News Archive | - |  |
||
| The Pass October 31 2002 By Bryan Hersh of 49ers Paradise THIS CONTENT IS COPYWRITED, REDISTRIBUTION OF IT (including copy/pasting it to a message board, forum or bbs) IS PROHIBITED AND COULD RESULT IN LEGAL ACTIONS - feel free to quote up to 1 paragraph providing a source link to http://www.49ersparadise.cjb.net is included Expect a passing frenzy when the 49ers cross the bay to face the Oakland Raiders this week. The 49ers run defense has been on top of its game recently. It’s dismantled some of the top runners in the league. Stopping the shifty Charlie Garner, and his average of more than six yards a carry wont be easy, but that’s not where the focus of this game will be. Both teams have a very strong receiving core with Pro Bowl calibre quarterbacks. Balls will by flying on Sunday. The 49ers will be trying to exploit a depleted Raider secondary, and as much as they’ll want to establish the run, with the way that Terrell Owens and Tai Streets have been playing recently, it will be hard to pass up the opportunity to throw the ball. The Raiders have watched over the past three weeks, and seen that the 49ers can’t stop the pass, particularly on third down. It can be third and 50 and the 49ers would find a way to give the opposition the first down. Raiders receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice are two of the greatest of all time. Rice knows the 49ers cornerbacks and will look to exploit them left, right and center. The Raiders are going to pass.
With both teams looking to pass a lot this game, the victor will likely come to the team that runs. History has shown that passing teams fail in the red zone because defenses get tighter, and there is less room to make plays on offense with the shorter field. The team that establishes the run, can use it in the red zone, and my bet is, that is what will make the difference in this game.
|
||||
 
|
||||
