Tag: Preview

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The New Orleans Saints are hours away from a pivotal kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers, so we went to Kyle Madson over at Niners Wire for the best-informed take on what fans are in for. Here’s what he shared with us in previewing Sunday’s game.

1. We know Kyle Shanahan would rather run the football and that George Kittle is the superstar, but what other receiving options do the 49ers have when Jimmy Garoppolo is forced to drop back and pass?

The answer to this question has changed dramatically the last several weeks, but now the 49ers have a trio of good receivers that’ve emerged the last three weeks as bona fide threats in the passing game.

Veteran Emmanuel Sanders is as good as ever coming off a rib injury. His ability to get open in tight windows plays well in Shanahan’s offense and with Garoppolo’s gunslinger style. He quickly developed a rapport with Sanders and won’t hesitate to go to him in crucial situations.

Deebo Samuel’s developing a similar chemistry with Garoppolo late in his rookie season. He has 20 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns the last four games, and was the target on Garoppolo’s first touchdown pass against the Ravens — a 33-yard throw on fourth-and-2 on San Francisco’s first drive of the game.

Third-year, former undrafted free agent Kendrick Bourne has also overcome some drop issues to emerge as a tertiary playmaker on the perimeter. He’s not huge, but plays bigger than his size and catches the ball away from his body with strong hands, which makes him a viable target in the red zone and on third downs.

All of the 49ers running backs can split out wide and make receptions out of the backfield too. We’ve reached a point where the talent is there when the 49ers do want to throw the ball, their success is more predicated on whether Garoppolo turns it over.

2. Richard Sherman has had a career revival since joining the 49ers after his Seahawks tenure was cut short. Is he going to shadowing Michael Thomas all over the field or does he typically stick to one side? How do you expect that matchup to play out?

Sherman stays on the left side. Ahkello Witherspoon lines up on the right and K’Waun Williams is the nickel corner. All three are very good, and Sherman and Williams will probably find themselves in the Pro Bowl. As for Sherman vs. Thomas, Thomas is the type of receiver who can get Sherman a couple times. He’s such a strong route runner that it thwarts the high football IQ Sherman typically uses to make up for any lack of athleticism. That said, it’s pretty rare Sherman gets beat multiple times with the same look. Not a lot of teams test the veteran corner, but it’s hard to imagine Drew Brees will be afraid to take shots at him with Thomas. That’s the matchup I’m most looking forward to watching, and whoever gets the better of it may wind up deciding the game.

3. San Francisco has an argument to make as the league’s best rushing offense, but the Saints can tout their defense as one of the strongest against the run. What’s going to happen when an unstoppable object hits an immovable force?

Well, this depends a little bit. The Saints being without A.J. Klein and Kiko Alonso could change how the 49ers operate a little on offense. They’re not afraid to attack the middle of the field in the short and intermediate passing game, so a more high-volume game from Garoppolo with a ton of play action could be in the cards. However, they’re going to at least try and run, especially with the trio of Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert fully healthy for really the first time all season. San Francisco’s offense thrives on deception, so we may see some different things from them against a tremendous New Orleans front. It’s not likely the Saints’ streak of allowing a 100-yard rusher ends Sunday, but the 49ers will hammer away with the run game in hopes of one of their backs breaking off a huge run. While I don’t foresee the 49ers racking up nearly 200 yards like they did against the Ravens, I do think they’ll have a little more success than the typical 88.5 yards the Saints allow per game.

4. Finally, who’s winning this one?

This one smells a little bit like the 49ers-Packers game with one major difference — the Saints’ defense is really, really good. That said, the 49ers’ defense is probably a little better, and they’ve teed off against pocket quarterbacks like Drew Brees. Taysom Hill is a nice wrinkle, and Alvin Kamara is one of the most dangerous backs in the league, so the weapons are there to score some, but the 49ers defense isn’t liable to give up 30-plus. The same goes for the Saints defense against a multifaceted 49ers offense that’s starting to hit its stride. I think going in these teams are very evenly matched, and I think that’ll be the takeaway afterward. 49ers 23, Saints 20

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