49ers-Falcons: Defending Tony Gonzalez
by Fooch on Oct 10, 2009 11:47 AM PDT
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26 comments
A few weeks back we were discussing Seattle Seahawks TE John Carlson and defending him, given his abilities. This week, the 49ers face a better tight end in a better offense, so that discussion takes on a whole new meaning. Tony Gonzalez is what John Carlson aspires to be, and the Falcons' offense he's apart of has the ability to be rather filthy. The rushing attack is struggling right now, which plays into the 49ers defensive wheelhouse. The passing offense though is starting to click and with some of those weapons, it's going to be interesting to see who you covers which receiver. They throw out Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, and even Marty Booker can catch you snoozing on occasion.
When the 49ers played Seattle, the team had to worry primarily about Carlson and TJ Houshmandzadeh in the passing game. The question in tomorrow's game becomes how to handle Gonzalez amidst a potentially explosive passing attack. Obviously Clements and Spencer will handle White and Jenkins. The team has often had to send an extra blitzer to get pressure on the QB, whether it be Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson, Takeo Spikes or Patrick Willis.
Sending the blitzer can obviously leave a potential threat open. Given the high profile nature of Tony Gonzalez, they'll certainly have someone covering him. The best bet once again would seem to be Manny Lawson. Of course, if he's being sent as a second or third blitzer, the 49ers best have somebody waiting in reserves. We hear about Dashon Goldson's "ball-hawking" and "big-hitting" skills. The question is whether he can cover a big talented tight end like Gonzalez. I'd imagine we'll see Goldson covering Gonzalez on occasion. Does that worry anybody?
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I dont think we should worry that much our D will be prepared
by 49erSalvatrucha on Oct 10, 2009 12:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't think Goldson will cover him
It’s an automatic mismatch, why would we do that when Lawson could cover him or even Willis. I think they will have Lawson spy Gonzalez and blitz Willis or Safety instead of letting Lawson rush passer all day. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put Roman or Lewis on Gonzalez. I hope not, but wouldn’t be surprised. I just don’t think we could afford to lose our deep help with Goldson when you have a VERY good QB throwing to 2 pretty good WR and a HOF TE. Just think we will need Goldson to help out and be a safety valve.
by hudd07 on Oct 10, 2009 12:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree im not worried about it. we will run zones and mix in some man. I have complete faith Lawson can cover him and when he does we still have haroldson and even ray Micky D’s smith and Brooks and even willis to bring pressure. plus safty blitzes. we gotta remember its not like Lawson has 8 sacks this year and is our only sack threat. Plus i would even feel comfortable with Willis in coverage on passing downs as well. i think he is undervauled there. we will be just fine on D
by ShaneO on Oct 10, 2009 1:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Willis does a lot in coverage and I can guarantee you he will be in coverage on Tony.
by jonesin25 on Oct 10, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No worry
Our secondary is one the better ones in the league. I have no worries about their ability to cover WRs. I also read that Atlanta is the only team to not have a pass completion beyond 30 yards. Since Ryan has been sacked so few times, I’m guessing that they prefer quick/shorter routes and thus are not a big play team. Recalling last year, it seemed most of their big plays came from the running game so shutting that down is the priority.
Lastly, in rewatching the Rams game, the usually kept a RB and/or TE in to block when in the shotgun, thus they only had four or as few as three receivers in a pattern. Perhaps our pass rush ability has teams preparing to keep in extra blockers which will slow our rush but limit a QBs options. Something to watch for tomorrow.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
by SpurredOn on Oct 10, 2009 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Since bringing Spikes on
This team just kills the TE. I noticed this while playing fantasy football. At some point last season, I just started benching my TEs against the Niners, and always ended up being glad I did. Willis, Lawson, Spikes, they can all play in space and play well.
I like Goldson a lot. I think he flies to the ball well and has a knack for making plays. He was a safety in college, and when Mike Nolan drafted him I remember reading him say he thought Goldson had the skills to play corner in the League, which is why Niner fans were forced to endure two seasons of Mark Roman at starting FS, while Goldson was apparently trying to learn the nuances of NFL cornerback play. A move back to his natural position seems to have suited him well, and I think particularly in this week’s game you’ll see him play that defensive Swiss Army Knife role of a safety. You will probably see him, at one point or another this weekend:
1. Cover Tony Gonzalez one-on-one
2. Cover Tony Gonzalez as help for or with help from a linebacker in a variety of different packages
3. Cover the receiving RBs out of the backfield (of which Michael Turner is not one)
4. Help on both WRs, over the top and across the middle
5. Come up in the box and make open-field tackles on Michael Turner for short gains
6. Blitz occasionally
Going into this year I felt the Niners’ two biggest deficiencies on defense were at FS and NT. I now feel that Goldson has solved one of those problems.
Don't worry about me Thurgood, I'll be fine. The robbery is what's important now.
by the guy on Oct 10, 2009 2:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't think you will see Goldson covering Gonzalez
He needs to stay back and do his normal safety duties. Our linebackers are good enough to cover Gonzalez. Unless he starts picking them apart some how, you may see some adjustments then, but unless that happens I don’t think there will be some elaborate game plan to stop him.
by jonesin25 on Oct 10, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As rlott#42 points out a little further on
It wouldn’t be “some elaborate plan,” just that they will cover him by scheme and not by individual.
Don't worry about me Thurgood, I'll be fine. The robbery is what's important now.
by the guy on Oct 11, 2009 1:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
fantasy
I base a lot of my opinions on how good a team or player is based on fantasy football too. That’s kinda funny because we probably shouldn’t because it’s not the most reliable indicator, Shaun Hill is a perfect example, but hard not to.
by hudd07 on Oct 10, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's useful in certain situations
Especially gauging how good a team is at defending the skill positions. If a team is giving up a healthy amount of fantasy points per game to a specific position, they’re having trouble defending against it in real life. If they’re a bad matchup for a certain position because they’ve been limiting points from it, they must be doing something right. For example: Niners against TEs, good. Texans against RBs, bad. Vikings against RBs, good. Titans against WRs, bad. Rams against everyone, bad. You get the idea.
Don't worry about me Thurgood, I'll be fine. The robbery is what's important now.
by the guy on Oct 11, 2009 1:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is our week spot
No not defending tight ends. Instead, its the underneath spots in the zone. Gonzalez has made a living off finding the holes in the zone. If our defense has a weak spot, its in zone coverage.
We need to spy on Gonzalez. The CB’s will need to stay off in order to allow the middle to be played aggressively. Look for the Falcons to go outside early if the middle is not open; that includes over the top and underneath.
If we can be Creative on blitzes we should be able to minimize this problem. Blitzes from the edge would be most effective.
by goatfather on Oct 10, 2009 5:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
TE Statistics Against 49ers So Far This Season
have 10 catches for 89 yards. Now i know that they are nowhere near the level of Tony Gonzalez but Carleson and Shiancoe are pretty good TE’s. I don’t see him being that much of an issue, especially if we can stop the run. If this happens then it will put more pressure on Ryan and allow the coverage LB’s to step back in coverage and take Gonzalez out of the game.
The better question is who will guard Vernon Davis? Falcon fans are high on Curtis Lofton and Mike Peterson but i don’t see either as being able to cover Davis and if they want former CAL standout Thomas Decoud to cover Davis then it will be a field day for the TE. I see that as the larger question.
Our need on defense is to stop Michael Turner running the ball and have Clements shut down the under performing Roddy White. If that can happen the Gonzalez thing will take care of itself between the hashes.
"I Would Call It Futbal, but we have the nukes"
by nocal81 on Oct 10, 2009 6:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Gonzales is a super star, and I expect him to have more than a few catches....
but the way our D swarms and tackles, I don’t expect him to get too many yards after the catch.
I don’t think we’ll shut TG down, but we should be able to contain him.
by Krowley on Oct 10, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Willis I think will draw the coverage duties on Gonzo. I think Willis will do alright.
But in the past 12 years few teams have shut down #88. He catches hundreds of extra balls a day outside of practice in his training regimen, even during the off-season. No 9 all time receiver and not just talking about TE’s. Gonzalez routinely catches passes in double coverage.
But there is one way to stop him – if his team doesn’t throw to him. Last week the Falcons only targeted him twice vs NE. If that is again the game plan, Niners will certainly win.
by WarWolf on Oct 10, 2009 10:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is why our defense is successful.
They will play Gonzalez by scheme and not by individual. He will get his stats and possibly a touchdown, our biggest need is to stop TURNER.
"Optimist Prime"
Come along and ride the muthaship!
by rlott#42 on Oct 10, 2009 10:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I Agree
I think that we will see Lawson, Willis, Goldson and Spikes rotating into coverage on Gonzalez. We will mix up the scheme and attempt to confuse the coverage and therefore Matt Ryan’s 2nd and 3rd read. See rarely is a TE a first read, Gonzalez has been the occasional 1st read, by mixing up the coverage and alternating the schemes this will allow the pressure to affect Ryan’s reads and cause incomplete passes and sacks. At least this is what i expect Singletary and Manusky to do. The problem with the is that the Falcons are probably game planning for this and Ryan is extremely cool in the pocket while as mentioned above Gonzalez is one of the best TE’s ever.
"I Would Call It Futbal, but we have the nukes"
by nocal81 on Oct 10, 2009 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He didn't fair well against the 3-4 against the Pats, hopefully not seeing the 3-4 D
Will be the 1 up on their Offense our defense will need, since our offense is unpredictable.
"Optimist Prime"
Come along and ride the muthaship!
by rlott#42 on Oct 11, 2009 1:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
FYI...
49ers defense is 8th in DVOA vs. TE…and 2nd in yards per attempt vs. TE.
they’re worst vs. other team’s #1 WR and RBs…so, key to the game is clements containing roddy white and LBs containing norwood on screens and checkdowns.
by Florida Danny on Oct 10, 2009 11:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
oops...i meant...
their statistical weaknesses (aka “worst” for SF’s D) are vs. #1 WRs (18th) and RBs (27th)…didn’t mean that they’re ranked 32nd (aka “worst” in the NFL).
by Florida Danny on Oct 10, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What #1's have had good numbers?
Who’s the no. 1 in Ari, Sea, Minn., and StL….is it based on numbers or is it the guy going into the season. I thought Rice and Fitz were the only that scored on us. Is Rice the No. 1 in Minnesota?
"Optimist Prime"
Come along and ride the muthaship!
by rlott#42 on Oct 11, 2009 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tom Jackson said...
Patrick Willis is going to shut down Turner, cover Gonzalez, and sack Ryan
… I agree
If I gotta play, I'm gonna play 'till I win,
Since I gotta be here, I can´t wait to begin
by albertoleecho on Oct 11, 2009 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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