The 49ers play the Jets Sunday at the Meadowlands. In the meantime, I’ll break down one key matchup per day.
Wide receivers Santonio Holmes (5-11, 192 pounds) and Jeremy Kerley (5-9, 188 pounds) vs. the 49ers defensive backs.
The 49ers defense, as great as it is, does not match up well against big tight ends or small, explosive receivers who can line up all over the formation – in the slot, out wide and in the backfield.
The Jets don’t have any tight ends to worry about, but they do have two explosive little receivers – Santonio Holmes and Jeremy Kerley.
Holmes is Mark Sanchez’s favorite target, especially on third down. Holmes has just as many first-down catches on third down as Michael Crabtree – 6. Only three receivers in the NFL have 7.
Both Holmes and Kerley are good runners, too. Each receiver has more than 80 yards YAC so far this season.
Holmes lines up at split end, flanker and the slot. In three-wide-receiver formations, I’m guessing he’ll line up mostly at flanker and face Chris Culliver, who seems to cover bigger receivers better than the smaller ones.
Kerley will line up mostly in the slot. Sometimes he’ll even motion to the backfield like a running back.
He’ll be the Jets’ X-factor against the Niners.
The Jets will probably try to use him against the Niners like the Vikings used Percy Harvin and the Packers used Randall Cobb – a possession receiver, almost a running back, who catches passes out of the backfield, across the middle and down the sidelines for the occasional big play.
In four-wide-receiver sets, Kerley will face Perrish Cox, the Niners’ second nickel back, or slot cornerback. Cox struggled majorly against Cobb in Week 1. Cox will have his hands full against Kerley this week.
Advantage: Jets
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First!
… at failing!
You shut down tone you shut down the jets offence
All respect to our db’s, but I think it’d be real nice if we were in a position to draft ourselves a strong, productive cb prospect in the coming draft. Perhaps one with prototypical size/speed like the Seahawks (gasp!) field.
As good as our team is in the secondary – underrated, even – I feel like the team could still stand to improve back there. I had a hard time watching pass after pass completed on both CR and TB this past week. I’d be curious to find out whether the majority of those completions were due to coverage or missed opportunities to make a play.
*by “coverage”, I meant “type of coverage called”
Interesting take Grant. In watching other games this season I’ve noted teams trying to develop someone the way Harvin & Cobb were used; also like Sproules. A new trend. My question is, does Kerley play at the same level as Harvin/Cobb? Both those guys are more established. I’m not saying Kerley is or isn’t better because I haven’t watched him.
Harbaugh called the damage by Harvin correctable, and as you stated in Matchup#1, the Jets don’t have an AP-quality threat in the backfield to draw attention.
Grant,
When did you see Kerley line up in the backfield? In watching their 3 games this season the closest he has come to being in the backfield was when lining up as the inside receiver in their bunch formation.
The only time I saw anyone motion from the receiver position and run was when they have Tebow in and run the fly sweep, but that is with Joe McKnight.
He motioned into the backfield and then ran a flare route to the left but Sanchez didn’t throw it to him. I forget which game this was – I want to say it was the Dolphin game.
Thanks Grant. I’ll check it out. I agree with your assessment. It will be another test for Rogers and Cox.
I just checked the Dolphins game. It wasn’t that one. Let me check the Bills game.
Jack and Grant,
There’s a huge difference between Sanchez and Ponder. Sanchez is a statue in the pocket and not nearly as accurate as Ponder.
Also, I don’t think the Jets offense is as creative as the Vikings.
All in all, I think the 49ers should bounce back nicely in this game.
Grant,
My apologies. It was in the first quarter of the Bills game and he ran a wheel route with Holmes running a curl underneath.
Do you think the Jets will be better off if Hill does not play? I think Schillens might be a better all around NFL WR at this point.
Thanks for finding it.
Hill seemed to drop a lot of passes when I watched him play. The Jets may indeed be better off with Schillens this week.