5 Big Question for Green Bay Packers in Matchup v. 49ers

Can the Green Bay Packers slow the 49er rushing attack?

The first time these two teams met in Week 3, the Packers held San Francisco to only 3.2 yards per rush. However, since then, the 49ers have seen the emergence of Elijah Mitchell, and Kyle Shanahan has begun to use Deebo Samuel more often as a ball carrier.

In only 11 games, Mitchell would rush for 963 yards on 4.7 yards per carry, according to PFF ($$). He was also very difficult to bring down, averaging the fourth-most yards after contact this season and forcing 41 missed tackles–the 11th most. Samuel, meanwhile, has averaged 7.0 rushing attempts per game since Week 10 and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. We all know how elusive he can be.

If we are being realistic, it’s not likely that this Green Bay Packers run defense, which ranks 28th by DVOA and is allowing 4.7 yards per carry this season, is going to completely contain this rushing attack–the hope is that they can slow them.

As I wrote about in my 3 Keys to Victory, a lot of Green Bay’s success or failure against the run is going to come down to the fundamentals of tackling and gap responsibilities.

The good news, is that this has been a very sound tackling defense this year, ranking second by PFF’s metrics. When it comes to gap integrity, Green Bay can’t over pursue or get too far upfield, fall for any of Kyle Shanahan’s pre-snap eye candy, and the edge rushers will need to set strong edges and not be overly aggressive.

The Green Bay Packers offense can also provide the defense with some help by controlling the clock and keeping the San Francisco offense on the sidelines as well as jumping out to an early lead and limiting their ability to run the ball.