The 49ers' line is getting beaten up on both sides of the
ball, which is bewildering when you see the personnel in both units. The Aldon
Smith fiasco hasn't helped, and Frank Gore is bitching about getting the ball.
Colin Kaepernick has looked shaky in the pocket and
indecisive under centre and it is the clash between the Rams' pass rush and the
San Francisco offensive line that will decide tonight's game. The left side of
the line has been collapsing and that has exposed Kaepernick, who has reacted
badly.
The 49ers need to hand it off to Gore after DeMarco
Murray took the Rams for 201 yards from scrimmage last week and then attack
that secondary. Vernon Davis needs to go too, as the St. Louis linebackers and
safeties struggle in coverage and the receiving corps seems to key off Davis.
(Note that, if Davis doesn't play, this game is best left
- San Francisco's passing attack is just too unreliable without him.)
The Rams have similar problems; Bradford looked poor last
week and he got sacked too often. Clearly, the absence of Aldon Smith is going
to help in this regard, and Joe Barksdale and Jake Long must be thanking
they're lucky stars after getting badly exposed last week.
Again, the Rams' best chance may be to pound the rock
(Richardson says he's fit) against a 49ers D line ranking 28th against the run.
Deeper, San Francisco have been solid, and although St Louis have a capable set
of receivers matching up on a nicked up secondary, the ground game looks
crucial to moving the chains.
I don't like the 'have to win' bet, but the 49ers must
know that they really have to show up tonight against a team that has troubled
them in the past, so I'll take Gore to have a good night, more read option, and
some hard hitting on defense by the road team.
Pick: San Francisco 49ers -3 @ 1.91
(9-7, +1.58)
Pick: San Francisco 49ers -3 @ 1.91
(9-7, +1.58)
Totals
(4-3, +0.68)
Pick: 1st TD Frank Gore @ 9.0
(4-12, +33)
Pick: Anytime TD Vernon Davis @ 2.5; Chris Givens @ 3.0
(6-12, -2.27)
Pick: 1st TD Frank Gore @ 9.0
(4-12, +33)
Pick: Anytime TD Vernon Davis @ 2.5; Chris Givens @ 3.0
(6-12, -2.27)
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