49ers vs. Packers: 3 key players for San Francisco in Week 6
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Running Back Alfred Morris
Want to keep Aaron Rodgers from doing a lot of damage? Keep him off the field as much as possible.
San Francisco 49ers
This is an approach as old as football itself. For the 49ers to pull off the upset, they’ll need to control the time-of-possession game, have slow and methodical drives and outwork one of Green Bay’s bigger defensive weaknesses.
That means running back Alfred Morris and the ground game.
With No. 1 running back Matt Breida (ankle) doubtful for the contest, we’ll likely see a lot of the 29-year-old Morris on Monday night. Over his career, Morris has averaged a whopping 6.6 yards per rush in three total games against the Packers. And it’s also beneficial to Morris and the 49ers offense knowing Green Bay is allowing opposing runners an average of 4.2 rush yards per carry through five weeks — 20th in the NFL.
It’s not just exploiting a Packers weakness either. This approach plays into San Francisco’s strength up front, as Football Outsiders ranks the 49ers offensive line fifth best in run blocking, compared to 27th in pass protection.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan would be wise to feature Morris more than the arm of quarterback C.J. Beathard, who’ll do best by being limited in the amount of passes he attempts on the road in prime time.