49ers Vs. Giants, NFC Championship: Victor Cruz Can Hurt San Francisco With The YAC
by James Brady on Jan 20, 2012 3:00 PM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
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Maybe I'm buying into hype and falling into some kind of trap, but all I can bring myself to think about when I consider matchup possibilities between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers is the Giants' group of receivers up against the 49ers' secondary. I've set out to write several pieces about the game, and even though I've come to focus on certain things like the elevated play of Carlos Rogers or the worrying play of Chris Culliver, it always centers around their receivers.
But I am starting to soften a little bit. I base a lot of my respect for the Giants receivers on games where they played poor against a poor secondary or a team that didn't know how to tackle. They were wildly impressive against the Green Bay Packers, but the Packers are absolutely hopeless in that regard. So maybe I am overreacting a little bit to the challenge presented, but I do want to touch up on one thing that absolutely can't happen: missed tackles.
It's true the 49ers are a group of sure tacklers, but within the secondary and notably the safety position, "hard tacklers," is a better term. It also means that big plays can be given up, something we saw against the New Orleans Saints that, really, almost cost us the game. We haven't touched up on it much because, hey, the 49ers offense came back to win the game for us. While that's great and I consider it a coming-out party for them and I expect better production from here on out, it's not something we can really depend on.
The 49ers need to be tackling well on Sunday, not just hard. Victor Cruz is one guy to specifically keep an eye on in this regard. If the 49ers give him a chance, he'll beat them every time. Cruz is No. 6 in the entire NFL in yards after catch this season, with just under 600 yards after catching the football. One potential weak spot for him to exploit is Chris Culliver, who has been known to bite on things like curl routes and quick routes that could give Cruz time to catch the ball, adjust, and go for it.
He also was beat a good amount of times by the Giants' receivers in the first meeting (namely Mario Manningham). I don't think I need to remind you that the Giants would almost assuredly have won that gave if Eli Manning didn't overthrow his target on deep balls to the endzone twice. Culliver was the guy defending on both of those plays. I'm not saying he's bad by any stretch of the imagination - he's actually surprised me this year - but the 49ers as a whole need to keep plays in front of them on Sunday, above all else.
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I picture every member of the team playing the game of their life thus far.
Not a worry in my mind. Things will happen undoubtedly. Short memories will prevail. Let’s Go Niners!
"I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!. You ready? Here come the PAIN."
At least these guys have our back...
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Who’s got it better than us? NOOOOBODY !!!!
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
by Pat Willie on Jan 20, 2012 3:09 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Make no mistake, fellow 49ers fans.
Winning on Sunday will require our Niners to play their absolute best game of the season. New York deserves to be where they are now. Overall, they are a better team than the Saints, with a better and balanced defense, and only a slightly-less lethal QB. Beating Eli Manning twice in one season is damn near impossible. Most “experts” out there think the January 2012 Giants are playing the best football of anyone left in the playoffs, and it would be hard to argue. It would be a huge mistake to think that anything they did in Week 10 has any bearing on this game.
That said, I think the 49ers win and go the Super Bowl! I’m just warning a few of my friends who think it will be a cake-walk.
Definitely not going to be a cake walk.. But I definitely like our chances...
that’s what I heard about the Saints last week " are playing the best football of anyone left in the playoffs" and look what happened..
"You have to reinvent yourself each year, ... What helped us was that there was some turnover each year." Bill Walsh...
Very true.
I like our chances too, which is why I have faith that we’ll ultimately have at least 1 point more than them when the clock shows zeroes.
I’ve just seen a few too many fans overly cocky (though not nearly as many as giants fans this week). I have absolutely no prediction on how this game will play out. It seems to be two fairly-well matched teams, but could just as easily be a 10-7 game as a 35-32 game. Or a blowout one way or the other. I have no clue. I’m just going to sit back and try not to have a heart attack like I almost did against the Saints. GO NINERS!
On behalf of Giants fans,
thank you for the respect. And I would like to extend the same to you. Your team is outstanding and deserves all the success they have had this year. Conrats on having your QB grow into a winner, no better feeling in the world than when you know you have a winner at the most important position in sports.
Sorry if you have seen alot of disrespect for your team. Hopefully not at BBV. Can’t wait for the game….
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
All I know
is San Francisco deserves to be where we are now.
Go Niners!
"One game at a time. Let's just keep it rolling." Justin Smith
Culliver is definitely struggling
And will be targeted… again. And those receivers are just plain good. Nothing to do with bad secondaries, they’ve got two bonafide #1 receivers (both probably top 10 in football) and a strong #2 as their #3, and they’re brutal to match up with. The good news is 3WRs mean Aldon Friggin Smith, and more Aldon Friggin Smith means more pressure and possibly more turnovers.
Regardless, IMO Alex and the offense need to play even better this week than they did against the Saints, which means more third down conversions with a similar number of big plays and degree of success in the red zone.
I genuinely think we will pull it off. My prediction: 49ers 32, Giants 28.
I doubt it's that high-scoring. New Orleans was an anomaly, these defenses are really good.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter
call it a hunch
my thinking is that eli will be very difficult to slow down, and our ol is going to have a good game in both phases.
of course i have very little confidence in this view- too emotionally wrapped up in the game methinks- so i could be totally off base. till Sunday!
Culliver was playing last week with a 101 degree fever, stomach cramps & the chills..
"You have to reinvent yourself each year, ... What helped us was that there was some turnover each year." Bill Walsh...
yea, just saw that
no doubt that was a factor.
he’s seemed less confident/decisive for a few weeks now then earlier in the season. would love him to step up though. he seems to have skills.
Disagree.
I think he has been playing very well. The completions he gave up last week were to perfect throws on the part of Brees. He has consistently been matched up with the opposing teams best WR which is a tough task for a rookie and he has been up to the challenge.
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Jan 21, 2012 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
I have faith in the Niners ability to wrap up
And deny the YAC. I do see the possibility of big plays for the Giants in Hakeem Nicks winning jump balls down field or Cruz just running straight past Carlos Rogers out of the slot.
"My father's name is art, and my name's pride, and while my destiny reads a recipe for confusion I'm looking for whoever writes, so empty inside." -Slug
Pass Rush and O line!
That all this game comes down to. Can our O line stop the Giants and can their O line stop the Niners. Whoever falters in that category loses. If neither team gets pressure then will come down to who’s offense is more effective. Given our special teams gives us great field positon and them long field position, I like our odds their too!!!
Preventing YAC is the Niners specialty. They keep receivers in front of them
and tackle well. This should not be our worry.
If someone can find the stats, I’d love to see the Niners’ defensive YAC compared to the rest of the league.
Stats
This is regular season …. #52 allowed an average of 3.5 YAC. #22 = 5.5 / #25 =3.6 / #31 = 4.2 / #53 = 5.8 / # 29= 2.9 / #38 = 7.8. So Goldman has allowed the highest average YAC and Cully has allowed by far the lowest.
I got this from the pre-Saints game analysis by Danny Tuccitto. For more, see…
http://www.ninersnation.com/2012/1/14/2706380/49ers-saints-statistical-preview
"I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!. You ready? Here come the PAIN."
I think there's a lot of psychological warfare going on here, folks.
The NY media is managing to talk up the Giants and get a few people scared by taking a narrow focus on the Giants’ few(er) strenths. They’re amplifying and exaggerating certain aspects of the game. Don’t let them get to you- the Niners ARE the better team in this game. Bear down and do what you need to do to remember that.
True, have you heard one mention of special teams this entire week? Talk about overlooking, at least in the media. I can’t say I’ve followed the Giants in that regard, but I still think the Niners have an advantage there.
I’ve heard a lot about the Smiths, but yeah not about the unit as a whole. I’ve only seen one article mention the Giants’ O-line as “patchwork” this year. Oh well, fortunately there won’t be anything more to say once the Niners start flying and hitting lights out this Sunday!
They make it sound as if you'd rather have the Giants' D than the Niners'
despite all of the Niners’ depth in that unit.
The Niners have like 8 Pro-Bowl-worthy defenders. You could sit there all day and talk about them, but, no, let’s talk about four guys on the Giants.
It really has gotten kind of absurd.
Outside of their passing offense and pass-rush, every other element of their team is mediocre. Run offense, run D, LBs, DBs, and special teams are all average to below-average.
"My father's name is art, and my name's pride, and while my destiny reads a recipe for confusion I'm looking for whoever writes, so empty inside." -Slug
harsh assessment.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
It is, and probably overly so.
My most heinous exclusion being Boley. I didn’t realize what a great season he had. But I still think the OLBs and DBs are really nothing special.
"My father's name is art, and my name's pride, and while my destiny reads a recipe for confusion I'm looking for whoever writes, so empty inside." -Slug
Check out Cweb, #23.
He might impress you.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
I am utterly confident
Our coaches have shown the ability to have this team more than ready every week. We have so many strengths, and very few weaknesses. We earned this game, and I think everyone will step up.
My observations
I’m not concerned with NYG’s WRs IMO our biggests tests come from the TE spot. In the last game vs NYG Ballard was having a field day hence the jam @ the end by Willis. The Nicks TD was more of a bad call & poor execution blitzing Dash. I’m feeling confident.
by 49ers_Lakers_Yankees on Jan 20, 2012 4:14 PM PST reply actions
Agreed about the WRs
I am impressed by Cruz, Manningham and Nicks, but I don’t view them quite as highly as many others do. They are extremely fast, but all three are similar players from what I’ve seen.
Ballard will be a tough matchup, as several TEs have proven in these playoffs. Jacobs will be tremendously difficult to control, as he’s on one hell of a roll the last few weeks. More than most games, this matchup will truly be won or lost in the trenches. I think by far our most important unit will be our O-line. They will have to collectively play the game of their lives, though it will likely go unnoticed by the national media.
I'm sorry, but you couldn't be more wrong about the receivers being similar players.
If you like, check out “Ask a Giants Fan” thread. Someone there did a nice little scouting report on them and it was accurate.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
Ballards injured and is doubtful for the game
Even if he does play, he won’t be at 100%
Rule #1) If you hate Joe Buck, watch this www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkCSZKbyL94
Rule #2) Follow rule #1
Probably the case.
He has been dealing with a knee issue for more than a month now. He even had fluid drained this week or something. Giants aren’t being specific about what was done, calling it a “procedure.”
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
Really?
You think Ballard is more dangerous than Cruz, Nicks, and Manningham? They’re one of the top WR corps in the league.
"It might be time to give Alex some credit, huh?" - Harbaugh
He's not, like you said.
He just made a few nice catches against you guys in week 10. If he is healthy enough to get open, Eli will find him a few times.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
Guys, I've got some good news
Rex Ryan picked the Giants to win.
Automatic win for us.
Rule #1) If you hate Joe Buck, watch this www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkCSZKbyL94
Rule #2) Follow rule #1
by mtl9ers14 on Jan 20, 2012 4:25 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I've been watching ESPN and NFL Net all day
The only analysts I’ve seen pick the 9ers are Jamie Dukes and special guest Jerry Rice. Hopefully this has our team amped up to prove the naysayers wrong for the fifteenth time this year. If you just watched the media and didn’t know anything about the regular season, you’d swear the Giants finished 16-0 and we scraped in at 8-8. What a joke. I hope we destroy them. Go NINERS!
by ZivilynBane on Jan 20, 2012 4:26 PM PST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Noticed that too
Hardly no1 picked us against NO I like it.
by 49ers_Lakers_Yankees on Jan 20, 2012 4:35 PM PST up reply actions
Yes. He picked us against the Saints, too.
He usually picks us and then talks about how much he hates us and how we suck after we win.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter
He just does it to be different
extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."
by Badly Browned on Jan 20, 2012 4:51 PM PST up reply actions
OH
Didn’t know no NFL network in my area stupid Time Warner Cable ha ha
by 49ers_Lakers_Yankees on Jan 20, 2012 5:09 PM PST up reply actions
Colin Cowherd picked the Giants.. Said we were a one season hit wonder... what a douche
"You have to reinvent yourself each year, ... What helped us was that there was some turnover each year." Bill Walsh...
Just the one season huh?
Then are all our Pro Bowl players are going to suddenly forget how to play football? It’s not like we rely heavily on any one guy that may not play all next year. Even without Patrick Willis we still had a dominant defense. We might drop a little if Justin Smith loses power, but is that really likely?
It’s like just anybody with a mouth-hole can make predictions based on their rooster’s ass or something.
"I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that."
--Jerry Rice
His name is "Colin *Cowherd*"
I think that pretty much says it all.
Brian Baldinger, Mike Golic, and Heinz Ward picked the Niners also.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
And this is the game that Crabtree shows us what he really is all about...
No excuses, no drops, no fear…..JUST BRING IT MICHAEL !
Good luck with that.
I remember that Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Kenny Brit, and someone else were all picked before Hakeem Nicks in the first round 2009. Do you remember which pick Crabs was nabbed at?
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
10th pick.
The name your missing is DHB at #7.
"It might be time to give Alex some credit, huh?" - Harbaugh
the dude with the bong?
"You have to reinvent yourself each year, ... What helped us was that there was some turnover each year." Bill Walsh...
Saw a stat on ESPN
that the Niners were the best this year at limiting YAC (like only giving up 1 yard after contact per hit)….against the Saints, it was even less at .5 YAC
Interesting
Considering the two late TDs lol
extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."
by Badly Browned on Jan 20, 2012 5:30 PM PST up reply actions
Well Sproles was never really touched
and I am not sure if Graham was either, considering Whitner when for the ball and not that tackle, so I don’t think they count
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 20, 2012 5:32 PM PST up reply actions
YAC stands for Yards After Catch not contact.
So I highly doubt that those numbers are correct.
"It might be time to give Alex some credit, huh?" - Harbaugh
True but it's usually Yards After Catch.
Either way, those numbers look pretty low.
"It might be time to give Alex some credit, huh?" - Harbaugh
See my post above
"I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!. You ready? Here come the PAIN."
Well it came straight from ESPN, I'm sure they usually check their facts before saying them on TV
But I believe they were referring to the Niners tackling, like after first contact, meaning the Niners rarely miss tackles when they hit someone
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 21, 2012 7:42 AM PST up reply actions
Yes.
We had the best tackling percentage in the regular season. I think it was about 95%.
"It might be time to give Alex some credit, huh?" - Harbaugh
The numbers might be right.
But BSPN does get things wrong. Way more often than they should
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
I found this from nfl.com
49ers defense, 2011
Plays of 0 yards after catch – 75 – 2nd
"It might be time to give Alex some credit, huh?" - Harbaugh
For running backs it's..
Yards after contact.
FIRE Perry Fewell
by bleedblue12 on Jan 21, 2012 1:16 PM PST via Android app up reply actions
Stupid stat
We all watched the game. We know that the Niners played hard-nosed defense and were great when it came to tackling and not giving up that many hards in run after catches.
But those two late TDs by the Saints were bad. It all got washed away in the euphoria of victory, but two TDs gashing right through the middle of the defense? Bad.
Kudos to Sproles for being fast as **** and Graham for being a gigantic freak, but our D has to be able to stop passes like that late in the game. At the very least, those guys have to be tackled after they make the catches.
All water under the bridge and yes, we won the game, but let’s not pretend we can have two breakdowns like that and expect to win every week. We need to tighten that up and play for the full 60 instead of just 55.
Now probably a big part of it was that the 49ers offense played pretty poorly in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, causing the defense to have to be out on the field for a long time. They kept us in the game for a long time while our offense looked pretty incompetent.
But we have to play better, if nothing else, to preserve my sanity. ;)
The offense just didn't keep the ball long enough.
You give the Saints that many chances, they’re going to get the massive plays no matter what you do.
That’s part of the problem I’ve had with Roman’s approach late in the game with leads- not in the Saints game in particular, but during the regular season sometimes it didn’t seem as if he took the OFFENSE’S responsibility to keep points off the board for the opponent seriously.
According to what I’ve been hearing most of the week, the NFL might as well just cancel the games this Sunday and put the Giants and Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Attack this day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. ~ Jack Harbaugh
If that happens
I bet there’s two minutes of dead air on ESPIN so they can all have a circle-jerk.
"My father's name is art, and my name's pride, and while my destiny reads a recipe for confusion I'm looking for whoever writes, so empty inside." -Slug
It is a bit ridiculous how the media is crowning the Giants already.
And when there is someone that is argueing for the Niners its Jamele against skip on ESPN. Also Jerry Rice picked the Niners when schlereth picked the Giants. What a surprise there!
What is Jerry Rice doing on TV?
I mean, love the guy, Hall of Famer, so many good football memories, best receiver that ever played the game, yada, yada, yada, but the dude has NOTHING TO SAY from a football analysis point of view. It’s all he can do to remember the names of the players he’s trying to talk about. He’ll make the most obvious of points and struggle to do even that.
I mean, c’mon, there are plenty of ex-NFLers out there who can give us some insights into the game. Jerry needs to find another line of work. Like golf.
GOAT
got a chance on Sirius NFL Radio a few years ago. He was very difficult to listen to and didn’t last long. I remember a caller called him the “king of the ah ah’s.” It was funny but I felt bad for the dude.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
And what is all this talk that the Giants are a more well rounded team?
I keep hearing that the Giants defense is not the Saints defense so look out. As if we are the Packers defense? Also I keep hearing how they blew the Packers out. 7 of those 37 points were a hail mary pass the niners certainly wont give up. 10 points is not a blowout.
Also
A lot of the Packers turnovers were when they were driving into Giants territory. They really shot themselves in the foot in that regard. There were at least a few field goals there. The last turnover, IIRC, was pretty deep in GB territory and by that time the defense had given up (mentally, at least), allowing the Giants to score their last TD pretty easily. So the game was a lot closer than the final score indicated.
Not to take anything away from the Giants. They went into Lambeau and beat the team with the best record in the NFL this season, something a lot of people said was impossible. I give them plenty of credit. But this ain’t the Packers with their ole defense. This is the smashmouth Niners D. A defense that already has handled the Giants offense and held it to 20 points.
In short, we got this!
The game was only as close as it was
because a fumble that was (I’m sure you must have seen it), wasn’t. Three plays later, TD. The Packers second TD came a few plays after a bogus roughing the passer call on Osi on third down kept a drive alive. They said it was helmet to helmet and it is obvious it wasn’t.
I’m just pointing these out to give you a little perspective. If you haven’t seen the plays, look them up on Google if you want. Decide for yourself. We beat them good, and it could have been alot worse for them.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
Hidden yardage.
I saw that be a huge reason the Giants won in Dallas 2007. Also saw it alot during the Parcells era. It is a major concern of mine.
"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson
No more score predictions...
I'd like to see Gore be the Gore we know and love.
When was his last 100 yard game, or touchdown for that matter? we need Gore to be healthy and give 110 percent on Sunday.
Let's giggity giggity Go 49ers!!!
by Kittles on Jan 20, 2012 9:17 PM PST via Android app reply actions
He's been hurt
Also, he’s simply not the back he used to be, as age and the accumulation of injuries has slowed him down.
All that said, he’s still very dangerous and very valuable, as his big run on the next-to-last TD drive in the Saints game showed, as well as his dump-off catches out of the backfield on the last
TD drive.
And he’s money on blitz pick-ups. But the future is Kendall Hunter. Right now Gore is sharing the carries and I think that will continue next season and Hunter will gradually become the featured back.
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