This Rookie X-factor Could Decide The San Francisco 49ers' Season

The San Francisco 49ers person not gotten capable retired of nan 2025 NFL draught people truthful acold this season. However, location are 2 players who person monolithic roles successful nan Divisional Round crippled against nan Seattle Seahawks. The 1 that you slightest expect to beryllium an X-factor, Alfred Collins, has go 1 for this matchup. 

The San Francisco 49ers request a large crippled from Alfred Collins

Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus went done nan rookie X-factors for each squad near successful nan playoffs. While nan anticipation is that he would take Upton Stout caller disconnected of a large game, Chadwick went pinch Collins. 

The 49ers are tied pinch nan Giants for nan worst run-defense people successful nan convention this play (44.5) and person nan fifth-worst pass-rush people (62.6). The only different squad that’s successful nan bottom-five for some is nan Cardinals, who are picking 3rd overall. Collins was drafted successful nan 2nd information to thief hole that problem, but he has nan worst run-defense people of immoderate qualifying protect tackle (30.0). Any betterment he tin springiness San Francisco’s beat-up protect statement would beryllium very welcome

It is adjacent that Collins has ascended to nan champion tally defender connected nan roster alternatively quickly. Beyond that, nan existent rumor that nan 49ers defense had nan past clip they played Seattle is that Seattle has not been a awesome rushing attack, but they were capable to prolong occurrence against nan 49ers front. 

Sam Darnold has not been awesome successful caller weeks, and if nan 49ers are capable to extremity nan run, it puts him successful a reliable spot arsenic a backmost against a Robert Saleh defense that knows you well. 

Beyond that, Seattle likes to get into heavier formations and get teams to return their slot cornerback disconnected of nan field. San Francisco whitethorn not beryllium capable to utilize Stout arsenic overmuch this week. So, it tin make consciousness why Collins whitethorn person a bigger domiciled than Stout successful this game. 

For nan Seahawks side, Chadwick chose Nick Emmanwori. Emmanwori has been capable to play safety, dime linebacker and nan slot for nan Seahawks and has unlocked a batch of versatility successful their backmost end. This is cardinal for nan 49ers, who tally a batch of dense looks, but Seattle will not set to them because of their spot successful Emmanwori. 

This is simply a logical X-factor, but different could easy beryllium Grey Zabel. The starting near defender has been a gem for nan Seahawks truthful acold this season. A batch of his activity is going to travel against Collins. Even if it is not, it is going to beryllium successful nan tally game. 

If Zabel looks for illustration nan champion rookie connected nan field, nan Seahawks whitethorn beryllium winning, but if Collins looks for illustration nan champion rookie, it is almost a fastener that nan 49ers defense will beryllium capable to clasp nan Seahawks successful check.

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