How the Defense of the 49ers Can Limit Christian McCaffrey
It is starting to finally become a full on acknowledgement that the San Francisco 49ers are a legitimate playoff contender. Led by an elite defensive unit, the 49ers have put the clamps on opposing offenses in each and every game. Sunday's matchup with the Carolina Panthers, however, will be a tall task even for this talented defense.
That is because of running back Christian McCaffrey, who rather offensive weapon Christian McCaffrey since he does it all for their offense.
“He’s not your typical scat back that you can blow on and he’ll fall." Robert Saleh when asked about McCaffrey, "He runs through arm tackles, he’ll make you miss, he’ll run right through you, he’ll out-run you. He’s tremendous with the ball in his hands, he can catch it, he’s got tremendous vision as a runner. If you’re out of your gap just an inch, he’ll find it. And he’s also great in protection, too, from a pass-protection standpoint. You can’t book him for anything because he can do everything and that’s really what makes it hard, he can lineup in the slot and run routes. He’s good.”
McCaffrey has been an force this season and defenses just haven't figured out how to stop him. His stellar performance this season has his name in the hat of MVP candidates and rightfully so. McCaffrey is by far the most talented player the 49ers' defense will have faced thus far. Trying to remove him from the picture, let alone slow him down will be difficult.
However, the 49ers do have the players to try to contain him, especially when he goes out on a route where he is most dangerous. That is where the most of the cause for concern should be for McCaffrey because he is capable of running routes out of the backfield, motioned out, slot, you name it. Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner have the speed and awareness necessary to take on McCaffrey in coverage. Expect both to have their moments spying him or just outright matching up with him.
Even Jimmie Ward will possibly get the call from Saleh to try and lock him down. As quick and agile that Warner is, the ideal matchup is to put Alexander on McCaffrey. According to Pro Football Focus, Kwon Alexander is the fourth-highest graded coverage linebacker in the league. That should come as no surprise with all of the elite traits that he has at his disposal. Alexander should be capable to handle him, but he mustn't be the primary defender, unless he is having consistent success.
How the 49ers defense can limit Christian McCaffrey involves multiple ways of approach. Spying him To defend against McCaffrey, the 49ers need to constantly give him different looks. That way he isn't able to decipher the defense. He won't know who is guarding him or where the zone will be. This can also help with disrupting Kyle Allen's flow as well, which is knocking out two birds with one stone.
The 49ers' pass rush will also play a factor into limit McCaffrey. They should be able to pressure Kyle Allen for a good portion of the game. Allen has been sacked 10 times in the last four games, but hasn't had constant pressure for an entire game. That'll change come Sunday when he takes the field at Levi's Stadium.
When it comes to shutting down Christian McCaffrey, there isn't a blueprint out there on how to about that. If the 49ers are able to do that, then their defense will just be further validated of their elite status. This is a matchup that should be exciting for everyone at home and in the stands. The vaunted 49ers' defense up against the most explosive offensive player in the league. Which will give in?
