Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Right.
As we've both said a dozen times over - Styles make fights.
I think the 2019 49ers had strengths/weaknesses that were better suited to give us trouble than this team does. The depth of their DL made pass protection really difficult and that served to mitigate the impact of Hill. Once Hill's impact was mitigated a bit (until...well, you know) their solid but unspectacular secondary wasn't ever really tested.
Once we tested it, it started to fall apart. Once the DL got a little tired, we hit shot plays to Hill and Sammy. But you saw how that team was designed to function for the first 3+ quarters of that game and it worked WELL.
This team, while weaker at OT (stronger at IOL) isn't facing as deep a pass rush from SF. And as such, protection should hold up better. We may not get that shot play to Hill, but we may, because of the time in the pocket, get a couple more of those plays like we had to Watkins.
Defensively our secondary then was nowhere near as good as our secondary now. But they didn't have the weapons then that they have no. Or the experience. I think by the same token as above, however, they'll struggle more in pass pro than they did in 2019. They have a couple real problem areas on that OL. That may help mitigate their gains with the skill position players and completely offset them when you consider our improvement in the defensive backfield.
So at that point the major difference makers on their offense are Purdy vs. Grapes and CMC vs. RBBC.
I just think we're a little better suited this time around than we were last time. Last time we needed to outcoach them to win. This time they'll need to outcoach us to win. On paper, I think we have the better squad.
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I think the biggest change from our team in the first SB to this one is the LB's. And that's a huge advantage against the Shannahan offense.
Over and over again Shannahan ran reverses and sharp cut zone blocking runs bc Hitchens and Ragland were flat footed slow LB's who could never cut off angles or be fast enough to get to the hole in time.
Tranquill, Bolton and Chenal are a major upgrade in speed there. I also think Willie Gay will play with 2 weeks of rest and a cat that athletic added to those 3 might comprise of the best LB unit in football.