Great Write Up Using the All-22 On the First CAR/SF Match Up

[Delhommey]

 

The dominant storylines coming out of that Week 10 loss focused on two narratives: 1) Carolina had out-muscled a San Francisco team who's calling card has been their physicality and ability to dominate the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball and 2) the 49ers had serious questions to ask about their passing game when facing a quality defense. Offensively, it was the 49ers worst performance of the season as they were limited to a season-low 2.9 yards per play and a DVOA of negative-54.2 percent, the lowest mark of the Harbaugh era.

There are some obvious caveats to get out of the way. First, Michael Crabtree had not yet returned from the Achilles injury that forced him to miss the first 11 games of the season. Since Crabtree has been reinserted into the lineup, San Francisco's passing offense DVOA has been above 30 percent in all but one game. And second, Vernon Davisleft the game with a concussion midway through the second quarter. Anquan Boldin has had a very good season as Colin Kaepernick's primary target, but it is Davis that makes the passing game go. His ability to stretch the field vertically is an element that no one else on the 49ers' roster can replicate.

With both Crabtree and Davis back in the lineup, shutting down the 49ers offense in the fashion the Panthers did in Week 10 is a much more challenging task. But that doesn't mean there aren't things we can learn from the first matchup between these two teams.

 

http://www.ninersnation.com/2014/1/7/5281490/49ers-panthers-week-10-nfl-playoffs-how-carolina-shut-down-san-francisco

 

Great read with accompanying diagrams.

 

[h0llywood]

Good read. Funny because you can sense the fear in the comments section.

[WarDamnPanthers]

Good read. Funny because you can sense the fear in the comments section.

 

That you can!

[WarDamnPanthers]

The task will in fact be more difficult no doubt, but the homefield is also a big difference...

[Darth Biscuit]

Question.  Is their improvement in the passing game due to Crabtree actually making catches, or the fact that the defenses have to pay attention to him being a deep threat?

[Delhommey]

 

 

With both Crabtree and Davis back in the lineup, shutting down the 49ers offense in the fashion the Panthers did in Week 10 is a much more challenging task. But that doesn't mean there aren't things we can learn from the first matchup between these two teams.

The additions of Crabtree and Davis will certainly have an impact, but if the 49ers are to go into Charlotte and come away with a victory this weekend, Kaepernick must be more decisive.

 

I think he's more thinking Davis will stretch the field with Crabtree, but he understands Kaep's got to make quicker decisions regardless if we have the same game plan.