NFL Week 2 Preview: 49ers at Seahawks

Each week, the PFF analysis team will bring you break downs of the most important matchups for each game of the NFL season.

Coverage by: David Neumann

Matchup: San Francisco 49ers offense vs. Seattle Seahawks defense

• WR Pierre Garçon vs. CB Richard Sherman — Garçon was the lone bright spot on San Francisco’s rebuilt offense in the season opener, earning an 81.9 overall grade while racking up 2.31 yards per route run (16th of 70 qualifying wideouts) in his 49ers debut. Last week, Garçon lined up to the offense’s right side on 66.0 percent of his snaps, meaning he’ll spend a significant portion of his day matched up with Sherman if that usage continues. Sherman wasn’t tested often in Green Bay, playing 16.3 coverage snaps per target (ninth of 91 qualifying cornerbacks) and allowing just 16 yards on two receptions.

• QB Brian Hoyer vs. Seahawks’ pressure — Seattle was unable to consistently pressure Aaron Rodgers in the opener, bothering the star quarterback on just 26.5 percent of his dropbacks, the 22nd-highest rate in Week 1. It’s unlikely they’ll have as much trouble getting to Brian Hoyer, who spent much of his day against the Panthers under duress. Hoyer was pressured on 35.0 percent of his dropbacks, and when pressure came, it came quickly — he faced quick pressure (2.0 seconds or less) five times and his 2.09-second average time to pressure was the third quickest last week.
• RB Carlos Hyde vs. LBs Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright — Hyde has been forced to make his living fighting for yards after contact, which has often come behind or near the line of scrimmage. Since entering the league in 2014, Hyde has averaged 2.94 yards after contact per attempt, the fourth-highest among running backs with at least 250 carries in that span. Last week was much of the same, with Hyde’s 2.67 yards after contact per attempt ranking 10th among 39 qualifiers. Those yards will be tougher to come by this week, as he’ll be facing a pair of the league’s surest tacklers in Seattle. Both Wagner and Wright ranked in the top 10 in tackling efficiency among 61 linebackers with at least 70 tackle attempts last season, with Wright missing a tackle once every 29.5 attempts (third) and Wagner once every 16.7 attempts (10th). Neither missed a tackle in Green Bay.

Coverage by: Mike Cahill

Matchup: Seattle Seahawks Offense vs. San Francisco 49ers Defense

• RB Chris Carson vs. 49ers Run Defense – Carson was Seattle’s highest graded running back in Week 1, with an overall grade of 76.9 which was 10th among all backs. He also earned the fourth highest breakaway percentage among running backs by gaining 30 of his 39 yards on runs of 15 or more yards on six attempts. The 49ers defense generated 27 stops in their Week 1 matchup with 15 of them coming from their front seven, and finished as the 14th overall run defense in PFF grading. Carson was able to force four missed tackles in Week 1, though he only touched the ball seven times. Three of his missed tackles came in the run game on six attempts and his lone reception came with a forced missed tackle as well, and he generated 3.83 yards after contact per attempt.
• WR Doug Baldwin vs. Slot Coverage – Baldwin finished Week 1 as the highest graded wide receiver on the team and the 14th overall receiver with an overall PFF grade of 79.7. Baldwin managed to catch all four of his targets in week one for 63 yards and a passer rating of 118.8, which was tied for 11th best in Week 1 among 70 wide receivers. Three of his four targets came in the slot where his 3.11 yards per route run on 18 slot routes ranked 13th. Meanwhile, the 49ers slot coverage combined to allow three receptions on seven targets for 81 yards, one touchdown, and 1.56 yards allowed per coverage snap.
• Seahawks’ Offensive Line vs. 49ers Pass Rush – Russell Wilson was running for his life in Week 1 as his offensive line allowed the ninth most pressures with 13 on 33 pass blocking snaps. Their collective pass-blocking efficiency of 68.2 ranked 24th among offensive lines in week one and the three quarterback sacks they were charged with were tied for fourth most. The 49ers finished Week 1 as PFF’s 20th overall pass rushing grade with only seven quarterback pressures, eighth fewest in the league. The key for the Seahawks’ line is to give Wilson time to throw, as his passer rating sharply declined from 84.7 when he had 2.6 seconds or more in the pocket to 57.6 with 2.5 seconds or less.