49ers Vs. Cardinals: Dealing With Larry Fitzgerald And Early Doucet

by David Fucillo on Nov 17, 2011 9:01 AM PST in Preview

Over the last few years when the San Francisco 49ers have played the Arizona Cardinals, it has often seemed like the 49ers do a fairly decent job of containing wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. He does OK against them, but few big games stick out in my head. It has helped that the 49ers have won four straight against the Cardinals, with the Cardinals last getting into double digits against the 49ers in September 2009.

Nate Clements was the guy who often drew the Fitzgerald assignment, and for some reason even as he struggled against other receivers, Clements seemed to step up his game when it came to Fitzgerald. Now that Clements is gone, it will be interesting to see how the 49ers elect to cover Fitzgerald on Sunday. I suspect we will see them roll a safety over to double him. Last night on VERSUS NFL Turning Point show, they spoke with Eli Manning leading up to the last week's game and he mentioned the 49ers tendency to roll a safety over to double a particular receiver. They doubled Hakeem Nicks for stretches of time last week, and I'd be pretty surprised if the 49ers didn't double Fitzgerald this week.

That places a lot more pressure on wide receiver Early Doucet. The fourth-year receiver is finally emerging after struggling in the shadows his first three seasons. He is on pace for 64 receptions, 820 yards and seven touchdowns. It isn't spectacular, but as the Eagles can attest, Doucet can bite you when you least expect it.

The 49ers mix and match their cornerbacks with receivers so we could see a mix of Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown and Chris Culliver matching up with Doucet. While Cardinals QB John Skelton will have to look out for the double coverage on Fitzgerald, I'd imagine much of the time he can simply chuck it up to his big receiver. If the 49ers continue their dominance against the run game, Fitzgerald and Doucet will be the focus for the rest of the defense.

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Tarell Brown

QBs continue to pick on him game after game and it worries me every Sunday. He is an OK nickel corner in my book. They need to keep that safety over the top to help him all game, and not blitz, or he will be burned (again).

I sincerely hope they go for a corner in the top two rounds in April, even if Cully developes well. Three good corners are needed in this league nowadays.

by madmatt on Nov 17, 2011 9:25 AM PST reply actions

When a team has one extremely dangerous threat

You really want to cover them with 3 guys without having to actually put 3 guys on him.

Put Brown or Culliver on him and force an inside release every play. Outside or inside linebacker on that side has responsibility to get in the underneath passing lanes to prevent any quick catch and runs and always have a safety over the top to double deep or be ready to come lay the wood on any 12-15 yard route.

Put your best cover man, in our case Rogers, on Early Doucet and give him nothing all day. Andre Roberts and Chansey Stuckey aren’t going to beat us — with their line if they are looking to a 3rd or 4th read the pressure is there.

by Ougadas on Nov 17, 2011 9:32 AM PST reply actions

Agree, great analysis

Jim Harbaugh doesn't just WANT winners, he MAKES them!

by Adusoron on Nov 17, 2011 10:23 AM PST up reply actions

I seem to remember it being Spencer who fared really well against Fitz, at least he always played better against him than anyone else. Maybe Clements did this as well?

As often is this case, I could be wrong here.

by Virginia9er on Nov 17, 2011 10:14 AM PST reply actions

We posted this almost simultaneously but

I’m almost positive your spot on

by Justin Heim on Nov 17, 2011 10:16 AM PST up reply actions

Clements vs. Spencer

Maybe it was both? I say this because I thought the running joke was that Clements struggled all the time, except for when he faced Larry.

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by David Fucillo on Nov 17, 2011 10:27 AM PST up reply actions

Yea it is quite possible they both had a hand in it. Just going from memory.

The 9ers as a group have had so much success against the Cards the last few years, everyone has played better in these games at some point.

by Virginia9er on Nov 17, 2011 10:50 AM PST up reply actions

no

It was Clements that usually drew the primary responsibility on Fitzgerald. Since neither Nate or Larry possessed top-end speed, and both are very physical players, Nate was an excellent man coverage corner against Larry.

You are probably thinking of the 2009 MNF game. Clements was on IR due to a broken collarbone. Spencer covered Fitzgerald and did a fantastic job. I also remember that Goldson had over-the-top responsibilities too because he laid the wood on Fitzgerald and even intercepted a pass.

The advantage Clements provided was he could go 1 on1 with Fitzgerald and the defense was fine. With our current corners (with the possible exception of Rogers), I think Fitzgerald will be too physically dominant to just go 1 on 1.

Jim Harbaugh doesn't just WANT winners, he MAKES them!

by Adusoron on Nov 17, 2011 10:27 AM PST up reply actions

Spencer

He didn’t start full-time until 2009. In 2007 and 2008, Walt Harris played opposite to Clements and usually drew the responsibility of covering Anquan Boldin.

Jim Harbaugh doesn't just WANT winners, he MAKES them!

by Adusoron on Nov 17, 2011 10:31 AM PST up reply actions

Fooch

I’m pretty sure it was Shawntae Spencer who drew Fitzgerald most of the time with Clements on occasion. The usual reasoning Shawntae was thought to play so well was because 1) they played together at Pitt so he was very familiar with Larry and 2) because he is so physical with him which really seems to be the trick. Which would make sense as to why clements did well too because the trick to defending Larry seems to be extreme physicality at the line messing with his release, which is one thing Nate was good at.

by Justin Heim on Nov 17, 2011 10:15 AM PST reply actions

Spencer

He was a better than average CB when healthy. We thought he was btter than Clements for two years running. If he’s healthy maybe he should get a crack at being the #2 CB? I think most of the reason he isn’t playing is because he’s still not 100%.

For his first few years he was quite injury prone. But then he had a few years of playing every game and looking good. If he’s healthy now it would be inbteresting to see what he could do instead of Tarell.

I also think Brown is not playing badly at all. But he is the weak link in a strong chain.

by Since79 on Nov 17, 2011 10:27 AM PST reply actions

Spencer

It’s tough to tell how he’ll work his way back into the rotation in part because as you said, Brown is not playing that badly. He isn’t perfect, but he’s not awful. I’m kinda glad Spencer is signed for one more year. See if they can get him through camp healthy next year and competing with Brown and Culliver.

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by David Fucillo on Nov 17, 2011 10:29 AM PST up reply actions

Brown

His advantage is his speed. He can keep up with speedy receivers so he provides a lot of value against receivers like DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith, etc.

Also, our coaching staff is pretty sharp. If they are starting Brown over Spencer, it’s because they are more impressed with Brown than we are. Or, Spencer is more hurt than anyone is letting on!

Jim Harbaugh doesn't just WANT winners, he MAKES them!

by Adusoron on Nov 17, 2011 10:30 AM PST reply actions

Is Todd Heap going to be in the game?

He might be an important option for Skelton if he’s playing.
Beanie Wells is not considered a good backfield receiver (just another point for consideration).

French fries are really Belgian, sausages and bagels have the same amount of protein, two countries' names mean "turkey", and Santa Claus was invented by the Coca-Cola company. Is life weird or what?

Debe ser verde y volante - Πράσινο και να πετάει - It's gotta be green and it's gotta fly!

by Rabbit T on Nov 17, 2011 12:44 PM PST reply actions

Ftitzgerald lines up in the slot, right?

Correct me if this is wrong, but doesn’t that mean that Brown will not have much to with him, since Brown lines up at rcb, and that typically either Carlos or Culliver will be covering him with safety help.

by zacksf on Nov 17, 2011 12:50 PM PST reply actions