Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Head coach Jim Harbaugh will have to do more than just scheme for his San Francisco 49ers‘ Week 2 game again the division rival Seattle Seahawks.
In Week 1, the 49ers moved the ball exceptionally well against an improved Green Bay Packers defense with nearly 500 yards of total offense. This week, San Francisco faces a defense that may just as good, if not better than their own. The Seahawks have one of the most physical defenses and the best defensive secondary in the NFL.
Veteran running back Frank Gore needs to get plenty of touches even though he historically does not run well against Seattle. That is why quarterback Colin Kaepernick will have some read-option running. On the ground, the 49ers will not look like a great running team, but it is important to stay with running the football because that will control the clock and keep Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline.
As it pertains to the passing game, Kaepernick will have to throw the ball in tight coverage windows, not in wide open zone coverage. Veteran tight end Vernon Davis needs to be put at wide receiver to cause some type of mismatch with one of Seattle’s big defensive backs. The passing routes will have to be short and intermediate in the middle of the field to the outside.
If Harbaugh wants a deep throw, he needs to do it from the slot. It could cause a linebacker to be matched up against a player he cannot cover beyond 15 yards down the field. The 49ers needs to be balanced in their play-calling and patient in both first downs and scoring.
