The 49ers finally found a way to corral Kyler Murray and the Cardinals on Saturday in Arizona. All it took was losing their star pass rusher and three quarters of the secondary, then starting their 3rd string QB and RB while missing their number two WR and limiting their number one WR to one catch.
Presto! The team also decided to rub it in by having kicker extraordinaire Robbie Gould shank two FGs and an extra point, which left seven points off the scoreboard.
The 49er offense boiled down to three guys: CJ Beathard, George Kittle, and Jeff Wilson. Beathard threw for 182 yards, Kittle caught 4 passes for 92 yards, and Wilson ripped off 183 yards rushing plus another 21 as a receiver.
Tarvarius Moore filled in for Jimmie Ward and he was making plays all over the field. Ahkello Witherspoon subbed in for Richard Sherman and the much-maligned CB played well, even making a game saving end zone interception late in the fourth quarter. Jason Verrett held Arizona’s top WR, DeAndre Hopkins, to 8 catches for a measly 48 yards.
The loss may have knocked the Cardinals out of the playoffs, which would allow Niner fans to enjoy the misery of an opponent instead of the misery of themselves. AZ would need to beat the fading Rams next week and have the Bears lose to Green Bay in order to slither into the final postseason slot. Most likely, it will be the Bears who get sent home early.
The final game of the year against the Seahawks should have been a doozy, but instead is probably meaningless to either team. The NFC East winner will have either a 7-9 or a 6-10 record, with only the Eagles eliminated from the mix.
With one game left for the regular season, it looks like the NFL, despite long odds and a few blatantly unfair games, will succeed in getting an entire season in the books. Too bad. This is one year I would not have minded seeing the season tossed into the toilet.
The Niner offense boiled down to FOUR guys. You are remiss not to include Kyle Juszczyk. Juice caught 2 TD passes and motioned into the QB position in a wildcat formation to run for a first down. That was one of Shanahan’s more innovative plays this year as Juszczyk was in motion, stopped to take a quick snap and caused the Cards defense to ask what just happened as Juice got the first down.
It was one of those games where things worked out in our favor. I thought we probably should have been called on a couple of penalties but for once the refs disagreed
The offensive gameplan devised by Shanahan allowed Jeff Wilson to run for 186 yards. That has to be in the 49ers top 15 of all time.
Shanahan’s schemes are allowing guys like Mostert and Wilson to put up eye boggling numbers.
Wilson was running for huge chunks of yardage averaging over 8 yds per carry.
Shanahan can take an obscure unknown and make him a star running back.
Speaking of RBs Frank Gore went over 16,000 yds rushing in the Jests victory yesterday over the Brownies.
Here is the play
https://twitter.com/JuiceCheck44/status/1343007819943964673
I am a shanny fan but in my mind he is still a little slow in adjusting his offense when it’s obvious that it isn’t working. Easy for me to say.
“WR Brandon Aiyuk suffered a high ankle sprain in Saturday’s game. OT Trent Williams has a sprained elbow. Both will miss the season finale.”
Great. An ugly loss just got uglier.
Great seeing Kittle out there again, but I was surprised they risked it. He’s proving to be highly injury-prone.
Maybe not Skeebs?
Seattle could be resting their guys for the Playoffs.
Either way, we need to see some of the younger guys before they hang’m up for the season.
I’d like to see McKivitz on the left side.
Aiyuk and Trent Williams are both out of the game with ankle issues.
Makes it a lot tougher.
The steadiest Olineman in the past two years has been Tomlinson at LG
To his right he has played next to four different centers.
When the QB is being sacked it comes from pressure from the edges
and usually McGlinchey and Williams are resonsible.
One of the mystery players on the roster is OT Shon Coleman.
When will this guy take field?
If he were healthy that might help Lynch make a decision on McGlinchey and draft interior Oline.
NJ
two guys from Iowa St to keep an eye on are TE Charlie Kolar and LB Rose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_26XjB9KBQ
If this RB Chubba Hubbard OK ST is around in 3rd rd I’d seriously consider drafting him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tRwJ8NnNSI
Put these 3 guys into your draft data bank
NJ
I think the Shanahan offense would thrive if they would have
a TE better than Twilley who could block and catch passes.
Kolar fits the bill and probably will be around in rounds 2-3.
With Kittle, Juszczyk and Kolar that would be quite a triple threat blocking and receiving especially with running abilities of Samuel and Aiyuk.
Not your convential offense but there would be so many possibilities to keep a defense off balance.
I have watched Kolar for the last 3 years and he is money in clutch situations and a chain mover.
Just now getting into Draft mode Bullit.
I see IOL & CB as high priorities, along with an Edge guy/OLB-type.
Love your alum Ossai as an option too.
No qualms with Kolar, sounds right to me.
Dwelley is not the blocker Kittle is but, he works at it.
Kittle just happens to be the Son of an OL Coach.
Well taught, enjoys contact and, loves to play with a chip.
Good for us.
My top guy on the sleeper side got hurt recently, Center from ‘Bama,
Landon Dickerson.
Gotta keep an eye on his medical stuff.
It’s been revealed that Josh Rosen gave up potential playoff bonus with Tampa Bay to sign with the Niners so late in the season.
This would lead you to believe that he has some agreement that he’ll be in training camp with a chance to compete.
I don’t thInk that Mullens and Beathard are long term solutions and are short term backups and don’t have the talent to push to start.
Rosen has the skillset and if Shanahan sees potential, I think he should have the chance to develop him.
Some pre-draft scouting videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pNh6QFFYoM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJN8BJygvME
Niners just signed Robbie Gould to fully guaranteed 2 year extension so he’ll be kicking at Levis through the 2022 season.
With that said they then put Gould and long snapper Taybor Pepper on the Covid list.
Gould probably had his crappiest game as a Niner missing two FGs and a XP but they gave him another couple of years,
Happy 2021!!!
2020 was a dumpster fire cluster phuck and basically was a wasted year
spent with house arrest and sports turned upside down asd well as life as we know it.
Only positive is Niners made it back to the Super Bowl only to lose it.
2020 was when half the starters were lost for parts or almost all of the season.
Niners have the foundation to make another deep run into the playoffs in 2021.
Happy New Year everyone.
Right now we are 15th for the draft order. Don’t really know if we can move up or how much we can move up. I would like to see us back at 12 if possible.
No idea who’s playing Sunday, as we aptly end year with injury smorgasbord:
49ers injury report vs. Seahawks
OUT
WR Brandon Aiyuk (ankle)
DT Kevin Givens (personal)
LB Dre Greenlaw (calf)
DT Javon Kinlaw (knee)
WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring)
CB Richard Sherman (calf)
CB K’Waun Williams (shin)
IR
T Trent Williams (elbow)
DE Jordan Willis (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE
S Tarvarius Moore (ankle)
CB Emmanuel Moseley (hamstring)
LB Mark Nzeocha (illness)
Bullit TE Ruckert from Ohio St is pretty impressive.
Let’s see if he declares.
It’s official: We will have the 12th pick in the draft.
Things you have to chuckle about:
49ers’ road record this year: 5-3
At home in the Abyss of Santa Clara?
1-7.
Some home field advantage.
Not to split hairs but 3 of the 7 losses were “at home” in Arizona
The play that pissed the Niners off at the end, a flip pass to WR David Moore was actually the Seahags allowing Moore to earn a $100k bonus.
It seemed that Seahags were piling on and trying to rub it in but in fact was a class move to help a player earn an incentive.
New post is up.