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Friday, October 1
War Room: Titans at 49ers


Tennessee offense vs. San Francisco defense
TITANS OFFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
Run 28
Pass 5
Tot. Yds. 11
Scoring 7
Int's allowed 11
Sacks allowed 10
   
49ERS DEFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
vs. Run 5
vs. Pass 16
Total yds. allowed 11
Ints. 11
Sacks 19
Turnover differential -3
The Tennessee offense has not proved to be overly explosive over the first three weeks of the regular season, but it has certainly been consistent, minimizing turnovers and controlling the ball on the ground. The Titans are 3-0, and RB Eddie George has yet to run for 100 yards in a game.

As the team's schedule gets tougher over the next few weeks, the offensive line needs to start opening up holes for George on a more consistent basis. So far this season, two of the team's three wins have been of the come-from-behind variety, but the team will need to run the ball more effectively if it wants to protect leads late in games. This week against the 49ers, the Titans need to establish the run early.

With George carrying the load, San Francisco's undersized corners will play plenty of zone against Titan WRs Kevin Dyson and Yancy Thigpen. In order for O'Donnell to get the ball to his wideouts, he needs time to set up in the pocket -- something the Titans gave him against the Jags, as he wasn't sacked in the second half.

That means ROT Jon Runyan will have to have a good game against San Francisco LDE Charles Haley. Haley had two sacks against the Cardinals on Monday night and appears to be returning to form after getting off to a slow start. Runyan needs to get out of his stance quickly and use his arms to keep Haley away from his body, and outside of the pocket. With time, O'Donnell has proven that he can deliver the ball to his receivers.

The San Francisco defense stepped its game up a notch on Monday night in Phoenix. The Niners showed that they have a big play defense that is capable of taking over games.

LDE Haley proved that he still has some gas in his tank, as he sacked Jake Plummer twice and was in his face for much of the game. Cornerbacks Mark McMillian and Darnell Walker had great games, limiting Plummer to 176 yards and two interceptions.

Both should face a tougher test this week, as they will line up across from Tennessee WRs Kevin Dyson and Yancy Thigpen. Dyson is a tall receiver and could give the Niners secondary fits, particularly if QB O'Donnell throws some jump balls. This week, the San Francisco corners will need help from SS Tim McDonald or hard-hitting FS Lance Schulters in their "cover-2" defense. Neither McMillian nor Walker has the physical game to jam the Titan WRs at the line of scrimmage, so expect help on the deep balls.

This will require that MLB Ken Norton or LOLB Lee Woodall run with Titans TE Wychek in coverage. Wychek has been a force over the first three weeks of the season. If the 49ers can take away this dimension of the Titans' offense, O'Donnell could be in for a long day.

DTs Junior Bryant and Bryant Young also need to come up big this week. The Titans are most effective when they run the ball between the tackles. If "The Bryants" can stop up Tennessee's inside running game, forcing Eddie George outside, it will allow San Francisco's speedy linebackers to make plays.

San Francisco offense vs. Tennessee defense
49ERS OFFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
Run 9
Pass 28
Tot. Yds. 24
Scoring 19
Int's allowed 24
Sacks allowed 23
   
TITANS DEFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
vs. Run 29
vs. Pass 8
Total yds. allowed 14
Ints. 9
Sacks 13
Turnover differential -2
Against Arizona, for the first time this season, the 49ers offense looked like a well-oiled machine. The team's running game showed signs of life, producing more than 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Along the offensive line, which was an Achilles heel for the first two weeks of the season, Derrick Deese moved from ROG to ROT, while rookie Jeremy Newberry, who started the first two games at ROT, was moved inside to ROG. The result was only one sack surrendered to a defense that has two of the better speed rushers in the league. Improvements in run blocking were apparent as well, as San Francisco had its best rushing game of the season to date.

QB Steve Young is doubtful for this Sunday's game, meaning that back-up QB Jeff Garcia will probably get his first start as a 49er. Garcia is an athletic guy who can get out of the pocket and run if he has to. This should serve him well, as the Titans will bring the pressure, hoping to force Garcia into some bad decisions.

Niners coach Steve Mariucci needs to help Garcia find a comfort zone early in this game, so look for Garcia to throw to RBs Charlie Garner and Lawrence Phillips on swing passes, as well as TE Greg Clark on some underneath routes. The slant pattern, a route the Niners have perfected over the last 15 years, could be an effective tool if the Titans sell-out and bring linebackers or a safety to pressure Garcia.

The key to San Francisco's success in this game will be how well Garcia adjusts to the different looks Tennessee throws at him in his first NFL start. Expect Mariucci to simplify his game plan by shrinking the playbook, lessening the amount Garcia has to learn to be comfortable this week.

The key to Tennessee's success on the defensive side of the ball will be its ability to pressure the quarterback. Rookie LDE Jevon Kearse will look to beat Deese with quick moves to the outside.

If Tennessee can rely on its front four to create pressure, Garcia could be in for a long day. If the team has to blitz Garcia, he will be able to find WRs Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes in single coverage for big plays.

Titans DCs Samari Rolle and Denard Walker will be looking for deep support from FS Marcus Robertson and SS Blaine Bishop, who has had a Pro-Bowl caliber first three games. Coach Jeff Fisher's 46 defense requires players to take risks, so it is likely that Rolle and Walker will be put in situations where they have to cover 49er receivers one-on-one. Nickel back Anthony Dorsett will also see a lot of action, as San Francisco likes to run a lot of three receiver sets, even on first and second down.

Along the defensive line, the Tennessee linemen need to shed at the point of attack which will allow them to get a piece of RBs Garner and Phillips. Both are speed guys who are dangerous if they get through the line of scrimmage with a head of steam -- case in point: Phillips' 61 yard touchdown romp against the Cardinals on Monday night.

MLB Eddie Robinson is the quarterback of the Titan defense as well as one of the more accomplished run stoppers in the NFL. Robinson will be forced to come-up and support the run against the 49ers, who will undoubtedly try to establish their running game early.

Special teams
NFL RANK
Category TEN SF
Punt return avg. 8 31
Kickoff return avg. 28 10
Opp. punt return avg. 7 14
Opp. kickoff ret. avg. 9 14
Time of possession 12 23
Tennessee PK Al Del Greco's brilliant performance (2 of 2 FGs) in sloppy conditions at Jacksonville was one of the primary reasons the Titans were victorious. P Craig Hentrich also had a great game, allowing Tennesse to win the battle of field position as he pinned down the Jags inside their 20-yard line on three occasions. Tennessee's punt coverage unit committed two bad penalties against Jacksonville and needs to improve upon its discipline.

This week's game should be a close one, so the battle for field position should again be of great importance. San Francisco KR R.W. McQuarters has been solid returning kicks over the first three weeks and is always a threat to break the big one. His performance on punt returns has been less impressive, and last week against Arizona he averaged less than 7 yards per return.

49er PK Wade Richey has done all that has been asked of him, going 2-for-2 in FG attempts, but his lack of work thus far could be a curse in a tight game if he is called upon to make a kick under pressure.

Key matchups

  • Titans TE Jevon Kearse vs. 49ers TE Chad Fann and ROT Jeremy Newberry
    Kearse is turning into a defensive terror as a pass rusher, and if he can get penetration, it could be a bad mismatch for the 49ers. They must be able to block him in the Titans' 46 defensive package

  • Titan WRs Kevin Dyson and Yancey Thigpen vs. 49er DCs Darnell Walker and Mark McMillan
    The 49er corners are small and overmatched, and Dyson and Thigpen have a huge advantage here if Neil O'Donnell gets them the ball. Tennessee's is not necessarily a vertical passing attack, but they may implement one vs. San Francisco.

  • 49er WRs Rice, Owens and Stokes vs. Tennessee secondary
    Although the Tennessee 46 defense puts a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, it also gambles a lot with single-coverage matchups in the secondary. If Jeff Garcia has time to throw, he can make the Titans pay for their defensive gambling.

    Tennessee will win if...

  • They can rattle QB Jeff Garcia (or Steve Young, if he plays) out of their 46 blitz package. Garcia is making his first start, and Young cannot take many more hits. This is not a defense that either one wants to see. The Titans will blitz a lot, and if San Francisco doesn't pick it up, the Niners will be in trouble.

  • If their defensive corners can hold up in single coverage. The key for the Titans corners is for their front-seven to get pressure on the Niners QB and not let long pass plays and routes develop. If they are left on an island and the Niners have time to throw, the West Coast offense will pick them apart.

  • If they go after the 49ers corners with their "go" routes. San Francisco is susceptible in the secondary to the deep ball, and Tennessee may attack them early.

    San Francisco will win if...

  • The 49ers OL can protect the QB. This is the key to this football game. Tennessee puts a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but they also gamble a lot. If Garcia gets protection, he can settle in and make the Titans pay for gambling. If he doesn't, he'll be in for a long day.

  • The 49ers secondary can keep the ball in front of them. San Francisco must not give up the deep ball and must be very physical after the catch and make the Titans earn their yards in the passing game.

  • QB Jeff Garcia can exploit a lot of single-coverage matchups. He can have a huge day vs. this defensive package if he gets time to throw the ball. If his receivers can get deep, it is a matchup that the 49ers can win and will be a key to this game.

    The War Room edge
    As well as Tennessee is playing, it is still tough to beat the 49ers in San Francisco. The key to this football game is the 49er OL's ability to protect inexperienced Jeff Garcia against the Tennessee blitz and open holes for Garner and Phillips. While Garcia may get hit, he should be able to get enough matchups that he likes to make some big plays in the passing game and bring the Titans back to reality.

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