Sourdough Sam
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- Mar 20, 2019
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4. Containing Cook
Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is coming off of a 130-yard two-touchdown performance in the 26-20 win over the Saints. Cook missed the final two games of the regular season with a shoulder injury before returning in his monster performance in the Wild Card round. Nick Bosa is aware of the 49ers urgency to stop the run and neutralize Minnesota's sixth-ranked rushing offense.
“I've been watching him since Florida State. He's really good," Bosa said of Cook. "Not many people could just maintain the speed that he maintains through contact. He just makes cuts and never slows down. He's physical. They’ve got two of them, so it's going to be a challenge. We've played some good backs, but we haven't played him. We just got to bring it.”
Putting up nine sacks, 25 quarterback hits, a whopping 80 pressures and earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl, Bosa is unfazed by the pressure of reaching the postseason during his rookie season.
"I got lucky coming into a really great team, first year get to play in the playoffs, get a Bye week to start out," he added. "Not many people get this opportunity in their careers. I'm just trying to latch onto the older guys and see what they're going to do to prepare, listen to all the tips my coaches have. But, I'm just super excited to still be playing football. Now every team you play is going to be a really good team, so we have to play our best.”
5. Staley’s Return to the Playoffs
If there’s one word to describe Joe Staley’s feelings about the postseason, it would be “excited.” San Francisco's veteran left tackle will be making his fourth playoff appearance in his 13-year NFL career. Staley and Mike McGlinchey will have a tall task defending Vikings defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen, who each recorded three quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks against Drew Brees on Sunday. Despite the elation of his first postseason appearance in six years, Staley is aware that he and his understudy must be stout counters for Minnesota's dynamic pair of defensive ends.
“The Vikings are very, very sound up front. They're a very sound defense," Staley said. "They have a lot of guys that have played in the system, played together for a long time. They know exactly where each other are going to be. It's really hard to get them out of position. So, it really just comes down to doing your techniques and your blocks. They have really talented players up front. Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen have been a great edge pairing in the NFL for a long time. They both present unique challenges as far as tackles go. But, all across the board, you look at everybody, they're a very sound defense. They play well together.”
6. Bye-Bye, Bye Week
It's hard to envision anyone who appreciated the first-round Bye more than Emmanuel Sanders. Sanders became the first player ever to catch a pass in 17 games in a season, given the receiver was traded on Oct. 22, missing both the 49ers Week 4 and the Denver Broncos Week 10 Byes.
“(The Bye week) meant a lot," Sanders said. "A lot more than I thought it would have meant in how I feel today. If you would have asked me two weeks ago, I was like, ‘What's going on with my body?’ Certain things were just aching. My ankles were sore. My big toe was sore. Just everything. Now here I am, I had the little Bye, had the opportunity to get a break. Last week was really just jogging through a lot of stuff, now my body feels good and ready to go. It was definitely tough. I've seen a lot of things on Twitter saying if the NFL wants to change the season to 17 games, they should ask me, and I'd say no. My body was hurting and I needed that break.”
Sanders has played through a rib injury from the 49ers Week 10 matchup against the Seahawks. His talent and experience will be relied on as he heads into his eighth postseason appearance this Saturday.
"If you asked me what does the playoff experience mean, I think it just comes naturally. I think the entire time since I got here, this team has been paying attention to the details," he added. "I feel like we've been locked in all season, ever since I got here."