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49ers-Titans battle will be decided on the ground
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Chris Johnson will face the #2 rush defense in the 49es this Sunday.
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
If the San Francisco 49ers stand any chance against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday, it all has to come down to the team's run defense. The 49ers have only allowed 84.9 rushing yards per game this year, second best in the league. The run defense has kept running backs like Steven Jackson, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner and Joseph Addai in check from having breakout games.
Titans running back Chris Johnson just had his breakout game against the Jaguars last Sunday. Johnson racked up 228 yards on the ground with touchdown runs of 52 and 89 yards. Johnson leads the league in rushing with 824 yards.
Stopping Johnson isn't going to be an easy task. Despite Tennessee's 0-6 start, their win on Sunday showed signs of their offense coming back to life. Johnson's breakaway speed provided an open field for quarterback Vince Young. Young was able to spread the ball, going 15-18 for 125 yards (with no interceptions or sacks).
The 49ers have to apply the pressure to the offensive line that has regained some of its swagger from last year. And for Johnson, the defense knows that if they can prevent the big run, they can force Young to pass the ball more than what he is used to all season.
One part of the 49ers success in stopping the run comes in the team's ability to close the gaps. Running the 3-4 defense has allowed all four linebackers to cover any possible open holes in the outside for the opposition. Johnson can break tackles and sweep outside, meaning that the 49ers have to be able to meet the running attack at the line of scrimmage.
The 49ers offense can also benefit from the Tennessee's struggling run defense. Against Maurice Jones-Drew last Sunday, the Jaguars running back collected 177 yards on the ground on only eight carries. This should be a good sign for running back Frank Gore. In only 13 carries on Sunday, Gore gained 91 yards including a 64-yard touchdown. Gore should be allowed to get more carries if the Titans defense struggles once again against the run.
The 49ers, however, have not given Gore enough carries, trying to throw the ball more. This Sunday should be a test to see how the 49ers can set the tone early with the run. They did that against the Colts but abandoned it later in the game.
This Sunday might just be a repeat of what the Jaguars tried to do against the Titans: outrun the opposition. The 49ers run defense will be tested against one of the better running backs in the league on Sunday. It's going to be an exciting thing to watch Chris Johnson try to run against the 49ers. Frank Gore needs to get at least 20 carries to make this the heavyweight battle that's being anticipated.
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