The 49ers play the Ravens Sunday at the Super Dome in Super Bowl XLVII. In the meantime, I’ll break down the key matchups.
DT Haloti Ngata vs. The 49ers’ offensive line
As good as Justin Smith is, Haloti Ngata might be a better defensive tackle right now. He’s younger – Ngata is 29 years old and Justin Smith is 32 years old. Ngata is bigger – Ngata weighs 340 pounds and Smith weighs 295 pounds. Ngata probably is healthier, too. He was dinged up earlier in the season with shoulder and knee injuries, but he’s been a force the last four games.
Ngata is almost impossible to block one-on-one because he’s extremely powerful and quick. The Ravens line him up all over the defensive line, searching for the weakest link, forcing the defense to double team him right away. That opens up lanes for the linebackers on runs and it leaves the offensive line susceptible to blitzes on passes.
Expect the Ravens to line up Ngata in the middle against Jonathan Goodwin or on the strong side against Alex Boone in passing situations. Boone and Goodwin have had good seasons, but they almost surely cannot block Ngata one-on-one. Mike Iupati is the only 49er offensive lineman strong enough to contend with Ngata one-on-one, but even Iupati probably will need help with him.
Advantage: Ravens
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I would not assume Ngnata is 100%. I believe he too will require surgery prior to next years campaign. Goodwin will have this line playing Championship caliber and dominate Ngnata and cohorts.
This guy is a beast! The Ravens game plan defensively might revolve around him. We need to play fast against this defense. It’s older and might fatigue late in the game if we can get up to the line of scrimmage, get plays off quick and run it every which way.
Also the Baltimore secondary is susceptible to the deep ball if we can get Reed out of the middle. There is no way they can stop Vernon, Crabs and Moss and Delanie with Gore and LMJ runnin hard.
It’s early but here it is:
49ers 32
Ravens 17
I think Haloti is gonna be in for a big surprise because Boone is way better than Snyder and with the help of Goodwin they should be able to neutralize him and take him out of the game…I hope this is the way it plays out because if we can’t block him its gonna make it tougher for us to run and pass protect but I still think Kap will be able to get it done for us GO NINERS!!
Our boys up front manhandled Wilfork who is bigger/stronger than Ngata but maybe not as quick. I would not count out our Guards going against him one on one, especially Iupati. Remember last thanksgiving Ngata did most of his damage against Chilo.
Ngata is a force, no doubt, and one reason why this is going to be a very tough game. But I like our guys up front – they bring talent to the table, and they’re going to fight tooth and claw to block Ngata, Suggs, etc.
“The Ravens line him up all over the defensive line, searching for the weakest link, forcing the defense to double team him right away.”
Not to be nit-picky Grant, but wouldn’t the “offense” be double-teaming Ngata?
Ravens players say Ngata is the best athlete on the team.
Turn Ngata loose and let him chase LMJ downfield a few times and we’ll see how tired he gets.
I’m still waiting and watching—hoping La Michael has a break-out game finally. He showed some spurt at Atlanta. After the career he had at Oregon, we’ve certainly yet to see the kind of dominance he’s apparently capable of —just taking over a game.
You’re talking about two former Oregon Ducks: LaMichael James, and Haloti Ngata. I like it.
Joe Staley’s recent tweet “Just finished up our best practice of the season. Loved the energy and focus. We are locked in.”
Best Niner news all day.
It’s our time, our year!
To analyze a matchup, shouldn’t you possibly research:
1. Schemes from last years game
2. Who was responsible for the 49er breakdowns/how Ngata beat the 49er schemes
3. How the 49ers have adjusted this year
4. How Ngata has performed this year in similar circumstances
Please, do some research that doesn’t include only reviewing team websites and throwing a few cliches around before announcing who has an “advantage.”
We know about Ngata but didn’t Kruger do some damage against Davis last year? Gonna be interesting to see him play, hopefully this season’s experience is just what he needed to handle him. Looking forward to this game. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Ravens play Kap the way the falcons did.
I think this actually plays into one of our biggest offensive strengths…the READ OPTION. You run directly at Ngata and jam him with a running back (double team). CK passes or keeps the ball. Maybe teams have done this all year, but they didn’t have Frank Gore slamming into Ngata or the threat of CK zipping one down field or turning the corner upfield for 50+ yards. I still see advantage 49ers.
the interior line is where we have advantage we are the same but better coaches and been best lines all year i expect niner blowout to put the old 52 to pasture were they will try to give him MVP even in loss, don’t get the press he’s getting just got new sports illistrated and almost pucked from cover not the religion reference but Ray on cover just go away .
Niners O line is younger, fresher, quicker, healthier and will hold their own if not dominate. Madden rated them #1 in the NFL. No advantage to the Ravens there.