Wausau Daily Herald from Wausau, Wisconsin • 35

7D AVausau Daily Herald Sunday, November 28, 1999 Pro football San Francisco secondary has been the team's weakest link r1 for corners all year. I think we've had about six different sets of corners try to play, and we're continually looking' for the best combination." Though the 49ers took the deep" ball away from Warner and the" Rams, they couldn't do much to stop the short passing game. That's the same strategy the Packers used to beat Detroit last, week. Instead of going downfield, the Packers returned to the West Coast-offense of old. Still, the 49ers remain downfield, where they have allowed' two 80-yard plays this season.

"That's largely due to new corners," young corners and changing corners Mariucci said. "The secondary needs to have some continuity, just as an offensive line needs to have that con- tinuity of playing together over time. We simply haven't been able to do-that in search of the right corners to carry us." "You're only going to be as strong as your weakest link, Packers defensive tackle Santana' Dotson said. "Whether it's on the defensive line, the linebackers or the DBs, it doesn't matter." The Packers cleaned house in the-: secondary after last season, getting- rid of Terrell, Newsome, cornerback Rod Smith and safety Mike Prior. "Obviously, they have a more talented group of guys," Owens said ofl the Packers' new-look secondary with rookie cornerbacks Mike McKenzie, Antuan Edwards and Fred Vinson.

"Their corners have some ability to make plays." u-i By Rob Demovsky Green Bay Press-Gazette When Terrell Owens hauled in the 25-yard touchdown pass that beat the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs last season, it was a case of the San Francisco 49ers taking advantage of the Packers' greatest weakness. Throughout the 1998 season, teams shredded the Packers' secondary. Owens' game-winning grab between safeties Darren Sharper and Pat Terrell was only the final example of a season full of blown coverages. Plays like Owens' and those by Minnesota's Randy Moss, who abused the Packers' defensive backs in both games last season, were the defining moments of Green Bay's 1998 season and were the perfect example of how shoddy play in the secondary can hamper a defense. The Packers solved their problems by using their top three draft picks on cornerbacks.

The 49ers may be pondering a similar course of action. Among numerous other problems, the 49ers have been plagued by poor play in the secondary. The 49ers' defense heads into Monday's game against the Packers ranked last in the NFL in yards per play, last in passing average allowed and second-to-last in points allowed. When Monty Montgomery and Ramos McDonald started for the 49ers last Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, they became the team's sixth and seventh starting corner-backs this season.

Only five years ago, the 49ers sent both of their cornerbacks to the Pro Bowl. But with Deion Sanders in Dallas and Eric Davis in Carolina, the 49ers' secondary has been scorched. "We've got players starting for us who have been waived by other teams this year," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. "And we're lucky to have them" The 49ers' first sign of desperation was trading for Craig Newsome, who was part of the Packers' weak secondary last season. Newsome is no longer in the 49ers' regular rotation and has been inactive for the last three games.

San Francisco signed Montgomery after he was released by Indianapolis earlier this season. The 49ers then acquired McDonald off waivers from Minnesota three weeks ago. With Montgomery and McDonald, the 49ers played a respectable defensive game last week against the Rams. Though they lost 23-7, they limited Rams quarterback Kurt Warner to just 201 yards passing and one touchdown. That's a start.

In Warner's first game against the 49ers, he was 20-for-23 for 323 yards and five touchdowns. He completed three passes of 40 yards or more and six of 20 yards or more. In the rematch, Warner's longest completion went for 19 yards. "I think our secondary probably played as well against Warner and the Rams as anybody has this year," Mariucci said. "We've been searching 111 f3'.

Ivt: ft A i "cg AP photo San Francisco 49ers cornerback Darnell Walker (38) struggles to bring down St. Louis running back Marshall Faulk during the third quarter of last Sunday's game, a 23-7 Rams win. Green Bay has narrow 5-3 advantage in team-by-team analysis Coaching Steve Mariucci proved himself in the past couple of seasons by taking part of a weak 49ers' defense that ranks 27th in yards allowed and 30th in points allowed. By Pete Dougherty Green Bay Press-Gazette Quarterbacks Brett Favre's injured thumb is getting much better, and that's good news for the 1 ,028) and is bigger and more durable. Small edge, Packers.

Receivers If the 49ers' Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes ever formed the NFL's best trio of receivers, they a fading team into the postseason. Last week's win over Detroit might have been a breakthrough Packers. As long If Louie Aguiar can't punt because of a strained groin, the Packers should be OK with Ryan Longwell handling both the kicking and punting. Longwell was a punter for four years in college.

The 49ers' R.W. McQuarters is averaging only 5.1 yards a punt return, last in the NFL. Antuan Edwards might return punts for the Packers for a second week. Even. Intangibles The 49ers have lost six straight and probably won't hold up well if things go wrong.

as he doesn't aggravate it, he's much better than the 49ers' Steve Small edge, 49ers. Secondary The 49ers are in shambles and may have the worst secondary in the NFL. Mid-season pickups Ramos McDonald and Monty Montgomery start at cornerback, and starting safety Lance Schulters is question don't now. Rice is 37 and averaging only 9 yards a catch. Levens, the Packers' running back, has more tackle Ross Verba, but Mike Wahle held up well after Verba injured his knee last week against Detroit.

The 49ers don't have a standout lineman. Even. Defensive line Former Pro Bowl tackle Bryant Young still has big-play talent but isn't back to the dominating player he was before breaking his leg late last season. The Packers' No. 27 ranking in rush defense is a direct reflection of their play.

Even. Linebackers Second-year pro Jude Waddy is playing well in place of injured Brian Williams for the Packers, but George Koonce (shoulder) is questionable and Bernardo Harris has a sore knee. Though Ken Norton Jr. is declining at 33, this is the strongest Stenstrom, whose passer rating is a pitiful 49.2. Big edge, Packers.

game for often-sive coordinator Sherman Lewis in getting the Packers back to their West Coast roots. Small edge, 49ers. Overall As long as Favre doesn't reinjure his thumb, the Packers aren't the With Steve Young Running backs 'Charlie Garner is averaging a able because of an ankle injury. Packers safety Darren Sharper is still missing the occasional key out and an aging roster, they're one of the four or five worst teams catches (51) than Rice's team-leading 39. Packers receiver Antonio Freeman has a strained groin and is coming off a concussion, so he won't be at full strength if he plays.

Small edge, 49ers. Offensive line The Packers will be without left floundering team 1 of their first 10 games. The 49ers are vulnerable. Small edge, Packers. healthy 5.2 yards a carry, compared to Dorsey Levens' 3.5.

But Levens has more total yards (1,180 to in the NFL, and they know it. But they are at home. Small edge, Packers. tackle. Big edge, Packers.

Special teams Starting Next I 3 Now on Sunday afternoons, we'll once again be offereing ABC Sports coverage. A FOX affiliate is scheduled to start broadcasting in the Wausau area. Because of NFL and FOX affiliate restrictions we will no longer be able to carry "FOX NFL SUNDAY" on TV9 or TVS Along with ABC's superb sports coverage, we'll continue to bring you our many Packer features. Features like our "One-on-One" interviews with Sherm Lewis, Dorsey Levens, Leroy Butler and Santana Dotson. You'll also get "Monday Night Pack Attack" which airs live at 6:30 as a primer for ABC's "Monday Night ABC also has exclusive rights to this year's Super Bowl making TV9 and TV34 your official Super Bowl stations.

NewsLine 9's Sunday Edition will now be available every Sunday night at 5:30. If you have any questions about FOX Football we ask that you call WFXS-TV the local FOX affiliate located in Wausau, Wl. The number is 1-715-847-1155. WAOW-TV has enjoyed the long relationship with FOX Sports and wishes the new FOX station the "very best" in the future. 3 wow EAGLE RIVER WI Contact lis on the web at www.waow.com or www.wyowtv34.com.

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