49er fan from Northern CA here. Thank you for allowing me to join. Looking forward to a good game, and any sort of game for that matter. It's been three weeks since the 49ers played a significant contest. This is both good and bad.
1. Good news: Every 49er that had been nursing an injury is now healthy. Full participation in practice. This includes our best run-stopping defensive lineman, Ark Armistead. He had missed the last three games with an achilles injury that always seems to pop up. But he's ready to go now. Arik plays interior line. If the Packers attempt to run between the tackles, they will likely find Arik somewhere.
2. Bad news: Every 49er fan is concerned with RUST. The best players on offense haven't played in a real game in three weeks. It's a great break to get healthy. But that can also backfire if Brock Purdy starts misfiring early. He's been practicing. But there's a difference between practice and real game action.
3. Running game: The 49ers have a favorite running play. You will see this play again and again this Saturday. It's CMC on a pitch to the left. It's a zone read type of play. If a hole opens up inside or outside, that's the path CMC will take. Our left tackle, Trent Williams, is an absolute MONSTER. What isn't mentioned is the left guard, Banks, is nearly as dominant. Combined, those two blow open holes on the left side. They have been doing it all season. This will come as no surprise to the Packers defense. They are planning for it.
4. Weather: As of right now, the forecast calls for heavy rain all day Saturday. It has moved from a quarter inch up to a half inch. That's a ton of rain. That forecast also includes heavy winds. It may favor the QB with the stronger arm. This is provided the forecast doesn't change, which it likely will. It changes every day. Who knows? It could be dry come game time. But the field conditions will be wet.
5. Bulletin Board Material: I've read some previous posts about NOT providing the 49ers with extra motivation. Sorry, but that's already happened. Chmura, a former Packer tight end, has already called for a cheap shot hit on Purdy. That's big news out here. Don't think that isn't posted on the bulletin board. Secondly, Devonte Wyatt has also been flapping his gums about the "secret" to stopping Brock Purdy. That is also on the bulletin board.
6. Defense: The 49ers employ a four-man pass rush. They don't need to blitz. They rarely do. That means seven other players drop into a zone coverage. Sometimes it will be switched to man coverage, but most of the time it's a zone. The 49ers do not employ a lot of surprises on defense. They haven't needed to do so. Don't discount that four-man rush. They all get home. There are no weaknesses there. if there is a weakness, it's this: QB's that run the ball up the field give the defense problems. If this is part of Love's game, it could play a factor. Brock Purdy does scramble at times. Not very often. But when he does it, he is surprisingly effective.
Finally? I cannot tell you why the 49ers blew out the Cowboys and a 10-1 Eagles team that was believed to be, at that time, the best in the NFL. I cannot tell you why this same 49ers team lost to the Browns and the Vikings. All I can tell you is that it did happen. How could the 49ers not just beat, but flatten, the monsters of the NFC East, and then wind up losing to what many believed to be lesser teams? It doesn't make sense. I don't have a reason for you. But there's no doubt that it happened.
Should be a good game. I hope it is. I also hope it's not the last 49er game of the season.
