49ers at Vikings Depth Chart Preview 2024
Sept 14, 2024 16:45:01 GMT -6
Reignman, Funkytown, and 1 more like this
Post by Danchat on Sept 14, 2024 16:45:01 GMT -6
Fresh off demolishing the Giants, the Vikings now face a real team. Can they announce to the NFL that they are legitimate with a win tomorrow?
49ers injury report
RB McCaffrey - Out
LB Winters - Questionable
S Hufanga - Doubtful
Vikings Injury Report
WR Addison - Out
S Smith - Questionable
RG Ingram - Questionable
RT O'Neill - Questionable
Point Spread: 49ers -4.5
SuperSim Calculated line: 49ers -1, 53% win rate.
* My Thoughts *
The difference between the first two opponents of the season couldn't be more drastic. This team has been to the Championship round 4 out of the past 5 years and reached 2 Super Bowls in that stretch. They roll in with Brock Purdy at QB, who is a capable but limited option. It's hard to remember that he's only starting his third season and his second as a starter, so he is still improving. Shanahan has brought him along into an offense that can grind teams with the run and also torch them through the air. My guess is that they will try to test Flores' run defense which only had a couple bad games in 2023. Jordan Mason is a quality runner who reminds me of a lesser Isiah Pacheco, with some violent runs and enough explosiveness to create extra yards. Having McCaffrey out is more of a hit to the passing game as they don't have a backup who is a plus receiver. Deebo Samuel is essentially RB2 and will get the ball on sweeps and end-arounds and will test our DBs ability to tackle.
There's not much to add about their weapons - Aiyuk, Samuel, and Kittle are a force to be reckoned with. The most underrated cog is Jauan Jennings, who got loose when they played us last year and was their leading receiver Week 1. He's a sneaky weapon who isn't just a blocking receiver and will take advantage of the others getting the focus. They don't have zero depth at TE, however.
The O-line has been an odd unit, as they rated quite poorly in 2023 despite supporting a high-flying offense. The exception is the ageless Trent Williams, who is still far and away the best OL in football. His run blocking is immaculate and is a top 5 pass protector. Banks has been a weak link who did improve over the course of 2023, but he's still a rough pass blocker. Brendel is essentially the 49ers' version of Bradbury. Puni was a prospect I liked but they needed him to start right away because Burford stinks. He had a strong Week 1 despite this. McKivitz took a step up in 2023 and is a passable RT.
Defensively, this is a unit that is the culmination of quality drafting and savvy FA signings - and that's with 3 1st round picks flushed down the toilet from the Lance trade! The DL boasts a high-end rusher in Bosa of whom I think is a bit overrated - he was erased by Darrisaw last time - but he can be a problem. Floyd is a nice ED2 who is more of an opportunist than a great pressure creator. The interior is solid with the steady Hargrave dominating in both phases and the underrated Collins, who notched 48 pressures from the interior last year. The depth is rough, with Gross-Matos a 1st round bust of the Panthers and Elliott a flop from the Browns. A DE acquisition is needed with Drake Jackson on the IR.
The LB unit will be the best in the league when Dre Greenlaw eventually returns. Warner is a top 3 LB who is great at every phase of the game. Campbell is on the way down with his play dropping off each of the last few years, with his coverage grades struggling, but he can still defend the run. Flannigan-Flowers will play a handful of snaps as the LB3.
San Fran's CB unit has improved as of late. Ward is a good enough CB1 who seemingly has played in 4 or 5 Super Bowls now and can hold his own against top options. Lenoir plays the slot in nickel formations and has risen to the level of average, but can be taken advantage of. Yiadom was a sneaky great signing for the vet minimum despite the fact that PFF had his play in New Orleans as nearly elite, and he did well Week 1 as a starter to boot. Down Addison, this could be a hard unit to pass against. Finally, the safety unit is questionable with Hufanga still recovering. Brown had a solid rookie year but is more suited to be around the LOS given his play style. Special teamer Odum is starting at safety and isn't particularly good at anything.
Prediction: 49ers 20, Vikings 16
This was a tricky one to pin down. On one side, I think Flores can do a repeat of 2023 and hold the 49ers offense to not as much damage as they usually output. However, I simply don't trust this offense enough to consistently move the ball against this defense. The 49ers run defense shut down Breece Hall last week and it was stiff last year too. With Jefferson as the only quality receiver on the team, the 49ers can clamp down on him and force Darnold to rely on other options and unlike the Giants, more likely generate some mistakes. Last year in this matchup my hunch was we were to be blown out, this time I am thinking we lose a close one. It'd be a good sign of this team being competitive.
Any thoughts?
49ers injury report
RB McCaffrey - Out
LB Winters - Questionable
S Hufanga - Doubtful
Vikings Injury Report
WR Addison - Out
S Smith - Questionable
RG Ingram - Questionable
RT O'Neill - Questionable
Point Spread: 49ers -4.5
SuperSim Calculated line: 49ers -1, 53% win rate.
* My Thoughts *
The difference between the first two opponents of the season couldn't be more drastic. This team has been to the Championship round 4 out of the past 5 years and reached 2 Super Bowls in that stretch. They roll in with Brock Purdy at QB, who is a capable but limited option. It's hard to remember that he's only starting his third season and his second as a starter, so he is still improving. Shanahan has brought him along into an offense that can grind teams with the run and also torch them through the air. My guess is that they will try to test Flores' run defense which only had a couple bad games in 2023. Jordan Mason is a quality runner who reminds me of a lesser Isiah Pacheco, with some violent runs and enough explosiveness to create extra yards. Having McCaffrey out is more of a hit to the passing game as they don't have a backup who is a plus receiver. Deebo Samuel is essentially RB2 and will get the ball on sweeps and end-arounds and will test our DBs ability to tackle.
There's not much to add about their weapons - Aiyuk, Samuel, and Kittle are a force to be reckoned with. The most underrated cog is Jauan Jennings, who got loose when they played us last year and was their leading receiver Week 1. He's a sneaky weapon who isn't just a blocking receiver and will take advantage of the others getting the focus. They don't have zero depth at TE, however.
The O-line has been an odd unit, as they rated quite poorly in 2023 despite supporting a high-flying offense. The exception is the ageless Trent Williams, who is still far and away the best OL in football. His run blocking is immaculate and is a top 5 pass protector. Banks has been a weak link who did improve over the course of 2023, but he's still a rough pass blocker. Brendel is essentially the 49ers' version of Bradbury. Puni was a prospect I liked but they needed him to start right away because Burford stinks. He had a strong Week 1 despite this. McKivitz took a step up in 2023 and is a passable RT.
Defensively, this is a unit that is the culmination of quality drafting and savvy FA signings - and that's with 3 1st round picks flushed down the toilet from the Lance trade! The DL boasts a high-end rusher in Bosa of whom I think is a bit overrated - he was erased by Darrisaw last time - but he can be a problem. Floyd is a nice ED2 who is more of an opportunist than a great pressure creator. The interior is solid with the steady Hargrave dominating in both phases and the underrated Collins, who notched 48 pressures from the interior last year. The depth is rough, with Gross-Matos a 1st round bust of the Panthers and Elliott a flop from the Browns. A DE acquisition is needed with Drake Jackson on the IR.
The LB unit will be the best in the league when Dre Greenlaw eventually returns. Warner is a top 3 LB who is great at every phase of the game. Campbell is on the way down with his play dropping off each of the last few years, with his coverage grades struggling, but he can still defend the run. Flannigan-Flowers will play a handful of snaps as the LB3.
San Fran's CB unit has improved as of late. Ward is a good enough CB1 who seemingly has played in 4 or 5 Super Bowls now and can hold his own against top options. Lenoir plays the slot in nickel formations and has risen to the level of average, but can be taken advantage of. Yiadom was a sneaky great signing for the vet minimum despite the fact that PFF had his play in New Orleans as nearly elite, and he did well Week 1 as a starter to boot. Down Addison, this could be a hard unit to pass against. Finally, the safety unit is questionable with Hufanga still recovering. Brown had a solid rookie year but is more suited to be around the LOS given his play style. Special teamer Odum is starting at safety and isn't particularly good at anything.
Prediction: 49ers 20, Vikings 16
This was a tricky one to pin down. On one side, I think Flores can do a repeat of 2023 and hold the 49ers offense to not as much damage as they usually output. However, I simply don't trust this offense enough to consistently move the ball against this defense. The 49ers run defense shut down Breece Hall last week and it was stiff last year too. With Jefferson as the only quality receiver on the team, the 49ers can clamp down on him and force Darnold to rely on other options and unlike the Giants, more likely generate some mistakes. Last year in this matchup my hunch was we were to be blown out, this time I am thinking we lose a close one. It'd be a good sign of this team being competitive.
Any thoughts?