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https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/lists/3-matchups-cowboys-49ers-2023-week-5/
Key Matchup No. 1: WR Brandon Aiyuk vs CB DaRon Bland (and company)
San Francisco is loaded with weapons. With Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffery, they can gash a defense a number of different ways at a number of different levels. But if there’s one weapon that must be keyed on and eliminated from the equation, it’s their big play machine on the outside.
In 20 targets downfield, Aiyuk has turned 17 of them into touchdowns or first down receptions. He’s not a volume receiver, rather he’s an impact receiver. He has game-breaking speed and efficiency that’s unmatched in the NFL right now.
Micah Parsons is the arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. Not only is he leading the NFL in pressure rate, but he’s doing it as a movable piece bouncing right, left and even inside. The Cowboys can and will deploy Parsons from a variety of different locations on Sunday night, but the place he will likely feast most often is on the left side of the defense, facing off against McKivitz, San Francisco’s RT. Trent Williams at LT is playing on an island and the 49ers are shifting most assistance to McKivitz at RT. Parsons has dominated all over the field and has shown double-teams do little to slow him down.
What double-teams do is they open opportunities for others in one-on-one situations. This is the “superstar effect” and a reason Parsons is worth more than his pure numbers indicate. Flying under the radar here is the man who lines up next to McKivitz, Spencer Buford. The San Francisco RG is having a tough season as well and at 34.3 percent, it’s Buford who actually accounts for the highest percentage of the pressures the 49ers have allowed this season.
It’s hard not to get excited about Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa running twists against the starboard side of the San Francisco line on Sunday.
This matchup assumes a few things and probably comes as a surprise. Nick Bosa, one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, plays for the 49ers. He’s playing at a level right now few players have reached, and much like Parsons on the Cowboys, Bosa can flip a game singlehandedly. Bosa is likely to matchup on Dallas’ Terence Steele most of the day. The Cowboys RT has struggled in pass protection this season and appears to be a weak link on the edge. So why not Bosa vs Steele instead of Smith vs Ferrell?Because Steele will get help.
As discussed earlier this week, Smith is left alone on an island more than most tackles in the NFL. While other tackles get routine assistance from TEs, WRs, and RBs, Smith is taking care of business by himself. Since it’s extremely difficult to lend assistance to both offensive tackles on the same play, the Cowboys need Smith to be his usual dominant self over on Dak Prescott’s blindside. That will allow them to routinely shift help over to Bosa and give Prescott the time he needs in the pocket. Of course, this assumes Smith stays on target to start the game on Sunday. He’s been out the last two weeks and only Thursday started practicing.
Because Steele will get help.
Key Matchup No. 1: WR Brandon Aiyuk vs CB DaRon Bland (and company)
San Francisco is loaded with weapons. With Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffery, they can gash a defense a number of different ways at a number of different levels. But if there’s one weapon that must be keyed on and eliminated from the equation, it’s their big play machine on the outside.
In 20 targets downfield, Aiyuk has turned 17 of them into touchdowns or first down receptions. He’s not a volume receiver, rather he’s an impact receiver. He has game-breaking speed and efficiency that’s unmatched in the NFL right now.
Key Matchup No. 2: EDGE Micah Parsons vs RT Colton McKivitz
Micah Parsons is the arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. Not only is he leading the NFL in pressure rate, but he’s doing it as a movable piece bouncing right, left and even inside. The Cowboys can and will deploy Parsons from a variety of different locations on Sunday night, but the place he will likely feast most often is on the left side of the defense, facing off against McKivitz, San Francisco’s RT. Trent Williams at LT is playing on an island and the 49ers are shifting most assistance to McKivitz at RT. Parsons has dominated all over the field and has shown double-teams do little to slow him down.
What double-teams do is they open opportunities for others in one-on-one situations. This is the “superstar effect” and a reason Parsons is worth more than his pure numbers indicate. Flying under the radar here is the man who lines up next to McKivitz, Spencer Buford. The San Francisco RG is having a tough season as well and at 34.3 percent, it’s Buford who actually accounts for the highest percentage of the pressures the 49ers have allowed this season.
It’s hard not to get excited about Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa running twists against the starboard side of the San Francisco line on Sunday.
Key Matchup No. 3: Tyron Smith vs Clelin Ferrell
This matchup assumes a few things and probably comes as a surprise. Nick Bosa, one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, plays for the 49ers. He’s playing at a level right now few players have reached, and much like Parsons on the Cowboys, Bosa can flip a game singlehandedly. Bosa is likely to matchup on Dallas’ Terence Steele most of the day. The Cowboys RT has struggled in pass protection this season and appears to be a weak link on the edge. So why not Bosa vs Steele instead of Smith vs Ferrell?Because Steele will get help.
As discussed earlier this week, Smith is left alone on an island more than most tackles in the NFL. While other tackles get routine assistance from TEs, WRs, and RBs, Smith is taking care of business by himself. Since it’s extremely difficult to lend assistance to both offensive tackles on the same play, the Cowboys need Smith to be his usual dominant self over on Dak Prescott’s blindside. That will allow them to routinely shift help over to Bosa and give Prescott the time he needs in the pocket. Of course, this assumes Smith stays on target to start the game on Sunday. He’s been out the last two weeks and only Thursday started practicing.
Because Steele will get help.
