SF 49ers vs. LA Rams: 3 ways Niners frustrate Jared Goff
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers must defend the run first, take away play action
Most quarterbacks enjoy play action, and Jared Goff is no exception to this rule, particularly in Sean McVay’s offense.
This season, Goff has 113 pass attempts off play-action passes, and he’s completing 71.7 percent of his passes here with a passer rating of 117.2. In contrast, his completion percentage on standard dropbacks is 66.0 with a rating of 86.1, and all eight of his interceptions thrown this season have come in the latter category.
If a defense wants to limit what Goff can do, it needs to eliminate play action’s effectiveness.
San Francisco’s defense has held its own against the run this season, allowing opponents to rush for just 3.9 yards per carry, which ranks seventh overall entering Week 12.
Opposing the SF 49ers on the ground will be Rams running back Darrell Henderson, who is averaging 4.5 yards per carry but is coming off a game in Tampa Bay where he was held to a mere 5 yards on eight attempts.
That’s the kind of performance the Niners will need to ensure Los Angeles’ run game doesn’t take off.
If so, Goff will have to rely on his standard dropbacks, which haven’t exactly been stellar this season.