Ravens Offense
1) Identifying the extra rushers: For the fourth game in a row, the offense will face off against a variation of a 3-4 defensive front. Compared to the last three games, this could very well prove to be the Ravens’ toughest challenge, given that 49ers head coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan will have a good read on how to attack the Baltimore offense.
One thing is for certain: Nolan will use a lot of exotic looks at the line to keep the Ravens guessing. There will be times when more than five rushers blitz at the same time, and there will be other times when the rushers bluff and drop into coverage after the snap.
The onus is on Steve McNair and center Mike Flynn to accurately decipher what the defensive attack is and how to protect against it. Flynn has been superb in his directional skills at the line so far this season, and it he will need to continue that role in a fairly loud environment.
2) Deep shots: In Walt Harris and Nate Clements, the 49ers have two lockdown corners that can defend without safety help. Both players are fluid and run well. However, they are also gamblers.
Not surprisingly, Seattle tested the corners’ ability to stay true in coverage by running pump fakes and double-move routes. There were a couple of times when the Seattle receivers were able to create space downfield because Clements and Harris bit hard on the initial fake, and were unable to recover.
If the Ravens were to employ a similar strategy to expose the San Francisco corners on the outside, they would need to protect well up front to allow these delayed routes to develop.
In general, there should be opportunities for the Raven receivers to work against man coverage, and if they get free, McNair will need to cash in.
3) Getting a hat on Willis: In just four games, Patrick Willis has already established himself as a force at the inside linebacker position. The rookie from Mississippi has averaged roughly 10 tackles per contest. He has set a physical tone against the run and shown the ability to disrupt pass attempts in coverage.
What is truly impressive about Willis is his ability to take on and shed blocks. Willis uses his hands well and is powerful at the point.
Despite the fact that teams have had only moderate success taking Willis out of the running game by running right at him, the Ravens will need to continue to test the first-year player.
If the interior linemen are able to hit Willis enough times, he may start to wear down in the fourth-quarter. In order for either guard to get their hands on Willis, Flynn will need to occupy nose guard Aubrayo Franklin without help on most run plays.
Ravens Defense
1) Covering the Inconvenient Truth: In light of the fact that he shares his last name with a famous former vice-president turned-filmmaker, Frank Gore is aptly referred to as the Inconvenient Truth.
Gore is the engine that makes the 49ers running game go. He is a compact runner that hits the hole hard and fast and once he gets to open air, he has the chance to go all the way.
The Ravens must keep Gore bottled up. The defense has given up a couple of long gains to backs when they have over pursued and crashed the wrong gaps. If that happens against Gore, he will be able to score quickly for the 49ers.
2) Quick counts and routes: With Alex Smith at quarterback, the 49ers run more of a free-style offense that showcases Smith’s ability to throw on the run.
However, with Dilfer in for the injured Smith, San Francisco will likely cut down on the usage of waggles and bootlegs. While Dilfer is somewhat mobile, he is more comfortable operating from the pocket.
To better protect Dilfer against an aggressive Baltimore front, expect the San Francisco coaches to call a lot of three step drops and quick hitting passes. Dilfer’s focus will be to get rid of the ball as quickly as he can.
The Ravens have faced this strategy all season and they have had their issues defending against it. They have been unable to throw off the timing of these short routes and to make matters worse, they haven’t tackled soundly in the open field, giving up yards after the catch.
They will need to clean up their underneath defense against the 49ers. If the lineman cannot get to Dilfer in time, they need to at least bat his passes down at the line.
3) No more big plays: Part of the reason that San Francisco has struggled so much on offense is due to their inability to make any impact plays in the passing game.
Obviously, not having Vernon Davis at tight end does not help. Aside from Davis, the 49ers lack explosive pass-catchers.
That said, the 49ers may feel confident that they can make some plays against a Baltimore pass defense that has been picked apart in the last three games.
It is absolutely crucial that the Ravens quell their recent tendency of giving up the deep strike in this game.
The 49ers really do not have the capability of generating the type of vertical passing attack that has hurt the Ravens so far this season. Still, the Ravens have been burned due to sloppy play and technical breakdowns, and if those mishaps occur again, San Francisco will have a breakout offensive performance.
One-on-one Matchup to Watch: Nate Clements versus Derrick Mason: At the conclusion of the quarter mark of the season, Mason ranks second in the league in receptions. While he has not made any big plays, Mason has been a consistent possession receiver catching short passes over the middle and on the perimeter.
Meanwhile, Clements has asserted himself quite nicely in San Francisco. Although it’s highly debatable that Clements is worth the $80 million salary he received on the open market, he is one of the few shutdown corners in the game, capable of playing physical bump-and-run coverage. Mason will need to run precise routes to create any level of separation from Clements on Sunday.
