2 min read • January 29, 2022
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Trent Williams, the 6-foot-5, roughly 320 pound left tackle, has been the biggest injury to watch this week, both in stature and importance.
How effectively he can play on his injured right ankle will likely decide the game.
ProFootballDoc, Dr. David Chao, projects that Williams will have more trouble run blocking than pass blocking and he could also be vulnerable to the power rush.
Aaron Donald, the Rams’ 6-foot-1, 280 pound star defensive end, is an expert at the power rush and stopping the run.
He led the team in with 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss this season. The 30-year-old had 2 tackles for a loss and 1 sack against the Buccaneers last week.
With 49ers starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey out for the season, star linebackers Von Miller and Leonard Floyd can target backup right tackle Tom Compton on the pass rush.
San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is also dealing with a right thumb UCL tear and a right shoulder rotator cuff contusion.
Those could both give him accuracy and ball security issues.
Rams starting free safety Taylor Rapp is back this week after missing the last two games. He was tied for the team lead with 4 interceptions and picked Garoppolo off once in Week 18.
The 49ers run a lot of play action as well, which an experienced safety like Rapp should be able to read and react to better than backup safety Terrell Burgess.
While the Rams’ pass defense doesn’t have the biggest SIC score advantage of the week, that battle at left tackle will sway the game.
Andrew Whitworth, the Rams 40-year-old left tackle, will play through a knee injury that caused him to miss last week.
While his mobility will be limited, the rest of the Rams offensive line is healthy.
The 49ers are without starting defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, but Arik Armstead and Arden Key have filled in well.
San Francisco linebacker, and the team’s second leading tackler, Azeez Al-Shaair is dealing with a knee sprain and has played limited snaps in the last two games.
Star edge rusher Nick Bosa led the league with 21 tackles for a loss this season. He’s fully recovered from his concussion and will be a handful for Whitworth and the rest of the offensive line.
Check out the matchup fieldview at:
https://sicscore.com/nfl/games/san-francisco-49ers-vs-los-angeles-rams-2
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