and not let the 49ers defensive ends and outside linebackers fill from the outside because that is where their playmakers are. Arizona may utilize a lot of three-WR sets to prevent San Francisco from “loading up” in the box, but this will be old-fashioned drive blocking with the Cardinals trying to get a push up front and relying on James to follow his blocks and make good decisions. Calling run plays at the right time will be critical because Whisenhunt is not giving QB Matt Leinart a lot of freedom to audible and check out of a run play — so the head coach must call a good game.

Passing: Whisenhunt is a very creative play-callerm and if he can establish an early run game it will open up the passing game and lead to some excellent play-action opportunities, which is a departure from the past, when the Cardubaks were a pass-first and run-second offense. They have the ability to utilize three-receiver sets on running downs to keep the defense off balance. The Cardinals’ wide receivers are big, physical, have the ability to seperate and are very effective in the short-to-intermediate routes. Plus, they love to run across the formation and they are very capable of running “pick” type plays to rub off defenders. Tackling and closing on the ball are big factors for the 49ers’ defense because the Cardinals are very effective at running after the catch. The 49ers must also play with discipline because Leinart is excellent at play fakes and that could lead to some big plays off play-action and double moves by the receivers if the 49ers defensive backs jump routes too early. Arizona is somewhat vulnerable on the edges in pass protection and the strength of the San Francisco pass rush is the outside linebackers coming off the edge. Putting pressure on Leinart may be the best way to slow Arizona down.

When the 49ers have the ball
Rushing: Frank Gore has had a very quiet preseason because of a hand injury and his health and durability are the keys to this running game. Last year he had 312 carries and 61 receptions. The 49ers use a power running game to set up the pass. With a new offensive coordinator and play-caller in Hostler, the 49ers may be very conservative in their season opener. They will zone block a lot up front and this is a very underrated offensive line. Many of the run plays will come to the left side behind LOT Jonas Jennings and LOG Larry Allen, who are both “road graders” who can move the pile. Gore loves to start right and cut back with counter moves, which gives him a chance to be very effective versus an Arizona defense that is very aggressive and tends to over-pursue. Gore does not need a lot of room to get through the hole and his acceleration through the hole is top notch. Arizona will attack out of multiple fronts and blitz with a lot of slants and movement. If the 49ers can catch Arizona out of position, especially with the inside blitz, Gore can break off some big runs either inside or outside. Locating SS Adrian Wilson will be critical because he is an excellent blitzer and run-defender who loves to play in the box.

Passing: Arizona goes into this game knowing that it must stop Gore and the run game. The Cards may load up in the box and take their chances on the perimeter with single coverage on the 49ers’ receivers. The key to the San Francisco passing game will likely be the ability of Smith to make proper pre-snap reads. He must identify the blitz and especially know where Wilson is at all times. The Cardinals are saying that they are going to use Wilson in more coverage this season, but his strength is attacking and blitzing. Gore is very effective on his blitz pickup assignments, and without Arizona having a shutdown corner, Smith can create big plays in single coverage outside if he reads it properly. Look for the 49ers to be very creative with TE Vernon Davis. They will move him around, flex him at times, and they would love to get him matched up on Wilson. If the Arizona pass rush is effective, Smith may use a lot of three- and five-step drops with slant routes and quick outs, but don’t be surprised if the screen pass is very effective versus this aggressive Cardinals defense.

Special Teams

Because the 49ers have been so good at acquiring personnel in the last couple of years, they now have a very effective special teams unit that is loaded with good, young players. They have an effective kicking game with punt returner Brandon Williams and an effective kick returner in Maurice Hicks. Place-kicker Joe Nedney is solid and is also very effective with onside kicks, and punter Andy Lee is very consistent, but their biggest advantage is in their coverage units. San Francisco excels in this area and Arizona has been awful in recent years. The return game for the Cardinals has been less than spectacular, but there is hope that rookie Steve Breaston can give them a lift in the punt return game, with Marcel Shipp returning kicks. The kicking game is adequate, but San Francisco is far more equipped to win the battle of field position in the kicking game.

My prediction is the San Francisco will pull it out 34-20 tonight with Arizona coming close; it will be an overall good game, also being that Mike Nolan has never beaten the Cardinals, this could be a big step for him.

Source: ESPN


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