Cowboyny
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Great road win to start the playoff journey, but the 49ers are a whole different animal. They weren't a struggling team like the Bucs, believe they have won 11 straight games, where most of them have been blowouts. The most interesting stat I heard in last week's telecast, teams are 0-10 after they face the 49ers, this tells us everything we need to know, physical football team!
Offense
-The 49ers have one of the best front 7 in the entire league. Bosa is perhaps the biggest game wrecker in the league and should win the defensive MVP award. Armstead, Kinlaw are also very good. They usually don't blitz and rely on their front 4 to generate pressure. They are a heavy, zone coverage team. Fully expect to see that shell coverage that Dak has struggled with in the past, but really did well against it last week and against the Eagles.
-Consistently running the football is going to be a challenge, they are excellent in pursuit, especially when teams don't put a hat on every defender. Believe they are #2 against the run after Tenn, which we really struggling running the football against, although without Pollard. Can they have enough success on the ground, to keep their defense honest?
-The way to beat this 49er defense is through the air and attack their secondary. Both corners aren't considered elite and they really struggled against Metcalf last week. The safety from USC is extremely aggressive, but can be beaten in coverage. The Cowboys should been able to pass against them, if and a big if, they can hold up in protection. Expect to see them try to attack our left side of our OL. Their linebackers are very good, especially in coverage, but not that much better then what we faced against the Bucs.
-Dak must stay patient, take what is given and live for another series at times. It's ok to punt the football, don't force any passes and create short fields for their offense.
-Last year's game, the 49ers were too physical for the Cowboys OL to handle. The addition of Tyler Smith was to try to improve in this area. It was a very good sign that they held up last week against a very good front. The OL must match their physicality or it is going to be a tough day. Have to play clean, penalties killed them last yr. Controlling the time of possession will be key as well.
Defense
-They are absolutely loaded on this side of the football, except their rookie QB, who has yet to lose a game. Trent Williams is the best LT in football, McCaf. is an elite, dual purpose running back, the likes of Deebo, Kittle, Ayuk are the most physical, best yac receivers as a group in the league.
-Like we say often with this Cowboy Defense, they must be able to stop the run to have success. This is paramount against this team and their QB. Extremely well coached, where they sink up the run/pass the best in the league. Zone run concepts, involving a lot of misdirection has given this defense troubles in the past. This has to be a team effort and must win the early downs to have a chance. Lve/Diggs who have had that finesse/soft label at times, must play physical and attack this week.
-Their receivers might not have elite speed, outside of their back, but they have the ability to create huge runs after the catch. The Cowboys secondary has to tackle well and prevent those so called chunk plays. Quinn has a very interesting dilemma, does he pressure the QB and play man coverage, but leave his secondary out in space against these yac monsters or does he play zone coverage? How are they going to cover McCaf in the passing game? I might use a nickel corner on him, like they did with Lewis a few years ago playing Kamara. This is not a game you follow a receiver, Diggs did that last time and was forced to play a lot inside, when Deebo lined up in the backfield. Kearse assignment is about handling Kittles.
-Purdy has a lot of Tony Romo in his game, the good and perhaps the bad. He has tremendous feel inside the pocket and is very hard to corral. Plays with a lot of emotion. We have no idea who he will respond in a close game, as he really hasn't had to do that yet, we also don't know how he will respond after a bad interception. What I have seen, he sometimes likes to throw in tight windows that can be dangerous. Cowboys have to generate pressure and get their hits on him. Take away the chunk plays and force Purdy to beat us!
Special Teams
-Our special teams have been awful over the last month. I would roster both kickers, if Maher misses one makeable FG or extra point, he has to see the bench. Turpin has to become more of a factor as well.
I do believe the 49ers are the best team in the conference, but the biggest unknown is their QB. Can he have a rookie type of performance on this stage? Cowboys can win this game, but they have to tackle well and match the physicality that the 49ers will impose. Win this week and Super Bowl expectations become realistic.
Offense
-The 49ers have one of the best front 7 in the entire league. Bosa is perhaps the biggest game wrecker in the league and should win the defensive MVP award. Armstead, Kinlaw are also very good. They usually don't blitz and rely on their front 4 to generate pressure. They are a heavy, zone coverage team. Fully expect to see that shell coverage that Dak has struggled with in the past, but really did well against it last week and against the Eagles.
-Consistently running the football is going to be a challenge, they are excellent in pursuit, especially when teams don't put a hat on every defender. Believe they are #2 against the run after Tenn, which we really struggling running the football against, although without Pollard. Can they have enough success on the ground, to keep their defense honest?
-The way to beat this 49er defense is through the air and attack their secondary. Both corners aren't considered elite and they really struggled against Metcalf last week. The safety from USC is extremely aggressive, but can be beaten in coverage. The Cowboys should been able to pass against them, if and a big if, they can hold up in protection. Expect to see them try to attack our left side of our OL. Their linebackers are very good, especially in coverage, but not that much better then what we faced against the Bucs.
-Dak must stay patient, take what is given and live for another series at times. It's ok to punt the football, don't force any passes and create short fields for their offense.
-Last year's game, the 49ers were too physical for the Cowboys OL to handle. The addition of Tyler Smith was to try to improve in this area. It was a very good sign that they held up last week against a very good front. The OL must match their physicality or it is going to be a tough day. Have to play clean, penalties killed them last yr. Controlling the time of possession will be key as well.
Defense
-They are absolutely loaded on this side of the football, except their rookie QB, who has yet to lose a game. Trent Williams is the best LT in football, McCaf. is an elite, dual purpose running back, the likes of Deebo, Kittle, Ayuk are the most physical, best yac receivers as a group in the league.
-Like we say often with this Cowboy Defense, they must be able to stop the run to have success. This is paramount against this team and their QB. Extremely well coached, where they sink up the run/pass the best in the league. Zone run concepts, involving a lot of misdirection has given this defense troubles in the past. This has to be a team effort and must win the early downs to have a chance. Lve/Diggs who have had that finesse/soft label at times, must play physical and attack this week.
-Their receivers might not have elite speed, outside of their back, but they have the ability to create huge runs after the catch. The Cowboys secondary has to tackle well and prevent those so called chunk plays. Quinn has a very interesting dilemma, does he pressure the QB and play man coverage, but leave his secondary out in space against these yac monsters or does he play zone coverage? How are they going to cover McCaf in the passing game? I might use a nickel corner on him, like they did with Lewis a few years ago playing Kamara. This is not a game you follow a receiver, Diggs did that last time and was forced to play a lot inside, when Deebo lined up in the backfield. Kearse assignment is about handling Kittles.
-Purdy has a lot of Tony Romo in his game, the good and perhaps the bad. He has tremendous feel inside the pocket and is very hard to corral. Plays with a lot of emotion. We have no idea who he will respond in a close game, as he really hasn't had to do that yet, we also don't know how he will respond after a bad interception. What I have seen, he sometimes likes to throw in tight windows that can be dangerous. Cowboys have to generate pressure and get their hits on him. Take away the chunk plays and force Purdy to beat us!
Special Teams
-Our special teams have been awful over the last month. I would roster both kickers, if Maher misses one makeable FG or extra point, he has to see the bench. Turpin has to become more of a factor as well.
I do believe the 49ers are the best team in the conference, but the biggest unknown is their QB. Can he have a rookie type of performance on this stage? Cowboys can win this game, but they have to tackle well and match the physicality that the 49ers will impose. Win this week and Super Bowl expectations become realistic.
