Know the Foe: Packers @ San Francisco 49ers

Week 2 is in the books. The Green Bay Packers showed life as they get their first victory of the season. After a slow start against the Detroit Lions, the Packers dominated the second half to get a decisive 35-17 win.

Now, Week 3 has Green Bay in another prime-time game as they head west to take on the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers. California has not been good to the Matt LaFleur Packers but Green Bay will look to build off last week’s success and get the job done. Let’s take a look at the 2021 49ers team.

Well Coached Team

It wouldn’t be fair to talk about this talented 49ers team without first mentioning head coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan is an excellent coach that has his team prepared for battle each and every week. His effective zone blocking scheme allows him to plug and play many different running backs and not miss a beat. The rushing system gives defenses fits and can really grind out games.

The strength of the 49ers starts upfront on the offensive line. This group is talented and runs Shanahan’s concepts well. The tackles are strong in Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey. Both handle pass rushers well and can seal the edge in the run game. Inside is the savvy vet Alex Mack at center. This is a strong group that wants to run the ball but also keeps quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo clean. Through two games, San Francisco has only given up one sack. That’s huge for a QB like Garoppolo. He won’t be confused as one of the elite signal-callers in the league. However, given proper protection, he can get the ball to his playmakers.

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Weapons Setting the Tone

The 49ers’ main weapon right now is third-year pro wide receiver, Deebo Samuel. He is off to a red-hot start through two games. In Week 1, Samuel torched the Lions with 189 yards and a score. During Week 2, when the offense was struggling against the Philadelphia Eagles, he still got it done with six grabs for 93 yards. The Packers would be wise to limit Samuel and force the 49ers to look elsewhere.

The Niners’ next best option isn’t at wide receiver but rather at tight end. George Kittle is coming off an injury in 2020 and is slowly coming back into his own. He was all-world before getting hurt. Kittle blocks like a tackle and is a pass-catching mismatch. Green Bay has a history of struggling against tight ends and this one is one of the best.

Dangerous Front 7

The 49ers field a defense that is athletic and fast. They are disciplined and always attack the football. Again, it starts upfront on that defensive line. This will be a true test for Elgton Jenkins at left tackle. He will have his hands full with the monster better known as Nick Bosa. The 6’4″ 270 lb. Bosa lives in opponents’ backfields. He is fast and powerful and already has three sacks this year. The sky is the limit for this future All-Pro but it doesn’t stop there. On the other side is Arik Armstead with Dee Ford coming in on passing downs. Armstead is a long athlete that is good against the run but can also push the pocket. Ford is also a proven pass rusher when healthy. Inside, the 49ers are still waiting for Javon Kinlaw to put it together but the tools are all there.

The d-line keeps the linebackers clean but this group is good. They are spearheaded by All-Pro Fred Warner. Aaron Rodgers told Warner last season that he’s the best in the business and he makes a good argument. He is a tackling machine that flies all over the field. Smart and instinctive, Warner seems to make field tilting plays every week. Next to him is another gem in Dre Greenlaw.

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Secondary Concerns

Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt are the starting safeties and are a solid duo. They are assignment sure and can cover up some of the deficiencies at cornerback. The corners are where Green Bay can match up well. After veteran Jason Verrett went down with an injury, this corner group is thin. Rookie Deommodore Lenore had three pass breakups against Philly but he’s still a rookie and will take his lumps. Emmanuel Moseley is on the other side but got picked on in 2020. K’Waun Williams is a seven-year vet that man’s the slot. Williams can hold his own but at 5’9″ 185 lbs. Green Bay can use their size to get a mismatch there. To have success against this defensive unit, Green Bay needs to get the ball out quick and their weapons need to win against this secondary.

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– Jesse Hall is a writer for Full Press Coverage Packers. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @hall_jhall1212 Follow @FPCoverage and Facebook.

– Kyle Senra is the managing editor for Full Press Coverage Packers. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @SenraSays Follow @FPC_Packers and Facebook.