Tennessee offense vs. San Francisco defense

	TITANS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	28
	Pass	5
	Tot. Yds.	11
	Scoring	7
	Int's allowed	11
	Sacks allowed	10
	49ERS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	5
	vs. Pass	16
	Total yds. allowed	11
	Ints.	11
	Sacks	19
	Turnover differential	-3

The Tennessee offense has not proved to be overly explosive over the first three weeks of the regular season, but it has certainly been consistent, minimizing turnovers and controlling the ball on the ground. The Titans are 3-0, and RB Eddie George has yet to run for 100 yards in a game.

As the team's schedule gets tougher over the next few weeks, the offensive line needs to start opening up holes for George on a more consistent basis. So far this season, two of the team's three wins have been of the come-from-behind variety, but the team will need to run the ball more effectively if it wants to protect leads late in games. This week against the 49ers, the Titans need to establish the run early.

With George carrying the load, San Francisco's undersized corners will play plenty of zone against Titan WRs Kevin Dyson and Yancy Thigpen. In order for O'Donnell to get the ball to his wideouts, he needs time to set up in the pocket -- something the Titans gave him against the Jags, as he wasn't sacked in the second half.

That means ROT Jon Runyan will have to have a good game against San Francisco LDE Charles Haley. Haley had two sacks against the Cardinals on Monday night and appears to be returning to form after getting off to a slow start. Runyan needs to get out of his stance quickly and use his arms to keep Haley away from his body, and outside of the pocket. With time, O'Donnell has proven that he can deliver the ball to his receivers.

The San Francisco defense stepped its game up a notch on Monday night in Phoenix. The Niners showed that they have a big play defense that is capable of taking over games.

LDE Haley proved that he still has some gas in his tank, as he sacked Jake Plummer twice and was in his face for much of the game. Cornerbacks Mark McMillian and Darnell Walker had great games, limiting Plummer to 176 yards and two interceptions.

Both should face a tougher test this week, as they will line up across from Tennessee WRs Kevin Dyson and Yancy Thigpen. Dyson is a tall receiver and could give the Niners secondary fits, particularly if QB O'Donnell throws some jump balls. This week, the San Francisco corners will need help from SS Tim McDonald or hard-hitting FS Lance Schulters in their "cover-2" defense. Neither McMillian nor Walker has the physical game to jam the Titan WRs at the line of scrimmage, so expect help on the deep balls.

This will require that MLB Ken Norton or LOLB Lee Woodall run with Titans TE Wychek in coverage. Wychek has been a force over the first three weeks of the season. If the 49ers can take away this dimension of the Titans' offense, O'Donnell could be in for a long day.

DTs Junior Bryant and Bryant Young also need to come up big this week. The Titans are most effective when they run the ball between the tackles. If "The Bryants" can stop up Tennessee's inside running game, forcing Eddie George outside, it will allow San Francisco's speedy linebackers to make plays.

San Francisco offense vs. Tennessee defense

	49ERS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	9
	Pass	28
	Tot. Yds.	24
	Scoring	19
	Int's allowed	24
	Sacks allowed	23
	TITANS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	29
	vs. Pass	8
	Total yds. allowed	14
	Ints.	9
	Sacks	13
	Turnover differential	-2

Against Arizona, for the first time this season, the 49ers offense looked like a well-oiled machine. The team's running game showed signs of life, producing more than 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Along the offensive line, which was an Achilles heel for the first two weeks of the season, Derrick Deese moved from ROG to ROT, while rookie Jeremy Newberry, who started the first two games at ROT, was moved inside to ROG. The result was only one sack surrendered to a defense that has two of the better speed rushers in the league. Improvements in run blocking were apparent as well, as San Francisco had its best rushing game of the season to date.

QB Steve Young is doubtful for this Sunday's game, meaning that back-up QB Jeff Garcia will probably get his first start as a 49er. Garcia is an athletic guy who can get out of the pocket and run if he has to. This should serve him well, as the Titans will bring the pressure, hoping to force Garcia into some bad decisions.

Niners coach Steve Mariucci needs to help Garcia find a comfort zone early in this game, so look for Garcia to throw to RBs Charlie Garner and Lawrence Phillips on swing passes, as well as TE Greg Clark on some underneath routes. The slant pattern, a route the Niners have perfected over the last 15 years, could be an effective tool if the Titans sell-out and bring linebackers or a safety to pressure Garcia.

The key to San Francisco's success in this game will be how well Garcia adjusts to the different looks Tennessee throws at him in his first NFL start. Expect Mariucci to simplify his game plan by shrinking the playbook, lessening the amount Garcia has to learn to be comfortable this week.

The key to Tennessee's success on the defensive side of the ball will be its ability to pressure the quarterback. Rookie LDE Jevon Kearse will look to beat Deese with quick moves to the outside.

If Tennessee can rely on its front four to create pressure, Garcia could be in for a long day. If the team has to blitz Garcia, he will be able to find WRs Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes in single coverage for big plays.

Titans DCs Samari Rolle and Denard Walker will be looking for deep support from FS Marcus Robertson and SS Blaine Bishop, who has had a Pro-Bowl caliber first three games. Coach Jeff Fisher's 46 defense requires players to take risks, so it is likely that Rolle and Walker will be put in situations where they have to cover 49er receivers one-on-one. Nickel back Anthony Dorsett will also see a lot of action, as San Francisco likes to run a lot of three receiver sets, even on first and second down.

Along the defensive line, the Tennessee linemen need to shed at the point of attack which will allow them to get a piece of RBs Garner and Phillips. Both are speed guys who are dangerous if they get through the line of scrimmage with a head of steam -- case in point: Phillips' 61 yard touchdown romp against the Cardinals on Monday night.

MLB Eddie Robinson is the quarterback of the Titan defense as well as one of the more accomplished run stoppers in the NFL. Robinson will be forced to come-up and support the run against the 49ers, who will undoubtedly try to establish their running game early.

Special teams

	NFL RANK
	Category	TEN	SF
	Punt return avg.	8	31
	Kickoff return avg.	28	10
	Opp. punt return avg.	7	14
	Opp. kickoff ret. avg.	9	14
	Time of possession	12	23

Tennessee PK Al Del Greco's brilliant performance (2 of 2 FGs) in sloppy conditions at Jacksonville was one of the primary reasons the Titans were victorious. P Craig Hentrich also had a great game, allowing Tennesse to win the battle of field position as he pinned down the Jags inside their 20-yard line on three occasions. Tennessee's punt coverage unit committed two bad penalties against Jacksonville and needs to improve upon its discipline.

This week's game should be a close one, so the battle for field position should again be of great importance. San Francisco KR R.W. McQuarters has been solid returning kicks over the first three weeks and is always a threat to break the big one. His performance on punt returns has been less impressive, and last week against Arizona he averaged less than 7 yards per return.

49er PK Wade Richey has done all that has been asked of him, going 2-for-2 in FG attempts, but his lack of work thus far could be a curse in a tight game if he is called upon to make a kick under pressure.

Key matchups