49ers’ DL Justin Smith prepares for Texans ‘biting your ankles’ technique
After seeing teammate and fellow defensive lineman Ian Williams go down for the season with a broken ankle against the Seattle Seahawks, the San Francisco 49ers’ Justin Smith is understandably leery of the blocking schemes of his team’s opponent this Sunday.
Williams went down on a cut block that ended his 2013 campaign, and the Houston Texans implore a similar technique.
“Oh, yeah,” All Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith told CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “You watch it on tape and feel it in a game, (they’re) biting your ankles, rolling up on ‘em. (It’ll) just be a good fundamental game, as far as that’s concerned.”
With a plethora of injuries plaguing the 49ers’ defense already – most notably Williams and a groin injury to All Pro linebacker Patrick Willis – San Francisco can ill afford to lose anyone else.
“They’re pretty similar to what Seattle tries to do, you know, their stretch cuts, get you running one way, chop a guy down and bring it back out the other way,” Smith continued.
Patrick Willis is questionable at best for the game Sunday already, so it will be imperative for the 49ers to try be cognizant of the blocks,, and avoid any further injury to the depleted defense.
Houston ranks 7th in the NFL in overall rushing yards per game at 134.3. Seattle, who uses a similar running scheme, had success against the 49ers to the tune of 172 yards on the ground. So one thing the 49ers can expect is the Texans to run it at them.