Where the Rams defense is vulnerable

If the 49ers are going to get a win on Sunday, a lot of things are going to have to go their way. Nick Mullens is going to have to avoid his customary backbreaking interception, the the offensive line is going to have to at least slow down Aaron Donald, and the running game is going to have to break tackles to make some explosive plays. If those things happen, there’s one weakness in the Rams’ defense that aligns perfect with the strength of the 49ers’ offense. Pro Football Focus’s Sosa Kremenjas joined myself and Kyle Posey on today’s podcast to explain.

“I look at the middle of the field,” Sosa said, “I look at the linebackers and getting those guys out in space, throwing the ball to running backs trying to get them out in space one on one against backups. If there’s one area I would attack, I’m looking at the middle of the field.”

If there’s one spot on the field that Kyle Shanahan knows how to attack, it’s the middle of the field. San Francisco practically lived there all of last season and, frankly, most of this year as well.

If the reinforcements of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk can actually play in this game, Nick Mullens will have plenty of opportunity to put up some numbers if Kremenjas is right about his assessment of LA’s defense.

To hear the rest of the conversation about the game, including how the Rams will attack the 49ers and why Fred Warner could totally disrupt Sean McVay’s game plan, take a listen to the rest of the preview podcast, which you can find right here on this page or wherever you get your podcasts.