Baltimore Ravens Vs. San Fransisco 49ers, Five Key Match Ups

by lastcallbmore on Nov 23, 2011 8:00 PM EST

Usually I will do five key match ups for the offense and the defense but since this is a short week I'm just going to do one. Enjoy!

1.) Vonta Leach vs. Patrick Willis

Boy, if this were a street fight I wouldn't wanna be in the area. Leach is the best blocking fullback in the NFL. Willis is the heir to the throne as best middle linebacker in the NFL. If the Ravens offensive line can manage to open holes for our backs then it will be up to Leach to take on Willis and company in order to spring Ray Rice free. This is a task that not to many teams have accomplished this season as San Fransisco is number one against the run. Advantage: Willis

2.) Frank Gore and Bruce Miller vs. Terrence Cody and Haloti Ngata

Ngata and Cody have been paired together to create an impenetrable wall on the Ravens defensive line. They have done their job well thus far. Ngata is a bit dinged up at the moment but he is still better than about 80% of the defensive tackles in the league. Cody has had a quiet but highly productive season and he is a hard man to move. Gore has run for 870 yards on 189 carries this season for an average of 6.1 per carry. This will have to change this week if the Ravens want to win this game. Look for Gore to get about 25 touches as it will likely be a close game. Advantage: Ngata and Cody

3.) Michael Crabtree vs. Cary Williams

Williams got beat a few times against the Bengals but he was in on every play, sometimes even batting the ball in the air. Cary has played above and beyond all expectations this season and he has played against many top tier receivers. I think he can hold the sure handed Crabtree in check. Crabtree has 38 receptions for 455 yards and one touchdown this season. Last week was one of his better games as he and quarterback Alex Smith seem to be creating some chemistry. If Williams can shut him down it will force Smith to have to beat us with is second and third options. Advantage: Williams

4.) Ravens safeties vs. Vernon Davis

Vernon Davis is a match up nightmare and I am not sure who the Ravens will use on him when they need to go man. I would think it would be some combination of Bernard Pollard and linebackers but Jimmy Smith may be their best option. That is, if the 49ers do not already have a three wide receiver set on the field. Advantage: Davis

5.) Torrey Smith vs. Dashon Goldson

Torrey Smith is burning everyone. He has a quarterback that can get the ball deep and speed to spare. Smith could be the big difference maker in a game that is expected to be a ground and pound defensive battle. Goldson, the free safety for the 49ers, will have to keep an eye on Smith on every snap because if Torrey has one on one coverage Joe Flacco will throw him the ball. Hopefully this will create more space in the intermediate passing game for Anquan Boldin and Ed Dickson. Advantage: Smith

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Excellent. I’d like to add that Boldin will keep Rogers busy while Evans and smith stretch the D. The 9era safeties will be forced to stay honest and i can see leach continuing to quietly blow up opposing LBs.

I’m trying to see a close game and be objective as possible but I don’t see the 9ers D containing our WR which will create opportunity for Rice, Dickson, et al.

If the 9ers can manage to get ahead early, they will be in position to dictate pace… esp if Baltimore coaches decide to pass the ball 55 times again.

I expect to see the Bmore pass rush have Alex smith crouching in the fetal position by the 3rd Q.

30-16
Ravens

by Evan Skev on Nov 23, 2011 8:25 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Yeah..

I wanted to add Boldin as well, but since I only had one post to fit in I wanted to cover a lot of different areas.

Don't let my defense dictate your offense..

by lastcallbmore on Nov 23, 2011 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

you are forgetting

that the strength of the niners d is the front 7. They are stopping the run at a league best pace while hardly ever, if ever at all, stacking the box. Their front 7 is enough to stop the run vs anyone. Willis and Bowmans speed allow them to disguise their coverages in the secondary and lets the dbs focus more on the passing game. I think its been 31 games since the niners allowed a 100 yard rusher and I believe that week 16 of last year is the last time someone scored a rushing td against them.

If you think leach is going to be blowing up Bowman, Willis, Brooks, or Smith you have another thing coming. This is the best lb corps in the NFL with Bowman emerging as a pro bowl type player in his second year. This is going to be one hell of a game. Pretty similiar teams.

by ar4gsw on Nov 23, 2011 11:17 PM EST up reply actions

Leach is a beast and Rice runs between the tackles and doubles as a WR. I do expect Leach to lay blocks on everyone he faces. He’s beastly…

I like that you think highly of your team but this is the AFCN and the Baltimore Ravens. There’s a lot of talent and swagger to go along with it…

I agree it will be a great game!

by Evan Skev on Nov 23, 2011 11:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

We need turnovers and HAVE to score first. Both teams will be a little tired so the one who strikes first can steal the energy. A 2 score lead may be enough for the down team to write the game off as a turkey day hiccup. The 9ers have one to give so I can see them accepting defeat a little easier.

by raven on Nov 23, 2011 8:49 PM EST reply actions

you ought

to know better than that. No Harbaugh coached team would ever be able to accept defeat in any circumstances. Jim and Johns’ drive and competitiveness is what made them the coaches they are today.

by ar4gsw on Nov 23, 2011 11:19 PM EST up reply actions

watching NFL replay…man flacco sucked on a bunch of short pass decisions and accuracy. he needs to get the whole deal together real soon. can we look at tomorrow night as another flacco statement game…again.

by raven on Nov 23, 2011 8:52 PM EST reply actions

No but you’re welcome to judge him on one throw or one game, if you like…

Flacco is an excellent qb. Where are you having dinner tomorrow

by Evan Skev on Nov 23, 2011 9:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

the church…duh

by raven on Nov 24, 2011 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Cant forget about aldon smith or Justin Smith. These guys are playing great right now and i think Justin Smith is the cornerstone of their defense. If we can block them well then we win the game.

by Raven_all_day on Nov 23, 2011 9:36 PM EST reply actions

Not To Quibble But...

Regarding Frank Gore: 870 yards on 189 carries does not an average of 6.1 per carry make. If those are his numbers, he’s averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Much more human. But still impressive in this day and age.

by SL9178 on Nov 23, 2011 11:02 PM EST reply actions

This'll be a game where Baltimore has to pass to set up the run

so as much as people might like to see Rice get 18-20 carries, it’s just not going to happen, lest the Ravens play right into SF’s hands.

Torrey Smith will be the key—a successful deep ball or two early on will force the secondary to move back, and from there it’s just a matter of hitting Boldin and Dickson in the middle, and throwing in a token run here and there to keep the 9ers honest (or if the defensive formation looks vulnerable to a rush…but that depends on whether or not Joe feels like calling audibles).

Oh, fuck you Mason. Just fuck you. Why don't we talk after the game, all right? Just shut the fuck up." -Bill Belichick, consummate badass

by IntrepidX on Nov 24, 2011 12:34 AM EST reply actions

9er fan here. Watch out for Aldon Smith coming off the end. A freak of an athlete, Smith is a key piece to our nickel defense and I expect him to see some good time tomorrow. It should be interesting to watch how your talented OT’s handle him.

by ResidentShark on Nov 24, 2011 4:20 AM EST reply actions