More than a game on the line: 49ers vs. Falcons preview
The San Francisco 49ers are in search for answers and their task isn’t getting any easier. At 0-3 they are last in a weak NFC West division, a division in which they were the hands-down favourite to win. Now not only are they win-less, but coach Mike Singletary’s
job may be at stake. The 49ers already fired their offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye this week. Quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson took his place and you have to wonder now if the 49ers would have someone ready to take Singletary’s spot. One thing’s for sure,
there’s turmoil in San Francisco.
The Atlanta Falcons probably couldn’t be feeling any better. They’re coming off the franchise’s biggest win in years, defeating the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in their building. By doing so, they have officially marked themselves as a contender
in the NFC South.
Once reason the 49ers are 0-3 is the disappointing play of their defence. Projected to be one of the top five defensive units in the league, the 49ers have allowed 29 points per game. They’re also only 46 percent on third-down stops that have allowed opponents
to extend drives. In this game however, the 49ers' biggest Achilles’ heel may be their failure to stop the run. They’ve allowed 111.3 yards per game and now they’re going up against a Falcons team that loves to run the ball and they can do it effectively.
Look for the Falcons to play their style of football, which is to run the ball down the opponent’s throat. Until the 49ers prove they can stop the run, don’t expect the Falcons to get away from that game plan. They’re averaging 160.3 yards per game. Last
week against the Saints, they ran the ball 50 times for 202 yards. They’d be happy to do that again, so expect Michael Turner to see plenty of carries.
Matt Ryan meanwhile will just have to avoid making mistakes and convert on third down. The 49ers can’t completely focus on the run though as Ryan can beat them too. He’s already passed for 705 yards this season with five touchdowns and just one interception.
Ryan will look to his number one receiver Roddy White often but also has tight end Tony Gonzalez as his check-down option.
For the 49ers to turn their season around, they’ll need production from Alex Smith. He is on thin ice in San Francisco and there are only so many excuses one can keep making for him. Yes, he once again has a different offensive coordinator, but he’s a former
number one pick. He has to get it going and the team can only wait for his development for so long.
The 49ers also have to pick up their running game. Frank Gore is supposed to be the catalyst of their offence but the team is only averaging 78 yards rushing per game. Running the ball is supposed to be their strength but it is one of their glaring weaknesses
at this point.
The Falcons are 2-1 because they’re executing the way they want to play. They like to run the ball and play good defence and they’ve done that. The 49ers would like to run the ball and play solid defence but they haven’t done that well. The 49ers are already
running out of time to salvage their season. Luckily they’re in the weakest division in football so there’s still time to catch up, but they can’t wait around too long. A win for the Falcons on Sunday would leave the 49ers stunned while it would propel Atlanta
going forward.
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