The 49ers play the Giants on Sunday at Candlestick. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups per day.
LT Joe Staley vs. DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DE Osi Umenyiora
Staley did not play well against the Giants last Season. Week 10, he gave up 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 3 QB hurries to Pierre-Paul and Umenyiora. That was the worst game of the season for Staley.
In the championship game against the Giants, Staley gave up another three QB hurries, but he did not give up a sack.
Staley is not a great pass protector. He gave up three sacks to Clay Matthews Week 1. When the 49ers played the Vikings Week 3, Greg Roman often called bootleg passing plays that involved Alex Smith running out of the pocket to the right, away from Joe Staley’s protection. Staley was blocking Jared Allen, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and Staley couldn’t hold his own.
He’s got two Pro Bowl pass rushers to worry about this week. Umeyiora had a sack and 4 QB hurries in the NFC Championship game. He shares time at right defensive end with Pierre-Paul, who is one of the best young pass rushers in the NFL (17 sacks last season). However, he has just two sacks this season, and he got completely manhandled by Browns’ left tackle Joe Thomas last Sunday (0 sacks, 0 hits, 0 hurries).
But Thomas is a better pass protector than Staley. Staley excels at run-blocking. Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter are averaging 8.5 yards per carry this season when they run left between Staley and Mike Iupati.
On the other hand, Jason Pierre-Paul is an excellent run defender, too. Staley will have his hands full on every down against the Giants, run or pass.
Advantage: Giants
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Since we played these guys twice just last season cant you just go back to the games and pretty much cut and paste what might happen again? If Staley played well against those two last year then he probably will again this year and vice-versa.
I understand giving the advantage to the Giants. Staley has struggled with premier pass rushers this season. I’m hoping he improves but until then, you have to go with the defense in this matchup.
Coffee,
For the most part yes, but both teams have changed personnel. I am working on a something right now, and the guy that scored 2 of their 4 TD’s last year is now on our team.
“but both teams have changed personnel”
yes but the blog article is the specific match up between 3 players that were all on the team during the previous two match ups. If he was speaking of a match up between players that didn’t go against each other during the two games last year then I wouldn’t have chimed in.
Maybe I’m not remember that one of them was hurt.
cfc,
Last year has nothing to do with how the players are playing now. Staley has struggled so far this season with some of the better pass rushers. Maybe you’re right in that he matches up with these guys better, but if you are breaking down a matchup you have to go with what you see on the field right now; not last season. The thing in Staley’s favor is that JPP has started slowly as well.
I have actually gotten around to making a pick on Thursday night for the first time in 3 weeks. Now I just need to be right.
So in two games Staley gave up 1 sack in over a hundred snaps? Doesn’t seem like he’s over matched if he is winning 99% of the time. Dude has to face the other teams best pass rusher like Allen and Matthews every week so its not realistic to expect he bests them 100% of the time.
No way. Staley may not give up the “sack” every time, but the hurries are certainly there. Alex will just run away and try to throw. Although not technically a sack, Staley gets beat one-on-one much too often. They need to scheme help for Staley or this is gonna get ugly on offense.
Posey!!!!!! Grand Salami!!!!
WWOOOO HHHHOOOO!!!!! ****THE SF G-MEN****
MVP!!!!!!
OMG, I cannot get any work done today, lol! Glued to MLB box score waiting for updates pitch by pitch…dam this building with no AM reception!!!
Cinci cut the lead in half……..getting nervous!!
Cain not getting the low pitch call and putting it in the zone in that band box is a joke!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Torture is back in the Bay and it hurts so good!!
WTG Giants! Cannot wait to get home and actually watch this one!
Cheers Crab & Hof! Will definitely be raising a glass tonight :-)
S.F. Giants!!!! Hell ya!…They were poppin champagne and Zito’s cork hit Lincecum in the face and on live TV Timmy said “I got hit in the face with a F****’N cork!” Hilarious. Go Giants!!
JH is going to borrow Pence for his post game speech! LOL
Hofe – Good idea. Lol
Jackie?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article:
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/10/11/marquee-massacre/
C Balls – Thanks for the link, very good review of Buffalo game (massacre).
Hey Crab15!
You’re a Southlander, do you agree with Rocket that LA (SoCal) wouldn’t support an NFL team? I’d guess they would, they’d show up and cheer a competent team, and the local tv/cable & marketing opportunities would be big time. think?
BT,
I didn’t say they wouldn’t support it. I said they will be indifferent to it, meaning it will fade from the forefront due to the overwhelming list of options for people in SoCal. It’s not going to be a team that generates long term excitement and revenue streams was the underlying point. Just ask the Raiders and Rams how much fan support they got. It’s a lot like San Diego in that if the team is really playing well you’ll get a good crowd, if they aren’t you’ll have the stadium half empty. It’s the mentality of the region. Whatever is in vogue will get the dollars spent on it.
Rocket
Your points on SoCal aren’t wrong. The Charger fans have had their times when they were all-in, but they’ve been disappointed a lot too; they’re wary. Remember before JH when we’d settle in for the start of a game and then remember that we’re about to get our butts kicked? So yeah, the beach aint such a bad option, LOL!
BT,
Remember it…I still have nightmares about it. Sing and that giant cross swinging from his neck yelling at officials while the play is going on. No answers for anything the opponent is doing…I shudder just thinking about it now.
Tuna – L.A. would support a team for a few years but if they are consistent losers after 4-5 years, it will go downhill fast.
Fantastic read. Thanks for the link Claude. This really sums up the dominance:
Only 93 of the 49ers’ 311 rushing yards came after contact — which means that on average a Buffalo defender didn’t touch the 49ers ball carrier until he had already gained 5.7 yards. By comparison the league average so far this season is around 1.7 yards before contact.,/i>
That is amazing and a great example of how great the Oline has been so far this year. If the Oline is playing this well, the offense can run anything. Smith had more time to throw last week than he’s ever had in his career. Big test to see if it can continue this week.
Grant on the o line who do you think has played the best so far. I have it as Davis then boone.
I agree Adam. Those two have bee the best on the OL so far.
I agree on the advantage going to the Giants here. Staley is one of the two wildcards in this game. If he plays well, then the offense should have a good day. If not….well, do I really need to finish this thought?
What is the other wild card MidWest?