Time to go Ram hunting. -- 49ers Paradise Forum

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Subject: Time to go Ram hunting.

Author:
Sydney From Syd's Corner.

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Date Posted: 10:58:04 12/28/02 Sat

How sweet it would be to defeat the St. Louis Rams right in their own backyard and sweep them for the season. In a Monday Night Game that is to be the last of the season there is very little fanfare because this game has no real ramifications for the post-season except for the San Francisco 49ers in winning and Tampa Bay losing.
Should both happen San Francisco moves from fourth seed in the National Football Conference to third seed. The differences are minimal and the entire subplot to this game should be to win but also rest the players that need to be rested. I am all for making sure certain players get the time off needed to heal injuries that could have a negative effect on the post-season for us. Should it cost us the victory we can look back still and realize that resting and healing vital players was the greater victory come wild card weekend.
But we can defeat St. Louis even with key players absent as indicated in Arizona, however St Louis is a different kind of opponent with better quality personnel. We will have a tougher time getting by them as they play well at home and excel on artificial turf, giving them a distinct advantage with receivers that are lethal at the point of attack.
The offensive line has been really banged up and will need serious consideration for rest and healing, some of their struggles have been from a direct result of their hurting. As Ron Stone, Derrick Deese and Matt Willig all have injured ankles that only can become worse playing on artificial turf. Jeremy Newberry continues to play with broken fingers and Scott Gragg has a bruised calf that will become more irritated on this turf.
Two players that are being looked at as possible entries into the playoffs are Jamie Winborn and Zack Bronson both will lend the improving defense even more teeth to bite with. Undoubtedly Jeff Garcia could see some resting time this coming Monday as to give Tim Rattay some valuable playing time as well.
Getting our personnel healthy again needs to be apriority as you can see, what complicates the picture even more is the loss of practice time with a Monday Night contest. It shortens the week to prepare for the wild card game by 36 hours. This in hindsight provides the wild card team a good advantage in coming in refreshed and healthier overall to play.
Rather the Rams start Marc Bulger or Jamie Martin makes no difference our secondary will have to be on their best game with the lightening speed of Issac Bruce and Tory Holt in the mixture. Our run defense will have to contend with the likes of Marshall Faulk who is on pace to break 1,000-yards. Trung Candidate will also likely see increased playing time as the Rams try and evaluate what they have beyond Faulk for next season.
The 49er pass rush will have to make a concerted effort to get to Bulger or Martin, as there lies the key to shutting down the big play. Expect the Rams to go after Mike Rumph hot and often in order to make the big plays happen with regularity, he will have to be ready for these encounters with the high flying passing Rams.
The San Francisco defense has been a rock the last few games and will need to continue that trend right into the playoffs. Tony Parrish is the undisputed leader in the secondary as is Andre Carter on the end. Both of these players will need to be key players in making a victory happen. What is not said is the fact that both Dana Stubblefield and Bryant Young have provided opportunities for not just the ends to capitalize but the linebackers as well.
Jeff Garcia will be looked at as to how much playing time he gets in this game as to evaluate his physical and mental readiness for the post-season. Rest probably will be prescribed once the 49ers gain a lead or come the second half. St. Louis is dealing with some significant injuries themselves as this game approaches so the edge will be a little more blunted as we enter this game. As I mentioned before in my last article the key to advancing in the playoffs will be the readiness and improvement of the offense.
Struggling in the end zone by not scoring touchdowns and settling for field goals needs to come to an end, improving our third down efficiency is also vital for us to succeed. Having viable threats in the passing game opposite Terrell Owens will also be critical as Tai Streets and J.J. Stokes continue to do battle. What was interesting in last week�s contest was the emergence of Cedric Wilson as a legitimate and dangerous threat. I was impressed with his agility and ability to get separation from his covering defensive back.
I believe he has a real future here in San Francisco and that he needs serious consideration for providing competition for receivers like J.J. Stokes for the third slot position. In fact Wilson could spell Stokes departure come the off-season as the 49ers evaluate their receivers.
We need to go in and win this game, but we also need to think wisely and put our team at a crossroads for rest and healing also. It will be critical to rest the right personnel considering the shortness of the week afterwards in losing 36 valuable hours. Steve Mariucci will have tough decisions ahead of him as this game unfolds, but I trust he will make the right choices.

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