The 49ers play the Bills at Candlestick on Sunday. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups every day.
Split end Steve Johnson (6-2, 210 pounds) vs. Right cornerback Tarell Brown (5-10, 193 pounds)
Brown has struggled in his second season as a starter. He’s been targeted 18 times and he’s allowed 15 catches for an average of 14.7 yards per catch according to Pro Football Focus. Quarterbacks have a 117.8 rating when they throw into Brown’s coverage this season.
Steve Johnson is a big, fast receiver who’s gained more than 1,000 yards two years in a row. He’s Ryan Fitzpatrick’s favorite target – Fitzpatrick passes to Johnson about 10 times a game. And Johnson’s already having a productive start to the season – three touchdowns through four games.
Johnson will be the toughest matchup Brown’s faced this season.
Advantage: Bills
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GC I don’t know if you have access to the all 22 either through work or by purchasing it from NFL.com but if you do I’d be curious to know if you’ve gone back and checked to see how closely your prognostication of these match-ups turned out?
Hey Alec,
For a successful guy like yourself, why is $69.99 such a big deal? Get All-22 yourself and let Grant do his job. You can refer to his prognostications yourself and critique him for all the world to see!
Get to it…
Based on the Bills offensive scheme, I think the 49ers will mostly be in Nickle, and will have Culliver matched up on Johnson since they usually try to get him on the oppositions #1.
That’s the question I’ve been wondering.
I expect the Bills to try to get the 49ers to go nickel, then hit them with a heavy dose of Jackson and Spiller out of a spread or 3 wide set, hoping for success that results in a safety sneaking up, then the bills throw over the top.
I don’t think it will work. I think the49ers will be content to take away the deep passing game (nickel or not), and at worst concede some bills gains in the run game, and then shut’em down if the Bills reach the red zone.
Based on their personnel groupings I expect a lot of Nickle. I like your thoughts though. This game sets up nicely for them. The 49ers D is tied for the 2nd fewest number of 20+ passes allowed so far with 8, and 11th in opposing QB rating at 79.2.
Culliver is obviously the best corner on this team and probably the 2nd best in the division, top-5 in the NFL. He needs to work on his ball-skills, but his defensive prowess is tops.
Actually, the 49ers almost always line up Culliver on the left side of the defense.
Brown mostly lines up on the right side. He’ll face Johnson more than any other Niner cornerback will.
Grant,
Last week Buffalo lined Johnson up on the right side 32 times and left 40 times. If trend continues you will be correct as usual. It will be interesting to see how the chess match unfolds.
Great info. Thanks, Jack.
It seems the smart move for the Bills would be to line up Johnson on the left against the 49ers this week.
Best to avoid Culliver right now.
Game tonight, following people still need to make their Thursday night pick:
Angus
Msc
23J
Rocket
DClark
Nick
I smell some bird on the grill. Upset in the making
Had a tough time with this game – have Arizona for now, but my gut is telling me the Rams are going to knock off an NFC West team for the second week in a row.
Still somewhat undecided, lol!
I too picked the Cardinals, but hope the Rams win. We’re tied, 49erGirl.
May have to go with my gut and break the tie one way or the other :-)
Only 4 point separate us from Crab….he’s goin’ down!!! Lol!
I got demolished in week 3, but am crawling back a little after last week. Hopefully this will be a good week and I pull closer to C15!
Rams will win tonight just like I’ll win this contest :) That means, no chance
This is where to me the stats dont tell the whole story. Brown has been great this year in that he has not givin up anything behind him for any explosive touchdowns. He has given up some catches but interms of what the defensive call has been, he has played it to a “T”.
To me he is the most underrated Niner because you never hear about him or hear about him making any mistakes or getting burned deep. He has lined up against some pretty good WR’s and has held his own. He did give up some underneath stuff to Harvin but overall, he has been solid.
My favorite 49ers v Bills memory:
Tie game 3rd quarter. Bills drive down the field. 1st & Goal from the SF 1 yard line. Hand off to Bills RB Holmes — WWWHHHHAAAAACCCCKKKK!!!!!! – Gary Plummer blasts Holmes before he crosses goal line causing a fumble. Lee Woodall picks up the ball and runs 99 yards for a San Francisco 49er touchdown. 1 play changed the game and the 9ers kicked ass from there on out to beat the Bills soundly.
Good times. Good times.
I remember that play vividly. A friend of mine was just saying Plummer was getting old and didn’t have it anymore. And BAM!!!!! The hit. That same friend reads this blog from time to time. Think ill call him and ask if he remembers that play. Lol
My favorite memory from 49ers vs Bills dates back to ’92 when we won 34-31 in an offensive shootout. Think we had 598 yards of offense in that game, it was classic. Here’s hoping we get near that yardage mark again on Sunday, but more importantly get that W!!
AK, I remember that game as well! Let’s of yds and very little defense played from the DB’s.
BTW, the 9ers LOST by 3.
*lot’s of yds*
I’ll roll with TB on this one.