An inside have a look at Sunday’s Rams-49ers NFC Championship sport in Los Angeles:
Marquee matchup
49ers WR/RB Deebo Samuel vs. Rams CB Jalen Ramsey, et al.
If Samuel had been a typical No. 1 receiver, then the Rams may simply lock up Ramsey on him in a one-on-one battle. No can do, nevertheless, as a result of Samuel has extra carries (20) than catches (six) within the 49ers’ first two playoff video games, after the numbers had been shut (77 catches to 59 carries) within the common season. And he'll run on third downs between the tackles, not simply across the edge on gadget movement.
“That’s a sport plan in itself,” Ramsey mentioned. “We've got Cooper Kupp, who's one among, if not essentially the most, dominant offensive participant within the league. However Deebo is correct in that dialog with him. No matter they ask him to do, he’s in a position to do it at a excessive degree. We've got to search out methods to restrict his physicalness, and yards after contact and yards after the catch.”
Dunleavy’s determination
The easiest way to neutralize the go rush of Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd, and the lock-down protection of Jalen Ramsey, is to run-run-run. Possibly to not the acute of Invoice Belichick’s three-passes sport plan that fueled a Patriots upset of the Payments within the common season … however shut.
49ers 17, Rams 16
4 downs
Blue Akers: What an unimaginable story it was when Rams operating again Cam Akers — who tore an Achilles tendon in July — shattered the anticipated restoration timeline for such an harm by making his season debut in Week 18. Akers led the Rams in carries in every of the primary two playoff video games and wasn’t benched for shedding two fumbles — one on the objective line — in opposition to the Buccaneers.
Darrell Henderson, who was the No. 1 again a lot of the season, is on injured reserve. Sony Michel, who led the crew in dashing, has been minimized. However coach Sean McVay’s manner is to experience his most proficient gamers with out shedding confidence.
“Typically for those who’ve received the correct of fellows — like I've little doubt in my thoughts Cam is — it might probably simply form of proceed to lock you again in,” McVay mentioned of the fumbles. “You'll be able to be capable to be taught a lesson, however not the laborious manner the place we’re not enjoying anymore.”
‘Scary’ however true: The 49ers added a wrinkle to one among staple runs in coach Kyle Shanahan’s playbook over the previous 10 years final week by having All-Professional left deal with Trent Williams report as an eligible tight finish who motioned throughout the road of scrimmage in opposition to the Packers. With a head of steam, the 6-foot-5, 320-pounder flattened his targets each occasions.
Shanahan mentioned the thought originated from Williams as a half-joke “a very long time in the past.” It was solely practiced one time earlier than the sport.
“He’s in all probability one of the best man you'll be able to think about ever doing it,” Shanahan mentioned. “I can’t consider it’s authorized. It’s scary for me to even watch. … I assumed it was one of many cooler performs I’d seen, simply due to who was on it, not due to the play we ran.”
Williams (ankle sprain) was injured later within the sport and held again in follow. If he performs, as anticipated, be careful for the locomotive.
Do it for Donald: One of many Rams’ motivations is to win a Tremendous Bowl for Aaron Donald, the long run Corridor of Famer.
Donald, 30, is a seven-time All-Professional and three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months with loads of good seasons remaining if he so chooses.
“This constructing needs to win for Aaron Donald to create extra mystique to his legacy and what he’s completed,” defensive coordinator Raheem Morris mentioned.
Donald had 5 tackles and one quarterback hit when the Rams misplaced to the Patriots in Tremendous Bowl LIII.
“I believe I’ve achieved loads in a brief period of time on this league,” Donald mentioned. “Actually, the one factor I believe I’m missing is to be a world champion.”
Look, Mother! One hand!: Two masters of the one-handed catch can be on reverse sides: Rams receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who made essentially the most well-known one-handed catch ever with the Giants in 2014, and 49ers tight finish George Kittle, who has a spotlight reel stuffed with one-handed catches.
However Shanahan is a fundamentalist at coronary heart.
“I do know guys work on it. I’m not a giant fan of it,” he mentioned. “Whenever you work on one-handed catches, you prepare your self to not run by the ball.
“And I’m in regards to the mindset, that it’ll by no means be a one-handed catch as a result of I’m not going to decelerate in any respect and I’m going to run by each single ball and ensure I get there. If that’s your mindset on every thing and then you definately react to a one-handed catch, as a result of it must be that manner, that’s form of what I like.”
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