San Francisco 49ers: 5 Matchups to Watch in Week 1

The San Francisco 49ers’ Week 1 game against the Minnesota Vikings will probably come down to which team runs the ball better.

Each team features a run-first offensive philosophy and a running back with fresh legs. Niners running back Carlos Hyde carried the ball only 83 times last season and is just 23 years old. He’s fresh.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, probably the best at his position in the NFL, carried the ball only 21 times last season—he missed the final 15 games after being indicted on child abuse charges. He’s fresh, too.

Peterson and Hyde could carry the ball 50 times combined on Monday night. Make sure to watch which back gets better blocking from his teammates.

Also, make sure to watch these five individual matchups between the 49ers and Vikings in Week 1.

RG Jordan Devey vs. DT Sharrif Floyd

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Third-year guard Jordan Devey has started four games in the NFL, and one of those starts came against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2 last season.

Devey played right guard for the New England Patriots during that game. He gave up zero sacks, zero quarterback hits and only one hurry. He was terrific in pass protection.

But he was terrible as a run-blocker. He earned a minus-3.6 run-blocking grade in that game while mostly facing defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

In Week 1 this season, Devey will mostly face Sharrif Floyd, who moved from right defensive tackle to left defensive tackle this offseason. Floyd is one of the best young run-stuffers in the NFL. Can Devey keep him out of the backfield?

Advantage: Vikings

CB Tramaine Brock vs. WR Mike Wallace

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During training camp, Tramaine Brock practiced playing both left and right cornerback in the 49ers’ base defense. The 49ers seem to want their No. 1 cornerback to be able to cover the other team’s best receiver no matter where he lines up.

The Vikings’ best receiver is Mike Wallace, and he lines up all over the place. Expect Brock to follow him wherever he goes.

Ordinarily, Brock would have the edge in this matchup because he plays with excellent technique and Wallace doesn’t. Wallace is just a deep threat—not someone who can create separation over the middle against man-to-man coverage on third down.

Brock can typically cover deep threats. However, he pulled his hamstring and missed the final preseason game. Is he healthy? Can he run with Wallace?

Advantage: Vikings

WR Torrey Smith vs. CB Xavier Rhodes and CB Terrance Newman

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Torrey Smith and Xavier Rhodes faced each other in 2013 when Rhodes was a rookie and Smith was a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Smith finished that game with one catch for 11 yards.

Rhodes is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He’s big (6’1”, 218 lbs) and fast (4.43-second 40-yard dash, per NFL.com). So he has the strength to jam a receiver at the line of scrimmage and the speed to run with him down the sideline.

Rhodes lines up on the right side of the Vikings defense, and Smith mostly lines up on the left side of the Niners offense. But when the Niners want to throw deep to Smith, look for him to move away from Rhodes and toward 37-year-old corner Terence Newman.

Newman can’t keep up with Smith.

Advantage: 49ers

OLB Aaron Lynch vs. RT T.J. Clemmings

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The Vikings lost their starting right tackle Phil Loadholt for the season on August 18 when he tore his Achilles tendon. Minnesota is starting rookie fourth-round pick T.J. Clemmings in Loadholt’s place.

Clemmings played poorly during the preseason, giving up two quarterback hits and one hurry. He may not be strong enough yet to play right tackle in the NFL.

In Week 1, he’ll be facing Lynch, one of the strongest bull-rushing outside linebackers in the NFL. Clemmings can’t handle him. The Vikings must help him by chipping Lynch with tight ends and running backs.

Advantage: 49ers

TE Vernon Davis vs. LB Eric Kendricks

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With the 45th pick in the 2015 NFL draft, the Vikings selected former UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks.

Kendrick is a well-rounded linebacker whose best attribute by far is his ability in pass coverage. He’s a bit small for a linebacker (6’0”, 232 lbs), but he’s fast for his size (4.61-second 40-yard dash, per NFL.com).

So on passing downs, Kendricks will cover the other team’s tight end. He should flourish in this role against most tight ends.

But not against Vernon Davis, who is simply too fast for Kendricks. Davis is too fast for almost every linebacker. Most teams have to cover him with a safety or cornerback.

Advantage: 49ers

All practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Advanced statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

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