The 49ers offense has its work cut out for it Sunday in New Orleans. The Saints, once a dominant offensive juggernaut, now has a terrific defense to compliment an offense that may have taken a step back.
New Orleans’ defensive talent is good enough to match an equally talented 49ers offense. The room for error Sunday on offense is minimal against a Saints defense that’ll take full advantage of miscues.
San Francisco’s offense is at its best when it’s running the ball effectively. Here are the six players the 49ers need playing well to maximize their offensive production:
RB Matt Breida
The 49ers have sorely missed Breida’s explosiveness while he’s been out with an ankle injury. He’s missed the last three games, and until Raheem Mostert broke out last week, the rushing attack has suffered greatly from a lack of big-play ability on the ground. Breida has game-changing speed that can turn a short gain into a long touchdown with one missed tackle. He leads the team with 542 rushing yards, and he’s going at 5.0 yards per carry in his third season. Breida may only get 10 or 12 carries, but the 49ers should benefit a lot from having him back.
RT Mike McGlinchey
McGlinchey is coming off his best game of the season against the Ravens. He was terrific setting the edge in the run game and keeping quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo upright when he dropped back. The Saints’ defense has a multifaceted defensive front that gets after the quarterback and wrecks running games. Getting the run game going will have a lot to do with how well McGlinchey does clearing the way on the right side, and Garoppolo has to be mistake free. That starts with keeping him from getting hit.
LT Joe Staley
There’s no guarantee Staley plays. He’s officially listed as questionable. However, the necessity of getting the run game started and keeping Garoppolo clean apply to his side of the offensive line as well. Staley’s played in only three games this season due to injury, and his first return in Week 10 against Seattle didn’t go well. Staley wasn’t 100 percent coming off a broken fibula, and it showed. Three more weeks off to heal a surgically repaired fractured, dislocated finger should help Staley be more productive if he is in the lineup.
WR Deebo Samuel
The last four games have been terrific for the rookie wide receiver. He has 20 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns in that stretch. Getting that kind of production on the outside gives San Francisco another legitimate pass-catching threat alongside Emmanuel Sanders and George Kittle. Having three reliable pass catchers makes life much easier on Garoppolo, but more importantly, Samuel is a weapon in all three levels of the passing game. If the 49ers are going to spread the Saints out to open up running lanes – Samuel is their best chance to do it.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
The 49ers can win a Super Bowl with Garoppolo at quarterback. However, his turnover problem makes him too volatile to consistently rely on for high-end production. That makes him an extremely important player Sunday, since whether he turns the ball over could be the difference in the game. One fumble turned the tide in Baltimore, and Sunday against another elite team presents a scenario where one miscue from the quarterback could hold the 49ers back from a win. On the other hand, Garoppolo is talented enough to carry the club if the Saints’ run defense stifles that portion of the 49ers’ offense.
RB Raheem Mostert
It’s getting harder to justify not giving Mostert more touches on offense. His big day against Baltimore came thanks to Breida’s absence and Tevin Coleman struggling. Mostert has game-breaking speed, runs hard, and is becoming a more reliable pass catcher. He had a career-high 19 carries against the Ravens, and while he won’t get close to that number again, he should get some touches. If he runs like he did against Baltimore, Mostert can have a big impact.
