How the Patriots defense can shut down Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers - Boston Herald

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Hello, old friend.

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is back in Foxboro for the first time since the Patriots shipped him west in a 2017 midseason trade. Since then, Garoppolo has proven to be a capable starter, though questions still linger in the Bay Area over whether he’s a true franchise quarterback. If the Pats play their reunion right Sunday, those questions should evolve into worries.

The 49ers, while one of the more balanced and best-coached offenses in the league, have obvious holes at wide receiver. Assuming Stephon Gilmore and Co. lock them down, the game will squarely fall on Jimmy G’s shoulders and should be determined by how well the Pats defense can follow these three keys.

1. Hit George Kittle every snap, crowd the middle

Bill Belichick called George Kittle as good a tight end as any he’s coached or faced. If the 49ers All-Pro continues playing at the pace he’s on, that opinion will be universal.

Kittle is as destructive an offensive force as there is in the NFL, considering his impact as a pass-catcher and blocker. The Patriots will simply have to trust their front to handle the run game because Kittle deserves maximum attention as a receiver. Whether downfield or over the middle, this is where he’s most dangerous.

Kittle should be jammed at every opportunity — even at the temporary expense of pass rush — while another defender regularly drops into the short middle in zone coverage. Kittle inflicts maximum damage when he’s allowed to accelerate off the line with a free release. It’s how he generates big plays off short routes.

“Kittle does a lot of quick slants, things like that over the middle. He’ll run some diagonal routes, catch-and-run plays,” Pats safety Devin McCourty said Wednesday.

The 49ers will move Kittle all over the formation, at which point the Patriots can corral him with defensive back double-teams that should often involve McCourty. Back in Week 3, they erased Raiders tight end Darren Waller through timely doubles and man coverage calls backed by zones in the middle of the field. The same tactics should apply to Kittle, with a little extra love off the line.

2. Resist the temptation to blitz

It would be reasonable for the Patriots’ game plan to steal from the film of the 49ers’ 43-17 loss to Miami in Week 5.

It was by far the Niners’ worst offensive showing of the season, during which Garoppolo got benched. He finished 7-of-17 for 77 yards and two interceptions and took three sacks. The Dolphins, who run a similar defensive scheme, blitzed Garoppolo and backup C.J. Beathard on 45% of their dropbacks and pummeled them both into submission.

Blitzing, though, has generally been a favor to Garoppolo. Aside from that week, he’s thrived in the face of extra rushers.

Per Pro Football Focus, Garoppolo’s yards per attempt average has more than doubled in the face of a blitz compared to a standard rush. His completion percentage rises, too, and he’s thrown five touchdowns to zero interceptions when blitzed. Against Miami, both of his picks came against a traditional rush.

Therefore, while the 49ers lack of weapons outside of Kittle might encourage the Patriots to send five at Garoppolo and trust their secondary in man-to-man, they should resist the temptation. Garoppolo’s quick release is a weapon unto itself, one the Pats can blunt by rushing three or four and flooding the field with defensive backs.

3. Attack RG Daniel Brunskill

Patriots defensive tackle Lawrence Guy had to admit it: San Francisco’s offensive line is damn good.

“Their offensive line, just give it to ’em — they go out there and they perform to the best you have seen (this year),” Guy said Wednesday.

Four of the 49ers’ O-linemen rank among the league’s best at their positions. Last Sunday, they all but nullified Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who had entered kickoff as a fringe MVP candidate. Even their weakest link contributed: right guard Daniel Brunskill.

A converted tackle, Brunskill has struggled mightily in pass protection this season. The Pats can target him with stunts and blitz calls that force him to pick between two encroaching linebackers. Or, a steady dose of Guy and Deatrich Wise should do the trick.

Rushing through Brunskill is the quickest path to pressuring Garoppolo. The Pats should take it as often as they can.

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How the Patriots defense can shut down Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers - Boston Herald
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