The Falcons didn’t do a great job of putting hands on Russell Wilson last weekend, but they’re vowing to make sure 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick doesn’t treat them the same way.
“If you get the opportunity to blow up somebody and make a statement, that’s what you want to do,’' safety William Moore said, via Jim Corbett of USA Today. “They’re a physical team, too. Their receivers block down the field.
“We’re going to go out there well-prepared. Keeping the quarterback in the pocket, we have to go in there and keep contain on him.”
While using a phrase like “blow up somebody,” sounds inflammatory, the Falcons would need to tighten up defensively to avoid a repeat of the show Kaepernick put on against the Packers, which including 181 rushing yards.
And they apparently think being physical with the 49ers is the way to do that.
“You definitely want to set the tone and send a message if he’s a guy that likes to run the ball: ‘We’re going to be here.’ You want to put some tags on him if he keeps the ball in his hands,’' safety Thomas DeCoud said. “With a quarterback of this caliber who can tote the rock like he can, you always have to be accounted for — have somebody account for him in the rush or in the back end. Somebody has to have eyes on him to make sure we keep him in the pocket.”
Considering Wilson combined for 445 combined yards last week, and Kaepernick is probably more of a runner, that’s easier said than done.