I've been looking at some stats on 49ers QB Alex Smith and how the Steelers rattle him and possibly create some turnovers.
To his credit he is very efficient and workmanlike. He's not going to light up the stat sheet because the 49ers don't ask him too. He generally throws for right around 200 yds per game with very safe, productive, passes.
15 TD's. 5 INT's. 2,565 yds. with a 91.5 QB rating overall. The key is with Smith is get in his face and not let him get set. If you can pressure him he'll make some mistakes. If you sit back and let him pass all day he can potentially pick you apart. The Steelers secondary is playing well this year so I don't have a concern with them being able to cover the 49ers receivers. Their tight ends would be more of a concern than any of their receivers. Davis and Walker both can be killers to a defense so I suspect Dick Lebeau will use a similar package that he did against the Patriots where he takes out Ryan Clark in favor of Cortez Allen or Curtis Brown.
The big key though, stop Frank Gore and make Alex Smith beat you. If you get Gore get a head of steam and into a groove that crowd will get excited and you'll make it that much harder on yourself. Gore has 234 carries for 1,054 yds., a healthy 4.5 ypc and 6 TD's on the season. He had a stretch earlier in the year where he had 5 straight 100+ yd games but hasn't had one since week 9.
The 3 games they've lost this year were to Dallas, Baltimore, and Arizona. The teams they've beaten include the Seahawks, Bengals, Eagles, Bucs, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington, and the Giants. Some good teams, some not so good, and some pretenders.
All in all for everything good that the 49ers are, they are unbeatable. Just ask the Cardinals...
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Originally Posted by coldrolled
.....they're the worst in the NFL.
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