Originally Posted by
NINEster 
Hey guys, Niner fan here.
A great battle coming up Monday Night. The game could go either way....and it would be very interesting to see how this game plays out if neither teams is successful in coming up with turnovers.
The turnover machine that is the Bears defense is very impressive.....and scary given how many TDs scored. Perhaps this is one of the benefits in having a cautious Alex Smith who tends to protect the ball very well. So long as the 49ers have a lead and some control of the game, he is perhaps as good as anyone in the league in that regard.
The real question is how will the Bears attempt to shutdown the 49er offense? At this point teams are no longer going 8-9 in the box to stop Gore because Smith will beat you if you do it all day. Have you guys seen the Bears use different schemes towards run first teams, or is this a defense that has the same look week in/week out? (I'm told the Bears defense is not complex, just executed well).
The 49ers have the most innovative running game in football, relying on the OL talent and scheme as much as the talents of their RBs to move the ball. For the most part Gore runs between tackles, and Hunter off tackle. It will be interesting to see how the Bears deal with this.
The big item of concern with the 49ers passing attack is forcing Smith to throw intermediate and deep throws. The Vikings showed a taste, then the Giants took it to another level. Teams have figured out that Vernon Davis must be taken away at all costs, and over the last few games his production has dropped. Smith has slowly been building rapport with his wide receivers, but with the exception of Michael Crabtree, hasn't shown that elite level of trust. If Bears play tight man to man coverage, it is a cause of concern because he doesn't like to force balls in there. If Smith plays a good game regardless of how it's done, I will be very happy with him because this is easily the best pass defense he will face all season.
I expect Smith to be sacked at an absolute minimum 3 times because that's what everyone accomplishes each game due to his risk aversive nature. More than 5 or 6 and it might be cause of concern if the 49ers are trailing.
And that has been the 49ers MO in wins/losses....take early lead and hold onto it - WIN. Fail to do that - LOSE/TIE. Seems natural, but it's almost as if the game plans change as soon as they go down more than 7 points (and not for the better, until this last game against the Rams).
As for the 49er defense, when it's on, they are awesome, but there has been a drop off this season in turnovers and pass rush. Teams have shown an ability to run at them if they have the talent and are committed -- last year, most teams struggled, became one dimensional and then the turnover machine took over. This year teams have not only run the ball but dinked & dunked to reasonable success. Redzone defense which was outstanding last season is now quite average....and if at least that part was elite I'd be ok with the drop off in turnovers and sacks.
Another sudden cause of concern which was alluded to last season but has become a very frustrating thing to watch this year is an inability to cover a good slot receiver. First it was Victor Cruz, and now any team with a good slot (Danny Amendola) will have a field day with Carlos Rogers. Wes Welker is on the schedule later in the year....that will be the final test.
Question, do you guys have a good slot receiver? A very good slot will most likely be more effective than Brandon Marshall against us. Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald have been well contained this season.
At the end of the day, the defense does tend to show up for primetime games against big name teams, and with the Obama comments and general aura of the two defenses, I expect one of their best efforts in this game. Texans/Bears was a nice taste of what may come.
Special Teams.....another area of concern. 49ers were in my opinion league best last year, great in all facets....punting, kicking, punt/kick coverage, and returns. Now this season it looks like they are only great at punting, Akers is a bit inconsistent, Ginn is not decent but no longer electric, and coverage teams scare the s*** out of SF fans. Letting Blake Costanzo go was a huge mistake.....perhaps the worst move the 49ers did this offseason.
Will be interesting to see how the coaches attack this game. Should be good.
Best of luck. I like the Bears as one of the few NFC teams I wouldn't mind see succeeding if we don't this year...
