Freeman Says Niners Have “Best Front 7”
October 6th, 2011
In what surely will be macho locker room jabber for another Bucs opponent later this season, Josh Freeman has shared his high opinion of the 49ers defensive line and linebackers.
He thinks they’re the best the Bucs will see in 2011. Freeman laid it out for the San Francisco media yesterday, as documented by Eric Branch of SFGate.com.
“Their front seven is the best we’re going to see all year,” Freeman said. “You look at it and it starts in the middle with Patrick Willis. Obviously Justin Smith is a stud who was giving us issues last year. They’re a very physical defense … all around, they’re studs.”
The Niners are ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing defense, and iconic Derrick Brooks said yesterday on The Steve Duemig Show that the Bucs should be prepared for a far more physical game than what the Colts had to offer Monday.
This will be a very interesting test for the Bucs offensive line and LeGarrette Blount. Brooks points out that the Niners are largely playing a 3-4 defense that the Bucs aren’t used to facing and have a short week to prepare for.
Frankly, Joe’s not worried about the Bucs’ offense as long as it doesn’t get too cute and the commitment to Blount continues. Joe likes the odds running behind Davin Joseph, and everytime Jeremy Zuttah pulls there seem to be gaping holes in which to run.
October 6th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the same EXACT defense that we stomped last year 21-0? In San Francisco, no less? And with a head coach in Mike Singletary who, though lacking on offense, was pretty decent on defense? What gives with all the excessive respect? Been there…done that.
October 6th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Alex Smith 2.0
We need to hit him in the mouth early and often. If we can beat him up on the line of scrimmage, then I am confident we can win.
In other news, Olson needs to pound Blount early so that the air game can open up.
October 6th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
We did win last year 21-0, but this is a very different looking front 7. Bowmen in now playing on the inside and the first round pick Smith on the outside. They are big, strong and fast and if we take them lightly they will take the game over.
October 6th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Brooks is right… except for the part where he’s wrong. It’s true the Bucs don’t see the 3-4 very much during the season… but during the preseason that’s a whole different story.
The Bucs played 4 preseason games… and faced 4 teams that run the 3-4 defense. I was worried about the team facing the Lions 4-3 after playing 4 straight weeks against teams running the 3-4. The Chiefs, the Dolphins, the Patriots (okay, the Pats started running more of the 4-3 this season), and the Redskins. I’m not overly concerned that the Bucs will implode when trying to figure out the unusual beast that is the 3-4… especially considering how familiar we should be with it.
October 6th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
FLBoy
Besides, Justin Smith, Haralson, and Jean-Francis on O-line; and Goldman, Spencer, and Spillman at DBs; and Willis, Bowman, and Brooks at LB, the defense seems to have plenty of new players! They also seem to be rotating O-line more this year.
BTW Coaching does make a difference!
October 6th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Their NT was diagnosed with a staph infection this morning, he’s a no go. Blount up the middle, Blount to the left, Blount to the right. Light That Blount!!!
October 6th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
It SEEMS half the league runs a 3-4 now so I do not want to hear about “not seeing a 3-4 very much” anymore.
October 6th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
OAR…agreed, but this Bucs team is also improved compared to the one that played in SF last year. Vastly improved d-line, healthy o-line, better MLB, better backup TE, a QB with another year’s experience under his belt, and a head coach that seems to be finding his groove. I like our chances.
October 6th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
You can bet the 49ers are getting that 21-0 score from last year thrown in their face all this week. I like our chances too, but nothing is given and we seem to be playing to the level of our opponents thus far.
October 6th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I like our chances too, but don’t think we will give them an egg this time?
Roll that Blount!
October 6th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Justin Smith is a beast. Willis is a terror. But they lost a key cog on their line in Aubrayo Frankiln. That guy was a big for them. Huge. He was possibly the best 3/4 NT last year. Now as a Saint he is pulling consistent double teams he has severely enhanced their run defense.
We will see how much they miss Franklin this week. Hopefully Blount can hurt a LB or two, but he really needs to hold onto the ball because the 49ers have been stripping it consistently. They are second in the league with fumble recoveries(5) on defense and third with forced fumbles(9).
October 6th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
I do believe this game hinges on stopping Frank Gore and making Alex Smith beat us with his arm. The way we have been playing defense recently, I really like our chances of limiting Gore’s ability to hurt us, which should put the game in Smith’s hands, they were able to come back last week against the Eagles who in all honesty really suck, I don’t care who they signed or who’s on the field that Defense sucks big time, they are ranked 30th in run defense and the Nandi signing looks like a huge mistake, he’s having real trouble in their scheme. Gore hit them for 127 on 15 carries last week. We haven’t given up 100 yards rushing in two games, and haven’t allowed a single rusher a 100 yard game yet. I’m going with the better QB, I say we come home 4-1 and hopefully Cam can shock the Saints, wouldn’t it be cool going into that game 4-1 while the Saints sit at 3-2. One can hope, can’t one?
October 6th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Freeman has a point but just to avoid locker room fodder later in the year like you said Joe he could have said “the best we have seen all year” and then he could have avoided bulletin board material for a team like perhaps Green Bay who has a pretty decent front line as well.
October 6th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Due to tough circumstances, I expect this to be an extremely difficult game. Short week and cross-country flight is certainly not a positive. San Francisco is much much better than last year on both sides of the ball. Philly had no problem moving the ball, but couldn’t do much in the red zone. Scoring TD’s in the red zone has been our weakness all year. If we can pull this one out, it will be our most impressive win of the year IMO.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
no dean of tampa radio reference? his blast on joe sure was swept under the carpet quite nicely. he still the dean?
October 6th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Not liking Stocker being out. Next man up, I guess.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
This 49er team does concern me. I think the key to winning this game is to take what they give us offensively and not get too cute. Defensively is where I think we’re going to win or lose this game. I know the ‘niner defense is going to limit us but how we handle the ‘niner offense is the key. We need to make Smith VERY uncomfortable and force some mistakes. We are due for some interceptions. I don’t think Gore is going to have a big day. Turner didn’t have a big day and nether did Addai. If we eliminate the big play we should win by 10.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
49ers also lead the league in deflected passes … Back 4 must not be too shabby either.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
advertise here!
Yes!
October 6th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Keys on defense are to stuff Gore, hit Smith, but most importantly… jump all over the two TEs. Walker and Davis could kill us. If Smith is pressured, he won’t hesitate to get it to one of those guys and let them take it. Shut down the TEs and Gore and Smith is in BIG trougle.
Keys on offense would be to take advantage of the lack of depth at NT. With the starter out with Staph infection, we need to pound the middle. Use Faine straight up, chip with a guard and get off to the second level. We’ll need the guards on their ILBs, so chip and move on. I think Lorig can handle the other ILB on blocks. We also need to test their CBs. If we can get Blount rolling, use the play action and push the ball deep. Wear these guys out, up to stop the run, back to stop the deep pass, push the pace.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Dave, actually more and more teams are going back to the 4-3.
New England, Baltimore, Cleveland, Oakland, and Denver are all back to the ole even front.
Base formations don’t really matter anyway, since personnel wise it’s dumb to play so many linebackers against a 3+WR league. Your nickel formation is now the new base.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
@lowlife I believe you are right. Bucs ran roughly 32 Nickel defenses out of 57 total snaps this past game. They did similar against the Falcons. It seems to be working well.
October 6th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
Thinking of Nnamdi and the Eagles. I am actually happy fans don’t run our front office. I don’t mean that with respect. but for the last 3 years fans have screamed and begged for the Marquee FA. 2 Years ago it was Haynesworth. He turned out to be one of the biggest FA busts ever. A Year ago it was T.O. tho he did have a decently productive year. Not worth the money. This year it was Nnamdi. 4 weeks in Doesn’t look good.
October 7th, 2011 at 11:48 am
“Keys on offense would be to take advantage of the lack of depth at NT. With the starter out with Staph infection, we need to pound the middle. Use Faine straight up, chip with a guard and get off to the second level. We’ll need the guards on their ILBs, so chip and move on. I think Lorig can handle the other ILB on blocks. We also need to test their CBs. If we can get Blount rolling, use the play action and push the ball deep. Wear these guys out, up to stop the run, back to stop the deep pass, push the pace.”
This should alwasys be our plan. It doesn’t matter who is on the other side.