Pressure on Aaron Rodgers will be an important attack for the 49ers defense.
(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
It's been well documented throughout the league and the 49ers are very aware of it: Aaron Rodgers gets sacked a lot.
In fact, Rodgers has been sacked 41 times in nine games this year. That's a 4.6 average per game. And if the 49ers aren't licking their chops at that stat, then I don't know what will excite them. Last year, Rodgers was sacked only 34 times.
Critics and analysts aren't citing the offensive line as the only reason why Rodgers has been taken down so many times behind the line of scrimmage. Watching Rodgers play, he has a tendency to hold onto the ball as the pocket breaks. J.T. O'Sullivan did a lot of that last year for the 49ers.
The 49ers defense has done exceptionally well in adding pressure to the opposing quarterbacks. DE Justin Smith and NT Aubrayo Franklin, in my opinion, are having Pro Bowl years. But the team has collected only 17 sacks all season long. They are sending their pass rushers, but it still hasn't instilled the fear that the team had hoped for.
Rodgers is a very smart quarterback in the pocket, having only thrown only five interceptions so far this year. And his ability to hit is receivers on the move has been one of his growing skills in his second year as the Packers starting quarterback.
49ers pressure must force Rodgers into uncomfortable throws. It's not likely that Rodgers will have a Cutler-type of day and throw the ball to the wrong players. But if the team can force the pressure on Rodgers, sack him, then the 49ers give themselves a great opportunity to succeed. If not a sack, at least force Rodgers to make bad throws.
The Packers receivers have developed into one of the better groups in the league. The leadership of veteran Donald Driver and the growth of both Greg Jennings and James Jones have given Rodgers seven games in which he has throw over 245 yards.
Niners Nation talked about the Packers and their red zone offense. Given the fact that the 49ers had two interceptions in the red zone against the Bears on Thursday, this will be a very key factor in the game. Rodgers is a mobile quarterback, so keeping him contained has to be part of the team gameplan.
Pressure is what Mike Singletary has promoted from his team all season long. This is the game in which they have to provide that pressure to the Packers offensive line. The 49ers defense is capable of making Rodgers miserable in the pocket. We've seen glimpses of that kind of defense this year. This is the game where we have to see all of it.
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