Sourdough Sam
Well-known member
- Mar 20, 2019
- 1,637
- 0
2. TE George Kittle vs. LB Eric Kendricks
George Kittle is ready for his playoff debut. The AP first-team All-Pro hauled in 85 passes for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season. Since entering the league in 2017, Kittle has amassed 216 catches for 2,945 yards, the second-most for a tight end in that span behind Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (3,603). Kittle is the 49ers go-to target on third down. The Pro Bowler hauled in 27 receptions on third downs to lead all NFL tight ends. In last year’s matchup against the Vikings, Kittle hauled in five catches for a time-high 90 yards.
“He's great with run after the catch," Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said of Kittle. "They use him on a lot of screens and a lot of rockets. They use him all different ways. He's very nifty in the passing game. He'll give you a head fake, a shake and then break the other way. He's got great speed. You combine those three things with his run after catch ability and the way he can get open on routes, it makes him very difficult."
The Vikings defense has found ways to take tight ends out of the game. Minnesota has allowed a passer rating of just 60.3 in the regular season on targets to tight ends, the lowest figure in the league by 28 points, according to Pro Football Focus. Zimmer’s background as a defensive coordinator will be on display as the Vikings defense will employ a variety of different sets, formations and matchups to try and limit Kittle’s big play ability on Saturday. One player in particular that will line up with Kittle throughout the day will be first-team All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks. The middle linebacker posted 130 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, 12 passes defensed, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2019. Kendricks earned the top Pro Football Focus grade for a linebacker in 2019 at 90.5, headlined by his stout coverage ability. He posted a 85.4 coverage grade, which ranks seventh-best among linebackers.
“Their overall scheme helps them with that,” 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said about the Vikings effectiveness against tight ends. “They have talented safeties and talented linebackers who are the guys covering them. They do good in man-to-man situations. It will be tough on us to get those completions.”