3 Keys to Victory for Green Bay Packers vs. 49ers
By Paul Bretl
Key to Victory No. 2 for the Green Bay Packers: Middle of the field defense
With Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, the San Francisco 49ers only average 29.9 pass attempts per game this season, which is the fourth-fewest in football. It’s also not as if Garopolo is pushing the ball downfield either, ranking 30th out of 39 eligible quarterbacks in average depth of target this season.
Again, this is a run-first offense, as you all know. But with George Kittle and, once again, Deebo Samuel, this is a passing game that can find a lot of success and YAC ability over the middle of the field.
Of Samuel’s 117 targets this season, 80 of them have come between the numbers, according to PFF, and among all receivers this season, he ranked second in total YAC as well as first — by a wide margin, might I add — in YAC per catch. For Kittle, it’s a similar story, with 67 of his 93 targets coming over the middle of the field. Among all tight ends, Kittle would finish fourth in total yards and second in YAC.
So much like the Niners’ run game that was described on the previous slide, completely containing Samuel and Kittle is a tall task, but limiting the damage they do will be the key. While it’s a group effort, these defensive responsibilities will fall largely on the Green Bay linebackers and safeties.
The good news, as we’ve already discussed, is that this Packers team has been a very good tackling defense this season. Although a few tight ends have found success against Green Bay, the Packers rank 14th in average receptions per game given up to tight ends and 22nd in average yards per catch allowed.
De’Vondre Campbell, Adrian Amos, and Darnell Savage are going to play key roles in slowing Samuel and Kittle over the middle. It also wouldn’t hurt if Green Bay provided some extra help in that part of the field and forced Garoppolo to throw outside the numbers with his injured thumb.