Niner Noise
FanSided

3 LA Rams players who pose biggest threat to SF 49ers defense

By Peter Panacy

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to wide receiver Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to wide receiver Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Jared Goff, LA Rams
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Threat to SF 49ers: Quarterback Jared Goff

The SF 49ers embarrassed Jared Goff twice last year, particularly ending his team’s playoff hopes in Week 16 in what was quite the exciting shootout.

Goff might get some vengeance this season, though, as the Niners defense is banged up on all three levels. The lack of a pass rush, thanks to edge rushers Nick Bosa (knee) and Dee Ford (back) being out, has netted a total of just 10 sacks on the year for San Francisco — close to the bottom in league production.

When under pressure this season, Goff’s passer rating is an abysmal 48.5, per Pro Football Focus. He likely won’t be facing much of that in Week 6, though, meaning Goff will probably be closer to posting his non-pressure passer rating of 124.4.

That doesn’t exactly work in the Niners’ favor.

To date, Goff is completing 71.7 percent of his passes — fourth best among qualifiers — and has tossed eight touchdowns against three interceptions. And speaking of his play-action preference, PFF has his passer rating at 127.7 on play-fake throws compared to 91.8 on standard drop-backs.

Needless to say, stopping Goff will need to be a twofold approach by San Francisco: getting pressure and preventing the run game from assisting him.