LAS VEGAS -- The weakest area on the 49ers during the playoffs has easily been their run defense. Structure, effort, and execution have all been lacking and it is why the run defense has been porous.
Surely the Chiefs are going to take advantage of that when they face the 49ers in the Super Bowl. However, it doesn't seem like the Chiefs are buying into the 49ers' run defense as a weakness. On Monday, I asked Chiefs' offensive guard Trey Smith about the 49ers' run defense where he was skeptical about it being a weakness.
"We just have to make sure we execute at a high level and do our jobs. Football is an 'any given day sport.' The past couple of weeks might not have been great, but they can be the best rushing defense in the league on Sunday, so at the end of the day we just have to come out and do our job... You might've had that on film, but you can be a hall of famer on Sunday."
Smith isn't the only Chiefs player who feels that way. Starting center Creed Humphrey echoed the same thoughts as Smith.
"New game, new season. Every week is going to be different," said Humphrey. "For us, it's coming in with the same mentality every single week."
I would imagine that this is the message everyone on the Chiefs' offense is receiving. And really, it is the right approach. They can't bank on the 49ers showing up with a lackluster effort or with the same ineffective scheme against the run. With two weeks to prepare, the Chiefs are likely to see something different out of the 49ers on defense.
This is why the Chiefs aren't buying into it. Smith makes an excellent point that the 49ers could easily flip the script. Both teams have to focus on themselves and not worry too much about the other. Still, I would expect the Chiefs to test the 49ers' run defense. It would be malpractice if they didn't, especially since they have an adequate running back in Isiah Pacheco.
I guess we'll find out on Sunday.
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